Seven New Employees Hired to Increase Service at Highest-Trafficked Restrooms Across Campus

New hires continue Campus Operations’ efforts to improve restroom cleanliness on campus

Campus Operations has launched an expanded cleaning program with the hiring of seven new custodians focused exclusively on cleaning restrooms in academic and administrative buildings.  The new employees will perform spot cleaning and restock restrooms within the 20 highest-trafficked buildings, including weekend service.

The new employees will supplement the work of the existing custodial staff who are responsible for offices, classrooms, and common areas in addition to restrooms.  New staff will cover shifts split between the regular workday, evenings and weekends.  In addition to cleaning and restocking duties, the custodians in these new positions will also identify and call in maintenance issues when doing their rounds, such as clogged or leaking toilets/sinks or burned out light bulbs. 

Restroom cleanliness was one of the more commonly cited improvement areas related to the Facilities and Operations survey designed to measure the effectiveness of the services that it performs as perceived by students, faculty and staff across the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses.

“Creating and investing in these seven new positions is another example of our ongoing commitment to solicit feedback and make improvements,” said Don Schlosser, assistant vice president of Campus Operations.  “While there are many factors that can contribute to the perceived cleanliness of a restroom outside of our control, we believe the increased service strategically focused on the most frequented locations will make an observable impact.”

In addition to the creation of seven new custodial positions, Campus Operations has taken other measures to address the restroom cleanliness feedback.  Those measures include an adjustment of custodial shift hours to better match and reflect the times that classes begin and end, knowing that highest traffic in restrooms occurs before and after classes, and a review of building hours and usage compared to the service schedule, as many buildings have expanded evening-hour class offerings. 

The 20 highest-trafficked buildings on the Morningside campus were determined through an audit of usage and demand within buildings.  Those buildings include Butler Library, Hamilton Hall, Pulitzer Hall, Dodge Hall, Kent Hall, Lewisohn Hall. Philosophy, Low Library, Earl Hall, Mathematics, Avery Hall, Fayerweather Hall, Schermerhorn, Schermerhorn Extension, Fairchild Hall, Mudd, Pupin Hall, the School of Social Work, CEPSR, and the Northwest Corner Building.

The program, which is launching as a temporary pilot, is effective with full staffing onboard as of Monday, January 26, 2018.  After six months, Campus Operations will review data and results, making adjustments to the program as needed.