UPDATE: Task Forces Formed to Take Action on Suggestions about Efficiencies at HSPH

Task forces have been formed to address three major areas to help improve efficiency at HSPH. The task forces will meet throughout the spring and will present their recommendations by the end of the academic year.

Electronic Records Management
Co-chairs: Mary Jane Curran of Operations and Jacke Willis of Financial Services
This task force will aim to free up space and reduce use of printing supplies.

Laboratory Energy Use and Administration
Chair: Tiffany Colt of Operations
This task force will streamline processes and reduce duplication of effort.

Power-Saving Technology
Co-chairs: Danny Beaudoin of Operations and Drew Pearson of Information Technology
This task force will explore ways to reduce overall energy use in every office.

On February 10, 2009, Dean Julio Frenk sent an e-mail to the community asking for ideas on how to make the School more efficient. More than 90 ideas have been submitted so far to the PIN-enabled site. In addition, a physical suggestion box has been mounted in the Kresge Lobby near the pay telephone. Suggestions may be submitted by name or anonymously. Suggestions will continue to be taken for the near future.

The specialized task forces were formed after an Efficiency Committee reviewed the suggestions submitted so far to the online box. The members of the Efficiency Committee include Danny Beaudoin of Operations, Deane Eastwood of Information Technology, Ellen Gilmore of Human Resources, Audrey Harmon of the Dean’s Office, Emily Jeep Klingaman of Financial Services, and Ken Wenger of Environmental Health.

In addition to the task forces, HSPH will take action on several “quick win” ideas, explained Dean Frenk in an e-mail to the School on March 23, 2009. These ideas include increasing energy-efficient lighting, reducing unneeded text and logos from MicroLab cover pages, and turning off kiosk computer stations at the end of each day.

Dean Frenk said that the community also will be engaged in a dialogue on issues such as energy use, flexible work options, video and web conferencing capabilities as alternatives to travel, and responsible purchasing.   

"Finally, the HSPH leadership team has committed to working toward setting an example for the community," wrote Dean Frenk. "The Dean’s Office and other central administrative offices will take steps toward encouraging and reinforcing printing and copying double sided, reducing our printing and paper files, installing filtered water systems in central locations, reducing paper mailings and correspondence, and using in-house resources for projects whenever possible."

Dean Frenk continued, "I ask that as each of you considers how these action items might affect you – and how you can take actions to improve the outcomes – you continue to think of ways in which we can be more efficient and submit ideas online [and now the physical box in the Kresge Lobby]. For those of you who have already submitted an idea with your contact information, a member of the Efficiency Committee will follow up with you soon."