As a result of the findings by external auditing firm McConnell Jones, ACC’s Security, Safety, and Operations departments will undergo a reorganization that will allow the college to move forward more efficiently and collaboratively. 

At the July Virtual Employee Town Hall meeting, ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart shared the reorganization plan that realigns elements of operations and safety throughout the college. Prior to the Town Hall, he met with leaders directly affected in the reorganization reporting structure and then with each affected employee group so that the announcement wouldn’t come as a surprise.

“I know that any process around change and reorganization is scary and frightening and uncertain, even when we can say no one is losing their job, no one is losing salary—it’s uncertain, and I wanted to acknowledge that,” said Russell.

He laid out the Guiding Principles for the reorganization:

  • Organize for effectiveness, efficiency, and safety, not personalities
  • No one loses a job or salary, and we reduce administrative overhead
  • Role clarity and accountability
  • No ghost promotions or demotions

The auditors met with leaders and employees in each department and asked them to document the responsibilities and functions of each position. They then compared those against the best practices of our peers. The auditors found that there were a lot of people doing hard work, but there are areas where we have omissions, duplications, and misalignments, and we need to adapt.

Based on interviews with ACC employees, the auditors created a roles and responsibilities matrix for the divisions to provide clarity and accountability. Everyone will have access to the full responsibility matrix in the next couple of weeks. 

Below are the changes happening across the Security, Safety, and Operations departments:

  • The Community & Public Affairs Office will become the Community & Government Affairs Office. This team will be responsible for formalizing Government Relations responsibilities, will oversee our internal and external events functions under the Director of Strategic Events, and report directly to the Chancellor. 
  • The Facilities & Construction and Campus Operations teams will merge under a new area called Facilities Management which will fall under our Finance & Administration area. This department will oversee the following:
    • Mechanical, Engineering & Plumbing Systems
    • Energy & Sustainability
    • Campus Planning & Construction
    • Building Management
  • Regulatory Affairs as a function will go away and the team will oversee Safety & Emergency Management. It will focus on emergency, safety, and environmental management activities. Responsibility for fire, HVAC, and electricians will be transferred to Facilities Management. The team will report to the Executive Vice Chancellor of Finance & Administration.
  • The Police Department will assume the responsibilities of parking regulation and enforcement with more of a focus on safety and risk management. The department will report to the EVC of Finance & Administration.

Additionally, to help flatten the organization and reduce administrative overhead, the following positions will be eliminated, added, or realigned to improve efficiency and effectiveness:

  • The role of Executive Vice Chancellor of Operations & Public Affairs will not be filled when Dr. Molly Beth Malcolm retires from the position at the end of August.
  • The role of Associate Vice Chancellor of Campus Operations, Quality Control & Project Management also will not be filled when Sharrion Jenkins retires at the end of July.
  • A Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management will be hired, repurposing an open vice chancellor position. The position will report to the EVC of Finance & Administration.
  • A Deputy Chief Financial Officer is also a repurposed position and will be responsible for assisting the EVC of Finance & Administration. Direct reports and functions include:
    • Risk Management & Insurance
    • Campus Budgets
    • Auxiliary Services, including Food Operations & Vendor Contracts, Duplication, Book Store, and Golf Course Operations

The changes will go into effect on September 1, 2024.

View the slides from Russell’s presentation HERE

What’s Next

The next audits will focus on Business Services—already in progress—and IT. Russell said that not every audit will produce reorganizations like the Security, Safety, and Operations audit has. 

Ultimately, all college operations will be reviewed. Later this year, the college will develop a multiyear plan to prioritize all operations in terms of timing. Findings from all audits and information about the process and plan will be posted on the Internal Audit web page.