PSH Graduate Manager of Campus Maintenance
Danielle Hollister
Staff Reporter
It doesn't seem that a man who goes camp
ing, white-water rafting and mountain biking,
sings professionally at weddings, and is a
member of the Pennsylvania National Guard
would have time for a job, but Paul Politza
manages it all.
As a Penn State Harrisburg graduate, Paul
Politza brings a unique view to his position of
manager of maintenance and construction for
this campus
Ed Dankanich, who is director of facilities
and Politza's supervisor, said, "It's interesting
to see somebody who went to school here and
now also works here. Paul brings a different
perspective to the department. He thinks about
the students' concerns. For example, with the
design of the classrooms, Paul thinks about
what's comfortable and what's appropriate
for the students."
Although originally from Tyrone, Pa.,
Politza has been on campus for more than
three years. He was a student and part-time
worker for the maintenance department for the
first two years and has held his current posi
tion for about a year.
Politza's part-time office position involved
drafting work for renovations and preparing
studies on maintenance operations.
Politza earned associate's degrees from the
Interim Provost
Continued from page 3
lications, Steve Hevner said, "Dr. Kiffer
is just wonderful to work with. I don't
know how else to say it. He seems to
have fallen in love with Penn State
Harrisburg. . .He's a very good leader."
When asked about his opinion of
the previous administration, Dr. Kiffer
said, "I will not make any comment
about previous administrations. That's
not why I'm here."
When asked if he had the authority
to make lasting changes, Dr. Kiffer said,
"I told Dr. Brighton that I would not
come here unless I had that authority."
He doesn't know how long he will
be here, but there are certain limitations
because he is retired. According to Dr.
Kiffer, under the Pennsylvania State
Employees Retirement System, within
one fiscal year he can work 95 eight
hour days.
Dr. Kiffer said by spacing his days
correctly, he can pretty much cover the semester. He thinks there
should be a permanent replacement by fall.
"I would hope that the right person would be selected in a
reasonable amount of time," Dr. Kiffer said.
When asked about the two candidates for the provost position,
he said, "I interviewed both of them and sent Dr. Brighton my
confidential assessment of both of them."
Dr. Kiffer said when a new provost is selected, he would give
that person a list of things that really need to be done and he would
also emphasize the importance of this institution to the south
central Pennsylvania area.
Dr. Kiffer said that change takes place within Penn State at the
speed of a glacier." There is a lot of thought and planning that goes
into what might appear to be a relatively mild change," he said.
When asked how Penn State Harrisburg can stand out, Dr.
Kiffer said he is one of few people who has been part of the faculty
and the administration both at two-year campuses and at Univer
sity Park. He said that PSH occupies a unique niche in the PSU
system and in the commonwealth of PA.
"There's an unusual blend and mix of students here," Dr
Kiffer said.
In his opinion, it would be a dreadful mistake to have PSH be
Penn State Fayette campus in architectural
engineering technology and building energy
system technology. He earned his bachelor's
degree in mechanical engineering technology
from PSH.
After receiving his bachelor's degree, Politza
said, "Basically I was hired to renovate cam
pus building drawings."
Politza also oversees campus building
projects. He said he acts as the liaison be
tween the contractors hired to do a job at PSH
and the administration in charge of the project
at University Park.
Politza is in charge of the project currently
underway at the service stations by the dormi
tories. The project involves adding two addi
tional service bays to the station. Politza said
the expected completion date is May, 1995.
"The station is a facility that serves our
vehicles and provides a customer-oriented fleet
service for the instructors and faculty. We rent
out cars for Penn State employees on official
business," Politza said.
Politza supervises a maintenance staff of
four. Most of the workers he is in charge of
have been here a lot longer than he has. He
said that factor combined with his young age
can present a challenge for him, but he said he
tries to promote teamwork.
His approach seems to be working, accord
ing to some of his employees.
A 19-year veteran maintenance worker, Joe,
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Dr. Kiffer said he is going to work with all the members
of the appropriate constituencies for the new library and he
hopes to be a cheerleader in that arena.
"This is going to be one of the most up-to-date library
facilities in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania," he said.
He said people shouldn't be afraid to make commit
ments. He told the story of how he met his wife as she was
walking down the road and he passed as the passenger on a
bike with his friend. Dr. Kiffer saw her and asked his friend
if he knew her. His friend did, so Dr. Kiffer told him to turn
the bike around and go back to introducehim to her.
Dr. Kiffer went home that night and told his dad that he
had just met the girl he was going to marry. This fall they
will have been married 49 years.
"I make commitments. I made a commitment that I
want to do as much as I possibly can [while he's serving as
interim provost]," Dr. Kiffer said.
When asked what he wanted to be remembered by at
Penn State Harrisburg, Dr. Kiffer said, "I guess maybe that
I didn't totally disrupt the place... No, that I somehow
helped make it a more actively engaged learning commu
nity."
Features
Paul Politza, Manager of Campus Maintenance
Kepp, said, "He's doing a good job with his
men."
Donny Graves grounds crew, added, "He
worked his way up as a part-timer and being a
student to being a supervisor now. Paul is
doing a good job at the service station."
Politza is also thought highly of by the two
office assistants, Becky Amspacher and linda
Gingell.
at PSH
like University Park. He pointed out
that University Park has been around
for decades and PSH is only 28 years
old.
"It hasn't matured as an institu
tion," Dr. Kiffer said.
He said what we need to do at
PSH is focus on our individuality and
emphasize our good points.
"Most of the students I have met
have told me personally that they're
happy to be here," Dr. Kiffer said.
"There is a perception that people are
at Penn State Harrisburg because they
can't be any place else."
He said that perception needs to
ts
be overcome with the students and the
tr. faculty and in the community and in
.Z the region.
"If it weren't for Penn State Har
risburg, there are lots of people who
°- are getting an education who wouldn't
be able to otherwise," he said.
"He's very organized and meticulous,"
Becky Amspacher, a staff assistant said. "He
fits in well with the office."
"It's nice to see that he did better and got a
full time job ," Linda Gingell, another staff
assistant said. "Paul has new and innovative
Ideas."
Politza partially credits his relationship
with everyone for him being chosen for the
manager position
"I think the best thing I had going for me
was that I knew the people," Politza said. "I
was working with them. I think that's the
strongest point, the combination of the job
and the personnel."
Russ Conrad, the utilities manager, whose
office is located next to Politzas' said, "Paul's
new in the department, fresh out of school,
but he's fitting in real nice. He's a good
manager and very easy to work with. He's
good with his employees."
Politza credits his basic training in the
National Guard for helping him to develop a
lot of individual skills and the ability to work
with people. This month marks the eighth
year he has been in the military.
"I believe in team concept and that's what
the army teaches you," Politza said.
As for his decision to go into the military on
only a part-time basis, he said, "I love con
struction. I love buildings and when I was 12
years old, I knew that I was interested in some
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the
'Amp. isslSPOs'
type of building and architectural career."
He said that his decision to go to Penn State
was the logical choice based on the strong
engineering program and the locality of the
Fayette campus in relation to his hometown of
Tyrone. Politza said all of the engineering
professors he has had were excellent.
Politza said the best thing about Penn State
Harrisburg is, "you're getting a quality educa
tion. It's tough, but with the relatively small
class environment, you're not so much a num
ber. You can actually talk to the professor."
Aside from all that Politza has accomplished
associated with Penn State, he enjoys camping
vacations with his wife of three years, Michelle.
She was his high school sweetheart and they
dated for seven years before they got married.
They go camping and white-water rafting at
the Ohio Pyle State Park in Pennsylvania.
They also go mountain biking on a trail that
runs right beside the river.
"I've been into mountain biking seriously
for four or five years," Politza said.
He also enjoys singing professionally at
special events. He said he will sing any style
that the client wants.
"It's not for money and it's usually by word
of mouth," Politza said. "Most of this oc
curred before we moved down here. I sang at
my brother-in-law's wedding and that was
really high stress, especially with the video
camcorders rolling."
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