Campuses will close for week in December 2011

PULLMAN – Beginning in 2011, WSU will close all non-essential business operations and associated buildings at all locations during the last week of December.
“This is a measure that many people suggested in response to our request for possible cost-saving ideas,” said Warwick M. Bayly, provost and executive vice president, who led an ad hoc campus committee created by President Elson S. Floyd to look at the change.
“Other universities have implemented it successfully,” Bayly said. “We believe it can be put in place without undue disruption of university functions.”
 
Through the break period, the university will remain open only for essential operations during regular business hours. Essential operations include designated business offices in French Administration and Lighty Student Services buildings, as well as public service operations including university police, admissions, animal care and information technology.
Vice presidents, chancellors and deans will be asked to exercise discretion to determine essential business operations and services and essential minimal staffing levels. Faculty will retain access to their individual offices and labs during the December break; however, the thermostats may be turned down in buildings that are otherwise closed.
Bayly said it is difficult to estimate the cost savings that might result. The weather and the number of buildings that are able to be shut down will have an impact. He said he has discussed the change with officials from the University of Idaho, which has a similar policy, and they told him that their campus has adapted well to the annual closure.
WSU employees will be strongly encouraged to use their annual leave, personal holiday or accrued compensatory leave during the break. Employees who do not have sufficient leave balances may request personal leave without pay in accordance with departmental guidelines. Management is encouraged to grant leave and LWOP requests during this period.
Under the policy, employees who choose to work on the non-holiday days of the December break will work with their supervisor to establish alternative schedules, workplaces and assignments as needed.
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are officially designated as state holidays. WSU has traditionally celebrated an additional holiday off on the day immediately before or after the Christmas holiday, in lieu of taking a day off for President’s Day in February.
 
Due to a quirk in the calendar, the 2011 closure week will include three traditional days off. Christmas and New Year’s both fall on Sunday, so Christmas and the Christmas holiday day off are scheduled to be taken on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 26 and 27) and the day off for New Year’s Day is scheduled to be taken on Friday, Dec. 30. Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, will be a regular work day.
Employees remain responsible for complying with the annual leave and other leave procedures outlined in the Business Policies and Procedures Manual. Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement are to refer to their contract regarding holiday and leave processes. They are encouraged to contact Human Resource Services for guidance on alternative work schedules, assignments and leave policies and processes.