The impending retirement of the vice president of business and operations has spurred some organizational changes in the office.

The adjustments, caused by George Lovette's plans to retire this June, were officially announced yesterday by James M. Wagner, associate vice president of business and operations.

The administrative changes are:

-- Director of University Safety David Stormer was promoted to assistant vice president for Safety and Environmental Services. He will continue to perform the duties of safety director, but his new responsibilities include policy decisions relating to environmental issues such as asbestos removal and hazardous and infectious waste.

--Wagner will replace George Lovette as vice president for the operations.

-- William McKinnon was promoted to assistant vice president for business, housing and food services. This position will include his previous responsibilities for Housing and Food Services, but will also cover Purchasing, Management and Systems Engineering and CES Business Operations.

-- Billie Willits, presently the associate vice president for Human Resources at the University of Massachusetts, has been chosen for the position of assistant vice president for Human Resources.

-- Management of the golf courses, bowling lanes, tennis courts, ice rink and Stone Valley Recreation Area is being transferred from Intercollegiate Athletics to business and operations. John Bischoff, director of Auxiliary Services, was appointed as administrative officer responsible for these operations.

"Most of the promotions were given to people who have been working here for a long time, but Billie Willits was a carefully made decision," Wagner said.

A committee headed by Nancy Cline, dean of Libraries, recommended Willits for the position, Wagner said.

"We interviewed a number of people," Wagner said.

The University transferred the control of the different recreational areas from Intercollegiate Athletics to business and operations because the responsibilities for these aspects are related to the duties of the office, Wagner said.

"I think the idea was Steve Garban's (senior vice president of financial operations)," Wagner said. "This will give us an opportunity to be more closely related to the business of the University. We can work with it more closely. It is more similar to other Auxiliary operations that are assigned to the business and operations."

The changes within the department were decided in December and were effective Jan. 1, except for Willits, who had to notify the University of Massachusetts. She will assume her position March 1, said McKinnon.

University officials expressed confidence about the changes.

"I think they're certainly designed to enable us to have the best possible people who can handle a leadership position the best. We're here to keep the lights on, keep buildings clean, hire people and keep an educational climate," Wagner said.

McKinnon said, "Well, I welcome the challenge. It's a new experience. I think it's going to be very interesting."

Business and operations is responsible for a number of organizations involved with the physical operation of the University, including Housing and Food Service, the Office of the Physical Plant, Auxiliary Services, University Safety, purchasing, fleet operations, the bus system, and the airport.

"When you walk into a classroom, you don't think about what it takes to keep the environment for students. We are really a service function," Wagner said.