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Facilities Manager | january/february 2015 | 45 research/cfar/tls.cfm) or in print in the September/October and November/De- cember 2014 issues of Facilities Manager magazine. It is titled Leveraging Facilities for Institutional Success. THE PINNACLE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I intentionally kept APPA U for last. The Institute for Facilities Manage- ment and Leadership Academy have joined forces to become APPA U, the pinnacle of educational facilities profes- sional development. Each of these week- long programs comprised of four levels, or tracks. With emphasis on general administration, maintenance and opera- tions, energy and utilities, and planning, design, and construction, the Institute offers all you need to know as you prog- ress through a facilities career. The Academy is built off the prin- ciples of Stephen R. Covey, drawing out your individual and interpersonal effec- tiveness skills. And now, levels 1, 2 & 3 of the Leadership Academy are available to travel to your campuses. The ultimate team-building opportunity is available for your entire staff. In my role as VP for Professional Development, I wanted to accomplish a few important tasks. One is the creation of a graduate program for individuals that have already completed the Institute and Academy. This program is still in its infancy, but there is promise for those more seasoned members of our industry who want new training and learning op- portunities. In addition, a review is currently underway that is taking a deep dive into all aspects of the Institute. This program has had great success over the years and is continually reviewed by the deans. They make adjustments annually, based upon reviews provided by the attendees. Yet, in an effort for continual improve- ment, this additional review will aid the deans in preparation for future years. With a focus on providing attendees their best value, we want to deliver them the best experience available. VALUE, THE CRITICAL ELEMENT It is important to inform our member- ship of all of the professional develop- ment opportunities that are available to them, and to highlight the value these offerings provide. And finally, as Mary mentioned, it is the people of APPA that make things happen. Together, we can all make things happen for the betterment of the educational facilities profession. Chuck Scott is APPA's Vice President for Professional Development and executive director, facilities management, at Illinois State University, Normal, IL. He can be reached at cascott@ilstu.edu.