DU Director of Facilities Jeff Bemelen sent an email to faculty and staff last month confirming the university’s entrance into a five-year Facilities Management agreement with Aramark, a professional services company that will now be in charge of managing the custodial services on campus.
According to DU External Communications Manager Will Jones, none of the previous custodial employees were displaced by the decision and wages and benefits will be preserved. Employees formerly in charge of supervising and managing DU Facilities Management will become Aramark employees on Feb. 1. Custodians under the collective bargaining agreement will remain DU employees.
The university is expecting to save $400,000 in the first two years of the agreement. Most of the projected savings will come from a reduction in purchased services, supervisor overtime pay and supplies, according to Jones.
“The university felt that it was time for a change and we considered many options, talked to a number of other higher learning facilities and looked at every angle,” said Jones. “Aramark stood out because the company has the best technology, best equipment, best service and they align themselves with values and character comparable to our standards at DU.”
According to their website, Aramark is an industry giant that holds 45 years of experience in schools, hospitals, sports arenas and businesses.The company has 270,000 global employees, some of which can be found in the 150 higher education facilities Aramark contracts with in the U.S. It is recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies and by the Ethisphere Institute as being among the World’s Most Ethical Companies.
In the December email, Bemelen explained the benefits Aramark may be able to provide for DU.
“While the university has made many improvements in custodial services in the recent past, it is necessary to engage an experienced partner and custodial expert such as Aramark to realize further improvements from technology, equipment and supplies and specialized training,” the email stated. “Through this agreement with Aramark, custodial operations at the university will be more environmentally sustainable, including a significant decrease in the use of water and cleaning chemicals, leading to a safer environment for everyone in campus buildings.”
The transition in management began in early January and will be finalized in early February, as stated in the email. The agreement gives DU the right to assess Aramark’s performance periodically over the five-year timeframe of the contract.
“We’re very confident that Aramark will improve our campus and our university as a whole,” said Jones of the partnership. “That’s just what they do, and their track record shows significant proof of that.”
