[Retric]

Universities can still cut quite a few costs when facilities are underutilized without letting things decay. Buildings don’t need to be kept at room temperature without people. Most computers and lights can be kept off. Parking lots don’t need to be kept plowed and salted in the winter. Grounds can generally be less immaculate without long term issues. Bathrooms etc don’t need to be cleaned daily when not in use.

[gus_massa]

> Bathrooms etc don’t need to be cleaned daily when not in use.

The university can save some money because it use less soap and bleach, but I hope they are still paying the cleaning crew.

[vinceguidry]

Large orgs generally hire contracting companies who manage their own workforce.

[new2628]

Most such services are contracted anyway and not on payroll.

[to11mtm]

But even those services are sometimes questionable in actual value (and overall experience.)

Example: At the college I went to, the food service company that handled the cafeteria had some interesting clauses in their contract that gave them a lot of control over who else could cook food for an 'on campus/university sanctioned' event. It's been a long time so I can't remember the specifics, but I think we had to switch some fraternity events from cooking hotdogs/hamburgers outside to just bringing some Carry Out pizza.

On top of that, the workers for that company weren't paid well, the food was typically about what you'd expect from, say, bulk purchases from Gordon Food Service, and very expensive for students.

Speaking of that, IIRC if you lived on campus you had to have some form of meal plan (I assume that was also in the contract.)