University Housing recently added a new facilities training lab designed to onboard and train the department’s residential building service workers to ensure consistency and standardization in cleaning across all residence halls.
Neyael Rubio-Delgado has been appointed as the manager of the facility and the training program, which operates in a previously unused storage area in the basement of Soule Hall. The space includes various types of flooring found in residence halls across campus— for practice cleaning carpets, mopping, stripping and waxing—as well as a mock residence hall room, where staff can practice lofting and delofting beds and properly cleaning furniture and fixtures when rooms turn over.
Neyael has developed a curriculum for the first week of training for all residential building service workers to ensure that they are onboarded and trained before they start their work. With the team being consistently trained and supported, the intention is to increase staff retention, improve the quality of cleaning and reduce staff performance issues.
“It builds consistency and employee confidence,” Neyeal says. “When you have a training program and give them the tools to be successful, I think they that creates confidence in the job.”
In addition to the new training space, the lab also has a dedicated room for vendors to repair equipment such as custodial carts, vacuums and wet vacs. This will allow housing to have a sufficient supply of backup equipment; the vendors can come on-site to repair equipment rather than it being sent out for repairs. The facilities training lab is unique in the area, and vendors for custodial products have expressed their admiration for the university's approach to training its staff.
“I tell the staff we provide students with a clean environment that they can thrive in,” Neyael says. “I think that we make a big difference and an impact on students every day even just being there and saying, ‘good morning or I hope you have a great day.’"
With this new facility and training program, University Housing is poised to continue providing the highest quality of support for its residents.
Energy Bash Dash Debuts
The first annual Energy BASH DASH kicked off in Black-Diallo-Miller this semester! Modeled after our notable Green Cup Challenge, this energy competition is the first of it’s kind! Thanks to sub-metering installed during the construction of the building, University Housing staff are able to track and share back with residents the energy readings per floor, making this energy conservation challenge the first we’ve seen within one building! Check @sustainableugahousing on Instagram for tips on how residents can conserve energy.
UGA donors set record with 11,091 gifts
in 24 hours
University of Georgia supporters set a single-day giving record for the second consecutive year when donors made 11,091 gifts to the university during UGA’s Dawg Day of Giving on March 30.
“I am grateful to our amazing donors for their support on Dawg Day of Giving,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “We owe so much of our success to their strong and steadfast commitment to UGA’s progress. This outpouring of support will elevate our students, our university and our state for years to come.”
UGA’s goal for the day was 10,000 gifts—after reaching 9,339 gifts on last year’s giving day—and donors surpassed that mark around 10:45 p.m. EST. Gifts totaled $5.6 million, and donors hailed from all 50 states.
“I hope that every donor who contributed yesterday—whether they gave $5 or $500—understands the enormity of this day and their role in it,” said Kelly Kerner, UGA vice president for development and alumni relations. “This one day will impact Georgia for generations through scholarship support, enhanced campus resources and greater access to educational opportunities, and it’s all because of the Bulldog Nation.”
Each year, the UGA Career Center honors outstanding student workers at the event as a way of recognizing the critical role students play in making UGA what it is. University Housing had two student workers honored as the top 100 at UGA in a ceremony and luncheon April 12.
Congratulations to Carolyn Jones, a CSA in the University Village Community and Kylie Wood, street team lead in Administrative Services and Communications!
Get your UGA state decal
Show your Bulldog pride with a UGA state decal. Exclusively available from the UGA Bookstore, these spirited stickers are perfect on cars, water bottles, coolers and laptops. $5 of each decal purchase will be donated to the Georgia Fund, which supports scholarships and UGA’s greatest needs.
Alumni and Friends
Although you were a only a student at UGA for a short time, you are an alumnus for life! Our alumni are very important to us. We want to stay in touch with you concerning events in your area and on the UGA campus, and we also want to know about your achievements as an UGA alumnus. Please contact Susan Dodson, your alumni relations coordinator, if you need any University Housing information or to share your photos or important life events with your fellow Dawgs!
YOU ARE FOREVER A BULLDOG.
Your community is a strong one. Your pride, your degree, your memories, and your accomplishments will forever tie you to UGA and to your fellow alums. Being a Bulldog is more than great memories and connecting with others like you. It’s about supporting current students. It’s about uplifting your institution. Give back to the university that gave you so much.
Make a difference for students and staff in University Housing.
Give to the Housing Development Fund.
