The ITS department is actively involved in a complete campus-wide network upgrade. As we continue with this process, it will be necessary to disconnect network / Internet access to individual buildings. During this outage, you will not have access to email, U: drive, Banner and the Internet.

As the teams works across campus, they will notify the Help Desk which building is being upgraded and the Help Desk will contact those working in the affected areas. We will try to provide as much advanced notice as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but this is a necessary step in order to complete the upgrades.

Carnegie Hall, Green Hall and Alumni Hall and a number of Residence Halls have already been completed so there should not be any further disruption to these buildings during normal business hours.

We have come to the end of our grace period to allow a negative vacation balance. Effective July 1, 2008, only available benefit time can be used. I am very pleased to note that employees have managed their benefit time well, with very few exceptions.

Should an employee use more vacation than has been accrued, available personal/floating/merit will be deducted. If there isn't any available time in those categories, the time used will be deducted as no pay. An e-mail will be sent to the employee and supervisor regarding the action taken.

One of the positives to the new accrual system is allowing the employee to manage their own benefit time, no use it or lose it to deal with at the end of each year. However, the employee needs to plan according to how they desire to use their vacation time.

Please think about your vacation plans for the rest of this year, and how you may need to manage your time to accommodate next year's vacation.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources.

Starting tomorrow (July 18) through July 25 freight trucks will be making increased deliveries to the bookstore. Please do not park in front of the campus center and Seidlin.

The Student Affairs division is coordinating an order for large table banners for offices that are represented at orientation check-in day.

We need 14 of them, but the minimum order for the product we want is 20. Does anyone want to get in on the order? If so, please notify me by Thursday afternoon.

The cost is around $150 per banner. They are approximately 12' high including a stand. I would be happy to send a photo of the banners to anyone who might be interested.

Kathy Woughter, #2132 or woughter@alfred.edu

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our linen drive.

We will host five students from the earthquake area in Chengdu, China for the academic year. That is why we are repeating our cry for help one more time. Linens, pillows, comforters, towels, etc., are needed.

In the past, we have partnered international students with hosts from our AU community. We are looking for new friendship families, especially for the five Chengdu guests. The students will live on campus. The idea is that you offer a home away from home once in a while. A dinner, a trip to the store, Thanksgiving, etc.

It is always nice to let our students share the joy of a small town community with a big heart. Please contact the Office of International Programs with any assistance you may be able to provide for our students. (607)871-2269 or studyabroad@alfred.edu

Thank you and have a great day.

"BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD."

The Center for Student Involvement publishes four event guides per year. If you would like CSI to consider including your event in their first calendar (August to Oct. 10) please send a description and event picture to Dan Napolitano by Thursday, 7/24 at napolitano@alfred.edu.

We are preparing to get goodie bags together for our new students and transfers, which we give away at campus check-in in August. If your area would like to contribute giveaways, please contact me and I'll let you know where and when. (We'll need 600 of whatever you're giving away).

Thanks - Kathy Woughter (woughter@alfred.edu or x2132)

The University Relations Division will be hosting a farewell reception for Sarah Holtzapple, the division's researcher and grants writer, at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at the Welcome Center. Please join us for cake and punch in Sarah's honor.