NSU’s Physical Plant will downsize the number of vans available for use by student clubs and organizations from six to four. The vans’ current leasing option will also be changed.
Gene Vladoiu, assistant director of NSU’s Physical Plant, said the changing of leasing options and a partnership with Ford and Donlen, a management company based out of Chicago, support NSU President George Hanbury’s vision of making NSU a nationally-recognized premier institution.
“With the new vision, we’re trying to reduce cost in our department. We’re looking at alternatives to save the university money,” said Vladuio. “If there is a need, we can always increase to five or six [vans]. If we can manage with what we have, we’ll stick with four. It’s all about saving money.”
However, A.K. Bennett, senior philosophy and legal studies major and president of the undergraduate SGA, said he thought only having four vehicles was a bad idea and that SGA voted to increase the amount of vans at its Oct. 26 meeting.
“There is conflict that occurs between faculty field trips and student organizations and their trips. We don’t feel like there are enough vans for undergraduates and graduates. Vans are reserved three or four months in advance so students can’t reserve them on short notice,” he said.
Bennett said there is now a move to get the PANSGA, which consists of representatives from all of NSU’s SGAs, to support the petition to increase the number of vans available to students. He said it will be presented to the PANSGA next month.
If the PANSGA also votes for the increase, that information will be presented to Brad Williams, vice president of Student Affairs, who will meet with a Physical Plant representative to discuss the petition and, then, make a decision.
The current lease on the six vans ends on Nov. 30. But Vladuio said new vans should arrive in time to create a seamless transfer. If they don’t, he said the department will hold the old vans and continue paying monthly until the new vans arrive.
Vladuio said the partnership with Ford and Donlen allows NSU to lease vehicles with no stipulations and with discounts.
“I order the vehicles straight from the factory and Ford gives us a discount, as well as Donlen. We pay even less than what the dealer pays,” said Vladuio.
Donlen will help the department to save more money because Vladuio can now monitor the entire fleet from his computer. From one dashboard, he sees all the information about the vehicles, like the miles per gallon and the preventative maintenance needed.
“I can also open every vehicle and see its maintenance, fuel, billing. I can see how many gallons someone put in for fuel, where he fueled up, how much it cost,” he said.
Vladuio said these options will help monitor the vehicles’ use and ensure that they are being used within university regulations.
“[This helps prevents] fraudulent activity on the gas cards. It probably happened before, but no one was looking. Now I can pinpoint, based on gas consumption, the things that don’t make sense,” he said.
