May 27, 2008 10:50 am US/Eastern
FIU Goes Green With 4 Day Week Summer Session
Measures Will Save Up To $250-Thousand
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Florida International University plans to 'go green' during the 2008 summer session.
In keeping with Governor Crist's mandate to increase energy efficiency and reduce Florida's greenhouse gas emissions, FIU plans to adopt a four-day-a-week, 10-hours-a-day modified summer schedule from June 6 through July 25.
Summer hours from Monday to Thursday (8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) will apply to administrative units so that select buildings may be closed, a move that is expected to generate a minimum of $250,000 in savings. Additional savings are expected to come as a result of employees consuming less gas, since they will be commuting to campus four rather and five days a week.
The Graham Center, the Wolf University Center and the residence halls will remain open. Student services, including Public Safety, continue to operate on their regular schedules.
"This is the first time the university has found it necessary to adopt a four-day week and we hope our students and employees will find it beneficial," said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. "The 10-hour work day provides us with a cost-savings opportunity while we provide full services to our significant evening student population, since we will have extended business hours Monday through Thursday. Many of the customer service units will have employees on-call on Fridays."
Classes scheduled on Fridays and over the weekend will take place at the prescribed time but the location may change, since some buildings will be closed as a result of this initiative.
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