Management and staff are juggling custodial work assignments to be as proactive as possible and to address needs as they are brought to our attention. The current staffing level, however, makes it impossible to continue to maintain the campus’ 3 million + sq. ft. at the levels to which we are all accustomed. Although Facilities Management is actively advertising and recruiting for its many custodial vacancies, hiring is proving unusually difficult, as it is for so many organizations and service industries at present. Until we can re-grow our work force, the interior spaces on campus will be significantly more unkempt than usual. Specifically, you may see floors cleaned less frequently, increased dust collection on surfaces, and trash containers emptied less often.

FM is committed to our mission “to assure that occupants of our buildings experience a physical environment that is conducive to a high quality standard of living, teaching and learning,” so there is no one that regrets this announcement more than the FM staff. We ask for your patience and encourage you to contact us regarding any area that may need extra custodial attention. Your thoughtfulness and understanding when doing so will be most appreciated.

In the upcoming weeks, custodial supervisors from FM will be contacting building coordinators to identify areas where larger waste receptacles can be strategically placed for faculty and staff to use. We then ask that all employees who have individual waste containers in their offices empty their own trash into the larger receptacles, which will be serviced weekly. FM will supply each office suite with a box of liners for individual containers. When new liners are needed, please post a work order requesting a new box. This change will affect faculty and staff office areas only so that current service levels to classrooms, restrooms and common areas can be maintained.

Classroom COVID supplies:

FM is utilizing student help to stock classrooms with COVID supplies. Student schedules are 7:30-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and 4-7 p.m. Our students do not have keys for classrooms. If a class is in session or a classroom is locked, our student staff are unable to replenish supplies. FM can deliver extra supplies to departments upon request to provide faculty immediate access, if needed, before our student staff are able to replenish a classroom space.