"Every person and every interaction matters." This simple yet profound statement from Jim Jackson, Associate Vice Chancellor of Facility Operations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, reflects a growing emphasis on staff development in higher education facilities management.
At the Higher Education Facilities Forum 2023, Jackson, along with former APPA President Lander Medlin and UW-Madison's, Deputy Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities Management, Margaret Tennessen, challenged industry norms. Their message? In a world obsessed with infrastructure and budgets, the most critical investment is in people.
The panel didn't just theorize - they offered practical strategies for enhancing professional development in facilities organizations. One standout initiative discussed was, the APPA "Invest in Success" program, piloted at multiple institutions. This low-cost, high-impact training focuses on essential human skills like emotional intelligence and communication. Tennessen reported remarkable results: "100% of participants said they would recommend it to a coworker."
Jackson highlighted an innovative approach to career advancement - predetermined "career ladders" across trades. This system allows supervisors to award raises automatically when employees reach certain skill levels or certifications, bypassing traditional HR bottlenecks.
The urgency of these initiatives becomes clear in light of alarming data presented: a 17.6% turnover rate for exempt, full-time staff and 19.7% for non-exempt. Even more concerning, over 50% of facilities employees reported being likely to look for another job.
Budget constraints and the difficulty of competing with private-sector salaries compound these challenges. As Tennessen noted, "When we look at just compensation alone, we're really not in a position to compete with the private sector."
The pandemic further complicated matters. While it elevated the importance of facilities staff - with Jackson reporting his team "first experienced a true seat at the table" during this time - it also led to burnout and new inequities between remote and on-site workers.
Despite these challenges, the panelists emphasized that higher education offers unique benefits. "Higher ed has meaning, education has meaning," Medlin pointed out, highlighting a key retention factor.
The takeaway was clear: in an era of tight budgets and workforce challenges, intentional investment in professional development isn't just nice to have - it's a strategic imperative for building resilient, high-performing facilities teams.
As Jackson summed up: "If you can do anything as a leader, be consistent, provide stability, and invest in your people." The future of facilities management, it seems, is deeply human-centered.
Watch the full talk here:
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