Resident directors across campus will carry out their responsibilities in updated offices next quarter for the first time in 14 years.
We are in the process of updating the offices of our RDs and (assistant resident directors)
said Judy Piercy, director of Residence Life.
Residence Life offices on each green also will receive new furniture and most will receive new carpet, Piercy said. Drapes and paint will be replaced where needed, she said.
The responsibilities of an RD include supervising resident assistants, acting as a liaison between students and administrators and serving as a student advocate and a hearing officer, said Niccole Delgado, RD of Bush and Washington halls.
The renovations, which cost $225,000, are taking place this quarter - OU maintenance workers will spend three weeks on each green, starting with East Green then moving on to South and West greens, Piercy said.
It's a well-oiled machine she said.
Money for the renovations comes from the Residence Life budget, which is controlled by the university auxiliary budget, Piercy said. Student room and board fees cover the cost of operating offices, programming and renovations of RD offices and apartments, she said.
It is up to the residence life director to set aside money in the budget for such projects, Piercy said, something her predecessor had been doing for three or four years.
A total of 38 office spaces and reception areas will be renovated said Robin Faires, a project manager for University Planning and Implementation.
The renovations were all scheduled to take place this quarter because workers are not busy preparing the residence halls for students at this time, Piercy said.
Having the renovations completed in one quarter allowed for supplies to be purchased in bulk, which saved money, Piercy said.
Doing it this way is more cost-effective she said. The new fixtures will be uniform, Faires said.
Walls will be painted OU White
the OU standard and the least expensive paint. Each office will get a desk, a computer stand, a bookcase and a filing cabinet, Faires said.
The colors and fixtures coordinate with those that will be used in the new Baker University Center, Faires said.
Some people have voiced a desire for more pizzazz in the furnishings, but giving the offices uniformity is more practical, Faires said.
We have to think neutral
she said. This will have to last for 20 or 30 years.
The new steel-case furniture was purchased by the inner-university contract, Faires said, which is how most furniture is bought.
Most of the furniture in offices now is surplus
Faires said, adding that much of it came from renovated academic buildings.
The current furniture in the offices will go to surplus and will be sold at auctions, Faires said.
She has had very positive feedback from RDs, Faires said.
This is a long time coming
she said about the renovations to the RD offices.
Delgado's office was repainted and received new furniture and new carpet.
I love my office
she said.
For the two and a half weeks her office was under construction, Delgado worked out of her apartment, which is down the hall from her office, she said.
The temporary relocation was not a major hassle and was an interesting change of pace
Delgado said. Students were able to meet with her in her apartment, she said.
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