In the most noticeable cost-cutting measure so far, Lerner Hall Operations Executive Director Honey Sue Fishman announced in an email to the student council presidents that, “given these extraordinary economic circumstances,” Lerner Hall hours will be reduced, and the computer lab and Cafe 212 seating will no longer be open all night.

“All departments and schools,” Fishman wrote, “have been asked to identify opportunities to reduce expenses and lower the overall budget. Our goal is to make reductions with the least impact to academic business, student life and the broader campus community. After careful review and consultation with elected student representatives, it has been determined that changing the operating hours and services of certain buildings will have a significant impact on efforts to contain costs across campus.” The changes:

  • The Cafe 212 seating area, the Citibank ATM, and the Lerner Computer Lab, once open 24 hours a day, will now close overnight. Closing time will be at 1:00 a.m. Sunday-Wednesday, and 3:00 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, so most of your drunken late-night ATM visits will still be possible.
  • The building will open one hour later in the morning (8:00 a.m.)
  • The package center will open at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will be closed on Saturdays.
  • Lerner will only remain open 24-hours-a-day during reading week and final exam periods.

No other buildings were mentioned as being considered for reduced hours, but perhaps closing 403 for 6-12 months will finally get rid of that stench. Fishman’s email after the jump.

– JCD (photo: Samat Jain/Flickr)


Dear Student Leaders:

The University continues to look for new ways to operate more efficiently. All departments and schools have been asked to identify opportunities to reduce expenses and lower the overall budget. Our goal is to make reductions with the least impact to academic business, student life and the broader campus community.

After careful review and consultation with elected student representatives, it has been determined that changing the operating hours and services of certain buildings will have a significant impact on efforts to contain costs across campus. Accordingly, effective July 1, 2009, the following changes will be made to Lerner Hall operations:

Hours of Operation

During the academic year, Lerner Hall will open one hour later. Academic year hours will be as follows:

Sunday – Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Thursday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.

Currently, the building is operating on a summer schedule through September 8, 2009:

Sunday – Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 8: 00 p.m.

Off-Hours Building Access

Effective June 30 at 11:59 p.m., when the building closes at the end of each day, the entire building will officially be closed. There will no longer be access to the lobby from the campus entrance. As a result, the seating area in Café 212, the Citibank ATM and the 2nd floor computer lab will also be closed. This change will be in effect year-round.

Reading Week and Final Exams

Lerner Hall, including the computer lab, will be open 24/7 during the reading week and final exam period.

For up-to-date information about services in Lerner Hall and hours of operation, consult the website at www.columbia.edu/cu/lernerhall.

COMPUTER LABS

Hours of operation for computer labs in undergraduate residence halls and Butler Library 24-hour labs are unchanged. However, the Butler lab is currently operating on a summer schedule. To accommodate students seeking 24-hour computer use during the summer, the Carman Hall cluster will be open to Columbia University students from 8:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. Students will be required to check their University ID card with Public Safety at the entrance for computer use.

Visit http://www.columbia.edu/acis/facilities/labs/locations.html for more information about computer lab locations and http://www.columbia.edu/acis/facilities/schedules/ for schedules.

PACKAGE CENTER AND STUDENT MAIL SERVICES

As another cost savings measure, the Package Center and Student Mail Services will now open at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additionally, these businesses will no longer be open on Saturdays. For more information about the Package Center and Mail Services, visit www.mailservices.columbia.edu

We appreciate your understanding given these extraordinary economic circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Honey Sue Fishman

Executive Director

Lerner Hall Operations