With fierce competition for tuition dollars, colleges and universities must quickly win over prospective students and their parents. Obviously, one of the best ways to do this is to ensure your campus looks and operates at its very best—not just for special events, but each and every day of the year.
Many colleges have already learned the benefits of contracting out their facilities management to a services provider. Such outsourcing is designed to ensure an always-pristine campus environment, and to reduce costs associated with upkeep and maintenance, as well. If you’re one of those schools currently using a third-party provider, how satisfied are you with their work? Here are four questions you should be asking yourself:
How much are you really spending? Do you have a truly guaranteed cost? Some contracts are structured so you think you have a good, low price that fits within your budget. However, after a couple of months, you might notice surcharges on your invoice and, after checking your contract, you realize you are being charged for a number of “additional services.”
Are you getting what you’re paying for? Your contractor’s biggest expense is labor, so this is one area where it might cut corners. Are you getting all the labor your campus needs? Providers can shortchange you by holding positions open or running on less personnel than when they first started.
Is the quality there? The most likely reason you decided to outsource your physical plant was to improve quality. Have you seen any real improvements in this area? Do students, faculty, staff and visitors comment that the campus looks better than it has in the past? Are there still problem areas that aren’t being adequately addressed?
Does your contractor bring any value-add to the table? Management of your physical plant is an essential part of your overall operations. A good contractor should serve as your partner and provide you with additional expertise beyond their day-to-day services. For example, can they advise you on your school’s infrastructure development and help you plan effectively for the next ten years of growth?
Of course, one other aspect to look at is how passionate your contractor is—not just about the services they provide, but about your college, as well. They should treat your campus as if it was theirs and take great pride in the way it looks, every day, while also integrating seamlessly with your own staff and personnel.
If you’re currently contracting your facilities management but are questioning your satisfaction, or if you’re considering outsourcing for the first time and have questions or just want to be sure you’re making the right choice, talk to us. We maintain campus environments at private colleges and universities and are adaptable to the varied needs and budgets of most schools.
Having a great looking campus enhances your college’s overall image—so important for driving enrollment and raising funds. If you plan to outsource your facilities management, make sure you’re getting the best so you’ll be happy with the results.
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