SRU recognized in Business Officer magazine for ‘Powering Forward’

Four Slippery Rock University administrators co-authored a case-study article about the SRU’s approach to deferred maintenance and energy savings that was published in Business Officer, the magazine of the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

May 31, 2018

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University is often recognized as one of the nation's leading universities for sustainability by making decisions that are friendly for the environment and the institution's budget. Now, business officers from colleges and universities from around the country are learning about SRU's secrets to success.

Business Officer magazine, the official publication from the National Association of College and University Business Officers, recently published a case-study article detailing how SRU advanced its sustainability efforts while supporting deferred maintenance.

   ALBERT

"That's a big honor from NACUBO. For them to recognize the unique things the University did and is doing and then select this article so that their members could learn from it is a nod to our entire staff," said Scott Albert, assistant vice president of facilities, planning and environmental safety. "This is recognition for SRU's efforts to make a difference and NACUBO feels it's worthy to be shared."

Business Officer reaches nearly 45,000 readers at 2,325 unique organizations.

"Business Officer is the best source for people in our profession to share ideas," said Molly Mercer, associate vice president for finance. "We appreciate the University being recognized and the standing that this provides to our work; and we also hope that our colleagues can benefit from the best practices that we used."

   MERCER

Albert and Mercer, along with Paul Scanlon, director of sustainability, and Amir Mohammadi, vice president for finance, administrative services and advancement services, co-authored the article titled "Powering Forward," that was published in the magazine's May issue.

The article outlines SRU's strategic approach to fast-tracking deferred maintenance and energy savings projects for its facilities, without adding expenses to the University's budget. In 2016, SRU entered into a guaranteed energy savings agreement with Honeywell Industries that would pay for campus improvement projects during the ensuing 20 years through energy savings.

What made SRU's approach so unique, according to Albert, was the collaboration between several departments on campus, namely facilities and finance, and how it achieved a "win-win" to address both deferred maintenance and energy savings.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu