A Day in the Life of FU – a post by John Stevenson

It starts early and lasts till late at night. For students, it begins and ends with classes and meetings and sports practice. For staff it begins at eight and ends at five. Everyone- teachers, students, staff, follows a schedule and then goes home. Deans and administrators sometimes stay late.

But that’s only the work of the school. To make that possible, a lot more must be done to keep it running smoothly so that the work can actually be done. And that requires a lot of activity that remains unseen and unnoticed by students and staff and faculty alike.

In the early morning, the daytime security staff is briefed on any changes in rules they should know about, and any special problems that might occur that day. Barriers and pathways are set up along the road outside the main campus and the North campus to slow down the rush of traffic, so that students can cross the street in safety.

Food and drink is a constant necessity for everyone. To make sure this is available requires early morning preparation- there are meals, snacks, and special service every day that must be ready to go when school opens. And the coffee shop needs special attention from the hospitality students to be ready for the morning break.

To keep the campus fresh and green, plants and lawns must be watered and fertilized early, before the sun becomes too hot. The paths and hallways must be swept clean from dust, and sometimes washed down. That’s just in the morning before school opens. Around the middle of the day, the same routines must be repeated again by the security guards, the cafeteria staff, the sweepers and the gardeners.

Then, late in the afternoon, preparations must be made for any evening events on the schedule- lights, sound systems, podiums, seating must be provided for; and once again food and snacks must be prepared. Security guards must be alerted as to who can be admitted from outside; parking for guests must be arranged. Finally, after all classes are over for the day, and all special events are finished, everything must be washed up and shut down for the day. All lights and air-cons must be turned off, All gates closed and locked, and the night shift of security guards must begin.

Sometimes even the President of the university takes a late stroll around the campus to make sure that everything is as it should be. And then, the next day, it all starts all over again So, when you come in through the gates, and go to class, or go to your office, take a moment to look around you- and remember all the hidden resources the school must provide to make your work, your education, possible. It’s all part of the air you need to breathe.