would be ‘customer service.’We work with students on occasion, but we aren’t front-facing, so our priority is serving the staff and faculty of the university,” says Director of Purchasing Shandra Irish. Under Irish’s leadership, the university’s procurement department has embraced technological advancements, strategic partnerships, and inclusive initiatives to adapt to the ever-evolving educational landscape. Like many institutions, UA faced significant supply chain challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Essential items like gloves and masks were initially scarce. However, this scarcity brought with it an awareness of critical shifts that needed to occur moving forward. “As far as increased bidding participation and supply chain go, we utilize consortiums whenever possible which saves time, resources, and many times provides a rebate,” Irish says. “Since UA is a state entity, it’s required to submit a bid based on certain bid limits, which are $75,000 for goods and $100,000 for services. The usage of 111 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 12 THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
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