Date of Award
9-1-1990
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Abstract
For over 13 years, officials at Arizona State University (ASU) have called for centralization of campus environmental health and safety (EHS) practices currently handled by five separate departments. As a step toward answering this call, this study involved a two-stage project. The first stage collected information on centralized programs at different colleges and universities to develop a program model for use at ASU. The second stage evaluated the developed mode. Data were collected on the model's appropriateness with respect to eight major areas of environmental health and safety concerns from a sample of ASU officials and personnel working for each of the five EHS campus departments. Of the 13 survey packets mailed to subjects, ten were returned. Findings indicated that respondents felt that the model dealt appropriately with most areas of concern. The areas which received the greatest measure of approval were the general areas of centralization of administrative duties and using program policy to cover areas of responsibility. Most problems with the Model were problems of insufficient detail, not of inaccuracy. There was indication that some changes might be needed in the stipulation of special environmental health and safety procedures and in the development of provisions for related policies. These changes were incorporated into a revised Model. This research will provide university administrators with a basic blueprint to use in centralizing their program. The developed model could provide insight into how departments might handle responsibilities more efficiently. Also, the blueprint may be of some use to other institutions considering centralizing their existing health and safety programs. All people involved in the project were sent copies of the completed research. Recommendations involved procedures aimed at expanding and refining the developed model. Recommendations for implementation included enlisting the assistance of appropriate persons, holding discussions determining effective ways of shifting to a centralized system, delineating job descriptions and qualifications, and selecting qualified individuals to administrate the new program. When the model is implemented, a continuing evaluation process can be carried out to ensure the program achieves maximum effectiveness.