Building Services Specialist Cleaning Program

Before the start of the fall semester, the F&S Building Services department launched a new Building Services Specialist Cleaning Program in five high-usage campus facilities. Almost 40 BSWs underwent professional development and received training certification from the ISSA, a leading organization for the cleaning industry worldwide.

ISSA professional development at the university will organize specific cleaning tasks and deliver many benefits of a more systematic approach that transitions from the current zone cleaning setup where BSWs perform all cleaning tasks within a specified area. This helps eliminate the potential for cross-contamination through color-coding and streamlined processes.

The pilot buildings are the Campus Instructional Facility, Talbot Laboratory, Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, Lincoln Hall, and the Materials Science and Engineering Building. These high-usage facilities were selected based on the ability to successfully evaluate and replicate the program in other similar facilities moving forward. A list of departmental expectations is available to help further explain key aspects of this initial effort.

Last November, Consultants performed an initial analysis of university cleanliness using industry standards and used that assessment to update task job cards. ISSA establishes standards for quality and efficiency through its Cleaning Management Institute.

Thanks for your continued support as F&S strives to raise standards and improve cleanliness in campus facilities as a part of the Building Services Transformation Initiative. For questions about the Specialist Cleaning Program, especially service adjustments in the pilot facilities, contact Director of Transportation & Building Services Pete Varney pvarney@illinois.edu, 217-333-7583.