Source: My UM
It’s been three months since UM moved to the new campus. As UM members gradually get settled in the new environment, they have also identified various problems with campus facilities. To encourage participation in the construction of a better campus, UM has established numerous communication channels for UM members to provide their comments and suggestions. And over the past three months, various improvements have been made to campus facilities in response to the suggestions communicated through these channels.
Over 200 Cases to Handle Every Day
At the start of the new semester after UM’s relocation to the new campus, the Campus Management Office (CMO) and the Campus Development Office (CDO) arranged for colleagues to be on call after office hours on a rotating basis to ensure prompt handling of emergency requests for repairs. How do you make such a request? You can use the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS). At its height, the CMMS receives more than 270 enquiries or requests for repairs every day. Colleagues from the CMO once had to handle 250 cases of inspection and repairs in a single day. Despite the overwhelming workload, they tried their best to complete the tasks within the shortest time possible.
Find Solutions through Discussion
To ensure everyone’s voice is heard, UM has established numerous communication channels, including email, phone, the CMMS, and the Suggestion Scheme, just to name a few. Since the start of the new academic year, the Communications Office has received 144 comments and suggestions about the new campus from faculty members, students, administrative staff, and students’ parents. These comments and suggestions are consolidated and categorised and then submitted to the War Room for discussion at its regular meetings. The university community is updated through the daily UM Today on the actions the university takes to address the problems as well as the progress of the situation. For instance, at the start of the semester, the Students’ Union relayed some students’ concern about the indoor air quality in the residential colleges (RCs). Following the SU’s suggestion, the university hired an external third party, the Institute for the Development and Quality, Macau (IDQ), to conduct an air quality testing in 39 sampled rooms in the eight RCs, in collaboration with UM’s Office of Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs (HSEO), between 6 October and 23 October. The IDQ conducted an 8-hour testing in every sampled room, which not only included testing of the concentrations of formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), but also included analysis of toxic chemicals in the air. The preliminary test results showed that air quality of the sampled rooms was considerably better than the acceptable level. This has greatly eased UM members’ worry about indoor air quality.
Quick Response to Requests for Improvement
In addition to the communication channels mentioned above, there are also several channels for face-to-face communication between students and staff and the university. For instance, in this year alone, UM has held eight Town Hall Meetings, including five for students, two for staff, and one for new PhD students, which was launched in September. UM Rector Wei Zhao and Vice Rector for Student Affairs Haydn Chen meet with student leaders over lunch on a regular basis to hear students’ voices. Once a student told the university that the internet connection speed was a bit slow, and on 1 September, the Information and Communication Technology Office increased the internet speed to 750Mbps, which is twice the original speed. Other improvements that have been made in response to UM members’ suggestions include improvement of the water circulation system of the central water heating system in the RCs; improvement of the perimeter walls; installation of more lights, CCTV systems, and security booths; application of anti-slip tapes and installation of “Slow Down” signs in the car parks; and installation of more ATMs and vending machines.
