Dear Howard University Community,

Howard University will close for Winter Break on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. During the full campus closure, building accessibility will be restricted to essential employees and approved staff performing critical and time-sensitive activities.

As mandates across the Washington, D.C. area are tightened in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, please note that the University may need to adjust its on-campus status to critically essential personnel only. A Howard employee who is deemed critically essential performs essential work to support the University’s delivery of critical services and must be on campus to provide these services. Please begin to prepare accordingly, and we will continue to monitor this progressing situation and provide timely updates as needed.

Closure Requirements

• Unless designated as an essential employee, employees are not expected to travel to Howard University to work.
• All buildings will be secured and locked. Essential employees needing access must check in with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) each day.
• All employees who report to campus must complete a COVID-19 self-assessment via the Bison Safe app daily before entering campus grounds and buildings.
• All employees must wear a face covering and are implored to practice social distancing. 

Essential Operations

• DPS will provide continuous safety/security coverage and building access to essential employees during the closure.
• Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) will conduct scheduled maintenance over the recess, which will result in planned disruptions to IT-related services. ETS Help Desk telephone support will be available during the closure.
• Physical Facilities Management will continue to respond to urgent situations and emergencies.
• Mail services will be suspended during the closure.
• Graphics and printing services will be suspended during the closure.
• The bookstore hours of operation during the recess are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday. The bookstore will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 and Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.
• The Faculty Practice Plan will operate each day during the recess except Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 and Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.
• Howard University Hospital will remain open.
• WHUR-FM and WHUT-TV will continue their regular programming schedules.

Please work with your divisional head to plan for the campus closure period.

Have a safe and restful Winter Break!

Excellence in Truth and Service,

Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer