The University of Oregon winter break runs Dec. 14-Jan. 6 for most schools and colleges. The law school break begins slightly later following final exams ending Dec. 19. With the break in the academic schedule comes changes to university campuses.
Visit the HR website for the holiday observance schedule. Eligible employees also receive a floating holiday to use between Dec. 1, 2024, and Nov. 30, 2025. The UO will observe a quiet period from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1. Most units scale back operations and encourage time off, and everyone should refrain from sending non-urgent emails, Teams messages and other communications. (Tip: Those working during the quiet period can use the “schedule send” feature in Microsoft Outlook and Teams to delay sending messages until after Jan. 1.)
Many university buildings on the Eugene campus will be locked from Dec. 20 at regular closing time until Jan. 2 as part of the Safety and Risk Services holiday and academic break door lock procedure. Employees may access locked buildings with keys and prox cards or contact their supervisor to request access.
Campus Planning and Facilities Management has information on closures and major projects on the department’s construction and impacts map.
Parking spaces may be easier to find, but all campus lots will be patrolled as usual. The Transportation Services office is closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Winter term parking permits are on sale now and become active on Dec. 23. The motor pool will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 5.
The Erb Memorial Union will be closed on all Saturdays and Sundays during winter break beginning Dec. 14. The week of Dec. 16-20, the EMU will be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., though not all vendors and services will be open. The EMU will be closed from Dec. 21 through Jan. 1 and reopen with reduced hours until classes start on Jan. 6. During the week of Dec. 16, the airwall between the Ballroom and Gumwood Room will be replaced.
Campus Mail Services will remain open with limited route services to accommodate department closures. If there are questions or accommodation requests please contact them by email, uomailing@uoregon.edu, or phone at 541-346-3130. Departments observing the quiet period will need to arrange a delivery hold with each carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.) if shipments are expected during this time.
For those working on publication jobs over the winter break, Print Services at the Baker Center will be open with a closure on Dec. 13 at noon for a staff retreat. It will also be closed on Dec. 24 and on the observed holidays of Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
On-campus dining options will be reduced. Peruse the Food on Campus map to find campus coffee spots and EMU restaurants, including hours. All residence hall dining venues will be closed after 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, with limited options reopening Jan. 4. Palace Bakery in Jaqua will be closed Dec. 16 to Jan. 5.
University Health Services, including Counseling Services, is open for patient care Dec. 16-20, 9 a.m. to noon. It will be closed to patients from Dec. 23-Jan 3. Phones will be on for scheduling appointments or phone triage during this time at 541-346-2770. The Counseling Services after-hour support and crisis line will be available at 541-346-3227.
Check out books to read while snuggling up with a warm cup of cocoa or movies to watch while there is a little down time. This term the Knight, Price Science, Design and Math libraries will switch to Intersession hours right at the end of finals week, with an early closure at 4 p.m. on Dec. 13. During Intersession, Knight Library will be open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It will also be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Other library locations will follow a similar schedule with some extended closures. Regular operating hours resume Jan. 6. Visit the UO Libraries website for specific hours for all branches during the break.
Duck Rides only operates while classes are in session and will be closed Dec. 13-Jan. 5. Ride-hailing services will operate as usual while some LTD buses serving campus may have limited schedules.
Plan preholiday workouts around the Student Recreation Center modified hours. It will be closed starting Dec. 14 for the break and maintenance. Memberships can be purchased for winter term.
The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is closed Dec. 25-26 and Jan. 1. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art will be closed to the public from Dec. 18 through Jan. 7. Both locations have gift shops for holiday shopping with the MNCH hosting a Holiday Nights event on Dec. 12.
The Duck Store campus location is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during winter break except on Sunday when it opens at noon. It will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day with limited hours on Dec. 24 and 31. The café and the store in the EMU are closed Dec. 16-Jan. 3. The Duck Store at the Rec is permanently closed.
Most tech support from Information Services will be unavailable Dec. 25-Jan. 1, during the quiet period.
The Technology Service Desk will be closed throughout the quiet period. From Dec. 16-Jan. 4, tech support will otherwise be available remotely by phone at 541-346-4357 and by live chat during reduced hours of Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular hours resume Jan. 5. In-person tech support, located in Room 036 of the EMU, will be unavailable Dec. 21-Jan. 1 but will otherwise maintain regular hours.
The EMU computer lab in Room 042 will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 1 and will otherwise be operating on a reduced break schedule, as detailed in the UO Service Portal.
The IT service desk for User Support Services-Academic North, located in 124 Lawrence Hall, will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 1. It will otherwise be open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., during the break.
Tech support tickets can be submitted through the UO Service Portal 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. UO IT staff will respond to tickets when available. During the quiet period, responses to most responses will be delayed until Jan. 2.
Winter term starts Monday, Jan. 6.
—By Jennifer Archer, University Communications