Valcik, Nicolas A.

Dr. Nicolas A. Valcik is Assistant Director of Strategic Planning and Analysis at the University of Texas at Dallas. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Affairs from that university. He is the author of Empowering Data Usage: Extracting Data from Mainframe Applications Using Job Control Language, FOCUS, SAS, and ACCESS (Global Books, 2004) and The Fifth Dimension: Strategic Planning and Practical Aspects for Higher Education and Public Sector (Global Books, 2003). Dr. Valcik is co-author (with P. Huesca-Dorantes) of “Building a GIS Database for Space and Facilities Management” in Using Geographic Information Systems in Institutional Research. New Directions for Institutional Research (Jossey-Bass, 2004), and “Building a Space Management System” in Midwestern Review of Business and Economics (2003). In 2006, he received the CSHEMA (Award of Recognition – Unique or Innovative Category) from the National Safety Council (with Esequiel Barrera).

REGULATING THE USE OF BIOLOGICAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN UNIVERSITIES:
Complying with the New Federal Guidelines

2006 0-7734-5572-8
The research is a case study of one university’s policies and practices with regard to the procurement, use, storage and disposal of biological Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) in the context of a changing internal structure and a changing regulatory environment. The research utilized qualitative methods for gathering the data that allowed for analysis of the current situation with how the institution conducted operations with biological elements in the organization. Recommendations were formulated from gathering policies, procedures, and practices from other research institutions as well as utilizing federal guidelines for safeguarding biological materials. The research highlights several areas of safety and security for biological HAZMAT that can be improved and makes recommendations based on those findings.