Policies and Procedures
Facilities Management Cleaning Procedures
The University of Evansville has a long-standing commitment to cleaning for health and environment. Over the last couple of years, increased cleaning and disinfecting protocols were put in place as we dealt with cleanliness guidelines and standards due to COVID. As the University returns to pre-COVID level operations, campus occupants and visitors can be confident that the dedicated custodial staff will continue to clean to a high standard of cleanliness and sanitization.
The purpose of this memo is to announce some changes to custodial services, particularly in office areas. The primary focus of custodial services is to provide services in areas that are used most often (i.e., classrooms, hallways, restrooms, stairs, etc.). Moving forward, offices will receive less attention because they typically receive the least amount of traffic. See below for detailed information on what you can expect for room type.
Offices: Beginning September 1, 2022, office cleaning will change from 2x per week to 2x per month. If you desire your office garbage be picked up more often than 2x per month, please place the garbage container in the hallway or place garbage in common area garbage (i.e. restroom, hallway, kitchen, or lounge). Common area garbage’s will be picked up daily. Offices will be cleaned on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
What to Expect in offices: Carpet and tile is clean but may be worn in high traffic areas. Certain carpet and/or tile stains will remain if we are not able to remove them with spot cleaning techniques. Between bi-monthly surface cleanings, dust build-up and fingerprints will be noticeable. Occupants are responsible for cleaning their own desks and surfaces containing personal belongings. Dirt buildup may be present around the floorboards and room corners. Custodial Services will respectfully decline to provide service to office areas that are not accessible, or service may damage or interfere with room contents. Custodial Services is instructed to lock office spaces after cleaning.
| Frequency | Task |
|---|---|
| Bi-Monthly | Empty trash bins, as assigned; vacuum, sweep/mop as room contents allow and conditions warrant; dust empty horizontal surfaces such as windowsills, baseboards, and fixtures; clean telephones; clean door handles and frames and light switches. |
| Annually | Clean carpet, if necessary and if carpet condition can withstand cleaning; scrub and refinish hard surface floors, as needed; clean reachable light fixtures, as needed; clean walls, as needed. Annual cleaning is accomplished through cooperation with occupants. |
Auditorium, Classroom and Computer Lab Space
What to Expect: Tile is clean but may be worn in high traffic areas. Tile stains will remain if we are not able to remove them with spot cleaning techniques. Traffic patterns may appear in carpet, certain carpet stains will remain if we are not able to remove them with spot cleaning techniques. Near the end of a semester, floor finish may be dull or scratched, depending on weather and use. During the winter, foot traffic will bring moisture and dirt into the classrooms and computer labs during the day. Between weekly and/or monthly surface cleanings, dust build-up and fingerprints will be noticeable. High lighting replacement is scheduled during school breaks with other maintenance to the room. Classrooms will be at highest cleanliness level at 8 A.M., with possible deteriorating conditions during the day. Many classrooms are used all day into the evening with few breaks in the schedule. If possible, daytime custodial support staff will take advantage of any schedule breaks to spot clean as needed.
| Frequency | Task |
|---|---|
| Daily | Empty trash and recycle bins, if present; remove large debris from floor before dust mopping or vacuuming; mop or spot clean floors, as needed; clean major spills from floors, as needed; clean major spills or spots from tables and desktops, as needed; reposition chairs to original position and lower tablet arms; discard colored chalk due to extreme ghosting on the chalkboards; report damaged seating; clean door handles, frames, and light switches. |
| Weekly | Wipe down tables or desktops and remove debris from chairs; replace chalk and erasers in General Assignment Classrooms, as needed; thoroughly clean chalkboards and whiteboards unless “do not erase or save” is written on the board; spot extract carpet stains, as needed; clean instructor tables and lecterns (not electronics or equipment). |
| Monthly | Dust empty horizontal surfaces such as windowsills, baseboards, and fixtures. |
| Annually | Scrub and refinish floors, as needed; extract carpet, as needed; clean reachable light fixtures, as needed; clean walls, as needed; inspect all classroom seating in preparation for the start of school. |
Rest Rooms, Locker rooms, and Shower Space
What to Expect: All lights work. Soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, faucets, mirrors, light switches, doors and stall handles and other bathroom fixtures are clean. All supplies are stocked. Toilets, urinals, sinks, shower stalls and floor are all clean and disinfected. Some restroom fixtures are old and difficult to clean to a shiny and bright condition. Every effort is made to ensure high level of cleanliness regardless of the age or condition of the fixture.
| Frequency | Task |
|---|---|
| Daily | Empty trash bins and receptacles; check and fill dispensers, as needed; wipe down dispensers; remove large debris before dust mopping and thoroughly disinfecting floor; clean and disinfect all fixture surfaces; check and remove graffiti on walls and partitions, as needed; clean and disinfect door handles. |
| Weekly | Clean walls and partitions; remove mineral deposits from toilets and urinals. |
| Monthly | Dust empty horizontal surfaces such as windowsills, baseboards and fixtures; change out sharp containers, as needed; machine scrub restrooms, lockers rooms and showers, where applicable. |
| Annually | Scrub and refinish floor, as needed; inspect and deep clean tile grout; clean reachable light fixtures, as needed; thoroughly clean trash bins and receptacles. |
UE Custodial Level of Service
| Location | Frequency of Service | Services |
|---|---|---|
| Workrooms | Weekly |
|
| Elevators | 5x per week every week |
|
| Stairwells | 3x per week every week |
|
| Kitchen/Break Areas | 5x per week every week |
|
| Public Space (All Floors) | 5x per week every week |
|
Winter Break HVAC/Electrical Shutdown Plan
At the conclusion of the fall semester, University of Evansville will again institute a Winter Break Heat and Electrical Reduction Program aimed at lowering building temperatures and conserving energy during the winter break. This annual energy savings initiative saves the University energy costs. Over the holiday break, temperatures and electrical (i.e., lights) in many campus facilities will be reduced or shut off to conserve energy and generate savings for the University.
The 2025 Winter Break Utilities Reduction Program schedule is as follows:
- Dec 12, 2025: All Unoccupied Residence Hall Buildings and rooms will be checked by Residence Life Coordinators and Assistants. All individual room thermostats will be set to 60°F. All countertop appliances, gaming systems and alternate lighting will be unplugged.
- Dec 12, 2025: All game field lighting for, Intramural/Soccer Practice Field, McCutchan Stadium, Braun Stadium, Cooper Stadium and interior lighting for Armory will be shut down and locked out.
- Dec 19, 2025: Participating buildings begin to transition to unoccupied mode at 5 PM, Temperatures set to 60°F and no ventilation. We will work with individual buildings that are not controlled by the central HVAC building automation system (i.e., Olmsted, Iglehart, University Square, Mental Health Clinic, Sampson Hall, and General Services) on turning temperature/thermostat down to appropriate setting. We also ask all building occupants to turn off lights, close all windows and unplug unused electronics (i.e., chargers, appliances, televisions, and computers if they won’t be used for remote log in during the break).
- Jan 5, 2026: All game field lighting for McCutchan Stadium, Braun Stadium, Cooper Stadium and interior lighting for Armory will be available to turn back on.
- Jan. 5, 2026: All buildings return to occupied mode with 70°F morning start up and resume their normal occupied schedules. Buildings that are individually controlled will need to adjust thermostat up to 70°F temperature upon arrival after the break.
Research and critical spaces will remain unchanged during the break period.
University of Evansville Exceptions
There are opportunities for exceptions to the above schedule. Faculty and staff who have a business-related need are asked to submit exception requests using the following procedure. Requests must be received by Monday, Dec. 1.
- Specify the dates and time of day for the exception — which must be endorsed by the appropriate dean or administrative officer — and send to the Assistant Vice President, Facilities and Operations.
- Requests should indicate a specific work-related need. They may also relate to facilities serving the general public or to laboratories where research projects could be compromised by a temperature setback.
Office Phone
812-488-2775
Office Location
General Services Building
