Facilities Operations and Maintenance
The Buildings and Grounds Department is responsible for all aspects of building and grounds maintenance for 86 campus buildings and 290 acres of improved land. This includes custodial services, grounds maintenance, mechanical and electrical maintenance, structural repairs, heating and air conditioning, and recycling. Over 11,000 work orders are scheduled and completed over the course of a typical year. Maintenance employees also collaborate on and accomplish numerous small renovation projects for academic and program revenue departments.
The Buildings and Grounds administrative staff is responsible for the operation of the computerized work order management system, the scheduling of maintenance, the close-out of completed work orders, the preparation and submission of monthly chargeback billings, the preparation of reports, and the purchase of all supplies and materials.
More information about the UW System chargeback policy can be found here: Physical Plant Service Chargebacks | UW Policies (wisconsin.edu)
Here are some additional Facilities Management and related policies and procedures:
Smoking Policy https://www.uwosh.edu/policy/smoking/
UW Oshkosh Policies https://www.uwosh.edu/policy/directory/
Request for Service
- Routine Requests:
- Requests for routine maintenance and keys can be made 24 hours a day through the on-line work order system.
- To access this system, visit the work order request portal.
Fill out all of the required information on the form and hit the send button. Your request will be electronically sent to the work order dispatcher, who will review your request and then forward it electronically to the appropriate maintenance shop.
- Emergency Requests:
- Requests for emergency work requiring an immediate response can be called in to the FM office at 424-3466 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Emergencies occurring after 3:00 PM should be phoned in to the Campus Police Office at 424-1212.
Review the following documents for more information on the work order and chargeback process, as well as chargeback rates:
Please see the UW System Building Maintenance Chargeback Policy for more information on what is chargeable: SYS 322 Attachment: Physical Plant Services Chargebacks | UW Policies (wisconsin.edu)
Auto Shop
The Auto Shop technicians are responsible for the repair and safe operating condition of licensed road vehicles. This includes University sedans, vans, squad cars, trucks, and vehicles belonging to the Head Start Program in the Fox Valley area. They also maintain all small engine equipment on campus, to include, mowers, tractors, chain saws, and emergency generators in campus buildings.
Josh Ruplinger
Grounds/Auto Supervisor
Telephone: (920) 424-0033
Email: ruplingerj@uwosh.ed
Central Heating/Chiller Plant
The Central Heating and Chilling Plants are located on the north side of the Oshkosh campus. The Heating Plant is a 24/7, 365-day operation that provides steam to all campus buildings throughout the year for heat, hot water and cooking steam in Blackhawk commons. The Chilling Plant is attached to the Woodland Ave. side of the Heating Plant and provides chilled water to campus buildings for cooling in the summer months. The primary fuels for making steam are #2 fuel oil and natural gas. The university stopped burning coal in 2020.
The Heating Plant consists of four boilers, two 45,000 lbs. /hr., one 25,000 lbs. /hr., and one 100,000 lbs. /hr. that are capable of burning natural gas. The 25,000 lbs. /hr. and 100,000 lbs. /hr. can also burn No.2 fuel oil.
During 2000-2001, the University installed a 15,000 sq. ft. addition to the Heating Plant in order to accommodate two 1400 ton and one 450 ton central chillers, associated piping, cooling towers, electrical and mechanical support equipment. A chilled water loop was also buried that runs directly underneath the main pedestrian mall and along High Ave. that services the core of the academic campus.
The Central Heating Plant employs highly trained and licensed boiler operators. The Central Heating Plant shuts down for one week every year after spring graduation in conjunction with our Facility Management teammates to perform on campus repairs, boiler and equipment inspections and maintenance that cannot be performed when the plant is in operation. The Heating Plant looks forward to the challenges presented to us so we can continue to provide uninterrupted services at the lowest possible cost to our valued users.
Russ Reinders
Heating/Cooling Plant Superintendent
Phone: (920) 424-4484
Email: reinderr@uwosh.edu
Power Plant Operator- In Charge
Eric Webb
Central Stores
Central Stores maintains a comprehensive inventory of commonly used products and supplies for the entire campus including academic, administrative, and service departments. Please click here to submit a Central Stores material request.
If you have questions about a delivery, please contact either Postal Services at 1145 or Receiving at 7008.
Tom Romanowski
Inventory Control Coordinator
Phone: (920) 424-3443
Email: romanowt@uwosh.edu
New Inventory Item Request
Custodial Office
The Custodial Office is located in the lower level of Blackhawk. You can reach them at (920) 424-4405 or fax (920) 424-0259. This Department is responsible for housekeeping of all academic and residence life buildings on the UW Oshkosh campuses. This includes cleaning of residence halls, classrooms, labs, faculty and staff offices, restrooms, corridors, lounges and general use areas.
Other services include:
- Trash removal from the buildings
- Recycle removal
- Moving services
- Set-ups for special events:
- Tables, $4 each/day
- Chair, $1 each/day
- Trash and recycling set, $3 each/day
- Stanchions, $10 flat fee
- Stage with pipe and drape (per section), $5 each/day
- Tarps, $40 flat fee
- Portable bleachers, $40 per move
Custodial Standard Operating Procedures
UW Oshkosh Green Cleaning Program
Tony Blaskowski
Environmental Services Manager
Email: blaskowskia@uwosh.edu
Phone: (920) 424-0488
Custodial Supervisors
Vicki Stadler
Custodial Services Supervisor – Day Shift
Residence Life/Academics
Mandy Olesen
Custodial Services Supervisor – Day Shift
Academic/Residence Life
Timothy Paulsen
Custodial Services Supervisor – 2nd Shift
Academics
Amanda Dehler
Custodial Services Supervisor – 3rd Shift
Academics
Grounds Shop
The Grounds Maintenance Department is responsible for the continued maintenance and development of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campuses. The department’s goal is to provide aesthetically enjoyable outdoor facilities for all students, staff, and visitors.
Specific departmental tasks include the following:
- Landscape design and installation
- Tree, shrub, and flower bed maintenance
- Turf maintenance
- Athletic field maintenance
- Snow and ice removal
- Material hauling and debris collection
- Proud partner of WI Salt Wise
Josh Ruplinger
Grounds/Auto Supervisor
Telephone: (920) 424-0033
Email: ruplingerj@uwosh.ed
Mechanical Shop
The Mechanical Shop consists of highly skilled craftsmen and maintenance mechanics. The Electrical Department’s skills are very diverse, being able to provide troubleshooting and repairs along with strong abilities for small construction or remodeling. Look for the Plumbing Department to keep water flowing and drains clear as they take on the challenges that most of us take for granted.
Last, but certainly not least, the steamfitters team up with the building maintenance mechanics to deliver comfort to the buildings and the people who occupy them. We look forward to new challenges in the future and will continue to deliver the services you have come to expect.
Jon Fenlon
Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Facilities Manager
Telephone: (920) 424-2317
Email: fenlonj@uwosh.ed
Structural Shop
The Structural & Lock Shop is composed of skilled craftsman including carpenters, painters, repair workers, and locksmiths. This shop is responsible for campus wide repair to building envelopes, roofs, exterior structures, grounds (concrete, masonry), carpentry, doors, windows, and lock and key systems. The goal of this shop is to work together to deliver a high level of quality service to maintain and improve the UW Oshkosh campuses.
Tracy Schwartz
Structural Facilities Manager
Telephone: (920) 424-2458
Email: schwartzt@uwosh.edu
Building Keys & Card Access
Door keys are issued for security reasons and the personal convenience of faculty/staff members. Faculty and staff are responsible for the security and proper use of all assigned keys. Only those that are authorized by their department can submit a key request for new employees, replacement keys, or card access.
Key pick up:
All keys must be picked up at the Facilities Management Office after showing Titan ID (or driver’s license). Our office hours are 7:00 am – 3:00 pm. Keys are not transferable and shall not be loaned to others or duplicated. Please click here to submit a key request (this link works on campus connections only, or while signed into VPN).
Key return:
Keys that are no longer needed must be returned to the Facilities Management Office. If you are leaving UW Oshkosh or moving offices/buildings, you should turn in the keys that have been checked out to you. If you are unsure of what keys you should have, you can email Vicki and she can send you a list. Keys can be dropped off during office hours, 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Monday – Friday, or you can leave them in our drop box to the left of our doors, with a note indicating your name and phone number.
Vicki Myers
Administrative Assistant III
Key Office and Card Access Administrator
Phone: (920) 424-3466
Email: myersv@uwosh.edu
We are located in the Campus Services Center across the Fox River from the Oshkosh campus. The facility is the second building on the right-hand side of Witzel Avenue.
650 Witzel Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54902
Phone: (920) 424-3466
Monday-Friday
7:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.
Staff availability may vary; please call ahead.