Holiday schedule changes affect mailings, deliveries and more

Salaried staff employees who work on a holiday will be paid for the hours worked at time and one-half, in addition to the regular pay, or will be given compensatory time off at time and one-half. The dates are to be mutually agreed upon by the employee and supervisor.

Holiday pay provisions for hourly employees are outlined in the collective bargaining agreements.

Recognizing the need for certain services to continue during the recess, several departments will operate on a limited schedule.

Campus mail
Regular campus mail delivery will continue through Tuesday, Dec. 23. Any additional outgoing mail to the U. S. Postal Service should be brought to the Campus Mail Center in the General Services Building by 3:15 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23. The facility will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 30 and 31. Mail can be picked up from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 30, and from 10 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Dec. 31.

There will be very limited processing of outgoing mail. Only first-class outgoing mail will be processed on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Because of limited staffing, bulk mail cannot be processed during the recess.

FedEx, UPS and other courier-delivered packages will be accepted and stored in Campus Mail. Recipients who do not pick up the packages will be called. If there are other special arrangements, please call 831-2158.

Regular mail delivery will resume on Monday, Jan. 5.

Campus Delivery
Campus Delivery will be open from 8 a.m.-noon, Monday, Dec. 29, and Friday, Jan. 2. Normal delivery will resume on Monday, Jan. 5.

Facilities
Facilities will make every effort to heat buildings in an "off hours" mode that will result in reduced indoor temperatures. In addition, such services as waste removal and custodial work will be curtailed. Offices and laboratories intending to be in operation for any part of the recess should contact Facilities at 831-1141 to make the necessary arrangements for services, before Monday, Dec. 22.

Very limited service will be available Wednesday, Dec. 24-Sunday, Jan. 4, by contacting 831-1141 or [FIX-it@udel.edu] on e-mail. Normal weekend skeleton service will be available the remaining days for emergencies only.

Transportation
University buses will operate on a modified schedule during the end-of-the-year holidays. For more information, see the web site at [www.udel.edu/SuppSrvc/bus/xmas03.html].

Emergencies
Emergency response personnel will be available and can be reached by calling Public Safety at 911 or 831-2222.

Voice mail
Individuals and units should alter voice-mail messages to reflect the holiday recess. A few suggested examples are provided. Also, see the Extended Absence Greeting, which allows individuals to keep their normal "no answer" voice mail greeting and add a new greeting for extended time away from the office.

Office example: "You have reached the Department of Geography at the University of Delaware. Our offices are closed for the holidays. Normal office hours will resume on Monday, Jan. 5. Please call back then or leave a message after the tone and your call will be returned after the holiday recess."

Individual examples: "Hello. This is Jane Doe of the Department of Geography at the University of Delaware. I will be out of the office for the holidays from Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 2. Please leave your name, your phone number and a detailed message after the tone. I will call you back when I return on Monday, Jan. 5."

Those who plan to check their messages during the holiday recess should consider the following greeting:

"Hello. This is Jack Doe of the Department of Geography at the University of Delaware. I will be out of the office for the holidays from Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 2. I will be checking my messages, so please leave your name, your phone number and a detailed message after the tone and I'll return your call."

Extended absence voice mail option
The Extended-Absence Option enables users to add a greeting for absences and not have to record over their current "no answer" greeting.

To use this feature:

1. Enter your mailbox and from the main menu, press 9.

2. For greetings and name announcement, press 1.

3. For extended-absence greeting, press 4.

For more information about how to change your voice mail or the extended-absence feature, consult your v-mail instruction booklet or contact Pam Flockerzi at 831-3718 or by e-mail at [pamf@udel.edu].

Computing network
The campus network and all central computing systems and applications will be up and available throughout the holiday period, with the following exceptions:

Between 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 24, and 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 25, no tape mounts or other operator intervention will be available on central systems.
Preventive maintenance on the building electrical systems is scheduled between 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29. During this period, computer systems may be briefly interrupted on short notice if electrical system repairs are required.

For more information, contact Shirley Coen at 831-3775, or by e-mail at [scoen@udel.edu].

Computing sites
The Smith Hall computing site will be open for limited hours over the holiday period:

Dec. 20 and 21, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Dec. 22 and 23, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Dec. 24 and 25, closed
Dec. 26-31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jan. 1, closed
Jan. 2-4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

All other computing sites will be closed.

Libraries
The University of Delaware Library, including Morris Library and branch libraries, will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, and be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22 and 23. The University of Delaware Libraries will close for the holiday period at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23, and reopen at 8 a.m., Monday, Jan. 5. All libraries will begin Winter Session hours on Monday, Jan. 5.

DELCAT and networked electronic library resources will continue to be accessible from outside the library during the holiday period when the University computer system is up. Library databases and electronic journals will be available via the web to University users from off campus.

Also accessible from off campus are web pointers to scholarly information organized by subject (Subject Guides A-Z) by the library via its home page.

Books due before Tuesday, Dec. 23, should be renewed by phone or returned through the book drops outside Morris Library. Books may also be renewed at the library when open or electronically via DELCAT.

Library hours are available at 831-BOOK and on the web at [www.lib.udel.edu].

Development Office
For the convenience of donors, the Development Office, which can be reached at (302) 831-2104, will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 24, 26, 29, 30 and 31.

Gifts received or postmarked by Dec. 31 may qualify as a tax deduction for 2003.

Gifts also may be made online at [http://www.udel.edu/makeagift].

Article by Becca Hutchinson

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