Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.49
Liaison Richard Johnson
Submission Date Nov. 11, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Rice University
EN-6: Employee Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.12 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution administer or oversee an ongoing faculty/staff peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program that meets the criteria for this credit?:
Yes

Total number of employees:
3,134

Name of the employee educators program (1st program) :
Cleanologists’ Training

Number of employees served by the program (1st program):
126

A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (1st program):

Rice uses a program called Cleanology to teach custodians the science of cleaning and the “whys” of cleaning as opposed to the “hows.” The program enables custodians to achieve the levels of basic, certified, and then registered Cleanologists. As a registered Cleanologist, custodians are asked to advise other employees as the need arises. Any and all members of the custodial team have the ability to become a registered Cleanologist, and thus the ability to serve as a peer mentor for new custodial employees.


A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive (1st program):

Rice custodians undergo a formal training program known as Cleanology. Cleanology is defined as the study of cleaning and behavior in relation to custodial maintenance. The Facilities, Engineering & Planning department at Rice has compiled a formal document outlining the Cleanology procedures, training techniques and requirements. The stated mission of the Cleanology program is to provide faculty, staff, students and visitors with a healthy, clean and safe environment. Furthermore, the program seeks to promote green cleaning and a “green and clean” lifestyle through the use of environmentally friendly products, promote sustainability and life cycle for a healthier and safer environment, and combat pollution and global climate change.
Specifically, the Cleanology program includes formal classroom training from both internal and external experts in the field, onsite seminars, and on-the-job training. Throughout the program’s 16 training modules, custodial teams learn everything from chemical safety and green cleaning to the Cleanology procedure and conflict management.
The Custodial staff has the ability to achieve the levels of basic, certified, and registered Cleanologist. Basic Cleanology is an eight-hour course taught over eight weeks. All custodial employees must attend and pass this course during their new-hire period. A 10-month course is required for both the certified and registered levels. After receiving a registered status, participants are selected to attend the “Top Gun School” to learn the latest teaching methods and become instructors. It is the overarching goal of the program to provide Cleanologists and managers with high technical proficiency and knowledge of the systems on campus. Training sessions are offered periodically throughout the year so as to ensure that all current and replacement employees have the opportunity to attend.


A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (1st program):

Eusebio Franco, the director of Custodial Services and the Grounds Department for Rice’s Facilities and Engineering Planning group, created the Cleanology program. He supports the program, and ensures its success by meeting annually with each member of his staff, all 126 of them.


The website URL where information about the program is available (1st program):
Name of the employee educators program (2nd program):
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Number of employees served by the program (2nd program):
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A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (2nd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive (2nd program):
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A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
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The website URL where information about the program is available (2nd program):
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Name(s) of the employee educator program(s) (all other programs):
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Number of employees served by all other programs:
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A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (all other programs):
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A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive (all other programs):
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A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program(s) (all other programs):
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The website URL where information about the program(s) is available (all other programs):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.