USAO Offices Closed on Fridays Through Aug. 15

Most campus offices will close on Fridays this summer to save energy and give employees more time with their families, it was announced this week at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Work schedules will return to normal after August 15.

The change does not apply to every office on campus, as essential functions in security, maintenance, food service and campus housing will observe regular hours through the summer. Each department will set its own schedules in order to best serve students and the public.

Earlier this month, the USAO Board of Regents approved a flat budget for the coming year, said Mike Coponiti, vice president for business and finance. Just as it did during the budget cuts of 2002, the university will seek creative cost-cutting measures in months to come.

" Closing offices during summer Fridays is an easy way to trim a margin from utility costs," Coponiti said. " That won't make a huge difference for us, but we will seek other ways to conserve as well."

Since most summer classes do not meet on Fridays, most students don't visit campus on Fridays anyway, Coponiti explained. " There are some courses that meet on Fridays, so it would be incorrect to say 'the college is closed on Fridays.' To be precise, most offices will be closed, but not all."

With summer music festivals and camps going on, some staff will be on hand for special events on Fridays.

Nash Library will close on Fridays and Saturdays beginning June 20 and ending July 20, Director Kelly Brown announced this week. The library will continue to be open on Sundays from 2-8 p.m. throughout the summer. To help students prepare for summer finals, however, the library will open on Friday and Saturday, July 25-26.

USAO Food Services will continue to provide three meals a day on weekdays and two meals daily on weekends. The cafeteria is open 11-1 and 5-7 on weekdays. Breakfast and weekend meals are served in Scooters in the Terrace Room.

The USAO Bookstore will remain open its regular hours: Monday-Friday, 8-5, but will close some Fridays at noon. Patrons may call ahead at 405-574-1304.

Before driving to campus on Fridays, visitors are encouraged to call ahead to ensure the office or individual they seek is open or available. The main campus number is 405-224-3140. A list of individual office phone numbers is posted at http://phones.usao.edu/" >http://phones.usao.edu/.