Temple University will be closed for a winter holiday break between the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The university will close at the end of business on Tuesday, Dec. 23, and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5. Employees who normally work a weekend shift should report on Jan. 3. A limited number of services and offices will remain open during the break. This announcement includes important information and advice about this closure.

Facilities

A very limited number of Temple facilities will be open on the weekdays between the Christmas and New Year's holidays:

Main Campus:

• Howard Gittis Student Center, first level only, open Dec. 24, 29, 30, and Jan. 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing access to the credit union only. The bookstore, cafeteria and other Student Center facilities will be closed.
• Paley Library will be closed during the holiday break for extensive electrical work. The library will reopen at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5. (The Libraries’ electronic resources will still be available during the closure; any service interruptions should only be temporary.)

Health Sciences Center: Some facilities will be open during the winter holiday break (consult your school or college head for more information).

All other Temple facilities — including those at the Tyler Campus in Elkins Park well as the Ambler, Center City and Harrisburg campuses — will be closed between the Christmas and New Year's holidays except to authorized personnel, as they would be on any weekend or holiday.

Please check with your school, college or administrative unit head if you are uncertain about your responsibilities or access to facilities during the winter holiday break.

Parking

Although many of Temple's parking areas will be closed during the winter holiday break, several will be open between the holidays, including the parking garage at the Liacouras Center and Bell Garage on Main Campus and Carlisle West Garage at the Health Sciences Center. For more information, including holiday hours of operation, maps and directions, visit www.temple.edu/parking.

Mail and deliveries

Mail will not be picked up or delivered during the winter holiday break.

Do not leave any shipments in UPS drop-off boxes during the winter holiday break — they will not be picked up.

If you are expecting a package to be delivered by an express delivery service, please let the sender know exactly where and when you will be on campus to receive the shipment due to limited facilities access and the likelihood that no one else will be present to sign for it.

Do not order any items requiring refrigeration or other forms of special handling that may arrive during the winter holiday break.

Campus safety

All trouble calls during the winter holiday break should go directly to Campus Safety Services at 215-204-1234, as on any weekend or holiday.

If you access university facilities during the winter holiday break, please check in with Campus Safety Services at 215-204-1234 to let them know about your presence.

If there is a need for you to work during this time period, please exercise good judgment as you enter and exit buildings. Please do not prop open any doors or let unauthorized personnel gain access to Temple facilities.

Student housing

All university residences will close on Saturday, Dec. 20 at noon and will reopen on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m.

All students must vacate university housing by noon on Saturday, Dec. 20, unless they have an approved housing occupancy extension.

1300 and the Edge Complex will remain open.

Temple employees: Before you leave for the winter holiday break, please...

• Turn off lights and appliances (including holiday decorations) and close any open windows.
• Turn off your computer.
• Record an "extended absence greeting" for your voice mail. To do this, dial into voice mail (215-204-9595 if off campus). After you enter your password, enter options 4, then 3, then 2. Here is a potential script for your greeting:
  
  
  "You have reached the voicemail box of [your name]. Temple University will be closed for winter holiday break until Monday, January 5. If you would like to leave me a message, I will respond when I return. For emergencies, please contact Temple Campus Safety Services at 215-204-1234. Enjoy your holidays and have a safe and happy new year."

Remember to remove your extended absence greeting when you return to work. To do so, access your voice mail; you will hear a prompt with instructions about removing your extended absence greeting.