Winter Shutdown

To conserve energy and save money, the experiment of closing college facilities as much as possible over Winter Break will be extended to a third year. To the degree possible, buildings will close at the end of December 22 and open again beginning January 1, with all buildings returning to normal operation on Monday, January 3.

See below for detailed building schedules.

Fedex, UPS, and the US Postal Service will generally be holding deliveries from December 23 to January 3, with some exceptions. See Deliveries for further details.

We’re asking all members of the campus community to help save as much energy as possible.

What you can do:

• Turn off and unplug all plug-in devices. Many electronics and appliances still use electricity even when they’re turned off, so unplugging them is an important step.
  • Computers, Monitor, Printers
  • Cell phone chargers
  • Television, DVD players, Playstations…
• Empty, defrost and unplug any mini-refrigerators.
• In dorms, custodians will be unplugging all appliances and electronics left plugged in. You must remove any perishable items from your refrigerator.
• Turn off all lights, close all windows, and shut curtains to reduce the amount of heat lost through the glass.

Especially for faculty and staff:

• Close the sash as much as possible on all hoods in your lab space, both teaching and research.
• Turn off research equipment when possible.
• In all but a few selected buildings, building temperatures will be turned down to 50° F. If you feel you must be in your office or lab, dress for cool temperatures. Do not use personal space heaters during the winter break.
• Williams College athletic facilities will be closed. See below for other fitness options.
• The Children’s Center will be closed from December 23rd through January 2nd.
• Winter Study instructors should not plan to preview their classrooms during the shutdown period. Classroom buildings will be open on Sunday, January 2. If you need help with using the projection equipment in classrooms, setting up a Glow site for your course, or have other technology related questions, we strongly recommend that you contact your ITech liaison as soon as possible, and prior to the shutdown.
• There is a list of Information Technology Specialists and their contact information on the OIT web site – click on “Expertise and Advice” and follow the link for “Instructional Technology Specialists.” For adjuncts, please contact the liaison for the course’s faculty sponsor.
• Information Technology staff will be taking responsibility for turning off the audio/visual/computer equipment in classrooms. Please do not unplug classroom equipment.
• If you need technology support over the break send email to desktop@williams.edu as that address will be checked every day of the shutdown. If you are unable to email, use the helpdesk web form at http://oit.williams.edu/helpdesk. Or as a last resort, on December 27, 28, 29 and 30 from 9am to 5pm, the x4090 help desk voice mail will be checked every 2 hours. When calling, leave a message with a number for a Desktop Systems Specialist to call you back.
• Visit http://library.williams.edu/closing/ for information about library resources during the shutdown period.

Deliveries

U.S. Postal Service
USPS will deliver to the campus until December 22 when buildings close and will resume delivery when the campus reopens on January 3. USPS will continue to deliver mail to Mears House and Bascom House during the shutdown period.

USPS will make one delivery to campus on December 28 – student mail, mail for Hollander Hall, Schapiro Hall and Sawyer Library will be received by the campus, however, there will be no distribution to individual departments. All other mail will be held at the Post Office until the campus reopens on January 3.

If needed, you can pick up mail during the winter shut down at the Post Office. Mail can be picked up after 10am at the Post Office. If you pick up mail, you must show your Williams College ID and you will receive all the mail for the department.

During the shutdown period, all accountable mail (Express/Certified/Registered) will remain at the post office for collection, with the exception of Mears House and Bascom House. All accountable mail not picked up during the shutdown period will then be delivered on January 3rd when we resume operations.

For information on USPS delivery service contact Chris Abayasinghe, Assistant Director of Student Dining.

UPS and FedEx
All package mail, with the exception of mail addressed to Mears House, Bascom House, and Hopkins Hall will not be delivered during the shutdown.

If alternative arrangements are required, you will need to personally contact the delivery companies using the following contact information. You will also need your tracking number as this will be required:

UPS – 413-442-0670 or thunter@ups.com
FedEx – 800-463-3339 and ask for a representative to help with the package being delivered.

For additional information regarding UPS and FedEx contact contact Chris Abayasinghe, Assistant Director of Student Dining.

Building Schedules

Education and General Buildings:
Closed from December 23 to January 1. Open for use on Sunday, January 2.

You may reserve an office for use during the winter shutdown. To do so, contact
Shelby Walden (shelby.walden@williams.edu) prior to December 18th.

Dorms:
Closed from December 21 at 12 noon through December 30. Open for use on January 1st at 8am.

The student mail room closes on December 22nd and reopens on January 3rd. For students seeking package mail, services will be unavailable during this time. Returning students seeking keys to their dorm rooms can access the mailboxes beginning on Saturday January 1st. Regular window service opens on January 3rd.

Fitness Options

• Outside:
  • Prospect Mountain cross country ski area offers equipment rental and instruction.
  • The Arcadian Shop in Lenox, MA rents cross country skis and snowshoes.
  • Berkshire Outfitters in Adams, MA rents cross country skis and snowshoes.
• Indoors:
  • Northern Berkshire YMCA in North Adams offers day passes for $10.
  • Off the Wall Fitness and Raquet Club in Bennington, VT offers day passes for $14.

Especially for Donors:

If you would like to make a gift during the shutdown time, please visit http://alumni.williams.edu/waystogive.

If you need to talk to someone about your gift, please call 888-374-8110 (toll-free) or 413-597-4153. The Alumni Fund staff will be checking messages December 27 – 31 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM EST and will respond promptly.