Dear faculty and staff colleagues,

I know we are all looking forward to the upcoming winter break. This email provides important information regarding the winter closure that is fast approaching.

Period of Closure
Buildings will be secured and regular staff support services will conclude as the winter closure period commences at 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 23. We will resume regular hours and services on Monday, Jan. 3.

Power Outages
There are no scheduled electrical power outages during the break period. If your department requires notification regarding unforeseen power outages during closure (e.g., you have sensitive electronic equipment or research), make sure Security Services has current contact names and phone numbers.

Heat
General building heating will be provided for those who need to be on campus during the closure period (with the exception of Wheelock Student Center from Dec. 27 to Jan. 2 due to a boiler replacement project). If you work in an office with heating controls, please place the thermostat on the lowest setting when you leave and adjust temporarily as needed if you are in during the closure. Though heat will generally be available, it is a good idea to dress warmly if you are on campus during the closure period.

Technology
Technology Services will monitor critical applications and services during the closure. If you experience any major and time-sensitive issues with university managed technology during the closure, contact Security Services at 253.879.3311. They will report your concern to an on-call Technology Services staff member.

Technology Services will perform systems updates during the next few weeks that may cause brief outages in key systems. Work will be coordinated in advance with key area representatives and a schedule of work and systems impacted will be communicated via the Technology Services Alerts process.

Mail
Regular and express mail will be sorted into departmental mailboxes during the closure with mail available for pickup on Dec. 28 and 31, beginning at noon both days. Faculty and staff may retrieve letter-sized mail from departmental mail boxes in Mail Services in Wheelock Student Center, which will be accessible via LoggerCard access Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you need to retrieve mail outside of these hours, call Security Services (253.879.3311) to make the request and be prepared to show your Puget Sound ID card. 

Please note that packages and large mail items will not be accessible during the closure. The U.S. Post Office and other package couriers generally hold packages they receive during break and will deliver them for distribution on Jan. 3 when campus reopens.

If you have questions about mail, please contact Andrea Brown, Mail Services Coordinator, at asbrown@pugetsound.edu.

Deliveries
Because buildings will be vacated and locked, we will not be receiving deliveries to buildings during closure. Notify vendors that deliveries should be made prior or subsequent to the closure period.

Purchasing
Please complete purchasing activities prior to or subsequent to closure. If you have an emergency purchasing need during the closure, call Accounts Payable and Procurement Manager Wendy Vu at 253.879.2732.

Recorded Greetings and Automatic Email Replies
Remember to change department and individual voicemail greetings and set up out-of-office automatic email replies as applicable before leaving for the break/closure. Please indicate when you will return to campus and/or retrieve messages.

Security
Security Services staff will be on duty 24/7 during the closure to patrol campus as well as provide escorts and access to buildings. For security purposes, please have your Puget Sound ID card available if you need an assisted entry to a building.

If you have questions in advance of the closure about building access, contact Danette Smith, Security Operations Manager, at dysmith@pugetsound.edu or extension 3312. If you need assistance during closure, contact Security Services at extension 3311.

COVID-19 Guidance
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services will be closed for clinical services during the break beginning Dec. 17 at noon. Providers will return on Jan. 3, and appointments for students will be available on the first day of class, Jan. 18. Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19 between Dec. 17 and Jan. 3, should contact their primary care provider and notify their supervisor. As a reminder, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department website has information about testing site availability and locations at: https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/diseases/covid-19/testing-information.

If you have questions regarding the winter closure, please contact me.

I hope you have a wonderful and restful winter break!

Sherry
Sherry B. Mondou | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer