Every day, Rice’s custodians work hard to keep classrooms ready and campus spaces clean and welcoming. As Facilities Reimagined moves into its next phase, Real Estate and Facilities (RE&F) is turning its focus to the people behind this work. The zone pilot tested a new way of supporting buildings and infrastructure—but equally important has been investing in the custodial teams who keep Rice running.
This effort is part of Building Momentum Together, the OF&S initiative designed to make work simpler and provide support for the people who do it. For custodial staff, that means more training opportunities, better tools, and a stronger framework to help them succeed every day.
Recently, RE&F partnered with a national firm that specializes in custodial operations for universities to deliver hands-on training tailored to Rice. The sessions focused on practical cleaning techniques and introduced new equipment and methods to boost efficiency and improve overall cleanliness. Custodians shared that they appreciated learning new approaches, asking questions, and getting direct coaching. Many said the experience made them feel valued and supported in their roles.
RE&F also conducted a campus-wide cleanliness assessment and confirmed something worth celebrating: Rice scored a 2.2 overall on the APPA cleanliness scale*. That result reflects the skill and dedication of Rice’s custodial staff. Even with that strong performance by our custodial staff, the team plans to build on it— exploring additional tools and strategies that could make their work safer, easier, and more effective.
As Facilities Reimagined continues, RE&F is proud of the progress made and even more proud of the people who make it possible. Custodians play a vital role in campus life, and investing in their success remains a top priority.
This is what Building Momentum Together looks like — improving service while investing in people so they can shine.
*APPA is the leading professional organization for facilities management in higher education. It sets the industry standard for campus cleanliness, using a scale from 1 (highest level) to 5 (lowest). Most universities average a level 3.