Partial university closure saves $120,000
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While students, faculty and staff enjoyed winter break, the ISU campus took a similar break as well.
From Dec. 24 to Jan. 3, the university was partially closed. The partial closing allowed buildings that do not experience much activity during that 11-day period to be closed or locked in order to save money.
David Miller, director of facilities planning and management, said 55 buildings were either closed or locked during the partial closing.
“Closed means no one was in the building and locked means it was closed to the public, but there may be a few people in the building working,” Miller said.
The partial closing was a way to help deal with the budget cuts the university has experienced during the past year.
Vice President for Business and Finance Warren Madden said the estimated savings of the university during the partial closing reached upwards of $120,000.
Madden said Parks Library, one of the buildings partially closed, lowered its energy costs by 60 percent.
“For them, they labeled it as a success,” Madden said.
The winter storm much of Iowa experienced Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 caused some problems during the partial closing.
James Dorsett, director of International Students and Scholars, said some flights were delayed for international students attending Iowa State for the first time during spring semester.
Finding ways to safely transport these students from the Des Moines airport to campus was an issue because of poor road conditions.
“That made it somewhat more difficult for picking up students,” Dorsett said.
The cold weather also proved to be bothersome for ISU marching band members when they came back from their performance at the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.
“I know when the band came back ... there were some challenges getting cars started,” Madden said.
Beardshear Hall was also closed during this time, preventing new international students from obtaining their ISUCards.
However, because International Students and Scholars knew of the partial closing ahead of time, the office was prepared to deal with the incoming international students who did not yet have an ISUCard.
“While a number of offices were closed between Christmas and New Year’s, plans were in place to bring students in after the New Year’s holiday and offices were open and ready,” said Peter Englin, director of the Department of Residence.
Overall, officials believe the partial closing was a success.
“In general, we think we’ve done a pretty good job,” Madden said.
Whether or not the partial closing will be something the university does again in the future is unknown.
“I would expect there would be significant discussion as to whether something like that will go on again,” Madden said.
From Dec. 24 to Jan. 3, the university was partially closed. The partial closing allowed buildings that do not experience much activity during that 11-day period to be closed or locked in order to save money.
David Miller, director of facilities planning and management, said 55 buildings were either closed or locked during the partial closing.
“Closed means no one was in the building and locked means it was closed to the public, but there may be a few people in the building working,” Miller said.
The partial closing was a way to help deal with the budget cuts the university has experienced during the past year.
Vice President for Business and Finance Warren Madden said the estimated savings of the university during the partial closing reached upwards of $120,000.
Madden said Parks Library, one of the buildings partially closed, lowered its energy costs by 60 percent.
“For them, they labeled it as a success,” Madden said.
The winter storm much of Iowa experienced Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 caused some problems during the partial closing.
James Dorsett, director of International Students and Scholars, said some flights were delayed for international students attending Iowa State for the first time during spring semester.
Finding ways to safely transport these students from the Des Moines airport to campus was an issue because of poor road conditions.
“That made it somewhat more difficult for picking up students,” Dorsett said.
The cold weather also proved to be bothersome for ISU marching band members when they came back from their performance at the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.
“I know when the band came back ... there were some challenges getting cars started,” Madden said.
Beardshear Hall was also closed during this time, preventing new international students from obtaining their ISUCards.
However, because International Students and Scholars knew of the partial closing ahead of time, the office was prepared to deal with the incoming international students who did not yet have an ISUCard.
“While a number of offices were closed between Christmas and New Year’s, plans were in place to bring students in after the New Year’s holiday and offices were open and ready,” said Peter Englin, director of the Department of Residence.
Overall, officials believe the partial closing was a success.
“In general, we think we’ve done a pretty good job,” Madden said.
Whether or not the partial closing will be something the university does again in the future is unknown.
“I would expect there would be significant discussion as to whether something like that will go on again,” Madden said.
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