costs and boost efficiency
Yale has announced several new programs designed to cut costs and increase efficiency campus-wide.
Some of these programs have grown out of ideas that Yale community members have shared with officers and financial and administrative staff in meetings and e-mails and on the WhyNot website (www.whynot.net/yale/).
In a message to the Yale community on May 19, John E. Pepper, vice president for finance and administration, said, "With support from President Levin, Provost Hockfield and the other officers, your ideas to address budget deficits, save time and improve how we work are beginning to produce results. While the big payoffs lie ahead, we want to keep you up-to-date on our progress, so you can take advantage of new opportunities and to gain your support on these and upcoming initiatives."
He added, "Thank you for your ideas, leadership and support. We promised you we'd move on 'quick wins' while we work towards long-term improvements. Our drive to save money and time and to simply work smarter is taking hold. And we've just begun."
The new programs include:
* Use of Pcards for all airline and rail tickets. Employees can now use a Pcard (procurement card) for all airline and rail tickets, eliminating the need to use a personal charge card and wait for reimbursement after the trip. To open this function on a Pcard, contact your business manager. To learn more, visit www.yale.edu/hronline/busmgr/0404/procurement_b.html.
* Pooling University cell phone minutes. Yale is saving $250,000 annually by pooling University cell phone minutes through an agreement with Verizon. The University will also implement a similar program with Nextel.
* Drop in domestic long distance rates. Domestic long distance rates will drop by 40% to six cents per minute effective July 1 due to continued restructuring in the telecommunications department.
* Online access to financial aid awards. Students now have online access to financial aid awards and automatic e-mail notification of award changes -- greatly reducing reliance on paper and postage. Also, a new electronic scanning system has cut the number of paper documents by half, from 100,000 to 50,000.
* Online ordering for stationery. RIS has created a web-based ordering system for stationery. Starting in June, departments can proof and order business cards, letterhead and envelopes in a single session on the Internet. Benefits include significantly reduced costs as well as faster turnaround. To learn more, visit www.yale.edu/asset/initiatives/businesscards.html.
* Campus-wide kiosks for employees. By the end of June, employees will have access to conveniently located kiosks on campus. This will offer service and maintenance employees an easy way to receive and send e-mail or to participate in many services that are web-based, such as parking applications and benefits information. The University will work with staff and the union to provide e-mail accounts and training for those interested. To learn more, visit www.yale.edu/cluster/kiosk.html.
* Online reporting and tracking of facilities department requests. Beginning this fall, students will be able to report any type of building-related problem and to track the status of requests to the facilities department by using an online system. This idea came from the WhyNot website.
* Consolidated elevator maintenance contracts. Yale has consolidated elevator maintenance contracts, saving $100,000 annually. This came about from a partnership between the Medical School and central campus facilities departments and procurement to leverage the buying power of the University.
* Accuship incentives for FedEx and UPS. Yale is creating incentives for departments to use an online tool, Accuship, that improves the way the University tracks and pays for FedEx and UPS. This tool creates an online FedEx air bill (with UPS soon to follow), which can reduce invoice mistakes from 42% to less than 1%. To encourage greater use of this feature, departments will now receive an 85-cent discount on every transaction processed through Accuship. To learn more, visit www.yale.edu.eportal/QuickStart/AccushipStartDirections.pdf.
* Toner cartridge savings. The University can save over $168,000 by using Corporate Express-brand toner cartridges. These new products are guaranteed and can provide savings of up to 69% over name-brand cartridges.
* Virus and spam management services. ITS just announced improved server-based virus and spam management services and immediately doubled the number of clients at Yale using these services. ITS is now managing a quarter of a million virus and spam e-mail messages per day on behalf of the Yale community.
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
University celebrates its 303rd graduationLevin calls for U.S. to change student visa policies
International arts festival returns to New Haven
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPSAnthony Kronman is appointed Sterling Professor of Law
Paul Gilroy is designated as the Charlotte Marion Saden Professor
Joan Panetti named the Sylvia and Leonard Marx Jr. Adjunct Professor
New campus programs will cut costs and boost efficiency
Installation at city's historical society features tales about urban renewal
Show recalls Victorians' attempts to capture nature's wonders
Exhibit spotlights works by one of Britain's most neglected artists
Medical and nursing schools to host alumni reunions
Yale and state officials consider ways to promote smoking cessation
Poll shows state of the environment a concern for voters
Scientists identify molecule that causes irreversible nerve damage in MS
F&ES symposium will examine effects of forest certification
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home