11/15/2024
By Joanne Yestramski
As part of the university’s annual efforts to implement sustainability best practices and achieve cost savings during the Thanksgiving weekend and the intersession between Fall and Spring Semesters, Facilities is working in concert with campus leaders to reduce on-campus operations during the breaks with partial campus closures.
On Friday, Nov. 29 following Thanksgiving and again from Saturday, Dec. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 5, only business critical for university operations and to support student success, recruitment, and retention will remain active. Normal business operations will resume on Monday, January 6.
For all staff members not required to work on campus during the break, managers should work with employees on remote work opportunities during the business days between the Christmas and New Years holidays and seek to maximize the use of available vacation leave time, consistent with their collective bargaining agreements and/or personnel policies.
Employees who are approved to work, and who cannot work remotely, should coordinate with area department heads and managers to temporarily relocate to available, operational space if their office or building is closed during intersession. Employees who have concerns regarding special accommodations should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Outreach.
Certain buildings, offices, and laboratories will remain open for conducting scheduled research and winter intersession student services. All buildings on campus will be secured and require card access during this time. Residence halls will remain open for approved student locations only.
Maria Figueroa is working with the Administrative Council to update last year’s intersession plan and identify building and department operational status. Please be sure to share this building and department information through the council member in your area.
These are the building designations:
• Open: The building will be open for normal business functions. Building mechanical systems will continue to operate on their normal winter schedules.
• Non-operational: The building will be locked, but individuals with regular access will be able to enter using their UCard. Heat will be turned down.
• Closed: The building will be locked, but individuals with regular access will be able to enter using their UCard; lights will be off; heat will be turned down to a minimum.
Building temperatures in areas designated as non-operational during winter intersession will be set to 60°F and have reduced ventilation strategies. Prior to leaving for the break, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take the following steps:
• Close all windows prior to departure
• Switch light controls to off
• Ensure heaters are not in use
• Spot check room temperatures
• Unplug all unused electrical devices
• Ensure unused fume hood sashes are closed
The university will post on the web the final list of building designations and the assigned Administrative Council contact as we get closer to the winter break.