OFFICE & LABORATORY SPACE

OFFICE & LABORATORY SPACE Heading link

Space is assigned to departments and other units within the College, but ultimately, all this space belongs to the College.  Space is a limited and crucially important resource that needs to be managed economically to effectively serve College programs. Office space should have occupants and not be assigned solely for storage of books, files, old furniture and equipment, or trash. Departments should regularly dispose of equipment that no longer has any value but occupies space.   Departments must ensure that information about occupants (name and function) is properly displayed on each office door.

College space policies are subject to change so that they can remain aligned with campus-wide policies.

The College should be consulted regarding any changes in space allocations across units. Contact Associate Dean Luke Hanley.

 

Space Allocations Heading link

Faculty

Full-time tenure-track faculty member are assigned office and/or laboratory space according to reasonable requirements and sufficient availabilities. The number of offices should equal and not exceed the percent FTE appointment (100% FTE = 1 office). In situations that require additional office space (such as joint appointments between departments) a space plan should be submitted to the college for approval in advance of recruitment. Laboratory space is assigned for research seeking or supported by external grants. Reallocation of laboratory space is to be expected as external funding waxes and wanes.  Faculty members in administrative positions that entitle them to separate administrative offices may be required to vacate their faculty offices and make them available for graduate students, lecturers, visiting professors and others. Non-tenure track faculty and lecturers are typically expected to share offices.

 

Staff

Office space is assigned to staff according to reasonable requirements, responsibilities and sufficient availabilities. In many cases staff will share office space and should not expect a private office. Assigning regular faculty offices to staff members when appropriate shared, or open reception area is available should be avoided. Staff with remote work agreements in place are expected to share offices and, in some cases, desks.

Office space is assigned to graduate students on the basis of research and teaching appointments. In most cases graduate students will share an office with one or more other graduate students.

Emeriti Faculty

Emeriti faculty members do not retain offices, though they may be assigned an office on the basis of research and teaching appointments in the same way it is done for non-tenure track lecturers or research personnel after consultation with the Dean’s Office. Other Emeriti faculty should be encouraged to use the UIC Emeritus Faculty Center located in room 2460 of the Richard J Daley Library.

Other Space

Copy/print rooms, mail rooms and supply rooms should be combined whenever possible. Size of these rooms should be maintained at the minimum. In addition, Departments should explore ways and means to share these type of rooms between departments and programs in order to free up needed space.