October 8, 2008—A recent national study of college students determined there is a correlation between the cleanliness of a school’s facilities and students’ academic achievement. Entitled Cleanliness and Learning in Higher Education, the study was based around the five levels of clean identified in APPA’s Custodial Staffing Guidelines for Educational Facilities.
The study was conducted through the Center for Facilities Research (CFaR) at APPA–the association promoting leadership in educational facilities–and co-sponsored by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
Of the 1481 students polled, 88 percent reported that the lack of cleanliness becomes a distraction at APPA Level 3 (Casual Inattention) and Level 4 (Moderate Dinginess). Eighty-four percent reported that they desire APPA Level 1 (Orderly Spotlessness) or Level 2 (Ordinary Tidiness) standard of cleanliness to create a good learning environment.
Cleanliness ranked as the fourth most important building element to impact the students’ learning. The top three building elements were noise, air temperature, and lighting. Students also reported that the most effective learning spaces are classrooms, libraries, and personal study space.
Eighty percent of the students surveyed reported that they should be involved in keeping campus buildings clean. Seventy-eight percent reported that cleanliness has an impact on their health. Students reported that lack of cleanliness affects allergies, spreads germs, increases bug and rodent infestations, and promotes higher stress levels.
Initially printed by 1992 and now in its second edition, APPA’s Custodial Staffing Guidelines includes information on such specialized facilities areas as dormitories, health care facilities, and more, covering 33 room categories in all. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) recently revised its LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) standard, adding credits for those institutions conducting an audit of their facilities using APPA’s Custodial Staffing Guidelines.
The final report from Cleanliness and Learning in Higher Education is available free to APPA members and for $30 for nonmembers through the APPA Bookstore and free to ISSA members through the Member Loungeand for $30 by request to nonmembers. APPA’s Custodial Staffing Guidelines for Educational Facilities manual can be purchased from the APPA bookstore.
