Allocation and Utilization of Campus Space

1. POLICY

   All University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMD) land, facilities and buildings belong to the University as a whole. The University has the authority and responsibility to allocate space to specific users for certain periods of time, to review these allocations periodically, to assess utilization, and to reallocate space as needed to support the University’s Academic, Strategic and Master Plans. It is the policy of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth that all space will be allocated and utilized based on the following goals and criteria:

   • Space should be allocated equitably.
   • Space allocations are made to divisions, colleges and/or departments, not individuals.
   • Divisional, collegiate, and departmental allocations should be as contiguous as possible unless interdisciplinary research, teaching or work group needs dictate otherwise.
   • Existing space allocations must be utilized as fully as possible before additional allocations are made.
   • Requests for space will be reviewed against the allocation guidelines and adjusted accordingly.
   • Requests will be reviewed according to priorities for academic programs, research, and support services as established by the Chancellor and Vice Chancellors and by the Academic, Strategic and Master Plans of the University.
   • When possible, a designated use should be allocated to space that meets functional design requirements in order to minimize renovation costs, e.g., a user requiring wet lab space should not be allocated dry space in a non-lab building if wet lab space is available elsewhere.
   • The scheduling of space allocated to a division, college or department is the right and responsibility of that division, college or department . Space allocated and scheduled by a division, college or department should be made available for others when not in use (i.e., conference rooms, seminar rooms, etc.).
   • Space that becomes vacant within a college or division can and should be reallocated by the Dean or Vice Chancellor within that college or division ; however, the reallocation plan must be directly forwarded to Facilities Planning, Design and Construction for review and documentation.
   • Space specifically allocated for time-limited uses reverts to unassigned status after completion of the specified time period. {For time-limited research and laboratory space, please see item IV.E.2}

2. PURPOSE

   The purpose of this policy is to ensure the effective, efficient and equitable allocation and utilization of University space resources. With this policy the University

• Establishes a standard format and procedure for requesting space
• Establishes space allocation and utilization standards
• Establishes a formal system for requesting, reviewing and approving space allocation and utilization

3. DEFINITIONS

   1. Space – All University land, facilities and buildings
   2. University Space Planner – An established professional position in Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Department
   3. Implementation Manager – Project Manager assigned from either Facilities Planning, Design and Construction or Facilities Operations

4. PROCEDURES

   1. Requesting Space-

      This procedure applies to requests for new and/or additional space beyond that already allocated to your division. It is assumed that Vice Chancellors and Deans will assign space within their allocated envelopes to meet their functional and programmatic needs.

      Please note that the process described below can take a considerable amount of time depending on the nature of the request. Thus, requests should be made with as much lead time as possible. Inadequate lead times may result in an inability to meet requested timelines.

      1. Department/ Program completes REQUEST FOR ALLOCATION OF SPACE Form. Request is reviewed by Dean /Director and appropriate Vice Chancellor.
      2. Request is reviewed and approved by Dean/Director and appropriate Vice Chancellor. Approval indicates conformance to departmental strategic needs and plans.

      3. Request is forwarded to the University Space Planner, who performs the following functions and analysis:

         1. Identifies and interviews all stakeholders* (records comments)
         2. Conducts a needs assessment
         3. Completes a space utilization study
         4. Identifies space
         5. Completes a feasibility study
         6. Analyzes costs and outlines implications
         7. Schedules project
         8. Reviews Option/Alternatives
         9. Performs a benefits analysis
         10. Reviews compatibility with UMD Mission/Plans

         *Stakeholders in all cases shall include, but not be limited to: Vice Chancellor, Department/Program representative, Dean / AVC of all departments involved, CITS Representative, Director of Facilities Operations, Director of Facilities, Planning, Design and Construction.

      4. Plan Proposal Document with recommendations will then be generated and presented to all stakeholders for review and comment. This Document shall include:

         1. Summary/Cover Letter
         2. Recommendations
         3. Sketches/plans/drawings
         4. Schedule
         5. Estimates
         6. Alternatives (if applicable)
         7. Comments from stakeholders
         8. Project Endorsement (sign-offs)
      5. If required, the document will be modified to address stakeholder concerns and re-reviewed. If not required, the document and all stakeholder comments will be presented to the Chancellor.
      6. The Chancellor ensures that the request conforms with the division/college/department and university plans.
      7. The Plan is approved by the Chancellor and all stakeholders are notified that the plan is approved.
      8. The Plan is then forwarded to an implementation manager.
      9. A procedural flow chart (see attachment C) which outlines the entire space request/approval process is available on line, to assist the requester.
      10. If the newly allocated space requires renovation that will be requested through the Alteration & Renovations Program, the Alteration/Renovation request process must be followed regardless of the funding source.

   2. Requesting Space Planning Services

      1. Purpose: The purpose of this procedure is to organize space planning and design within campus buildings to ensure that space standards are uniformly adopted, that building code and life safety codes are uniformly met, that space is equitably assigned, that space allocations are recorded accurately on university databases, and that the university expends its building planning resources on our highest priority facility needs.

      2. Applicability: This procedure covers all planning affecting the construction or demolition of walls or doors; acquisition of additional space, surrender of unneeded assigned space, changes in the functional use of space; revisions to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire detection, fire suppression, or structural infrastructure; and major changes of finish materials or significant furniture purchases. All hiring decisions and grant applications should be reviewed by Human Resources or the Office of Research Administration for implied or express commitments of facilities revisions and, if they occur, a request by the appropriate division, college or department for Planning and Design Services should be immediately forwarded.

         Exemptions include:

         1. Replacement of flooring with similar flooring materials or the miscellaneous acquisition of additional or replacement office furniture is exempt from this process.
         2. Reassignments of office space within a department or college or reassignments of lab space within a department or college are also exempt but the Dean or Department Head making such reassignments shall notify Facilities Planning Design and Construction when such arrangements are made so that accurate university databases can be maintained.

      3. Initiating a Request for Planning and Design Services: When a space planning need is identified, the Department Head must initiate a request for space planning and design services.

         1. The Department Head should, if feasible, suggest a solution, draw sketches of proposed arrangements, and/or comment on any known constraints or necessities.
         2. In all cases, any contemplated changes in major equipment involving electrical loads, mechanical loads, structural loads, plumbing or gas connections, fire detection or fire suppression must be delineated quantitatively.
         3. Proposed funding to cover the implementation of the plan should be identified.
         4. The Department Head is required to obtain the written concurrence of the Provost or Vice Chancellor on the request and forward it to the Director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction.
         5. The Director of Facilities Planning Design and Construction (FPDC) will assign the request to a staff manager for processing. The Staff Manager from FPDC will work with the requestor to develop a Plan Proposal Document with recommendations as previously defined.

   3. Office, Laboratory and Studio Space Assignment

      In general, Vice Chancellors are responsible for the assignment of space within their divisions. In collegiate units, the Dean is responsible for assigning space within their colleges to departments and Chairs or Program Directors are responsible for assigning space to faculty and staff within their department or program.

   4. Classroom Assignment and Utilization

      The Registrar is responsible for maintaining an up to date inventory of all general use and special purpose classrooms located on the UMass Dartmouth campus and conducting utilization studies as necessary.

      1. Divisions/Departments may be assigned special purpose (laboratories and studios) classrooms to conduct their educational programs. However, every semester final authority over the scheduling of these rooms for specific course sections rests with the Registrar. At times when these classrooms are not scheduled by the departments to which they are assigned, they may be scheduled by the Registrar for other departments to use, after consultation with the division/department.
      2. All requests for additional classroom space, with the exception of specialized areas, and changes in the use of existing classroom space must be submitted to the Registrar. The Registrar in consultation with the appropriate dean shall be responsible for determining the use of current space assignments for the space reallocation.
      3. Classroom scheduling is conducted by the Office of the University Registrar as a part of the schedule building process. During the class scheduling process departments and programs may request classrooms with certain space characteristics through a formalized process. The Registrar will stipulate formulas and protocols whereby departmentally requested schedules use approved schedule time blocks and also spread the course offerings across the times of the day and the days of the week. The stipulated formulas and protocols for scheduling time blocks and spreading course offerings across times and days are approved by the Provost.
      4. Once scheduled, room changes are made only through the Registrar. Faculty are not authorized to make room changes on their own initiative and without prior approval. Such changes are to be requested through a faculty member’s departmental chair and dean to the Registrar.
      5. No classroom may be converted to any other use without a justification from the Chair and approval by the Dean and Provost, and in consultation with the Registrar and FPDC. The Chancellor will have final approval of any classroom conversions.

   5. Research & Laboratory Space

      Research and laboratory space needs and guidelines vary greatly between schools and departments, types of research being conducted, and special equipment needs. There are a number of different types of laboratories that exist within our university, including:

   • Computer laboratories
   • Wet laboratories
   • Dry laboratories
   • Studio or design-related laboratories
   • Teaching laboratories
   • Special large equipment laboratories

   1. The Chair or Program Director is responsible for assigning laboratory space to faculty in their department or program. The factors that should be considered in allocating research laboratory space are:

      1. Research productivity, as indicated by faculty publications and acquisition of external research funding
      2. New hires who are establishing their research programs
      3. Senior faculty who are re-developing research programs
      4. Research training in credit-bearing courses for graduate and undergraduate students.
   2. Space allocated for time-limited uses (i.e., grants) reverts to unassigned status after completion of the specified time period. Continued occupancy may be allowed with the approval of the Dean and Provost.
   3. Research activity will be reviewed as part of periodic space utilization analyses.

   6. SPACE AUDITS & UTILIZATION ANALYSES

   1. Space audits will be conducted on a regular basis by FPDC, who maintain the official Space Inventory; by the University Space Planner to review utilization; and on an as needed basis for specific requests and projects.
   2. Space audits will minimally consist of an updating of the space inventory records, walkthroughs of space with department representatives, and other survey instruments as needed.
   3. Departments and colleges may be asked to provide information on FTE’s and headcounts of faculty, staff and students, teaching schedules, research/grant funding and duration, and any strategic planning documents.
   4. Inappropriate and/or inefficient uses, such as vacancies, labs used for office space, offices or labs used for storage, study space or other non-office or lab functions, multiple offices for faculty or staff, space assigned to non-supported graduate students, or dead storage, as well as hazardous conditions, will be noted and reviewed with the division, college or department with a goal of increasing utilization.

5. RESPONSIBILITY

   1. Facilities Planning, Design and Construction: The department charged with the responsibility to recommend appropriate allocation of space is Facilities Planning, Design and Construction (FPDC.) The primary focus of FPDC is to consider the space needs of the community, the planning and feasibility of new projects, and the future priorities of the University in order to make informed decisions about space allocation and design of space that meet program needs. FPDC is not responsible for event scheduling or assignment of space for events or classes. Decisions regarding space are made in alignment with the Campus Master Plan, the University’s Academic and Strategic Plans, and in communication with the Chancellor. As necessary, the Chancellor reviews space allocation and/or enhancement plans before they are implemented.
   2. B. Registrar: The Registrar is responsible for the assignment and utilization of general use and special purpose classroom space.
   3. C. Deans/Directors/Department Heads: Responsible for the scheduling/assigning of space allocated to his/her college, department, or program .
   4. D. Vice Chancellors: Responsible for approving requests and ensuring that requests are consistent with academic/program strategic plans.
   5. Chancellor: Responsible for final approval.

6. ATTACHMENTS

   1. Space Allocation Guidelines
   2. Space Request Form [PDF]
   3. Space Request Flow Chart [PDF]
7. Approved: _____________________________ Date: _____________________ Chancellor