Operations Division FY20 Annual Report

Grounds
Maintenance
PGMS Merit Award
Honey Locust Tree Earns State
Recognition
The Texas Big Tree Registry
recognizes the largest known tree
of each species growing in the
state. This year the Operations
Division Grounds department was
crowned yet again for largest in
the state by the Texas A&M Forest
Service for their honey locust tree
located south of the Administration
Building.
The tree was officially measured
back in 2013 by using a tree index
that compares the honey locust
on Tech’s campus to other honey
locust trees in the state of Texas.
To get the index score, staff from
2019
2020
Texas A&M Forest Service combine
the trunk circumference in inches,
tree height in feet and one-quarter
of the average crown spread in feet.
In 2013, the honey locust tree on
campus had a circumference of 115
inches (9.5 feet), a height of 56 feet
and a crown of 77 feet, which gives
a tree index of 190 points.
This summer the tree was
measured again and the honey
locust now has a circumference
of 124 inches (10.3 feet), sits at a
tall 58 feet and a crown spread of
77 feet.
Campus Quality
Campus Cleanliness
1.35
1.67
The Professional Grounds Maintenance Association is a
national society for grounds professionals which advances
grounds management professionals through education
and professional development. Participating in the Merit
Award program allows the Operations Division Grounds
Maintenance Department to promote and celebrate
the Texas Tech University campus by showcasing their
best landscape designs and construction . The Grounds
Department is committed to making the Texas Tech
campus beautiful and safe. The award program allows
Grounds Maintenance to receive kudos from outside their
organization. This in turn raises their morale and highlights
the campus’ beautification.
Texas Tech competes against other campuses nationwide,
including Purdue University, Penn State University, and
the University of Chicago. There are 15 categories such
as athletic fields, golf courses, cemetery/memorial park,
condominium/apartment complexes, hotel, motel, or resort,
and university/college large, mid-size and small, including
urban university grounds and public works sites.
Grounds Maintenance is graded on turf management,
landscape design, safety, challenges, budget, and
sustainability practices.
This year the Agricultural Science East landscape was
showcased. Grounds Maintenance’s design scored fair,
with the judges appreciating the Purple Hearts and the
plant choices. Additionally, the sustainability practices of
shredding tree trimmings and using the organic shredded
material as mulch earned Grounds Maintenance a good
score as well .
The Texas Tech Undergraduate Admissions conducts many
tours for potential students each year, and making that first
positive impression is important. When potential students
enter the campus, Grounds Maintenance wants them to feel
comfortable and welcomed. Texas Tech University stands
for excellence in everything they do, including Grounds
Maintenance.
* 1 being the best
Web Self Help Count
2019
13
2020
57
19