Between classes, extracurriculars, and a social life, cleanliness in college is easy to overlook when you’re a student. But that’s no excuse for school administrators to ignore the importance of a safe, sanitary learning environment that sets students up for success. Here’s why it matters.
Staff and Student Health Matters
A study at Brigham Young University has shown student success is directly tied to the maintenance and cleanliness of their learning environment. Conducted by the Center for Facilities Research at APPA, the study sought to provide clarity on how facility maintenance and cleaning enhances academic achievement and student health.
After polling nearly 1,500 students, the study found:
- 88% of students find that a lack of cleanliness can be a distraction to their learning experience.
- 84% of students find a spotless or tidy facility offers the ideal learning environment.
- While noise, air temperature, and lighting were the three most important factors, students reported that overall cleanliness is the fourth most important building element to a conducive learning experience.
- 78% of students said cleanliness has an impact on their health by affecting allergies and spreading germs, increasing their stress levels.
Overall, the study concluded that “when services are cut in order to save dollars … cutting cleaning services could have a detrimental impact on … the students.”
On top of this study, common sense tells us that healthy students will ultimately be happier and more successful students. With a cleaner learning environment, they’ll have additional incentives to use college resources to their full potential.
College Students Are Active
From campus dorms and gymnasiums to classroom buildings and auditoriums, hundreds or even thousands of individuals filter in and out of college buildings on a daily basis. As a result, these buildings are more prone to minor maintenance issues such as spills, water puddles near entryways, and dirty bathrooms.
Your facility maintenance plan needs to account for substantial fluctuations in foot traffic throughout any given day, so these minor issues don’t evolve into more significant problems like slipping and falling (a potential legal liability!) or infrastructure damage.
Mitigate Wear and Tear
Speaking of infrastructure damage, education cleaning services don’t merely keep surfaces safe and sanitary—they also help protect your university’s investments. When left unaddressed, minor problems like water puddles, dusty electronics, and overflowing trash cans can also lead to permanent damage.
Water puddles may damage floor surfaces or underlying infrastructure, requiring costly repairs or maintenance services. Dirty electronics are more prone to premature failure and may have to be replaced. Likewise, overflowing trash cans can lead to spills and debris that attract pests, create a hazardous environment, or damage floors.
A Positive Image
Your current students aren’t the only ones affected by education cleaning services at your university. Prospective students take notice, too. Since you only have one opportunity to make the best possible first impression on future students, maintaining a clean facility can be a crucial part of achieving that goal.
Studies have shown that seemingly unrelated factors like weather can influence an individual’s decision when the time comes to enroll. Consider how much of an effect building cleanliness and tidiness may play on a student’s decision to enroll at your university. By prioritizing a properly maintained facility, you don’t have to worry about dirty corners and overflowing trash cans negatively impacting enrollment.
Leading by Example
One of the core goals of the college experience is to prepare young adults for the rest of their lives. Your institution is entrusted with not only teaching students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their future careers, but also in showing them how to be responsible citizens. 80% of students believe they should be involved in keeping campus buildings clean. Why not encourage that sentiment by showing them what a spotless building should look like? It will make your life easier while leading the way toward a better world for us all.
Education Cleaning Service Checklist
Not sure where to start? Some essential maintenance tasks you can start with on a daily or weekly basis include:
- Sweeping and mopping all hard floor surfaces
- Vacuuming floors and carpets
- Cleaning walls and windows
- Keeping bathrooms stocked
- Keeping walkways clear of spills
- Emptying trash cans
Need help with any of these tasks? Our experts invite you to experience the Carlson difference firsthand by scheduling a free facility assessment. We’ll work with you to customize a cleaning and maintenance program that guarantees an optimal learning experience for students across your campus.
