As part of the FM494R class, students are participating in an international operations and maintenance research project. The goal of this research is to collect information from global companies and organizations regarding operations and maintenance procedures and challenges. Potentially, the BYU FM program will become the host of a constortium on international facilities management.

Currently, students are working with Fortune 500 companies to assemble a group to participate in a survey to gather basic information about international operations and maintenance challenges and standards. They are also working with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to identify regional standards of measurement so that an international standard may be explored.

Two students in the Facility Management program at Brigham Young University were recently awarded academic scholarships from the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) Foundation at the recent IFMA World Workplace Annual Convention October 8-10 in San Diego, California.

The Foundation recognizes outstanding students from around the globe and this year’s honorees represented the United States, Canada, Taiwan, England and Austria. The cash awards are based on achievement in the facility management field and academic accomplishments and the awards are designed to help students further their education in becoming the next generation of facility management professionals.

Dr Jeffery Campbell, Department Chairman of the Facilities Management Program at Brigham Young University, was awarded the International Facility Management Association Association’s Distinguished Author Award for the year 2006. The presentation was made by IFMA President Dave Brady at the recent IFMA World Workplace Annual Convention October 8-10 in San Diego, California. Dr. Campbell received the award for his work in designing a web based course curriculum for the IFMA On-Line Learning Center. http://www.ifma.org/learning/online/index.cfm

IFMA is the largest and most widely recognized professional association for facility management, supporting more than 18,000 members. The Association’s members are represented in 124 chapters, 15 councils and one Special Interest Group (SIG), in 60 countries worldwide. Globally, IFMA certifies facility managers, conducts research, provides educational programs, recognizes facility management degree and certificate programs, and produces World Workplace, the largest facility management-related conference and exposition. www.ifma.org