Everyone knows how busy it is at the University when the semesters start.
To make sure that students receive the utmost attention, a new policy limiting vacation time for some employees will go into effect this year.
“The highest demand for customer service occurs the week before the beginning of classes and the two weeks that follow, which is why it is important that the University have the resources available to assist all the new and returning students,” said Dr. Kaye Patten Wallace, vice president for student affairs. “It is important to have ‘all hands on deck’ to provide optimum service to students.
“To ensure that this is the case, the University is instituting a moratorium on vacations for direct customer service areas — Rocket Solutions Central, Dean of Students, Residence Life, Financial Aid, General Accounting, etc. — during the three-week periods at the start of the semesters ,” she said.
The new policy will go into effect for the 2011-12 academic year. That means employees who work directly with students will not be permitted vacation time from Monday, Aug. 15, through Friday, Sept. 2, for fall semester, and from Monday, Jan. 2, through Friday, Jan. 20, for spring semester.
“Of course, exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances if approved by supervisors,” Patten Wallace said.
President Lloyd Jacobs asked Patten Wallace to lead a customer service improvement team.
“The team is working to ensure that UT students receive all the support and assistance they need to make their college experiences successful,” she said.
