Transportation System Changing
Northern will no longer maintain a fleet of small cars that departments can reserve. The university’s 10 Ford Focuses currently leased through the state of Michigan will be decommissioned around July 1. Through its membership in an educational/institutional consortium that negotiates rates with rental-car providers, NMU will contract with the local Enterprise affiliate to meet individual needs as they arise.
“When we crunched the numbers, there isn’t a viable cost model that supports a centrally managed motor pool.” said Kaylie Anthos (Business Services). “University employees have the option of driving their own vehicle while on university business and are reimbursed for mileage, which is what many choose to do. Some of the small cars are permanently assigned to departments and we will meet with those departments to find a solution that works for them.”
Anthos said motor pool vans and buses will not be impacted for now. “They fill a different niche that is not as easily replaceable as cars. There’s a unique purpose and value. But we will continue to look at that as we move forward.”
The new transportation position will be reduced from 1.0 to 0.5 FTE. The employee who currently holds that job will relocate to a vacant position in the criminal justice program.
For more information, call ext. 2823. |