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Barr Avenue Closure
Beginning Monday May 13, 2013 at 7:00am, Barr Avenue will be closed from Collegeview Street to the entrance to the parking lot for Garner Hall (shown in red in the attached image) for construction activities related to the Davis Wade Stadium Expansion project. This closure will remain in place until the project has been completed in the Fall of 2014. Access to the Memorial Hall parking lot will be maintained from Coliseum Boulevard, and the sidewalk on the North side of Barr Avenue will remain open.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to complete this project. If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Facilities Management at 662-325-5830.
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MSU sends personnel, equipment to aid USM
Mississippi State University Campus Operations and MSU Extension Service personnel prepare to depart Monday for the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg to assist in clean-up of the campus. USM's campus took a direct hit during a series of tornadoes across south Mississippi on Sunday, February 10.
Responding to a request for assistance from the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University sent MSU personnel and equipment to help in the clean-up of the USM campus after the Hattiesburg school took a direct hit from tornadoes that ravaged South Mississippi on Sunday [Feb. 10] afternoon. MSU Extension Service personnel have also been deployed.
After discussions with USM interim president Aubrey Lucas and Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds, MSU President Mark E. Keenum said 11 MSU Campus Operations personnel and two MSU staffers skilled in damage assessment departed the MSU Starkville campus shortly before 3 p.m. Keenum said the MSU personnel were equipped with chain saws, generators, a portable light tower, a truck and trailer, and fuel and maintenance supplies necessary to be “self-sufficient.”
After the widespread storms of April 27, 2011 leveled the town of Smithville and caused extensive damage in Chickasaw and Webster counties, MSU Extension personnel responded. MSU also provided assistance on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the wake of that same series of storms.
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MSU surpasses sustainability goals early, continues green initiatives
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Upgrading infrastructure and making operations more efficient are two key changes that have allowed Mississippi State University to reduce its energy consumption by 37 percent.
MSU's Sustainability Committee remains committed to continuing and growing that trend across campus, said J.D. Hardy, MSU energy and mechanical engineer for the committee.
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning created the Energy Task Force in 2006 and set a goal, by 2016, for Mississippi universities to reduce their energy consumption by 30 percent per square foot. Hardy said MSU is already years ahead of schedule, thanks to the university-wide focus on incorporating infrastructure upgrades and encouraging more efficient building operation.
"For example, if you take a building that didn't have a very good means of controlling the energy consuming equipment -- like air conditioning systems or boiler systems -- and then install modern controls that allow an operator to 'program' a schedule for the operation of that equipment, it quickly reduces the energy consumption of the facility," Hardy said.
Continued renovations across campus also have played a big role in lowering campus energy consumption at MSU, he said. By replacing older water boilers and chillers with more efficient ones, the university is developing effective strategies for long-term savings. Additionally, new facilities at MSU are designed and constructed with the most efficient building systems available.
"We have very talented folks on campus who know how to add the right controls equipment and then operate buildings on a very efficient schedule," Hardy said.
In fiscal year 2006, campus electric and natural gas consumption totaled 162,000 British thermal units per square foot, he said, but the sustainability committee and its resource-efficiency plan has decreased MSU's Energy Usage Index to its current level: 102,000 Btu in 2012.
"If we had continued to use energy at the fiscal year 2006 levels from 2007 to 2012, we would have spent over $21 million more on electricity and natural gas, due to the higher rate of consumption," Hardy said. "Considering that campus grows in square footage every year and energy rates go up every year, it is increasingly important that we lower our Energy Usage Index as much as possible every year."
As university leaders look to future sustainability initiatives, consumption-reduction efforts will focus more on education through ECO PAW, a campus wide energy education and assessment program, said Jeremiah Dumas, director of the Office of Sustainability and vice president of the sustainability committee.
"With 5,000 faculty and staff and over 20,000 students, it is imperative that we educate all the people of this campus so that they can help us reach our goals with every decision that they make," he said. "This includes operations and daily decisions in their offices, their procurement guidelines and standards, as well as their travel and transit behaviors."
Hardy agreed and said the real challenge lies in changing people's habits, and correspondingly, that kind of change could make the greatest impact on reducing consumption across campus.
"The savings that can come from encouraging people to make the best energy decisions can easily have more impact at a much lower price tag than any type of equipment upgrade," he said. "If everyone turned their office equipment and lights off when they weren't using them, and if everyone raised the cooling set-point or lowered the heating set-point a couple of degrees, I imagine I would be getting a call from the power company wondering what was going on at MSU."
Along with continuing system upgrades, other continuing energy consumption-reduction initiatives include upgrading obsolete and inefficient lighting systems with longer lasting and more energy efficient systems and developing an "Ice Storage Plant" to produce ice at night during summer months to use to meet the campus's chilled water needs during the day, Hardy said.
"The administration has allowed facilities to spend money on upgrades with the understanding that it is a business decision with a very attractive return-on-investment," he said. "By funding these upgrades and by letting our MSU folks execute energy upgrade projects, we have leveraged our in-house resources to improve our facilities at the best possible value."
Hardy said, administrative support, as well as continued promotion of sustainability initiatives across campus, will allow MSU to continue its mission of reducing energy consumption.
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Our People Profile: George Davis
After spending 30 years of his career working for Mississippi State's physical plant, George Davis said he grew up at the Cooley Building. Now Davis is widely considered one of the most dependable and knowledgeable behind-the-scenes experts in keeping campus rolling.
Davis, associate director of facilities management, oversees custodial services, the auto shop, building maintenance, carpentry construction, work management, locksmithing, faculty housing and heavy equipment on campus. Facilities on a 4,100 acre campus with more than 106 buildings maintained through education and general funds require 24/7 attention, but Davis said a large team of dedicated and skilled staff members get the job done.
Custodial staff members begin shifts at 4 a.m. to ensure offices and classrooms are tidy every day. Still other shifts work late, and the whole team pitches in for additional needs, such as during football weekends.
"These are things that just happen and nobody realizes who does it," Davis said. He explained that his department is responsible for everything from clean restrooms to grading gravel parking lots to sidewalk and parking lot construction. They routinely test every generator on campus to make sure the university is well prepared for unexpected situations that can impact campus operations.
Davis said he and his staff also are responsible for building maintenance of all kinds, including management of construction and renovation projects. "We maintain 21 miles of paved streets, 68 parking lots and 15 miles of sidewalks," Davis said. They also change approximately 13,000 light bulbs each year.
Davis said all of these duties are important because the facilities management services help students, faculty and staff have an environment that is conducive to working in support of MSU's mission. Something as simple as changing out lights also helps the university become more energy efficient, thereby saving money as well, he noted.
"It's not a glamorous job, but it's a job I've always enjoyed," Davis said. "Some days it seems like everyone calls for everything," he joked.
"It's never the same. Every day I come to work, it's something different, and I like that. I like fast-paced work, and I like working with a lot of people," he said. Davis added that for someone who dislikes heights, painting the MSU logo on the west side of Davis-Wade Stadium was one of his most memorable jobs.
At the end of the day — which is usually a good bit more than 8 hours for Davis — he enjoys a personal passion for woodworking. He built his first project at age 14 and hasn't stopped since. He recently built a house for himself and his wife of 27 years, Becki Davis. The couple is proud to have seen their first child, Kirby, graduate from MSU last year. Their second daughter, Morgan, is a sophomore at MSU now, and their son James is a junior in high school.
Writer: Allison Matthews | Photo: Megan Bean -
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GREEN FUND
MSU is excited to offer a new opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to help Mississippi State University (MSU) become a more sustainable campus. The MSU Green Fund is an optional contribution that will be used to fund sustainability efforts on campus. Together, we are investing in MSU’s future and reducing our campus’s carbon footprint. Help MSU go green! Opt-In to the Green Fund today! For more information, please visit www.sustainability.msstate.edu/greenfund/ . -
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Safety Record Outstanding for Campus Landscape
Mississippi State University's Office of Regulatory Compliance and Safety recognized the Campus Landscape team for its commitment to safety and training with a barbecue luncheon. Despite having some of the riskier jobs on campus, the crew's accident record is among the lowest, according to MSU safety officer Alicia Musselwhite PHOTO: Russ Houston | University Relations
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NOTICE OF CHANGES TO CAMPUS WIDE RECYCLING
The Mississippi State University single-stream recycling program has now been in place for over a year. This program fundamentally changed the way that we collect recycling and waste on the campus and we are still evaluating and reviewing our procedures in order to see how effective this program is and how we can make it more efficient at reducing our waste stream into our local landfill. In addition to monitoring the current system, a few changes have happened related to the contractor and their ability to collect material.
The single stream program was developed around the capabilities of the contractor who was awarded the contract. Blubox was the selected contractor because of their ability to collect and sort all cardboards, papers, plastics, metals, and glass. During the course of the last year, Blubox was purchased by Mississippi Industrial Waste Management (MIWD) and just a few months ago, MIWD was purchased by Waste Pro. Waste Pro is now the recycling and waste contractor for the campus and the only change resulting from this change is that Waste Pro does not collect glass; therefore we cannot collect that as part of our recycling stream.
The materials that we can now collect as part of our single-stream recycling program are as follows:
All Paper
All Plastic
Cardboard
Metals and Aluminum
Thanks for your effort and support with this program and if you have specific questions, please email Jeremiah Dumas at jpd1@msstate.edu.
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Our People: Effie Hopkins
Passengers on the blue route of Mississippi State University's shuttle system have more than a driver at the wheel--they have an angel in disguise.
For years, that's how students have described "Miss Annie," a woman who remembers the names of nearly all of her regular passengers and cares for them like her own family.
A self-described "granny for those away from home," Effie Hopkins' selfless actions and caring nature have become legendary for the more than seven years she has driven a shuttle at the university.
Students send her flowers and cards thanking her for being so kind to them, often years after they have graduated. Miss Annie keeps a thick folder of them, reminding her of how much her "family" loves her.
"I'm having a great day; what about you?" Hopkins says as she greets students getting on her shuttle.
Students gush about how much better she has made them feel on bad days, how she helps them put problems in perspective and find a better attitude.
Ravi "Raj" Sadasivuni, a graduate student in geosciences, said during the years he has known Hopkins, she has inspired him when he's stressed.
"She helps everyone," said Sadasivuni, who works at the High Performance Computing Collaboratory. "She knows how to inspire everyone."
Ask nearly anyone riding her shuttle route and they respond with glowing praise for her. Some students intentionally park so they can visit with her during the shuttle experience.
"I could drive straight to class," said Tiffany Bridges, a senior marketing major from Yazoo City. "But I chose to ride with her because she makes my day better."
Hopkins remembers the names of regular riders and asks about things they discussed during previous rides. She even helped a group of German graduate students visiting campus find a laundry and particular shops to buy gifts.
"You want to be a welcoming committee to them because you have to remember they've left their family behind in this new environment," she said.
But Hopkins doesn't stop helping students when her shift ends each day. She regularly uses her personal vehicle, an old Chevy Blazer, to take them to the grocery store and other places when they can't find other means of transportation.
"She could be at home, but she gives rides to people who need to go and buy basic necessities," Sadasivuni said.
When Hopkins' church learned about her giving rides to students in need, the congregation began helping pay for gasoline. She even carries business cards with her contact information that say "Being a helper of one another."
"I said I wanted to be out here to make a difference in the students' lives," she said. "So far, I think I've held up my end of the bargain."
"I've always found people interesting," she said. "I'm a people watcher."
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Our People: Bart Prather
When MSU athletes take to the field on game day, whether it is baseball, football, soccer, or softball, it would be nearly impossible without the diligent work of Bart Prather and his staff. He's not a coach, trainer or manager, but his contributions, arguably, are of near-equal importance.
As superintendent of sports turf, Prather is responsible for ensuring that playing surfaces are safe for student-athletes to practice and play on and that they meet NCAA guidelines for all striping, painting and dimensions. He and his staff are diligent in making sure the playing surfaces are free of low spots, high spots, holes, and trip hazards that could easily turn a first-round draft pick into a former student-athlete.
Prather returned to State 10 years ago and says a love of athletics makes what he does seem less like a job and more like an endless sports season.
"I couldn't do this if I didn't love athletics," Prather said. "Being able to do it for the university I grew up coming to as a kid makes it that much more rewarding."
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Our People: J.D. Hardy
When J.D. Hardy came to Mississippi State in 2008 as energy/mechanical engineer in Facilities Management, he says he walked into to a great situation from an energy conservation standpoint.
Hardy serves as the energy monitor for MSU and, in addition to developing reports on consumption for the energy committee, he is part of a team that develops projects to help improve campus systems and make them more efficient.
He says that a large part of conservation is efficient use of resources and developing sustainable practices and, because the university has been so proactive, he and the energy team have been able to continue a downward trend in energy use for several years.
"We are constantly looking to the future for new ways to be more efficient," Hardy says. "Our goal is to continue to conserve energy without sacrificing the academic and research goals of Mississippi State by being more efficient and sustainable in ou r practices. I am very proud of our performance and our reputation as an energy-conscious university."
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Our People: Everett Kennard
Having the best job in the world is a daily reality for Everett Kennard. Often far from home, but never far from friends, he drives the immaculate MSU buses on trips all over the country. Just call him, he may answer from anywhere, but if he doesn't, his voice greeting will tell you he "could be in Washington state under an apple tree or I could be in Florida on the beach, all for Mississippi State, of course." The tone of his voice will let you know for sure he's loving every minute of it.
Kennard, manager of transportation services, has been blazing the highways for 28 years, carrying Bulldog athletes, administrators, faculty, staff, and students of all kinds.
"I've got the greatest job in America. It's a dream job that a lot of people would want. I work with the greatest people, and I work for the greatest people. And I've got the easiest product in America that sells itself, and that's Mississippi State," Kennard said.
"I don't feel old until I haul children of those who I hauled in the earlier days," he said. He explained that freshman baseball player C.T. Bradford is the son of Mike Bradford, who was on the baseball team in 1983. Kennard's memory is like a rolodex of MSU alumni.
Of course, Kennard has been to many memorable events on behalf of the university, including trips to the College World Series, Final Four, SEC Championship, and many bowl games. He said about 59 percent of transportation is related to athletics, but many travels are academic field trips.
Spending about 200 days a year on the road, Kennard is a restaurant and hotel expert. He's never tired of the highway, but still delights in it. "I thank God that he put me in this position, and I really feel sorry for anyone who doesn't enjoy their work like I do," Kennard said.
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Our People: Jimmy Rice
For campus landscape supervisor Jimmy Rice, the reward of working with Mississippi State's lush grass and other natural scenery is the satisfaction of seeing a job well done.
"It's just really good when you do your job, and it looks good. People come by and compliment it, and it makes you feel good," Rice said.
The veteran master crew member has more than 28 years of experience carefully managing and maintaining— even manicuring, one might say— the acres of pure green grass that canvas the university from one end to the other like a natural soft carpet.
Rice said he's seen a lot of changes to MSU's landscape during his career. The current landscape calls for a host of bedding plants, giving variety for every season and for every perspective of campus. Irrigation, equipment, and a host of other tools, such as fertilizers, are all part of a methodical effort to get the just-right results that mark the MSU environment. Rice manages a cycle of work to ensure that the north half of campus is mowed and otherwise properly maintained year-round. But he will be the first to point out a larger group effort among a team of dedicated employees.
"You've got to have guys that really take pride in their work to make a campus look as good as this one. We have guys that really take pride in what they do," Rice said.
Rice says he puts some of his professional knowledge to use in his own yard. A family man, Rice has been married to Starkville native Shavell Rice for 29 years, and they are parents of five children. He also happens to be an older brother to retired NFL star Jerry Rice. He says his career has allowed him the right balance of time between work, family, and his other career— which he describes as more of a calling. He pastors Fourth Street M.B. Church in Columbus.
Rice said the nature of landscape work allows him to multi-task in some ways. "I can be doing my job and meditating at the same time, reflecting on what I've already read," Rice said. "That's when I do my best work really."
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Our People: Stella Ellis
Stella Ellis grew up caring for people. As one of seven children in her family, Stella always helped with the other kids, and did whatever it took to keep the household in order. Her sense of caring for others definitely has affected her work for the last 21 years in Mississippi State's custodial department.
While the master custodian works to ensure the functionality and upkeep of 18 different areas around campus, her main objective is to make sure that the people who work in those spaces are happy. The MSU Welcome Center, first floor of Thompson Hall, and the fourth and fifth floors of the library are among her areas of responsibility, which include everything from maintaining office spaces and hallways to classrooms and entranceways.
A nighttime supervisor for the past six years, she said of her attitude about work, "It's just the way I was brought up—to take pride in what I do, especially when it involves looking after people."
Along with her loyalty to her job, Stella is devoted to Mississippi State and the Bulldogs. From the hubcaps on her car to her clothing and household trinkets, it's not hard to identify her as "True Maroon." She even lends her generous heart to caring for students who find themselves in need.
"I've done what I can to help students. I've taken them into my house, fed them, and provided some spending money when I can," she explained.
When asked why she's remained at MSU for more than two decades, she said, "When I put my mind to something, I don't give up."
Now that's the Bulldog spirit.