Hilda Holguin cleans windows in Science Hall as part of her work day. (Photo by Sarah Graves)

Story by Merge Staff

 The mornings are early

 In the early morning hours while most students and faculty are still nestled under the covers of their beds, the New Mexico State University custodial staff is clocked into work and preparing buildings, offices and classrooms for the busy day ahead.

A typical day for a member of the custodial staff begins at 5 a.m. Staff members start by cleaning every room, office, hallway and lobby in their assigned building.

“We enjoy it because of the people we work with,” said Anita Montoya, building leader of Milton Hall. “We become like a family because we see each other every day and we have to work together as a team.” Communication is key

Hilda holguin poses in front of Garcia Hall, the building where she works. (Photo by Jesse Telles)

However, there is more to being a member of the custodial staff than efficiently cleaning buildings.  Like many other jobs on campus, communication is an essential skill that must be applied in order for the staff members to do their job at the highest level.

“Communication is very important here. You have to communicate with everybody,” said Sylvia Magallanes, custodial staff member of Milton Hall. “You can’t just communicate with instructors; you have to communicate with students and everyone else.”

Although they have worked at numerous buildings that have a family-like environment, Montoya and Magallanes have also worked at buildings where communication was not a top priority.

“Communication is definitely the key,” Magallanes said. “There are buildings where you can tell there is no communication, and it’s very sad because you don’t what to expect.”

 Creating a community of staff, faculty and students

 While it is not the most high-profile position on campus, the work of the custodial staff does not go unnoticed. In fact, both Montoya and Magallanes said they have established excellent rapport with students, faculty and staff.

Starting a shift at 5 a.m. may seem early, but there are plenty of custodial staff members who begin their shift at 2:30 a.m. The crew members in charge of maintaining the tiles, floors and carpets are hard at work nearly three hours before everyone else on the staff.

However, the floor crew does not have to carry the load themselves. If they need assistance, they can place a work order and a fellow staff member will help them complete their duties. The extra help is often required when students, faculty and staff are on vacation.

“They have so many buildings to do that it’s impossible for them to do all of them,” Montoya said. “So when students are off, that’s when we have a chance to help them and do carpets and floors.”

Both Montoya and Magallanes said that they are not bothered when students talk to them. In fact, they appreciate when students and faculty make an effort to interact with them.

 Not just cleaning classrooms

 Montoya and Magallanes are not alone when they speak of a feeling of community. Alice Gallegos, a NMSU custodian for 10 years, asserts that she is an integral part of the university community.

Although her official duties are limited to general cleaning, Gallegos also sees herself as a support staff for students. “I look forward to the beginning of each school year,” Gallegos says. “I love to help the students find their way around Science Hall.”

Not only is Gallegos an avid Aggie fan, she is a Harley enthusiast and participates in local ride-ins.

Gallegos explains that while she feels respected each day, she believes the university could support her more by giving her a yearly raise. “I haven’t had a raise in three years,” Gallegos reports.

Hilda Holguin is Sylvia Mallanes’ sister and works at Garcia Hall.

She used to work at Corbett Center, but said that after moving from a private contract in Corbett, the Garcia dormitory is a better working environment.

Some of the benefits she enjoys are dental insurance, division, health insurance and one free class per semester.

“Some of the students that live in the rooms are nice to us – and treat other custodial workers good and nice,” she said.

“That doesn’t happen all the time, as some students just ignore us and don’t even say a thank you for the work we are doing for them; so it’s 50-50,” Holguin said.

Robert Ortega, a Team Leader for the OFS, enjoys the support of his NMSU communities. (Photo by Sarah Graves.)

 Managerial support and encouragement

 Gallegos’ direct supervisor, Robert Ortega, is a Team Leader for the Office of Facilities and Services. He’s worked for NMSU for 28 years.

“I feel as though I am supported by my management and the OFS Directors,” Ortega pointed out. “It’s not just my managerial staff; even the secretaries in Science Hall are great.”

Ortega explained the degree to which his team interacts with students.

“Thousands of students come through Science Hall each year,” he says. “If someone has gotten a degree at NMSU, we’ve worked beside them at some point.”

 NMSU benefits

One of the benefits of working under the Facilities and Services department is free tuition not only for the employees, but their families as well.

Magallanes’ daughter is currently attending classes, and while Montoya has not yet taken advantage of this benefit, she is free to do so at a later time.

“They encourage us to go back to school,” said Magallanes.

The job of a custodial staff member is a team effort. All four workers also agree that the better the communication is within a building, the more enjoyable the work days will be.

“I love my job and I love the people I work with,” Montoya said. “I can honestly say that I look forward to coming to work because we have good communication with the people we’re involved with.”

– Isabel Rodriguez, Anthony Esparza, Jesse Telles and Sarah Graves contributed to this story