We invite you to participate in Honest Conversations, a new discussion series led by the Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities & Services, Jeff Angiel.
These sessions are designed specifically for deans, directors, and department heads, providing valuable insights into operational topics that directly impact both the university and individual campus units, whose success is essential to the university’s mission. Each session will feature a 30-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A to encourage open dialogue and collaboration. Beginning June 4, 2025, we’re pleased to extend the invitation to facility managers, ensuring that all key stakeholders are involved in these important discussions.
The goal of this series is to deepen understanding of F&S—our scope, resources, and strategic role—empowering campus leaders to better leverage F&S’s services in support of their unit’s objectives. These discussions will also help strengthen cross-campus collaboration by promoting a shared understanding of operational challenges and opportunities.
Registration is not required to attend. Your participation will contribute to a more collaborative and unified approach to advancing our shared goals across campus. We look forward to engaging with you and addressing any questions you may have.
Upcoming Presentations
November 2025 “Operational Excellence Efforts”
Previous Presentations
3/26/25 “Understanding HelioCampus Reports“: https://uofi.box.com/s/g7g33ds3c58cn40n2598xsna2xfspb4g
6/4/25 “Why Does it Cost So Much and Take So Long”
https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_u7fodkcy
9/15/25 “F&S Resources and Levels of Service to Campus”
https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_qappunqc
Q&A from 9/15/2025
QUESTION: Is there any discussion of using more automated means to do some of the cleaning, such as vacuuming (if necessary) or window washing, for instance?
ANSWER: Regular discussions with vendors, manufacturers and our peer university teams. To date we have not found a good economical fit for our campus spaces. But we continue to monitor and demo products as they become available.
QUESTION: In regards to BSWs, As facility managers, we understand we may not be funded for enough BSWs in our buildings, and we’ve given grace to that. But when our buildings have permanent staff that are assigned or we see staff show up every day, shouldn’t we expect a level of cleaning higher than 4 or 5? Is that the standard that they are being asked to give even though they are here for an entire shift? How would more funding change this? This question received three hearts.
ANSWER: Permanent staff are a critical part of service improvements. However, having 2 permanent team members when 4 assignments are needed for a property doesn’t equate to an improved level of cleanliness. Funded staffing level for BSW and supervision needs to match campus’ expectations.
QUESTION: Pertaining to improving services provided by the BSW crew; are we able to prioritize departmental cleaning needs in collaboration with the BSW team?
ANSWER: Absolutely. Our team wants to understand the units priorities for focus. As long as our partners understand the give and take (more service in location A will result in reduced service for location B) we want to understand unit needs.
QUESTION: If a building has to be bid on to get a permanent BSW and no one bids, why is no one automatically assigned? Changing of BSW’s means that some things do not get completed when it should be. Even if someone is here for the full shift.
ANSWER: BSWs can’t be ‘forced’ into an assignment. This aspect along with having more assignments than staff results in open jobs.
COMMENT: We have new locker rooms that are within a couple weeks of being completed. The new locker rooms include showers for surgeons and staff should each separate locker room be expected to be cleaned by a female and a male or during the night shift? We have two different shifts of BSW’s that clean at VTH including the day shift and the night shift. Just something to consider for the near future.
COMMENT: The reality is we have BSWs showing up everyday to buildings that are not doing the basic work. That is where the frustration for many of us facility managers comes from. [This statement received 3 “100”, 2 hearts, 2 !!, and one thumbs up.]