Summer is upon us here at the University of Florida, and while there are not quite as many students on campus, our hardworking staff remain as busy as ever. I’d like to take a moment to share some of what’s going on in the operational world at UF, along with a bit of what’s to come. We continue to support UF’s rise to Top 5 through a variety of approaches, including continuously striving to provide the best infrastructure possible and moving forward with the university’s Strategic Development Plan in exciting ways. 

I’m happy to report that a significant campus lighting enhancement initiative is on track to be completed this fall. Based on campus safety and security recommendations, 12 campus pedestrian areas are being targeted for lighting improvements. This includes retrofitting existing fixtures and installing new fixtures with state-of-the-art LEDs to increase the safety and visibility in key areas. 

This project will also be a part of the University of Florida’s and the City of Gainesville’s Smart City Initiative. The collaborative effort will provide a portion of the framework for the Smart City. UF, GRU and the City of Gainesville are working to establish a network in which data can be collected and shared among the organizations to improve our community through research, academics and operational improvements. 

We are also engaged in a couple of other important projects that not only tie in with UF’s Strategic Development Plan but also, I believe, will improve the quality of life for the UF community. 

The first is the Landscape Master Plan, which seeks to: 

• Further connect the UF campus and City of Gainesville
• Transform the heart of campus
• Interconnect the entire campus
• Reconnect the campus natural systems
• Create a unified campus image

Next is the Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) Strategic Plan, which many of you might have become aware of through the parking survey conducted earlier this year. We look forward to sharing the results and recommendations of this study with the UF community in the coming months. Ultimately, we hope the TAPS Strategic Plan will: 

• Support re-centering growth and development on campus
• Enable safe and convenient access to and from campus
• Increase the number of multi-occupant vehicles to and from campus
• Enhance the visitor, employee and student experience
• Promote the use of technology and creativity

Finally, hurricane season is upon us, and the safety of our faculty, staff and students is very important. Any announcements regarding UF’s response to storms, including schedule changes or cancellations, will be made through official UF channels. Announcements will be posted to the UF homepage and distributed via the UF Alert system, as well as through email as information becomes available. UF’s Emergency Management website provides a wealth of hurricane preparedness information and resources, including hurricane tracking, to assist both individuals and departments prepare for a tropical storm or other emergencies.

Enjoy your summer and Go Gators!

Charlie Lane
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer