Managing facilities officials report there have been very few problems recruiting students to cover work shifts over winter break.

Carmichael Complex Director of Facilities and Operations Dawn Sanner said the gymnasium has made certain accommodations this semester to make sure there is always enough staff to work when the facilities are open.

“When it comes to Carmichael, we have students that are on our team that are remaining in town,” Sanner said. “We have a reduced schedule, so it is not too much trouble.”

Sanner said there was a little more trouble getting enough employees to work at the complex pool facilities, but the staff has compensated for this problem with outside support.

“With the pool, it is a little more challenging to maintain the staff over break, so we are contracting a number of lifeguards from outside the University to work over break,” Sanner said.

Sanner said one technique used at the gym is to only open facilities that patrons over break are most likely to use, like weight rooms.

“We try to come up with a combination of hours that allow patrons to do what they want to in the gym,” Sanner said. “It takes an incredible amount of students to run the Carmichael Complex, so in past years, when we didn’t have reduced hours, it has been very difficult to keep the complex staffed.”

Robert Waldrup, a senior in meteorology, said he works at D.H. Hill Library and will likely pick up a few work hours during the time off.

“There is no pressure to work over break because there are always people available and looking to make money,” Waldrup said. “There are enough folks that live around town to cover the shifts that need to be covered.”

Sanner said to cover Carmichael facilities, she also uses cross training, whereas individuals from other departments on campus are given the opportunity to pick up a few shifts.

“We use cross training, so we can employ students from Campus Recreation who would normally just sit around during break and give them the opportunity to work over break,” Sanner said.

Sara Haddad, a sophomore in political science, said she also works at D.H. Hill Library and will take advantage of the opportunity to work a few hours during winter break.

“I got the chance to pick the days I wanted off,” Haddad said. “It’s a great way to get some extra money without having to worry about school.”

Sanner said keeping University facilities staffed over break is a problem that will assuredly get harder as time goes on.

“The challenge of keeping the complex staffed has become progressively harder since I first came here,” Sanner said. “It seems like students are more on the go now.”