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Policy and Procedure Statements

R/PPS 08.01 - STAR One Space Management For Faculty and Staff

STAR One Space Management For Faculty and Staff

R/PPS No. 08.01
Issue No. 4
Effective Date: 12/03/2024
Next Review Date: 8/01/2029 (E5Y)
Sr. Reviewer: Vice President for Research

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to maintaining and allocating space in an objective and consistent manner to advance the mission of the university.

  1. SCOPE

    1. Texas State University must maintain space management within STAR Park, including STAR One, in keeping with its mission, policy, and with reasonable use. Assigned space for Texas State faculty and staff in this off-campus facility is based on program needs and institutional priorities, as determined by the vice president for Research (VPR) and will be reassigned if those needs and priorities change.

    2. This policy sets forth how requests from Texas State faculty and staff will be managed as related to space management principles, management responsibilities, and procedures for the assignment and reassignment of space, request for new space, renovation of existing space, and changes to a room’s primary function for STAR One.

    3. This policy does not address or take precedence over the entrance and exit procedures in the operating guidelines for STAR Park – used by the executive director of STAR Park to evaluate and make recommendations to the VPR – related to allowing a company to obtain space in STAR One. This policy only relates to Texas State faculty and staff who request space in STAR One.

  2. DEFINITIONS

    1. Physical Space Inventory – a database that provides the statistical basis for many internal, state, and federal reports regarding STAR Park buildings and rooms, their usage, and occupants. The proper classification of space is critical to the university’s efforts to manage the physical assets and obtain resources from state and federal agencies (e.g., Facilities and Administrative (F&A) recovery rate).

    2. Space Audit – a comprehensive review and evaluation of a room’s physical characteristics and academic or administrative attributes. The information obtained from a space audit is used to update the university’s building and room inventory. An audit can include room-specific tours to confirm that space is used as designed, is occupied, and to assess the quality of the space and physical conditions of each room. The audit will note vacant space or other exceptions. Space audits provide information for the assessment of space allocations, prospective planning to accommodate changing situations, and realignment of program priorities.

  3. SPACE MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

    1. The Texas State University System (TSUS) Board of Regents has ownership and control of all facilities belonging to or controlled by the university.

    2. Ultimate responsibility for the assignment or reassignment of space within STAR One will reside with the VPR.

    3. Allocation of increased square footage will depend on demonstrated need.

    4. Allocation of space does not imply permanence, but rather a commitment based upon continued program justification, meeting specified metrics, and changing program priorities. The VPR and executive director of STAR Park will annually review space assignments to faculty and staff based on performance, metrics, and priorities (e.g., collaborative agreements with industry, sponsored research agreements, and contracts).

    5. Faculty and staff allocated space in STAR One shall be responsible for paying the base monthly rent rate and any surcharges or other costs incurred to STAR Park in accordance with the annually published rates.

    6. Space vacated by a physical move, renovation, or new construction will be allocated back to STAR One. Likewise, space vacated due to a reduction in program size, reduction in workforce, metric not met, or program elimination will also be allocated back to STAR One.

    7. All space data, analysis, and reports will be public domain and available for inspection.

    8. Appropriate Use of Office Space

      1. The nature of the occupant’s work should influence whether an individual is allocated a private office. Part-time faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and research assistants should expect to share space, two or more to an office, unless specific needs require otherwise.

      2. The assignment of more than one campus office to a specific individual is highly discouraged. However, when an individual has two different functions not performed in close proximity, the individual may need two separate offices.

    9. Incubator program companies and outside research affiliated parties shall have priority in the allocation of space in STAR One and may contract for unused STAR One space on terms approved by the VPR and TSUS general counsel, and as authorized by the TSUS Board of Regents. The assistant real estate director will coordinate such agreements.

  4. MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. Ultimate responsibility for the assignment and reassignment of space within STAR One will rest with the VPR.

    2. The associate vice president for Finance and Support Services Planning (AVPFSSP) is responsible for space management reporting for the university. The AVPFSSP and staff (e.g., coordinator of Facilities Inventory) will (as applicable to STAR Park):

      1. maintain an accurate physical space inventory of all buildings the university owns or leases as required by state and federal regulations;

      2. conduct periodic space audits of university-owned buildings and leased space to ensure accuracy of the data;

      3. perform space utilization studies for the allocation and reallocation of space based on programmatic needs and departmental growth;

      4. assist in the development of programming documents for the design and construction of new space or renovation of existing space; and

      5. provide ad hoc reports as requested and within the capabilities of the database.

  5. PROCEDURES FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND REASSIGNMENT OF SPACE AT STAR PARK

    1. Day-to-day responsibility for the assignment of specific spaces for any purpose rests with the VPR.

    2. The VPR retains the flexibility to reassign space within STAR One to maximize use and to facilitate changes in program needs. The AVPFSSP must receive all changes within 30 days to ensure the space is properly reported on the university space inventory.

    3. The VPR approves space reallocation within STAR One from one college or administrative division to another.

    4. An annual review of space usage in STAR One will be conducted by the executive director of STAR Park. Included in the review will be an evaluation of the metrics and goals set at the time the space was allocated to a faculty or staff member.

    5. The VPR will reassign occupied space at all administrative levels on the basis of program priorities, the strategic and STAR Park master plans, actual utilization, evaluation of program metrics, and overall need. The AVPFSSP must receive all changes within 30 days to ensure the space is properly reported on the university space inventory.

  6. PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING RENOVATION OF EXISTING SPACE

    1. Requestors must submit the completed Request for Renovation, New Space, or Change of Function form when requesting renovation of existing space.

    2. Requestors must submit requests for renovation of existing space through the appropriate channels.

    3. For safety, accessibility, building codes, and liability reasons, the Office of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction will coordinate renovations unless the associate vice president of Facilities approves use of off-campus services.

    4. The VPR will submit the request to the AVPFSSP who will secure approval to obtain a cost estimate. Once the VPR has endorsed the request, the AVPFSSP will forward the request to the assistant director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction to develop a cost estimate for renovation of existing space.

    5. Once the cost estimate is prepared, the assistant director of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction will provide it to the AVPFSSP. It will then be reviewed by the Facilities Committee and forwarded for the proper approvals (e.g., president must approve if over $25,000). The appropriate university administrative unit or the requesting faculty or staff member will be solely responsible for providing funding sufficient to meet identified costs associated with the renovation or conversion of existing space. Once all approvals are received, the project may proceed.

    6. The VPR will maintain all documentation of all actions regarding renovation requests.

  7. PROCEDURES FOR A REQUEST TO CHANGE FUNCTION OF SPACE

    1. Even if there is no change in ownership, requestors seeking to change the function of a space (e.g., lab converted to office space) must submit the completed Request for Renovation, New Space, or Change of Function form through the appropriate channels and then to the VPR.

    2. The VPR will present the request to the provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs for review and consideration.

    3. The VPR will notify the AVPFSSP and will be responsible for maintaining written records and documentation of all changes.

  8. REVIEWER OF THIS PPS

    1. Reviewer of this PPS includes the following:

      PositionDate
      Vice President for ResearchAugust 1 E5Y
      Assistant Vice President for ResearchAugust 1 E5Y
      Executive Director of Star ParkAugust 1 E5Y

  9. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

    This PPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State Research policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

    Vice President for Research; senior reviewer of this PPS