Working Through

The University remains open for business through the Intersession. Carillon photo by Paul Miller.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 14, 2016) — Hard to believe another semester is nearly over. Students are turning in final papers and prepping for exams, getting ready for a break. Most residence halls close in one week, on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

That’s the official start of Intersession, which runs through Wednesday, Jan 18. New student orientation begins Friday, Jan. 20, and the residence halls reopen the following day. Classes resume Jan. 23.

But this year it won’t be quiet on campus during Intersession. All occupied buildings – administrative and faculty offices and labs – will be open for business so that the work of the University can continue uninterrupted.

For the past eight years, the University has gone to a power-saving mode during Intersession, turning off lights and hot water and turning down the heat to save on energy costs. Faculty and staff either bundled up or looked for a warmer place to work.

This year, they can work in their offices, which will be heated to the normal level of 68 degrees Fahrenheit from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. On off hours, the heat will be dialed back to 55 degrees.

The reason for the change is simple: Even when classes aren’t in session, there’s plenty of work happening on campus — research, administrative, planning, financial. That’s hard to do when staff are working in the cold or setting up temporary work spaces in the library or elsewhere.

There will still be significant energy and money savings, with the Lecture Center, classrooms and most residence halls closed, and the after-4 p.m. power down. Lights will be dimmed in common areas of occupied buildings, including hallways, entryways and stairwells.

The main University Library will be open and heated weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Occupied buildings on the Downtown Campus will follow the 8-4 weekday schedule. The Science Library and the Dewey Graduate Library will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 2. For all library hours, visit the Library hours page and click on Intersession 2016.

The Massry Center for Business, which can be heated room by room, is available for conferences and events.

For more information on steps you can take to prepare for the intersession, click here.

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