Each October, Penn State faculty, staff and students roll up their sleeves and turn out in droves to participate in the PNC Bank/United Way Day of Caring to benefit local nonprofit organizations. This February and March, Penn State is giving faculty, staff and students the opportunity to participate in a series of similar days, during which they can volunteer to benefit their own surroundings on campus.
Called "Paint the Campus Day," the initiative is a creative way to beautify Penn State's University Park campus during a time of restricted budgets. Many offices, hallways and common areas on campus should be painted, but budget reductions and reallocations mean there isn't enough money in the education and general funding budget to paint every area that needs it.
To leverage the money the University does have available for this deferred maintenance, the Office of Physical Plant (OPP) is implementing a self-help painting program. Beginning in 2006, OPP will coordinate a volunteer painting program aimed at brightening and refreshing areas in need of a makeover. The program is called "Paint the Campus Day," and will be administered by OPP every Wednesday during February and March.
There will be no out-of-pocket cost for participating academic and administrative units, and OPP will supply all paint, tools and other materials free of charge. In addition, OPP will assign a professional painter to supervise the painting and instruct volunteers to ensure that quality work is done. OPP also will assist with any special moving and clean-up needs.
Participating colleges and units will be allowed to select their color choices from a standard set of colors used on campus. Laboratories have been excluded from the program since they require more complex work and usually can't be completed in a day. Each participating area will need to determine the locations to be painted and solicit volunteers (students, staff and faculty) to do the bulk of the painting, moving and cleanup.
Detailed information will be provided separately to facility coordinators about the program. Questions can be directed to Paul Ruskin at pdr2@psu.edu or (814) 863-9620.