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Move-In support

September 16, 2024

Facilities Management teams support return of students to Grounds

Alma Mackic helps collect cardboard recycling during Fall 2024 Move-In
Office for Sustainability Zero Waste Fellow Alma Mackic helps collect cardboard recycling during Fall 2024 Move-In

UVA Facilities Management teams such as Housing Facilities, Housing Custodial, Recycling Services and the Office for Sustainability worked both before and during the Fall 2024 Move-In Weekend to ensure that everything would run smoothly.

FM Housing Maintenance and Custodial teams approach the summer as a large-scale project, preparing the housing zones for summer conferences as well as fall move-in. The initial focus is “First Turns,” where teams perform deep cleans and ensure everything in a space is functioning properly from a maintenance perspective. Following the initial turns, the custodial team switches to quicker turns between conferences.

The initial maintenance turn was led by Housing Maintenance Zone Supervisor Barry Wood, whereas, he provided oversight and direction to throughout the first 6 weeks of the summer ensuring all spaces were turned, equipment was functioning properly, and had been inspected by our leadership team. Afterwards, the maintenance team shifts focus to in-depth preventative maintenance and tackling projects that enhance the livability of buildings, such as painting projects to ensure that buildings were refreshed and ready to welcome students for the new academic year.

For the move-in process itself, Housing Maintenance Zone Supervisor Tyler Kraft worked closely with UVA Housing and Residence Life (HRL) to coordinate the distribution of moving carts as well as fielding inquiries from parents and students regarding systems and building conditions. The custodial team, including Custodial Supervisors Shelia Shelton and Peggy Napper, were on-site throughout move-in to ensure that buildings were in pristine condition, creating a lasting, strong first impression of the University.

“We understand how crucial it is for parents to feel confident that their students' new home is not only well-maintained but also clean and comfortable,” said Terry Maynard, Housing Facilities Zone Manager. “And our goal is to ensure that's always the case.”

In addition to preparing housing residences for students, maintenance teams touch base with Recycling Services, who then work closely with the Office for Sustainability to prioritize cardboard and recycling collection during the actual weekend of move-in.

A month ahead of time, Recycling Services work with HRL and the Housing Zone Manager to determine which locations across Grounds will need extra support and extra dumpsters. This year, four cardboard collection sites were set up near highly trafficked locations to encourage recycling of cardboard and other move-in materials. The Office for Sustainability then prepares and places signage at identified highly trafficked locations to ensure the proper recycling of materials.

On the days of move-in, recycling crews consisting of two recycling employees per vehicle make sure to keep up with the recycling and cardboard in their assigned zone. The crews ensure that Styrofoam, plastic or trash placed inside cardboard boxes are removed before breaking down large boxes and removing them from the pickup location.

This year's move-in also included the two new upperclassmen housing areas, Gaston House and Ramazani House. Located on Brandon Avenue, Gaston and Ramazani Houses feature furnished apartments, study spaces, a dining facility and underground parking.


About the author

Afia Paracha
Communications assistant student worker
UVA Facilities Management
hcx2td@virginia.edu