UTSA’s unsung heroes help students achieve excellence

(Oct. 13, 2017) -- UTSA is home to nearly 31,000 students and more than 6,500 faculty, staff and student workers. That makes the university’s population about the same as the city of Schertz.

It take a lot of dedicated people to keep UTSA’s three campuses looking great and operating smoothly. Some you see from day to day. Others work behind the scenes. Here are five unsung heroes keeping UTSA in top shape:

Groundskeepers

It takes a lot of work to keep the grass green and the flowers blooming. Eighteen groundkeepers maintain more than 100 acres of UTSA land across the three campuses. Besides cutting the grass and trimming shrubs and trees, they irrigate the grounds, lay mulch in flower beds, plant and maintain flowers and plants, and provide plants for UTSA events. They also apply fertilizer and pest control to keep the weeds and bugs away. They even pick up litter around campus, assuring that UTSA stays clean and beautiful.

Housekeepers

UTSA buildings stay in great shape, thanks to the 115 housekeepers at UTSA. They provide custodial services for 5.4 million gross feet of building space. In addition to cleaning restrooms, the housekeepers vacuum and clean carpets in classrooms, hallways, lecture halls, offices, conference rooms and common areas. They also empty trash and keep the floors, water fountains and floor mats clean. They even dust, clean chalk and dry boards, and straighten up desks and chairs, assuring your classroom is ready to go before you arrive to learn.

’Runner Drivers

Many Roadrunners bookend their days on campus with a ride on The ’Runner, hopping on one of 32 buses to get to class and to return home. Although the task of getting students to and from class on time is important, The ’Runner drivers do even more for UTSA. The ’Runner reduces traffic congestion on campus by saving students an estimated two million personal vehicle miles a year.

UTSA ’Runner drivers are especially happy to see full shuttles of students. By reducing the number of vehicles on campus, The 'Runner improves sustainability and cuts down on emissions. Next time you hop on The ’Runner, say hello to one of our many drivers and thank them for all they do to help keep UTSA moving.

Overnight Library Services Assistants

The John Peace Library (JPL) is open 24 hours a day during the school week, thanks to the overnight library staff. Although their workday starts at midnight and ends at 8:30 a.m., they enjoy helping students, from using scanners to finding articles, books and tech gear; and even processing textbooks available to students for loans. 

Campus Rec’s Towel Washers

Hundreds of students work up a sweat every day at Campus Rec. There’s always a towel nearby to keep ’Runners feeling fresh after a game of basketball or a run on the treadmill.  Making sure there is a clean towel on hand is the job of four student assistants.

“Towel washing may not seem that glamorous, but it is very important job here at Campus Recreation,” said Carla Hernandez, a student assistant at Campus Rec and senior majoring in business management. “Keeping our towels fresh and germ-free helps ensure we keep a clean and safe environment for all of our patrons.”

Campus Rec checks out about 500 towels a day.

— Courtney Clevenger

These are just a handful of the countless unsung heroes who make UTSA great. If you know of a Roadrunner who deserves special recognition, email us at social@utsa.edu.

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