We are calling it a campus closure, but the truth is, while many of us faculty and staff will be gone Dec. 24 through Jan. 3, there will be a lot of people around to keep an eye on things.

And that includes police, who are always here — and, in fact, will have a heightened presence. “We’re also asking other employees who might be on campus to let us know if they see something amiss,” Police Chief Annette Spicuzza said.

If you are coming to your office, remember to dress warmly — because the utilities crew will have turned down the thermostats where appropriate, to save on power. Individual employees are asked to join the conservation effort, by turning off electronic devices and/or unplugging them (to keep them from drawing standby power).

If the power goes out, and you need it, the Facilities Management dispatch center will be up and running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and crews will be available to respond. They will take care of other emergencies as well, such as water leaks. The number is (530) 752-1655.

Our students, of course, are typically away between fall and winter quarters (residence halls will be closed from noon Dec. 12 through noon Jan. 3). Many faculty and staff also are gone, taking time off, during the holidays.

This year is different, though, because three days within the holiday period have been designated official “campus closure” days — to be taken as furlough days by faculty and staff who are subject to the campus furlough-salary reduction program.

The schedule looks like this:

Thursday-Friday, Dec. 24-25 — Traditional winter holidays.

Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 28-30 — Universal furlough days, for employees subject to the furlough plan.

Thursday-Friday. Dec. 31-Jan. 1 — Traditional New Year’s holidays.

(Some offices will be closed for even longer periods, say, starting Dec. 21. During these closures, nonrepresented employees will be using vacation time, additional furlough days, compensatory time or unpaid leave, while represented employees can do the same or arrange alternative work assignments.)

The health system is excluded from the yearlong furlough plan. So are police officers and firefighters and other workers whose services are deemed essential even during a campus closure.

Also, some unions have not agreed to the furlough-salary reduction program; their members, therefore, if they are not among those whose work is deemed essential, are being advised of these options for the three upcoming campuswide furlough days: Dec. 28, 29 and 30:

• Take vacation days (even in advance of accruing such time).

• Take compensatory time off or leave without pay.

• Talk with your supervisors about alternative work arrangements.

The UC Office of the President this week announced an agreement under which members of the Coalition of University Employees will take 11 to 16 temporary layoff days (corresponding to pay cuts of 4 percent to 6 percent). At UC Davis, the agreement means CUE members can treat the Dec. 28-30 campus closure as a temporary layoff period. (See separate story.)

Police presence

With furloughs and the holiday “closure” in the news, UC Davis police fear the campus may be a target for burglaries and other crimes.

In past years, Lt. Matt Carmichael said, some officers may have been given time off during the holidays, but that is not the case this year.

“We will be fully staffed and we will be watching the campus very closely,” said Carmichael, who supervises patrol operations on the Davis campus.

One officer will be assigned to student housing 24 hours a day. Some officers may be working in plainclothes.

“We want the public to know, ‘We are here, we are fully staffed, and we may not look the way you think we should look,’ meaning we won’t be in uniform,’” he said.

Still, Spicuzza and Carmichael are asking employees to do their part.

“Before you step out that door,” the police chief said, “take one last look around, make sure your windows are closed and locked, and make sure you lock your doors, exterior and interior.”

Close the blinds or shades, if appropriate, Spicuzza said. Or, if you leave them open, do not leave valuable items like laptops in plain sight. “Fold it closed, or better yet put it in a drawer,” she said.

And, said Carmichael, speaking to staff who will be on campus, please do not hesitate to call police if you see something going on that does not look right. “We’d rather check out false reports than miss the real crimes that might be taking place,” he said.

THE ARC AND UNITRANS

ARC: The Activities and Recreation Center will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 1, which is three more days than usual between fall and winter quarters (the extra days coincide with the campus closure days, Dec. 28-30). ARC hours: campusrecreation.ucdavis.edu (click on “ARC: Hours” under Quick Links on the right-hand side of the page).

UNITRANS: The campus closure will not curtail bus service any more than usual between the fall and winter quarters. On the Dec. 28-30 closure days, Unitrans will run its Saturday service plus UniRide. UniRide takes you from one bus stop to any other, available on a first-come, first-served basis, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; call early on the day of your ride request, to (530) 754-4373. No Unitrans service Dec. 24-25 or Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Bus schedules: unitrans.ucdavis.edu.