The goal of the department is to provide a clean and safe environment for both learning and working for the university community. The majority of Northeastern University is cleaned during the night shift (10:00 PM – 6:00 AM) by various contract cleaning companies when facilities are least utilized to reduce delays and interruptions. However, Northeastern employs in-house, union (Local 615) Building Superintendents to perform a variety of duties in all academic buildings and residence halls.

With over 70 academic and residence hall buildings there is an extensive amount of daily routine cleaning and support services required. The services provided include cleaning in restricted areas, trash removal and recycling, cleaning and restocking bathrooms, replacing/recycling light bulbs, inspecting and maintaining furnishings and equipment, removing snow/ice around the buildings’ perimeter, providing emergency response services during a fire or floor, and inspecting, cleaning and maintaining all classrooms and supplies.

The Building Services staff is also responsible for the space configuration for all functions and special event set-ups. The staff provides this service to faculty, staff and students over 4,000 times on average per year.

Northeastern University is under contract with several cleaning contractors who perform the majority of academic services from 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM, Monday – Friday. Some areas are cleaned from 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM and minimal crews and minimal crews work Saturday and Sunday. All common area spaces such as classrooms, restrooms, and corridors are cleaned nightly; offices are cleaned on an alternate night basis (week 1: M, W, F and week 2: Tu, Th).

The residence halls are cleaned by both in-house personnel (apartment style, upper class) and contracted services (transitional freshman halls with common restrooms). These services are provided during the days, Monday – Friday from 6:00 AM – 4:30 PM with additional policing of bathrooms from 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM, seven days a week.

All contracted personnel employees are paid hourly in accordance with the master agreement between the Maintenance Contractors of New England and Union Local 615.