The Physical Plant Department at Pittsburg State University

Physical Plant oversees and manages all aspects of University buildings, grounds, utilities, and equipment. Their team consists of highly experienced technicians and craftspeople.

All activities related to maintaining campus facilities should be classified in this functional subprogram, net of charges to auxiliary enterprises and revenue-bonded operations.

Buildings

The Physical Plant Department at Pittsburg State University is charged with creating the physical environment that facilitates its instructional and service missions, comprising 30 buildings worth $500 million on 150 acres of land. With essential programs in building maintenance and operations, custodial services, utility distribution, energy management, grounds care management services, central storeroom recycling services, automotive garage parking services, carpooling, and University shipping and receiving.

Physical Plant Services play an essential role in creating an overall pleasant campus atmosphere with an influence presence that influences student enrollment, faculty recruitment and retention rates, alumni relations efforts, and even potential donors to the University. A pleasing appearance also communicates a message about our University that can attract prospective students and donors who visit campus regularly.

Beginning March 6, 2023, the Physical Plant will implement a new work order system accessible via Gus Portal. This system will assign each user to one building location; when entering work requests in this new system, users should specify this. Meanwhile, existing users with accounts will remain accessible until all transitioning occurs and users have switched over.

Grounds

Physical environments (campus buildings and grounds) serve as the cornerstone of education, making a powerful first impression on faculty, staff, students, alumni, legislators, prospective donors, parents of students, and members of the general public. Our physical plant provides essential services such as building maintenance/operations management/energy management/custodial duties/automotive recycling, central storeroom carpool services/campus mail delivery.

Ground personnel are at the Physical Plant, Hartman Hall, and Landscape Building. Their responsibilities include overseeing gardens, lawns, parking lots, and University-owned vehicles, as well as overseeing all landscaping services such as horticulture maintenance and snow removal, recycling programs on campus, and waste disposal services. Furthermore, Grounds staff responds quickly to work order requests from faculty, students, administration, vendors, and the community.

Used to describe the fundamental grounds or motivations for positions or actions, such as standing one’s ground when confronted by his enemy. It is also used figuratively; for example, This mural was painted over a white background.

The mesh background used for lace making is the surface upon which designs, patterns, or images are constructed. Also, a term that refers to any visual field background against which figures of paintings or engravings can be contrasted; it may also refer to the medium used for oil paintings (lead white is commonly used) as well as an acid-resistant coating applied before etching plates & (nautically) the bottom of bodies of water.

Utilities

Utilities expenses represent a significant component of operating expenditure for most companies. At the College, Physical Plant staff strive to minimize this exposure by monitoring utility bills closely, negotiating for lower service rates with utility providers, prioritizing projects/upgrades that will lower energy use, and offering guidance and advice about behavior modifications that can help cut consumption.

Effective March 6th, 2023, Physical Plant will implement a new Work Order Request system, which can be accessed via the Gus Portal by selecting the “Physical Plant” icon and clicking the “Request Repairs” link. Your Gus sign-in credentials are necessary to gain entry to this new program.

The College demonstrates its dedication to sustainability through daily operations and maintenance activities by using eco-friendly materials, supplies, and equipment in all operations and maintenance activities. Design review standards for construction or facility upgrades place particular importance on choosing equipment with an optimal life cycle cost per purchase; full-scale composting and green cleaning activities are also part of its regular business practices.

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure comprises means and means–vehicles used for moving goods and people–and their supporting facilities. Vehicles, equipment, and operations vary according to the chosen mode (animal, bicycle, car, boat, airplane, railway, or truck). In contrast, thoroughfares, hubs (such as airports, railway stations, bus terminals, warehouses, refueling depots, etc), and related services must also be present for transportation to function effectively.

Physical Plant provides physical services and support for the University community across 30 buildings worth $500 million on 150 acres of grounds, comprising 30 buildings worth an estimated $300 million total in value, with 120 staff with expertise in numerous trades, including operations, repairs, and maintenance of all aspects of physical environment support.

The Department oversees a routine inspection and preventive maintenance system that reduces work requests from campus buildings while keeping building systems working as they should. All other work requests are accepted and serviced by each year’s Education and General (E&G) budget allocations. In addition, this department provides facilities management, space planning and construction, environmental services, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services, and custodial support to various departments, research laboratories, offices, and residential halls on campus, as well as maintaining its grounds, including roadways, parking lots and storage areas.