Great Idea

That's A Great Idea

Program Results

Have any thoughts to contribute to any of the below ideas? conctact us at greatidea@mcmaster.ca, and provide us with the "Idea Name" in the subject box, your contact information, and any additional thoughts you may have to contribute to the idea.

Last updated: February, 2014

In Progress: Evaluated for Possible Implementation
Idea
Response Summary

Admin Communication Email: Email (Team Mac - c-team_mac@mcmaster.ca) for Executive and Administrative Assistants to be able to reach out and share tips with each other, assist in answering questions about a program, setting up for a conference, meetings etc.

  • In discussion with Human Resource Services and Submitter to discuss further steps.
  • Next steps: to create a distribution list of all active Executive and Administrative Assistants (in the process of collecting contact information.

Course and Classroom Management: An electronic system that will assist in:

  • Development of Class Lists to know who is enrolled in the course
  • Room availability and reservation
  • With the new ERP project, there is a Faculty Centre that will enable faculty members to have access to their class lists and even be able generate a email list for communicating with students.
  • Rooms at McMaster are controlled by a number of different parties, managed in different ways using different systems. Due to the decentralized control of room assets, it would require significant effort to bring all these into one system.
  • However, given the limited availability of resources, these project will not be possible until after the 2015 launch of Mosaic

McMaster Undergraduate Calendar Teaching Session: Educated high school students of the opportunities available at the university to assist in deciding career paths

  • Develop awareness of what is available in the course calendar
  • Market McMaster and attract new students
  • The Office of the Registrar is excited to report that they have just begun a new software installation that will significantly improve the student experience with the calendar.
  • The new tool is easy to access (mobile-friendly), easy to navigate (Web 2.0) and will provide a superior calendar experience. It also has the ability to store rich text which will also make it a better recruiting tool which can possibly help student's connect earlier with it.
  • Discussions are still being made in regards to high school learning seassions.

Update McMaster "Your are Here" Maps: Currently, campus maps are outdated. Additions of photos, and other forms of advertisement can be placed within the border. This will allow for a better first impression of the Campus to people, and decrease risk of getting lost.

  • Parking and Facility Services are planning to introduce a proposal to place LED electric backlit University maps that are current, along with additional information in the upcoming budget year (May 2014).

Emergency Power to ADL and CSB: Currently, a program is in place replacing lighting control and clock systems. This is nearly complete and with that there should be a spare conduit available to run a cable for emergency power to these buildings from the Clarke Centre. The cable would be using the same manhole as the power cables, meaning both projects could be done at the same time (cable replacement).

  • initiated as part of 2012 - 2015 Facility Services Strategic Plan - Sustainability and Energy Management Plan. its goal is to encourage innovation in the work place in order to align Facilities with the principles of emerging landscape.

Flush Button and Number: For all toilets with battery operated flush and "button" where a flush lever would be: post a sign to the effect: "If toilet does not flush automatically, please push button." (with an arrow pointing to the button). Additionaly, add a number sign to identify toilets, and save plumber's time when service is needed (such as changing the battery).

  • initiated as part of 2012 - 2015 Facility Services Strategic Plan - Sustainability and Energy Management Plan. its goal is to encourage innovation in the work place in order to align Facilities with the principles of emerging landscape.

Low Income Student Taskforce: A task force with students, university administration, and financial aid members that will aim to provide information for low income students, remove economic barriers to the student experience, and ultimately work towards providing low income residence for students in 5 years.

  • Members of MSU, Student Success Centre, Financial Aid and Student Accounts have been working together to develop strategies on ways to enhance financial literacy resources available to students here at McMaster.
  • Two needs have been identified by the groups: To enhance the current level of information available to students when receiving financial aid and, to give students more support in managing their money/finances on a week to week basis as an undergrad at McMaster.
  • Hope to have this implemented by end of September 2013
  • Student Success Centre will also be providing more programming with a financial literacy week scheduled for the week of September 29th.
  • Consideration is being given to consolidate a list of resources related to services and information available to help a student stretch their dollar, and posted in multiple places student access.

Adaptive Tech and Occupational Assessment Clinic: McMaster develop and design an Assessment Clinic that would be available to students and employees to assess their adaptive technological needs in support of academics and employment. A unified approach to accessibility and accommodation that would meet the needs of both the human resources and academic missions of the university

  • Academic perspective: Not unique to McMaster University - developed in local school boards, Mohawk College, and within the private education industry (Redeemer, private elementary/secondary schools).
  • Employment perspective: issues related to complete and comprehensive employment assessment would be present for any / all employers in the Hamilton community
  • Feasibility review being lead by Associate Vice-President (Students & Learning).

Job Swapping or Shadowing: Post different departmental job opportunities including job requirements, application form and approval process by the department manager. A summary would be prepared by the person shadowing so that they can give their perspectives/impressions on the position, share any insights they have gained and what they are going to take back with them to their own position. Allow for a fresh perspective on how things are done and greater opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration and innovation.

  • A Mentoring program in the development under the leadership of our TMG Talent Sub-Committee's Working Group, supported by the Organizational Development team (Human Resources Services). More details should be available by Fall 2013.
  • Employee Career Services are currently working on two new initiatives: "Career Spotlights" and the "McMaster Career Guide" which will be available to all employees on the website within the next several months.
  • Facilities Services has been working with Employee/Labour Relations are currently in the process of creating a Job Shadowing program.
  • Many informal job shadowing arrangements are taking place across the University as a part of an employee's onboarding or individual development plan.

Systems Contracts Accountability: "Systems Contracts" charges show up on departmental accounts with only the name of the company that an item was ordered from, no details about the invoice number, what was ordered or by whom. Accounts Payable could include: the purchasers name or the invoice number in the references for systems contract purchases so that it shows on FAS statements, making it much easier to track down the invoices for these items. Increase work for accounts payable, but decrease work for departments trying to track down the purchase details.

  • In collaboration with AP leaders, it has been discussed that the ERP project will impact this process.
  • Change to the spread sheet was already made to allow for the invoice number to be present on the FAS statement.
  • More information will be forthcoming and will be including training sessions scheduled to begin in the fall.

Re-naming Areas of McMaster: Enhancement of quality of life at MMaster - Give individuals a sense of geographical location about where to meet friends/hold meetings. Could labeling the quads and "GREEN AREA" around McMaster campus "McMaster Green" or "MacGreen". Could also name the sunken area around MUSC, Mills Library and McMaster Museum of Art the "Peace Plaza" (would provide a sense of pride in McMaster).

  • Following McMaster's Naming policies and procedures, a proposal has been made to the President to name the space surrounded by MUSC, Mills Library and McMaster's Museum of Arts as "University Peace Plaza".
  • Decision to be made by Fall 2013.

Web Access to Univmail: Update to a better form of web access than the univmail server, such as Outlook Web Access or Google mail. The univmail server is very difficult to interact with.

  • There are some efforts being planned for in the future to improve access to email and email in general.
  • Currently, there is no room for it in the budge, however hope to address it in the next finacial year.

Container Program in La Piazza:Implementation of Re-usable containers, silverware, soup bowls, and refillable coffee mugs in La Piazza for waste-reduction, cost savings, and customer service improvement.

  • Program implemented in Commons (and other eateries). In discussion. Contact has been made with Hospitality Services to validate this idea.
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