Essential Steps for Campus Winterization

December 2, 2021

As we move towards Winter Break, there are a few steps we should individually take to winterize the campus. For all faculty and staff who will be working on campus through the break, please complete this form by December 15 to ensure that you are cleared for campus and facility access.  

Please read this communication in its entirety and follow the instructions to ensure your building is winterized. Further, if there are any planned on-campus events, please be sure to inform the Physical Facilities Management (PFM) team.  
 
What to Do Before You Leave for the Winter Closure 

  • Ensure that all building windows are shut. If you see one open, please close it. 
  • Exit doors should not be propped open. Please ensure they are shut. 
  • Please ensure trash bins are emptied before you leave for the break, as Thompson Facilities Services staff will be significantly reduced starting Friday, December 13, 2021, and your office/building may be inaccessible over the closure. 
  • Please turn off all office, classroom and conference room lights and equipment that are not in use. 
  • Please unplug computers, printers and other personal devices as power surges may cause damage. Further, this is a cybersecurity safety measure. 
  • Please remove food items from refrigerators and offices as they may attract insects, rodents or other pests. 
  • Personal heaters are not allowed per the University policy, so no personal heaters should be plugged in. 
  • Please take the necessary precautions related to lab safety. 

What to Expect During the Campus Closure 

  • Unless designated as an essential employee, employees are not expected to travel to Howard University to work. 
  • PFM will be working on campus during the Winter Break to complete facilities projects that might otherwise interfere with classes or faculty or staff work. This includes some routine work in many of the buildings on campus and other CapEx projects. 
  • The steam plant modernization project will continue over the Winter Break. Aspects of the project that could not be conducted during the semester due to the disruption to business continuity will be completed over the break. Beginning on December 16, the steam to a few buildings on campus will be shut down intermittently as part of the steam plant modernization effort. This will impact heat and hot water distribution in several buildings including the dormitories along 4th Street and the Blackburn Student Center. No students will be in the impacted dormitories at the time of the repairs. 
  • Renovations at the Blackburn Student Center will continue through the Winter Break. 
  • The steam (heat and hot water) to Drew Hall will be shut down beginning December 16 to allow for steam pipe maintenance, then will be turned on once the maintenance is completed. 
  • The heat to the Carnegie Building will be secured for the Winter in preparation for the installation of a new heating and cooling system for the building. The building will be offline until the Fall of 2022 as part of a major renovation project. 
  • Be advised that in mid-January, cranes will be on-site to move equipment into the building at the construction site for the steam plant renovation at Bryant Street and 6th Street. There will be two major crane lift operations – target dates are January 14 and 15 as well as January 21 and 22. On these days, Bryant Street will be closed between Georgia Avenue and 6th Street. Pedestrians are asked to avoid the area on these dates.  

All buildings will be secured and locked, except for those that were designated as accessible over the break. That announcement will be made after requests to access buildings over the break are received and approved. 

Essential Operations

  • Department of Public Safety will provide continuous safety/security coverage and building access to permitted employees during the closure. Enterprise Technology Services will conduct scheduled maintenance over the break, which will result in planned disruptions to IT-related services. 
  • Physical Facilities Management maintenance and services will continue to respond to urgent situations and emergencies as work orders are submitted. 
  • Shuttle service will be suspended during the closure. Regular shuttle service will resume when formal classes for the Spring semester begin on Monday, January 3, 2022.
  • Mail processing hours of operation will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Deliveries to residence halls and University departments will cease during the Winter Break. Please pick up mail from the mailroom as has been the practice in prior years. 
  • The Howard University Barnes & Noble Bookstore (Main Campus) will operate on a modified schedule from Monday, November 29, 2021 through Saturday, December 31, 2022: 
    • Mondays-Fridays: 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. 
    • Saturdays: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 
    • Sundays: Closed.
    • Friday, December 24, 2021: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 
    • Howard University purchases can be made by visiting the bookstore’s website. 
    • The bookstore will be closed on Saturday, December 25, 2021 and Saturday, January 1, 2022. 
  • The Howard University Barnes & Noble Bookstore (West Campus) will operate on a modified schedule from Monday, November 29, 2021 through Saturday, December 31, 2022: 
    • Mondays-Thursdays: 10:00 a.m.- 4 p.m. 
    • Fridays: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 
    • Saturdays and Sundays: Closed 
  • All dining will remain closed.
  • Howard University Hospital will remain open. 
  • The Faculty Practice Plan will be closed on Saturday, December 25, 2021 and Saturday, January 1, 2022.
  • WHUR-FM and WHUT-TV will continue their regular programming schedules.  

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