ISU begins partial shutdown

AMES, Iowa — In a cost-cutting move, many Iowa State University buildings and departments, including the university libraries, shut down Thursday, not to reopen until Jan. 4.

The partial shutdown of the university was one of several cost-saving strategies approved by the Iowa Board of Regents in October to help Iowa State University cope with a $24.5 million mid-year budget reduction.

Warren Madden, ISU vice president for business and finance, said he hoped the partial shutdown would save the university between $100,000 and $200,000 in utility bills, but he said the action was not based solely on the budget.

He said this has been a very stressful year for university employees and he believes that this partial shutdown will provide employees with some much-needed relaxation time.

“People have been working under more stress than might normally be the case,” Madden said, “and I think people see this period as perhaps an opportunity to get away and tend to some of their own personal needs and interests.”

All university employees are required to take anywhere between four and 12 unpaid furlough days this fiscal year, and Madden said the holidays fall in such a way this year that employees could get 11 days off while missing only four days of work.

Many employees are taking this option to go on trips or attend the ISU football team’s bowl game Thursday in Tempe, Ariz., Madden said.

Public safety and some other ISU departments will be operational during the partial shutdown, though some will run on reduced schedules, including snow removal, dining services and the Memorial Union.

Madden said at least 59 buildings on campus will be closed or locked to public entry during the break, including the 325,000-square-foot Parks Library.

David Gregory, associate dean for research and access, said the temperature inside the library will be reduced gradually to 55 degrees over the break in order to save money on the utility bill.

“Given the size of the Parks Library we knew that the savings in utilities alone would be significant,” Gregory said. “Decreasing the temperature gradually does not put the print or multimedia in any danger.”

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