University Housing has undergone a restructuring that housing officials say will lead to increased efficiency in the way business is run and rental units are maintained. It hopes to also improve the quality of customer service to residents.
Implemented Oct. 1, the restructuring combines residence hall maintenance and cleaning duties with those of family housing, duties that were once kept separate.
University Housing Director Mike Eyster said residence hall maintenance facilities have a history of quick and efficient responses, and moving family housing duties to that area will allow family housing to concentrate on efficient customer service.
“I wasn’t satisfied with the quality of services we were providing,” Eyster said. “I think we can do a much better job with the organizational structure.”
Nancy Wright, director of facilities and
capital improvement, is now in charge of
the family housing facilities previously overseen by Sheri Donahoe, associate director
of residence life.
Donahoe now concentrates on customer service areas, such as providing quick and efficient responses to residents’ concerns, Eyster said.
Donahoe said the restructuring has not been in place long enough for anyone to get a clear idea of how it will affect day-to-day business. But because once-separate maintenance facilities now have “the same sewing pattern,” Donahoe said, the restructuring should prove beneficial in all areas.
“It’s going to be much more streamlined and efficient,” she said.
The restructuring has resulted in additional responsibilities for members of upper
management, warranting a refinement of written job descriptions and an increase in salaries, Eyster said.
The University has recently come under scrutiny for allowing pay raises despite a statewide salary freeze for state employees, but because those who received a pay raise were given additional duties as a result of the restructuring, the pay increases are within the law, Eyster said.
“When the job changes, the salary can change,” Eyster said.
Eyster was quick to say the restructuring in no way reflects on the abilities of the classified staff — there was simply a need to “change leadership to a leadership that’s more experienced in dealing with specialized facility maintenance.”
Classified workers, such as the custodial workers who clean the residence halls, have been trained in cleaning family housing units to broaden their skills, Eyster said, which in turn should lead to a great level of efficiency.
Access to one pool of workers rather than two separate groups will allow quicker response to whichever area of housing is in need of maintenance or housekeeping.
Eyster said if there is a sudden surge in the number of vacant units, the units will not have to sit empty while an inefficient number of workers tries to clean them out in a timely fashion.
Because workers now have greater flexibility in job duties, “we can flood that area with staff and get (the units) turned over more quickly,” Eyster said.
No major problems have arisen thus far as a result of the restructuring, but Eyster said he is still working out the details and looking for areas in need of improvement.
“Whenever you make a change, there’s going to be some folks
who don’t think it’s a good idea,”
Eyster said.
Wayne Moore, the area union representative for all University classified employees, said many University housing employees
have expressed concern with the
change and its subsequent effects on their workload.
“It’s definitely bringing people out of the woodwork,” Moore said.
Moore said that University Housing’s classified employees are proud of the work they do on campus and are worried the increased workload is causing them to neglect important areas of their jobs.
“The big concern is it’s forcing them to compromise the level of attention they put into their other job areas,” Moore said.
Union organizing is often a slow process, Moore said, and the group has yet to decide what action, if any, is needed to take on the issue.
A union meeting will be held soon after Thanksgiving to further discuss the issue.
Eyster said he is aware that some employees are upset about the restructuring and is open to discussion about possible remedies or changes that might need to be made to satisfy all employees.
“It wasn’t the intention in that restructure to make their jobs harder than what their job description specifies,” Eyster said.
The University’s Human Resources department has an employee who specializes in examining job classifications and recommending changes.
Any worker who believes his or her job description is in need of reclassification can contact a supervisor, the Human Resources department directly or Eyster to request a review, Eyster said.
If it is discovered an employee now has a greater workload and more responsibilities than his or her job description warrants, the job will be reclassified or the workload will be decreased.
“If we had made a mistake, we’ll correct it,” Eyster said.

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