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July 17, 2000
Q&A:
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Semmy Ju (pronounced "Dru") may have stumbled onto his career path, but the successful course he followed to Montclair State, where he now oversees facilities planning and management for the entire campus, including the Physical Plant and Architectural and Engineering Services, was deliberate.
Ju arrived at Montclair in June from the University of Florida where he spent six years as director of the Division of Campus Planning and Construction Management. Before that he directed Facilities Planning and Space Management at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was director of Capital and Space Programs at Northern Illinois University and entered his profession as a campus planner at the University of Chicago.
"When I was a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, one summer, purely by accident, I became a student assistant in the Physical Plant DepartmentÕs landscaping section. That experience led to my career," said Ju, who was born in Beijing, grew up in Taiwan and came to the United States at age 24.
Responsible for physical planning and construction at the University of FloridaÕs 2,000-acre campus, Ju managed a $600-million construction program and is looking forward to applying his experience at Montclair State.
INSIGHT: What are the UniversityÕs immediate facilities needs?
Ju: Physically, Montclair State is cramped and congested. The University needs
more space, facilities, resources and money, which presents a challenge not
just to me, but to the entire campus community. We canÕt depend on the government
for funds to address our facilities needs, so we have to get creative and locate
other financing mechanisms to get the construction work done. We also need to
be more efficient and effective in managing the limited resources we have so
we can do more with less.
INSIGHT: What are some alternative financing options?
Ju: Self-sustaining operations such as residence halls are based on the income
they generate. We can get the construction done first and pay back over time.
Another way is through private investment. For instance, a private company may
build a dining facility or corporate conference center and we can lease the
land to them. The ultimate goal, of course, is funding through private donations.
INSIGHT: What are your biggest challenges at Montclair?
Ju: New student housing, academic space and parking are all important in terms
of the UniversityÕs urgent needs. We need to address those threeÑand other issuesÑimmediately
but we are constrained by limited resources and staff. ItÕs quite a challenge,
but our leadership has a very good vision, and I want to do my best to move
in the direction of that vision.
INSIGHT: What do you want to accomplish here?
Ju: I want to contribute to the development and improvement of the physical
environment of the campus. Montclair State is approaching its centennial, so
this is the perfect time to produce a vision statement in the form of a master
plan to guide the University into the next century. Also, I want to maintain
an up-to-date comprehensive database for campus planning at all times. For example,
I would like to establish a computer-integrated space database. This is a basic
management tool in higher education because weÕve got to know what we have and
where people are to determine what we need and how to address those needs.
INSIGHT: What are your thoughts on conservation?
Ju: Certain areas need to be conserved for a variety of reasons, so we will
identify and protect those areas. Tree preservation and protection will be a
high priority.