On Tue, 15 Aug 2000, Ken Eschete wrote: ] ]Please take the time to tell me: ] ]1. How does your department fit into the organizational structure at ]your school and what is your title? The University of Illinois "Piano Shop" is run by "Musical Instrument Tech III" which is a state civil service supervisory position. (There is one technician under me) My supervisor is the Assistant Director of Operations in the School of Music business office. He works closely with the Director of the School in determining spending for the department. The Director is under the Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. ] ]2. Who approves your budget and do you have authority to spend the ]money according to your own judgment. The Assistant Director and Director determine what is spent and where. My suggestions are asked for, but easily vetoed. I am in my second year of having an annual budget of $2,000 for tools and supplies, to be used at my soul discretion. We also budget approximately $18,000 per year for rebuilding that is contracted out to an excellent local rebuilder. ]3. Are you allowed to do anything to raise funds for your own ]departmental use by selling surplus pianos, or providing tuning ]services to other university departments for a fee. We do trade pianos in for new ones every year. I had to plead to trade a 1960's Mason & Hamlin for some repair parts for rebuilding. We also trade a dozen older Kimballs and Everetts yearly for new Yamaha P-22's. I doubt I could get away with servicing other departments. I am currently working on a plan to charge a fee for tuning for recordings by faculty and students. The administrators are VERY reluctant to try new things here, and are afraid of "rocking the boat" when it comes to dealing with other departments on campus. For instance, we loan a studio upright to any department on campus FOR FREE!!! They pay for the moving. I suggested we should charge a fee for this and was told we did not want to make enemies! ]5. Are you involved with any of the "handy-man" stuff that needs to be ]done in your school. (Building Management? ) ] NO! We are not allowed to move pianos. The trade unions are too strong to allow non-union people to do their work here. We can't even change light bulbs!! (How may tuners DOES it take to change a light bulb?) Good luck! John Minor University of Illinois School of Music
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