Foundations Newsletter - December 2025 - Office of Facilities Management and Planning

Letter from the Assistant Director of Facilities

As the weather cools the Grounds Management division shifted from mowing and flower beds to leaf removal and other duties. The Grounds Division maintains the grass, trees, plants, sidewalks, parking lots, litter, and trash service for approximately 80 acres of campus spaces and buildings.

This past summer was a challenging one with an abundance of rain throughout the spring and temperatures creating challenges with the soccer fields. Grounds staff spent many hours each week mowing, striping, fertilizing, seeding and other tasks to keep the “Black Beauty” game field in shape for the Purple Aces to play, compete and win. Each week approximately 40-man hours are spent keeping the game, practice fields and stadium safe and attractive for the men’s and women’s teams.

Grounds staff has also dedicated time to campus beautification this fall. Updating plantings around both the Carson Center and Jones Hall. Landscaping was trimmed and ground covering was added. Plans are now underway for 2026 upgrades for additional locations.

The grounds division also maintains the university sidewalks, parking lots and walkways on campus. The biggest challenge we have is the collection of litter and trash that unfortunately ends up on the ground. Please help us keep campus clean by putting your loose and bagged trash in cans and dumpsters.

The Facility Specialists have completed over 180 set-ups on campus in support of special events. Starting September 1, the Facility Specialists have started managing the setup of Eykamp spaces. With this addition we completed an additional 50 set ups. Chairs, tables, and more were set up in various campus locations to support special events. All these set ups have been handled by our great team of Joe Davis, Sean Rackerby, Dan Williams and Michael Acree. We are looking forward to the implementation of the new event management system at the start of 2026 to help streamline and simplify the process of reserving spaces and requesting tables, chairs, microphones, etc.

In addition to the event set ups facility staff members oversaw the turnover of campus dorm rooms before the start of the fall semester. Facility Specialists performed paint touchups and other maintenance on every dorm room and public dorm space on campus. The facility specialist staff also worked on the turnover of houses and apartments the university owns. As staff change the Facility Specialists assist with preparing the homes for new tenants. Walls were painted, flooring repaired, lighting updated, and plumbing renovated.

The Facility Specialists completed a unique job this summer with the installation of hydrophobic paint murals around campus. This paint repels water and by keeping the pavement dry during rain, murals appear on the damp pavement. Keep an eye out around campus during fall showers to find them.

By The Numbers:

Gallons of Paint used this summer: 30+
Number of rooms in homes and offices repainted: 11
Pounds of chlorine used in the treatment of the pool this semester: 50

Introducing Our New Custodial Partner: FMS

This fall brought a major change to our campus as we welcomed our new custodial contractor, Facilities Management Services (FMS), who officially began work on September 1. As with any large transition — especially one that touches every building and department — there have been some bumps along the way. FMS has spent their first few months learning our campus, adjusting their routines, and getting familiar with the expectations that make our community unique.

We truly appreciate everyone’s patience during this acclimation period. Behind the scenes, our custodial leadership has been working closely with FMS supervisors and staff to address concerns as they arise, refocus priorities, and make sure that service levels continue moving in the right direction.

To support a successful long-term partnership, we’ve communicated to all departments that we’re giving FMS until Christmas break to iron out any lingering wrinkles in the system. This transition window allows time for building strong communication, refining processes, and ensuring that staffing and resources are aligned with campus needs. We’ve already seen improvements in several buildings, and we’re optimistic about the progress ahead as we move into the spring semester.

We’re excited about what FMS brings to our campus and remain committed to fostering a custodial program that is reliable, responsive, and focused on building pride in our shared spaces. Thank you for your continued feedback and collaboration as we work together to keep our campus clean, comfortable, and welcoming for everyone.

Allie Burton- Custodial Services Manager, University of Evansville.

The Faces Behind the Work

Laura — FMS Area Manager

Laura oversees custodial operations across the broader region and supports the campus team through staffing, training, and quality assurance.

Ricky — FMS On-Site Supervisor

Ricky manages day-to-day custodial operations on campus and works directly with campus partners to coordinate services.

Holiday Help Desk — Facilities Edition

Before You Head Home…

As the semester winds down and everyone gets ready for a cozy winter break, our Facilities team is preparing campus for the colder months ahead. If you spot anything that needs attention—HVAC acting frosty, a faucet dripping like an icicle, lights flickering, or any custodial concerns—please submit a work order in Asset Essentials before you leave.

Early submissions help us fix issues while buildings are quieter, prevent winter weather surprises, and make sure everything is warm and welcoming when you return. A little info goes a long way!

Submit New Work Order

Mini Winter Tips for a Smooth Break

❄️ Tip 1: Be Specific!
Tell us exactly what’s going on (“Room feels cold even with heat on” beats “It’s cold”). Details = faster fixes.
❄️ Tip 2: Location, Location, Location
Double-check the room number and building—especially if you're entering a request from your phone.
❄️ Tip 3: Snap a Pic
If you can, attach a quick photo. A picture saves us multiple trips through the snow!
❄️ Tip 4: Don’t Wait
If you see something odd now, enter it now. Small issues can turn into big winter headaches.

For Those Living in University-Leased Houses

If you’re heading out of town for the holidays, please let us know! A quick heads-up helps us keep an eye on temperature settings, potential plumbing issues, and any weather-related concerns while you're away. You can email us or include a note in an Asset Essentials work order. Dk209@evansville.edu

*Don’t forget* After Hours (All non-regular hours and University holidays)

For Emergency Service Requests, dial 812-488-2775 then press 1 to report to our office.
For all other service requests, submit an online request anytime on Asset Essentials. (Online requests will be assigned the next regular workday, please note we will be close through the Christmas Break.)