UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Quality Team Highlights provides a way to recognize those who have contributed to innovation and improvement initiatives. Teams newly charged or formed since July 1, 2015, or not previously registered, can be entered in Penn State’s Team Database, managed by the Department of Planning and Institutional Research in the Office of Planning and Assessment. Team information will be posted on the Web and team members will receive a certificate of recognition.

Teams recognized in 2015 include:

• The Centralized Application Tracking System Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Advisory Team (CATS IACUC) is comprised of representatives from the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Medicine, The Graduate School, and the Office of the Vice President for Research. The team is working to improve and transform the business processes and system components related to the submission, review, and approval of animal research at Penn State.
• The PSU Schuylkill Strategic Planning Steering Committee reviewed all facets of Penn State Schuylkill’s academic and administrative operations in order to develop a strategic plan with baseline metrics and performance indicators.
• In Finance and Business, the Solid Waste Management Collection Team identified ways to keep the campuses beautiful and reduce the visual impact of solid waste. The Van Snow Clearing Team focused on winter preparedness and an improved process for removing snow from the van fleet.

Since Penn State’s innovation and improvement efforts began in 1991, more than 1,000 innovation and improvement teams have been formed and added to the database. In addition to recognition, posting of team information makes it possible for the team to share their knowledge and accomplishments across the University and around the world. 

New teams can be added at any time.

For more information, visit www.opa.psu.edu, or e-mail opa@psu.edu.