As I sit here to write of the hurdles and success of this year’s Custodial Support for Housing, I do so with great appreciation for the entire CPFM Custodial Department.  As best said by Andrew Carnegie, “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”

For a second year in a row, CPFM Custodial was provided the opportunity to show their dedication to the mission of the University and band together, not as separate shifts as we are sometimes defined, but as a whole aiding another campus partner to reach their primary goal, which is now become our primary goal.  During the time where campus was receiving a reduced level of service to their offices, CPFM Custodial was still able to maintain almost 2 million square feet of cleanable academic space on daily basis this summer while dedicating over 8,000 hours to University Housing support.  As an institution that never rests, this was quite the undertaking for the Facilities Services Custodial group.  For this, thank you all.

Questions: Were there any hurdles during this 3-month stint?  

Between the constant evolving schedule of Housing’s conferences, switching our mindsets to be flexible compared to routine, the abundant number of vacancies on shifts maintaining our buildings, periodic high temperatures, and most recently the Lookout and Bedrock Fires, I would say there were a few hurdles for sure.  I would also say Custodial Services tackled every obstacle head on, at full speed, and with confidence. 

Question: Were the any successes during this 3-month stint? 

During the 3 months, Custodial was offered over 600 hours of OT. We created 7 lead work opportunities, allowing employees to expand their skill sets. We improved on our intradepartmental communication skills, between and within, shifts. We increased our knowledge for run coverage. Lastly, we strengthened the bridge connecting us to our campus partner, University Housing!

Question:  Anything more you would like to add:

I would like to thank the staff at University Housing for welcoming us back with open arms and giving us a place to call home.  Their staff has shown appreciation for us has been top notch since Day 1.  Thank you for taking the time to allow us to change our thought process from what we do on the academic/research side of campus to the student experience-side of campus.

Written by Nick Grant

Facilities Services hosted APPA’s Supervisor Toolkit here on the Eugene campus August 7th – 9th.

We have found this to be a very effective “tool” for existing as well as up and coming supervisors. This program is unlike other supervisor/leadership trainings as it specifically focuses on Facilities Management folks and is taught by a Facilities Director. The other great part of the training is that other Universities and UO Campus Partners attended, giving opportunities for collaboration and discussion. We plan to offer it again next year around the same time.

As part of the VPFA Everyday Inclusion 2023, Janell Cottam, Jane Brubaker, and Renee Benoit, gave a wonderful tour of campus, with a specific focus on the contributions and impacts women have made on our campus. The University of Oregon has a rich history of women that is reflected throughout campus. This tour takes you throughout campus, highlighting stops featuring important contributions by women that are reflected in the built environment. To read more about the history and to follow-along for a self-guided tour, click the button below to see the guide!

Thank you each for...

Your dedication to removing invasive plants around campus.

Going above and beyond in your duties and performing above the standard expected.

Your commitment to your team and duties.

Eagerly taking on preventative maintenance and handling emergency situations very efficiently.

Your outstanding work and commitment to keeping the shop running smoothly.

Your work ethic and positive attitude.

Your outstanding work, willingness to take on challenging tasks, and the support you provide for your team.

Going above and beyond in your duties and for being a valuable member of the team.

AQI > 100: Offer voluntary use of N95 and KN95 respirators.

AQI > 250: Move outdoor work indoors to the extent possible, N95 respirators required for essential outdoor work.  Voluntary use of N95 and KN95 respirators offered to those working indoors.

AQI > 500: Only essential outdoor work for those in the standard respiratory protection program (fit testing completed).

Justin and the CPFM team jumped into action and came up with creative solutions allowing PSI to meet our deadline.  Many thanks to our CPFM team. Great job Rob Berg, Jeff Clark, Justin Grishkin, Tad Lueck, Tucker Clawson, Gabe Hein, Tom Sheridan, and Kyle Spangler!

- Eric Owens, Director of Research Facilities

I noticed that the floors in the space were very clean when I came in on Sunday—thank you floor crew! - Erin Adams, Museum of Natural and Cultural History

I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful plantings around Chapman Hall and McCaslin Lawn during commencement. We had a graduation celebration in Chapman that drew over 400 proud family members and graduates and the building looked so magnificent, thanks to your efforts.

Faculty and staff in the CHC really appreciate the care and attention to our beautiful building and I know that families and new alumni did too! Thank you. - Carol Stabile, Dean Clark Honors College

Everyday Inclusion: Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s initiative. The resources and activities will remain online (https://vpfa.uoregon.edu/everyday-inclusion-2023-inclusion-action) so you can explore and revisit them throughout the year. If there are activities you would like included next year, or something you that could be changed to increase your participation, let the diversity committee know at vpfadiversity@uoregon.edu.

Sept 1-15: Works by João Incerti in the Erb Memorial Union (EMU), Aperture Gallery. João is a visual artist who was raised in a farm in the region of Teresópolis close to Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by the mountains and the exuberant tropical forests. His art is joyful, irreverent

and play with a mix of geometrical & organic shapes in compositions.

Sept 6-9: Hypatia 40th Anniversary Conference – Charting Feminist Futures, UO Global Scholars Hall. Registration is free for members of the UO community and participation can be in person or remote.

Thursday, Sept 14, 6pm: Behind the Scenes documentary preview. Join the filmmakers of the documentary Outliers and Outlaws for a sneak peek of the in-progress film and hear about their process of bringing stories of lesbian Eugene to the screen. Museum of Natural and Cultural History galleria

Friday, Sept 22-October 26: Jenny Kroik in the EMU Adell McMillan Gallery. Born in in St. Petersburg, Russia, she moved to Israel with her family in 1989, and then to the United States in 2002. Jenny Kroik received her MFA from the University of Oregon School of Art and Design in 2010.

We are always seeking newsletter content! Please share your projects, campus news, photos, and kudos. You can email content for the newsletter to workcontrolcenter@uoregon.edu.

Thank you!