As part of a new holiday tradition, Washington State University Vancouver will be closed from Dec. 26 through Dec. 30.
It will be part of a system-wide shutdown of all WSU campuses during the final week of the year.
The one-week closure won’t be an issue for the 3,100 or so students who attend WSUV, since it will come in the middle of their three-week semester break.
However, the one-week closure will standardize things for about 500 people who work on the Salmon Creek campus, said spokeswoman Brenda Alling.
“A lot of people ask for time off during that period,” she said.
But as long as there was a chance that even a few employees would show up for work, the people who keep the campus running had to be on the job early in the morning.
The WSU Board of Regents approved what’s called the 52nd week closure as an annual part of the university’s calendar at all campuses. It was suggested by WSU employees in response to a request for cost-saving ideas.
“There will be some modest energy savings” on the WSUV campus, Alling said.
The period includes three paid days off; employees will be asked to use two days of their annual leave for the rest of the time off.
During this closure, students and community members will not be able to do business with WSUV in person. Regular online services will still be available at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu.
Monday at 5 p.m. is the application deadline for new undergraduate freshman, transfer and international applications for spring 2012 admissions to WSUV.
Online applications for summer and fall 2012 will be accepted during WSUV’s closure.
Regular business hours will resume Jan. 2.
WSU’s spring semester begins Jan. 9.
