The creation of a new Security and Parking Services unit is one of the recommendations in a new report that reviewed both McMaster operations.

“Parking and security are both critical services for the University. But campus growth and the need to provide the highest level of service meant it was time to assess how to best meet the needs of students, staff, faculty and the University,” says Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. “Bringing both units together makes it possible to have a more co-ordinated approach, improved communications and facilities for employees, greater flexibility to respond to emerging needs, and opportunities to address increasing costs through efficiency measures.”

The Review Committee, which included both internal members and external experts, worked in consultation with the President's Advisory Committee on Parking. The Review Committee interviewed more than 40 people from across campus to assess current operations and to identify services areas that could be improved. It also examined best practices at security and parking operations at other universities and in industry.

Belaire says, “Developing a new structure to best deliver parking and security services is the first phase of the reorganization. The President's Advisory Committee on Parking will now be asked to consult with other parts of the University to review parking operations and develop specific recommendations on how to successfully provide parking and transit services for campus. The first task for the new Director of the department will be to create a strategic plan for the service. Consultation with the community will be an important part of the plan development.”

Bill Armstrong, the current manager of Security Services, will be acting director of the new amalgamated unit until the search for a director is complete. A copy of the Review Committee report can be found at http://www.mcmaster.ca/security/review.pdf