The University of New Mexico has been selected to receive the APPA Award for Excellence for 2014. The award, presented to the UNM Physical Plant Department (PPD), is APPA’s highest institutional honor and is designed to highlight, recognize and advance excellence in the field of educational facilities.

The award is designed to highlight the essential role of facilities operations in the overall institutional mission and vision. Award for Excellence nominations are evaluated using the same criteria applied through the Facilities Management Evaluation Program (FMEP) in the areas of: leadership; strategic and operational planning; customer focus; information and analysis; development and management of human resources; process management; and, performance results.

UNM PPD demonstrated its excellence in all of those areas, with over 800 pages of documentation. With a rigorous application process and strict judging criteria, UNM demonstrated its facilities management operation is among other top schools in the nation.  In the areas of leadership, strategic and operational planning, customer focus, information and analysis, development and management of human resources, process management, performance results, and commitment to sustainability.

Beautifully landscaped grounds surround one of the dorms on UNM's main campus.

“We have been working toward this award for five years, aligning PPD’s strategic plan and the University’s, along with the criteria for the Award for Excellence,” said UNM Physical Plant Director Mary Vosevich. “This award is an example of the excellence PPD demonstrates in supporting the overall institutional mission and vision of UNM.”

Nominated institutions also submit to a site review conducted by an awards evaluation team, when appropriate. UNM was visited by the APPA awards evaluation team in April. The team said “it was apparent that the Physical Plant Department is well respected among the other administrators and department heads we spoke to.” 

Originally established in 1988, the Award for Excellence is APPA's highest institutional honor and provides educational institutions the opportunity for national and international recognition for their outstanding achievements in facilities management. The Award for Excellence designation is valid for a period of five years and positions UNM for national and international recognition for outstanding achievements in facilities management.

Only a small handful of universities have received this award since its inception. UNM now joins institutions such as, Duke University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Arizona, and Texas Tech University as schools who demonstrate excellence in facilities management.

APPA, Leadership in Educational Facilities, is a professional organization specializing in educating and supporting facilities professionals in their unique role of managing facilities in an educational environment. The APPA organization began in 1914 and has grown to be an industry leader, shaping facilities management through decades of technological and social change. 

To view a visually stunning video produced by PPD Communication & Outreach Specialist, Rachel Stone and KNME, visit UNM PPD