Mowing, weed eating, trimming shrubs, painting fields and working on the horticulture are all part of the jobs that encompass being a grounds keeper at Emporia State, according to Mark Morgan, Physical Plant supervisor.
“The grounds are very important at ESU,” Morgan said. “It helps with recruiting and helping the students feel more at home.”
Nathan Seaman, junior business administration major, applied for a grounds keeping job while looking through listings on the ESU website.
“I filled out several applications for jobs, and I got a call for an interview with this job,” Seaman said. “I guess it went well because I got hired.”
According to Chris Parks, senior administrative specialist in University Facilities, there are 10 full-time workers and four student workers. She said full-time employees work close to 40 hours, while students must put in 15.
Although 15 hours is far from full-time, Seaman has had to juggle the job with taking classes to fit the hours in before the office closes.
According to Seaman, the office is only open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. With many morning classes, he has to find multiple consecutive hours to work for the maintenance center each day to achieve his needed hours.
“Normally, I show up in the afternoons and find my boss, Mark (Morgan),” Seaman said. “From there, I go out and normally push-mow lawns.”
Each crew member has a different job to focus on. Seaman normally works on the islands of grass around campus.
The jobs for grounds keepers are primarily focused in the areas of athletic events, intramural events, normal everyday routines and academic events that take place outside.
“It’s difficult to battle with weather or multiple events for one day,” Morgan said. “We either get pushed back because we can’t do anything or just don’t have enough time to get everything done by certain events.”
Seaman admits it is tough, but that he enjoys it, especially considering it is his primary source of income.
“I’m still waiting to see if it’s enough to get me through,” Seaman said. “But, so far, so good.”
