Facilities & Services December 2023 Announcements

Construction Highlights

Facility Transformations

The moves continue as part of the campus-wide collaboration to more efficiently and effectively use spaces and to better centralize offices for student convenience and staff operations.

In the last few weeks, the Career Development Center, Office of Disability Services, and International Student Services have relocated. 

• Career Development Center to HRB 80
• Office of Disability Services to HRB 64 with HRB 109 as the ODS Testing Accommodations Area
• International Student Services to BSB 20

Signage updates are underway, including interior location signs as well as interior and exterior wayfinding and directories.

Construction is finished on the children's center space in WUIS, and the final touches are being made to create a safe and welcoming environment for the children and staff. Stacey Gilmore and her team are planning to begin using this space on the afternoon of December 20. 

Be sure to visit the Summer and Fall 2023 Facility Transformations page(link is external) for the latest updates along with photos.

Fire Sprinkler Inspections - Week of December 18

Mandated inspections of the campus fire sprinkler systems are scheduled for the week of December 18th. We want to assure everyone that there will be no activation of alarms or strobe lights as part of these inspections.

The systems in the following buildings are slated for inspection:

• Brookens Library (BRK)
• Founders Residence Hall (FRH)
• Health & Sciences Building (HSB)
• Lincoln Residence Hall (LRH)
• Public Affairs Center (PAC)
• Recreation & Athletic Center (TRAC)
• Student Union (STU)

Additionally, a repair will be made on the fire sprinkler piping in the Penthouse of University Hall during the same timeframe. Alarms will not be activated during the repair.

Work areas will be appropriately marked to ensure safety and awareness.

Custodial Updates

We are scheduling special cleaning to occur between semesters in December and January. So far, we have scheduled the following:

Brookens Library

• Shampoo the main lobby and offices on December 28 and 29

Performing Arts

• Shampoo the main lobby on December 22
• Shampoo the auditorium lobby on December 28-29
• Clean the auditorium on December 22

University Hall

• Strip and wax the floors in room 2029 between January 2 and 10

Health and Sciences Building

• Strip and wax the first-floor hallway on December 22

If you have any special or deep cleaning needs in your area, please reach out to Dustin Bringle at (217) 206-8185 or dbrin6@uis.edu or contact Patty Meyer at (217) 206-6053 or pmeye2@uis.edu.

Snow Removal and Parking

There may be times when there is a significant snowfall and we at F&S need your helps as we work to clear snow from the parking lots and walkways. The university's overall goal is to provide the UIS community with safe and accessible parking after a heavy snowstorm. Implementing a "Snow Parking Day" will help us work together to achieve that goal.

How a "Snow Parking Day" works:

1. Check your email before coming to campus. When a snowstorm is expected or occurs, Parking Operations will send a campus-wide email announcing that a "Snow Parking Day" is in effect. Every effort will be made to send a notification the day prior, but checking your email in the morning may prevent a surprise when you arrive on campus.
2. The Grounds team will begin work early (often staying on campus overnight) with a focus on clearing the pedestrian walkways and the parking area closest to the academic buildings first. The team will then continue to the outer parking areas.
3. Students and employees should park in the area that has been plowed, regardless of the parking hangtag you purchased (standard or economy). If the lot or area where you typically park has been plowed, you are welcome to, and should, park there. If not, we ask that you park in an area that has been plowed. During a "Parking Snow Day," vehicles with economy hangtags may park in standard lots/areas and not be ticketed for using an unassigned lot violation.
4. A "Snow Parking Day" does not allow for unauthorized parking. Please be cognizant of where you park. A "Snow Parking Day" does not allow for unauthorized parking in spaces that require a special permit (e.g., ADA spaces, reserved PERKS spaces, etc.), or for parking in prohibited areas such as emergency and fire lanes. Vehicles will be subject to ticketing and towing for parking in unauthorized or prohibited areas.
5. The residential lots around the townhouses and apartments function differently. All on-campus residents will have 24/7 access to their residential lot and can use them as required. The university will clear the snow as efficiently and safely as possible in the residential lots. 
6. Near the end of a "Snow Parking Day," an email will be sent to notify everyone if the next day will or will not be a "Snow Parking Day." Before heading out to campus the following day, be sure to check your email for any updates.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Parking Operations at parking@uis.edu, at (217) 206-8502, or stop by room 43 in BSB.

Staff News

It's not just a pipe dream - F&S has a second plumber on staff! Darren Allen has 13 years of experience as a plumber, pipefitter, and HVAC technician. He is a great addition to our team and will keep things flowing smoothly. 

Please extend a warm welcome to Darren when you see him around campus.

Congratulations to Lisa Bowen, the November Employee of the Month!

Lisa has been with the University of Illinois for almost 20 years, starting at UIC in 2004 and coming to UIS in 2011. She has worn many hats in her time with the university, but her thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and dedication have been - and continue to be - steadfast. In her current role Lisa oversees all classroom scheduling for our campus as well as managing reservations for outdoor spaces and several meeting rooms. In any given year, she schedules about 2,000 classes and meetings, each with its own unique set of requirements. 

Please congratulate Lisa the next time you see her checking on a classroom or when you call her to schedule a meeting.