In continuation of the University’s commitment to providing comprehensive benefits and in appreciation of the contributions of faculty and staff, the University will operate under its holiday schedule and Orange Appreciation Days format for the winter break period from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

In addition to the regular University holidays of Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 and bonus days Dec. 26 and 31, the following days have been designated as paid Orange Appreciation Days: Dec. 29 and 30 and Jan. 2.

Units providing essential services that will remain fully operational during the Winter Break include the Department of Public Safety and Facilities Services.

Services During Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break

Admissions and Enrollment Processing

The office will be closed for the holidays and Orange Appreciation Days and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Advancement and External Affairs

Advancement Services staff will maintain business hours at the 640 Skytop Office Building Dec. 29, 30 and 31, 2025, to receive and process fundraising gifts.

Building Occupancy

During the Holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period:

Request for Building Access (locking):
If you require your building to be open over the holidays/Orange Appreciation Days period, please submit a request to your building coordinator, noting the specific dates and times. Requests should be made by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. (Note that faculty and staff will be able to access the buildings you work in, as usual, by using their SU I.D. cards, even when the buildings are locked.)

Building temperatures will be lowered to 60 degrees unless prior arrangements have been made.

Deans, directors and department heads may submit a detailed request for adjustments to temperature and lighting during the holidays/Orange Appreciation Days period. Please review the University’s temperature guidelines. We ask that requests be made using the Maximo Maintenance system by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. Requests will be reviewed and approved by either the vice president and chief facilities officer or the provost.

Important: Buildings Not Included in the Reduced Occupancy Schedule

The following buildings will be excluded from the temperature setback and will remain on normal access, temperature and lighting settings:

• 640 Skytop Road
• Heroy Geology Laboratory
• Bowne Hall Fourth Floor
• Lyman Hall Fourth Floor
• Sims Hall, Department of Public Safety
• Center for Science and Technology
• Bird Library
• Life Sciences Complex
• Link Hall
• Physics Building
• Ensley Athletic Center
• South Campus Library Facility
• Lally Complex
• Carmelo Anthony Center
• Tennity Ice Rink
• Crouse Hinds Hall

Questions on building occupancy can be directed to the Department of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management, 315.443.1535 or��energy@syr.edu.

Bursar’s Office

The Bursar’s Office will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026,��and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. Student account payments can be made through MySlice under the billing/payments tile. Questions may be directed to the Bursar’s Office online form. The Bursar’s Office will monitor incoming questions sent through this form and will respond as quickly as possible during this time.

Campus Bus Shuttle

The campus shuttle service will operate on a reduced schedule until the conclusion of Winter Break. For schedule updates, visit . Please note that there will be no regular campus shuttle service from Dec. 25 through Jan. 3, 2026. During this period, transportation will operate under the 24-hour Safety Escort Service, and all ride requests must be submitted through the Orange Safe app. For urgent matters, on-call staff can be reached through the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Campus Dining

Hours of operation for campus cafes and other dining facilities can be found on the����or on the OrangeNow app.

Campus Planning, Design and Construction

Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) will close on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. and reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. If you have project-specific questions, please reach out to the assigned project manager. For general information, email cpdc@syr.edu.

Campus Store

The Campus Store will be closed Saturday, Dec. 20, through Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. During this time, the online store will be available for customer orders. Orders received on or after Friday, Dec. 20, will be processed beginning Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Staff will be available beginning Friday, Jan. 2, at 8:30 a.m. Please contact��sm8551@bncollege.com��with questions or for assistance.

Cash Operations (Bowne Hall)

The offices at Bowne Hall will be closed. For questions, email cashops@syr.edu. Email will be monitored daily.

Counseling

Counseling will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 25, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, as well as Monday, Jan. 19. However, in the event of a mental health emergency, or if there is a need to contact a member of the Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Team, 24-hour services remain available. These services can be accessed by calling 315.443.8000.

Custodial Services��

Custodial Services will be provided, on a reduced basis, in academic and administrative buildings. All residence halls close on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2025, and no custodial services will be provided. If assistance is needed, call 315.443.1234.

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Materials Distribution and Mail Services delivery and pick up will be provided to departments requesting service. Arrangements for service can be requested by contacting Materials Distribution at e-materials@syr.edu or mailsrvc@syr.edu.

Deliveries (UPS and FedEx)

Materials Distribution will be delivering UPS and Fed Ex deliveries during the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the exception of Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. If your department has a specific request pertaining to deliveries over Orange Days, please email e-materials@syr.edu.

Disability Benefits and Workers’ Compensation Benefit Payments

Disability benefits checks will be on regular payroll schedule. For those who don’t use the direct deposit option, checks will be mailed to the employee’s home address by the payroll department during the week of Dec. 23. For assistance with workers’ compensation checks, please contact our third-party administrator, PMA, at 1.888.476.2669. For assistance during Orange Appreciation Days, contact Sheera Buckley at slbuck01@syr.edu��or 315.416.9066.

Drumlins

The Tennis Club will operate as follows:

• Tuesday, Dec. 23: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 24: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 25: closed
• Friday, Dec. 26: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 27: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 28: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 29: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 30: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 31: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 2: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 3: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 4: USTA Gold Tri-Level Regionals; no public access to courts on this day

Normal hours of operation will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Call 315.446.2323 for court times and reservations

Bistro 1926 will be closed Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2026, reopening Friday, Jan. 2.

The banquets office, Pro Shop and management office will be closed Dec. 24 to Jan. 4, reopening Monday, Jan. 5.

Energy Systems and Sustainability Management��

The Energy Management Operations Center is staffed 24/7. For building systems scheduling questions or concerns, call 315.443.1535. For building access issues, contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Enrollment Management

The office will be closed during the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

Environmental Health and Safety Services

Environmental Health and Safety Services will have on-call staff available to assist in the event of a hazardous materials spill or emergency during the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period. Environmental Health’s on-call staff can be contacted through the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services

The office will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, and bonus days on Dec. 26 and Dec. 31. On Dec. 29, Dec. 30, and Jan. 2, this year’s designated Orange Appreciation Days, the office will be available to employees by email at��equalopp@syr.edu.��Email will be checked once a day on Orange Appreciation Days and emergencies will be addressed within 24 hours. The office will return to normal business hours on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs

The office will be closed for the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Fire and Life Safety Services

Fire and Life Safety Services will be staffed on Orange Appreciation Days from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If assistance is needed, call 315.443.5474 or the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. On Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1, 2025, contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Health Care at the Barnes Center at The Arch

Health Care at the Barnes Center will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 25, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026; 24-hour on-call service is available at 315.443.8000.

Hendricks Chapel

The Coach Mac Food Pantry will be available upon request (chapel@syr.edu) for those in need, and will fully reopen on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026.��For additional information please visit the chapel����or call 315.443.2901.

Housing, Meal Plan and I.D. Card Service Centers

The offices at 111 Waverly Ave. and 210 Goldstein Student Center will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24. Both location centers will resume regular business hours on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. If you have an emergency that requires immediate attention, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Human Resources

The office will be closed for the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period, However, employees can reach HR Shared Services by emailing��hrservice@syr.edu��or leaving a message at 315.443.4042. Emails and voice messages will be checked daily on Orange Appreciation Days, and urgent requests will be addressed promptly. All other matters will be addressed when the University returns to regular business hours, 8:30 to 5 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

ITS Support

ITS support staff is available by calling 315.443.2677, by emailing help@syr.edu or by chatting with the support staff on ���ǰ�����during regular business hours through Friday, Dec. 19, and at the following dates and times:

• Dec. 20 to 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Dec. 26 to 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For ITS support during days and times outside those listed above, email��help@syr.edu��or call 315.443.2677. If you choose to call, follow the automated prompts and leave a message for the on-call ITS staff. On-call support is available outside the hours listed above and on the following dates: Dec. 25 and 31 and Jan. 1, 2026.

The ITS Help Desk will��resume regular business��hours on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.

ITS��Service Center In-Person Support Hours����������������������

The ITS Service Center in the first-floor lobby of the Women’s Building will be closed starting Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, and will reopen on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Users needing assistance can call 315.443.2677 or��help@syr.edu��before we reopen.

Updates and hours of operation will be available on the��.

Libraries

All libraries will be closed beginning Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, with the following exception of the following: Bird Library, floors LL-5, will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29, Tuesday, Dec. 30 and Friday, Jan 2. Special Collections, located on the sixth floor of Bird Library, will not be open on these days. All library hours can be found on the .

Maintenance Requests

Maintenance requests for academic and administrative buildings, residence halls, dining facilities or South Campus apartments may be requested by contacting Facilities Services immediately at 315.443.1234.

Materials Distribution

Materials Distribution deliveries and pick up will be provided to departments requesting service. Arrangements for service can be requested by contacting Materials Distribution at 315.443.1940 or using a list of forms provided on their website. Service requests should be emailed to e-materials@syr.edu.

Media Inquiries/University Communications

The University’s media relations team’s email, , is monitored regularly over Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break. Urgent media inquiries should be directed to Sarah Scalese, vice president for University communications, at sescales@syr.edu.

Paycheck Distribution��

All paper paychecks are delivered to the employee’s home department on payday. As a reminder, anyone with a NetID and password is able to set up direct deposit through MySlice.

Weekly and Semi-Monthly Pay During Winter Break

Pay for the work week ending Wednesday, Dec. 24, will be paid on Wednesday, Dec. 31. This is the last paycheck of the calendar year 2025 Form W-2 reporting period.

The semi-monthly pay period ending Wednesday, Dec. 31, will be paid on Wednesday, Dec. 31. This is the last paycheck of the calendar year 2025 Form W-2 reporting period.

Employees who have not signed up for direct deposit, and will therefore receive a paper paycheck, should ensure their permanent address is accurate by going to MySlice and clicking on the personal profile tile on the employee home page. Weekly paper paychecks dated Wednesday, Dec. 31, and semi paper paychecks dated Wednesday, Dec. 31, will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to the employee’s permanent address on file.

Direct deposit for the weekly payroll will be available in individuals’ accounts on Wednesday, Dec 31. Direct deposit for the semi-monthly payroll will be available to individuals’ accounts on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Payments by direct deposit can be viewed anytime on MySlice by clicking on the payroll tile on the employee home page.

Weekly Pay Immediately After Winter Break

Pay for the work week ending Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, will be paid on Wednesday Jan. 7.

Payroll Deadlines

Weekly Payroll Deadlines Immediately Prior to Winter Break

• The week ending Wednesday, Dec. 17, paid on Wednesday, Dec. 24:
• Time approval is due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18.
• Online RAP approval is due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18.

Semi Payroll Deadlines for Winter Break

• Semi Online RAPs for the pay period ending Wednesday, Dec. 31, are due by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22.

Weekly Payroll Deadlines During Winter Break

The week ending Wednesday, Dec. 24, paid on Wednesday, Dec. 31:

• Time approval is due by 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 29.
• Online RAP approval is due by 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 29.
• Employees will be paid (or not paid) based upon the time that has or has not been approved in the system. Any adjustments or corrections will have to be submitted for payment in the following pay period. There will be no special checks processed.

Payroll Frequently Asked Questions

If I do not have direct deposit, how will I get my paychecks on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday Dec. 31?

Paychecks will be mailed to your permanent address. You can verify your permanent address is accurate by going to MySlice and clicking on the personal profile tile on the employee home page.

Where can I sign up for direct deposit?

Log onto MySlice and click on the payroll tile on the employee home page.

Why might I not receive a paycheck at my home by Wednesday, Dec. 31?

Several reasons could result in you not receiving your paper paycheck on or before Wednesday, Dec. 31. Your permanent address in MySlice has to be correct. For example, if you have moved and did not change your address, the paper paycheck will be delivered to the address per MySlice and either forwarded to your new address (if you have filed a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service) or it will be returned to Payroll. Either case will result in potentially significant delays in your receipt of your paper paycheck.

What happens if my permanent address is incorrect in MySlice?

Since paper paychecks will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, Syracuse University cannot control, track or locate your paycheck once mailed. If you have filed a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service to forward your mail, delivery of your paycheck will be delayed. If no such form has been filed, the paper paycheck will be returned to Payroll. Either case will result in potentially significant delays in your receipt of your paper paycheck.

How do I change my permanent address?

Log in to MySlice and click on the personal profile tile on the employee home page.

If I receive my weekly paper paycheck before Wednesday Dec. 31, or my semi-monthly paper paycheck before Wednesday, Dec. 31, can I cash/deposit it?

No. Paychecks dated Wednesday, Dec. 31, are not valid prior to that date.

What happens if I don’t receive my paper paycheck?

If you have not received your paycheck by Friday, Dec. 26, you can call Payroll at 315.443.4042, option 2, and leave a message with the following information:

• Indicate that you did not receive your paycheck.
• Give your name and SU I.D. number.
• Give the name of the University department that you were expecting pay from.
• Provide a telephone number where you can be reached.

Messages will be reviewed at various times during the day and calls will be returned as soon as possible.

No special checks will be issued during Winter Break.

Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety will remain open 24/7 during the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period. For emergencies or assistance, call 315.443.2224, connect with us via the Orange Safe app, or text or email 711@syr.edu.

Procurement and Supplier Payment Updates

Procurement��(formerly Purchasing)

With Orange Appreciation Days approaching, the Procurement Department wishes to make you aware that any eProcurement requisition received��after Monday, Dec. 8,��may not be sent out until after Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. If your purchase requires an RFQ (Request for Quote) to be completed, the requisition should be received by��Monday, Dec. 8,��to ensure processing it will be completed prior to Winter Break.

All JPMC credit card transactions, for activity through Nov. 30, should be submitted in the My Slice Travel and Expense Center on or��before 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

Other Procurement and Sourcing considerations to take into account as we approach the break:

• Should your purchase request require additional approvals such as those for sponsored or restricted funds, please build in additional time to your planning process.
• If your purchase request is over $50,000, please allow additional time, as the Office of Budget and Planning must review and approve those orders before they are released. Contact��procurement@syr.edu with any questions.

Supplier Payment (formerly Disbursements)

Supplier Payment will not be processing payments after Tuesday, Dec. 23. The last payment run will be on the night of Tuesday, Dec. 23, for distribution and handling on Wednesday, Dec. 24. After Tuesday,��normal processing will resume on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

To ensure timeliness of payments your department may have, please make appropriate arrangements to have requests received in the Supplier Payment email��disburse@syr.edu, in the��Automated Payment Request module or in the��MySlice Travel and Expense Center��on or before 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8,��for the following:

• Supplier invoices on a PO
• Requisitions with invoices attached off PO
• Consultant forms
• Stipend payments
• Wire transfers: foreign and domestic
• Out-of-pocket travel submissions for employee or non-employee guests
• Travel advances for travel scheduled during the end of December 2025
• Clearing any outstanding travel advances for travel that occurred prior to December 2025

Other considerations: Should your time sensitive payment requests require additional approvals such as Sponsored or Restricted Fund approvals, please allow additional time to your planning process.

All��JPMC credit card transactions, for activity through Nov. 30 should be submitted in the MySlice Travel and Expense Center��on or before 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

• If you have any questions on supplier payments, please contact��disburse@syr.edu.
• If you have any questions on��travel and expense reimbursements and credit card deadlines, please contact��travelandexpense@syr.edu.

Recreation and Fitness

The recreation and fitness areas at the Barnes Center at The Arch, Ernie Davis Hall and the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion are closed from Thursday, Dec. 25, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. For updates on operating status, visit the��.

Registrar’s Office

The office will be closed for holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period. If you need to reach our office during the closure, please email��registrar@syr.edu.

Research Integrity and Protections

Facilities Services will have staff on campus throughout Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break to monitor and maintain building systems for research spaces. For emergencies or assistance, please call the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Residential Living

Residential Living’s main offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. On-call staff will be available in the event of emergencies. If issues arise during this time, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 for assistance.

Snow Clearing

Normal snow clearing activities will take place. If assistance is needed, call 315.443.1234.

Sponsored Programs

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will have limited staff checking email during the Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break period. OSP can be contacted at ospoff@syr.edu��or Stuart Taub can be contacted directly at��staub@syr.edu.

Submission of applications with deadlines during the Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break period should be coordinated with OSP staff in advance of the break to ensure timely review and authorization.

Student Box Office

The Student Box Office is now virtual. Please email any questions to��boxoffice@syr.edu.

Student Engagement

The Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center and the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Student Center will be open during the following times:

• Dec. 10 to 12: Schine: 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Goldstein: 7:30 a.m. to midnight
• Dec. 13 and 14: Schine: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., Goldstein: 9 a.m. to midnight
• Dec. 15: Schine: 7:30 a.m. to midnight, Goldstein: 7:30 a.m. to midnight
• Dec. 16: Schine: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Goldstein: 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Dec. 17 and 18: Schine: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Goldstein: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Dec. 19: Schine and Goldstein: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Dec. 20: Schine: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Goldstein: closed
• Dec. 21: Schine: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Goldstein: closed
• Dec. 22 and 23: Schine and Goldstein: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Dec. 24: Schine and Goldstein: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Dec. 25 to Jan. 4, 2026: Schine and Goldstein: closed
• Jan. 5 to 8: Schine and Goldstein: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Jan. 9: Schine: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Goldstein: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Jan. 10: Schine: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Goldstein: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Jan. 11: Schine and Goldstein: 9 a.m. to midnight

Student Experience

Career Services, Greek Life, Health Promotion (Barnes Center), Student Employment and the Office of Community Standards will all be closed from Thursday, Dec. 25, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. If issues arise during this time, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 for assistance. New Student Programs will be closed Monday, Dec. 22, through Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. To support the arrival of our new and returning first-year and transfer students, staff members will respond to voicemails and emails during this time.

Student Outreach and Support

The office will be closed for the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period; however, the Division of the Student Experience staff is on call during this time in the event of a student emergency; please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 for assistance. For 24/7 health and wellness support, contact the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000

Student Title IX Case Management

The office will be closed for holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period; however, on-call staff will be available to respond if issues arise. To file a report, email��titleix@syr.edu.��In the event of a student emergency, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. For 24/7 health and wellness support, contact the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000.

��Syracuse Abroad

Syracuse Abroad will be closed 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.��The general voicemail (800.235.3472 or 315.443.3471) and email (suabroad@syr.edu) will be checked daily. In case of an emergency, please call the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. For more information, visit the .

Technology Transfer

Staff will be checking email during the holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period and will respond to urgent matters as needed. Invention disclosures with imminent publication (conference presentation/poster session, grant application, paper submission) deadlines prior to Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, should be coordinated with the Office of Technology Transfer staff well in advance of Friday, Dec. 19, to ensure timely review and filing for protection.

Treasurer’s Office

The Treasurer’s Office at 621 Skytop Rd. will be closed starting Thursday, Dec. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Only critical functions will continue to be performed during this time, including secure gift processing, bank transfers and electronic payments. For any requests for the Treasurer’s Office of an urgent nature, please e-mail treasoff@syr.edu��with the subject heading URGENT or call Scott Kemp at 315.443.6204.

University Credit Card

Please contact J.P. Morgan directly at 1.800.316.6056 for any issues related to lost or stolen cards, fraud charges or declined transactions. Please be aware that the digits 6 through 9 of your SU I.D. number is the pin number on file. University staff will also be available to handle credit issues relating to University procurement or credit cards by email to��JPMCSUCC@syr.edu��or by calling 315.443.1957.

Additional information regarding Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break services and resources may be found at:

 

A turning point in Pete Buttigieg’s public service career came with unrelenting rainfall while he was mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The city of roughly 100,000 experienced flooding that washed out roadways, damaged properties and endangered lives.

Buttigieg activated the city’s emergency operations center and hit the streets to assess the damage. At the urging of a councilmember, he knocked on the door of a woman who needed assistance.

Inside, he saw her family’s possessions floating in the flood water.

“And that was the moment that my mental image of climate change stopped being polar bears and ice shelves,” he said. “I think of political rhetoric around climate change. Not that I don’t care about what happens in the Arctic, but this was happening on the west side of South Bend, Indiana.”

Capacity Crowd at Syracuse

Buttigieg reflected on the flood’s aftermath during a conversation-style event in the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building on Friday, Oct. 3. Part of the Pontarelli Speaker Series—named for its sponsors, alumnus and University Trustee Kenneth A. Pontarelli ’92 and his wife, Tracey—the talk was co-hosted by the and the .

Buttigieg shared the stage with , Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance and director of the Syracuse University . Their conversation encompassed environmental issues, leadership, American democracy and more.

In his opening remarks, Maxwell Dean said he was heartened to see so many students in the audience—all tickets for the event were claimed less than 20 minutes after it was announced. “These individuals are passionate about the issues we’re going to discuss today, and they are our future leaders,” said Van Slyke.

Before welcoming Buttigieg to the stage, Whitman’s interim dean, , shared some of his accomplishments. Buttigieg became mayor of South Bend in 2012 at age 29. He was elected for two terms and departed for a 2014 deployment to Afghanistan as a Naval reservist. In 2020, he sought the Democratic nomination for president, winning the Iowa caucuses. As U.S. secretary of transportation from 2021-25, Buttigieg implemented the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which funded over 70,000 projects.

The Syracuse event occurred three days into a shutdown of the U.S. government. Golden’s first question presented an opportunity for a general assessment: “Where are we today as a nation?”

Facing Unprecedented Challenges

“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that not since the Civil War has our country faced this level of challenges—certainly not since World War II,” replied Buttigieg. “And so much of it is actually happening not because of an external threat.”

Social media, with its misinformation and algorithms, has distorted perspectives and relationships, he said. At the same time, Buttigieg said, the U.S. is witnessing an unprecedented level of government assertion of control over not only its own branches but also entities that have long remained independent such as academia and even late-night television.

“That makes this an extremely challenging time, but also a particularly important time for universities, because universities exist for the purpose of finding the truth, for the purpose of fostering dialogue and healthy difference and for charting where we are supposed to go next in ways that maybe won’t fully resemble the status quo that we inherited,” said Buttigieg, who later said universities need to fiercely guard their independence.

Several of Golden’s questions focused on the environment. For instance, he wondered what the current administration is trying to accomplish by repealing and diminishing protections. Buttigieg shared his view that much of the transitions have served to benefit certain friends and allies.

“Part of the tragedy of this is there is a healthy conservative critique to be made of environmental policies that are either self-defeating or unreasonable,” added Buttigieg. “And I say that as a strong believer in environmental protection.”

Several students posed questions, some related to climate change and the recent downsizing and dismantling federal departments like USAID.

Donough Lawlor, who is pursuing a master of science in sustainable organizations and policy, asked Buttigieg to comment on the impact of doing away with USAID and the worldview of U.S. leadership.

While he expressed deep concern, Buttigieg pointed out that many entities were formed in the 1940s and 50s “based on the way the world was.”

“Sooner or later, it’s going to be somebody’s job to figure out what to put in there next,” he said. “And that’s actually a huge opportunity to set up development aid in a way that is more responsive to the needs of the people it’s supposed to serve.”

He added, “my main impulse is not despondency, even though it can be depressing to watch, but actually propulsion.”

Looking Forward, Not Back

In South Bend, he said, prior generations often reflected about the economic boomtime prior to the 1963 closure of a main employer, the Studebaker auto plant. His community had a breakthrough in part, he said, because his generation was the first that didn’t experience its automaking heyday. As mayor, he said, all he could consider is “what do we do next?”

A parting message seemed directed toward students.

“If you’re considering participating in civic processes, which I hope you will, don’t underestimate the moral authority that you carry as a young person saying, ‘This decision you’re about to make affects me,’” he said. “The longer you are planning to be here, the more you have at stake, and I think, the more you have to say.”

Amazon’s Prime Day has evolved from a simple membership perk into a mid-year shopping phenomenon that forces every major retailer to respond, especially ahead of the holiday season.

Syracuse University has two faculty experts who can speak to the broader implications of this shift—from how these manufactured shopping holidays affect consumer psychology to what they reveal about the current state of e-commerce competition. Both are available for pre- or post-Prime Day analysis and are able to provide strategic context beyond the sales numbers.

Keep them in mind for your upcoming Black Friday stories too!

******

is a professor of practice in supply chain management and director of executive education in the Whitman School of Management. Penfield has over 15 years of industry experience in supply chain management and manufacturing working for such companies as the Raymond Corporation, Johnson & Johnson and Philips Electronics. Professor Penfield’s research focuses on forestry, natural resource management and sustainability. He has appeared on , NBC, and ABC evening news programs and conducted dozens of media interviews for outlets like USA Today, , , , Newsweek and many more.

******

Fellow Whitman School faculty member and retail expert is a highly accomplished and driven senior retail executive and consultant with more than 25 years of success in the retail industry. She has worked throughout the industry and across many functions including general management, marketing, operations, merchandising, buying, and human resources.

She also hosts a weekly podcast series called “Retail Unwrapped” which discusses timely retail and consumer product trends and consumer behavior.

 

To request interviews with Professor Penfield or Professor Kohan, or to get more information, please reach out to Daryl Lovell directly.��

Forced labor in global supply chains may decline in coming years as Generation Z—today’s teens and young adults—gain financial influence. Unlike previous generations, they are more willing to pay a premium for products manufactured ethically.

These and other findings are the result of a two-year study by the University’s (DSL) on behalf of Thomson Reuters, a global content and technology company based in Canada.

In addition to revealing data that helps inform industry leaders, policymakers and the public, the collaboration provided valuable research and experiential learning opportunities to numerous University students engaged with the DSL.

It also laid the groundwork for a strategic collaboration that DSL Director Jay Golden says will complement the lab’s endeavors while giving students opportunities to interact with industry thought leaders and examine critical sustainability issues under the mentorship of Thomson Reuters experts.

“Given the impactful and positive experiences our students have had with the forced labor in global supply chain collaboration, we are thrilled to deepen our relationship with Thomson Reuters,” says Golden. “It provides student and faculty researchers within the Dynamic Sustainability Lab greater opportunity to tackle important real-world challenges in companies and governments around the world and come up with innovative, next-generation solutions, models and tools.”

Golden founded the Maxwell-based DSL in 2021 after he joined the school as the inaugural Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance. He describes the lab as a cross-disciplinary, nonpartisan think tank that examines the “opportunities, risks and unintended consequences” that arise from the adoption of new technologies, new strategies and growing dependence on foreign-sourced resources and supply chains used in energy, climate and sustainability transitions.

Students engaged with the DSL represent a wide range of programs including many Maxwell majors. They share their data findings in government reports and technical bulletins and at sustainability symposiums the DSL hosts annually in major cities like Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C.

A Student and National Thought Leader

The DSL’s connection with Thomson Reuters began with Maxwell graduate student Heather Panton G’26 when she enrolled in the executive master’s in international relations program in Washington, D.C. Today she is senior advisor for human rights crimes and social impact at Thomson Reuters.

In 2023, Panton was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship to advance her study of forced labor—a form of human trafficking—in global supply chains. She traveled to Malaysia and Thailand to study best practices and drive public awareness to educate consumers about making ethical purchasing decisions. She received academic guidance from Golden and shared with him a growing interest in the potential impact of up-and-coming consumers.

“When I was abroad, so many people asked about demand from the next generation,” Panton says. “Historically, American baby boomers often prioritized price, without fully considering how cost-cutting would ripple through suppliers and vendors across the supply chain. That has put pressure on companies to reduce costs in ways that sometimes affect workers’ wages and living conditions abroad. We believe Gen Z will play a critical role in shifting that dynamic by asking tougher questions, such as, ‘Was this product made with slave labor?’”

Golden was excited for the opportunity to work with Panton. Her resume included roles with the McCain Institute, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House. Among them: special advisor for human trafficking and the inaugural human trafficking czar during the first Trump administration.

“She was not only our student but also a thought leader in the country,” says Golden. “I’ve learned a lot—probably more than she’s learned from me.”

Golden brought Panton’s Eisenhower Fellowship research to the DSL, where students spent the next two years expanding her work, studying generational purchasing trends, gathering data and refining her findings.

“They’re such smart students—they’re right on the mark,” she says. “We’ve worked to expand the scope of what they’re thinking about. We want them to be focused and driven, thinking about exposing things that I don’t know that many people are talking about in the mainstream. We want them to be able to present in a way that’s not only academically rigorous but also digestible—something that industry or government can consume right away.”

Presenting Research to Global Industry Leaders

The students produced a by the DSL, and a has been posted on Thomson Reuters’ website. Both share that by 2030, Generation Z will represent 17% of retail spending in the U.S., and 81% of consumers in the age group have changed their purchasing decisions based on brand actions or reputation, with 53% participating in economic boycotts.

While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in policy studies, 2024 Maxwell alumnus Ka’ai I worked as a student researcher with the DSL. He gathered information about forced labor laws across the globe, collected related policies for multi-national corporations and assisted with surveys.

“We basically did a level-set in terms of ‘How do we understand where we are at now, where are we at in terms of forced labor, and how that is affecting the market?’” says I.

The experience was empowering and prepared him for his current work with Deloitte Consulting.

“As a young professional, I’m working on many of the same things I did with the Dynamic Sustainability Lab—data analysis, survey development, stakeholder engagement,” I says. “As I navigate the professional workspace, I feel much more confident and capable going in to a pretty competitive workforce.”

Another outcome of the DSL forced labor collaboration with Thomson Reuters: two events in the 2024-25 academic year at which data findings were presented and expanded upon by subject area experts. The symposia in Washington, D.C., and in Portland, Oregon, drew representatives from footwear and apparel companies as well as government officials.

“Our students helped push the notion, ‘We are your growing customer segment,’” says Golden. ��“The leadership from these companies that were in attendance really acknowledged that and were receptive. The work that started with Heather has expanded to where we have the attention of the global footwear and apparel industry. It’s a rare occasion that the type of research finds its way into the mainstream in consumer decisions and draws the attention of international governments and especially the top leadership of global companies.”

Panton says the collaboration with DSL is mutually beneficial.

“The academic rigor is unbeatable,” she says of the research and resulting data. “It’s a great combination of practitioner-meets-academic—we’re taking substantive work and making it very easy for anyone in a C-suite to look at it.”

When junior , an environmental engineering major in the , was growing up, her parents taught her the sensibility of re-using goods, thrifting what she needed and making the best use of everything she had. Around her Bentonville, Virginia, home, she picked up things at auctions, thrift stores and even out of the garbage. “Dumpster diving,” something she had wanted to try, became part of her routine once she arrived at Syracuse University.

One day, a Department of Public Safety officer stopped Lubkemann at a campus dumpster and asked for identification.�� After confirming her student status, the officer recounted how the night before, he’d ejected a man who wasn’t a student for doing the same thing Lubkemann was doing.

“That was one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had, not only at the University but in my life,” Lubkemann explains. “To me, it was so unjust that a piece of plastic set me apart from others who might need things.” She says she recognized that removing the person from the scene “might have been the difference between a man and his dinner.”

After that incident, Lubkemann began to reflect on her privileged student status and the injustice that she could access found objects on campus while others were barred from obtaining those throwaway goods. “I grew up very privileged, but I was instilled with the value of not taking more than you need. There are things in the garbage that aren’t actually garbage. A lot of stuff is thrown away before its expiration date,” Lubkemann says. “I found my calling in environmental engineering due to the critical shortage of professionals in the field and by a passion for sustainability, which I see as not just an environmental issue but also a social and economic imperative.”

A ‘Revamped’ Idea

After observing high levels of textile waste on campus and how those without a vehicle have limited access to donate clothing or buy affordable used things,�� Lubkemann devised the idea for her business, “.”

Her company is a research-based, pioneering, sustainability-driven mobile enterprise redefining textile waste management through a mobile thrift store and donation hub, currently operating from a repurposed minibus. It takes in discarded yet valuable textiles from their point of disposal and offers an accessible, community-centered solution that diverts waste from landfills while ensuring that high-quality secondhand goods remain in the local economy.

Lubkemann spoke about her idea with ,�� Syracuse University Libraries strategic initiatives advisor and a faculty member in the . She encouraged Lubkemann to submit her idea for a mobile donation center/thrift store/re-distribution hub in the competition. Lubkemann then developed a 10-page business plan, entered the competition and won $5,000.

“I never thought anyone would find interest in this; I thought it was a pipe dream. Who would think a top U.S. university would invest in such a small idea? But Linda gave me the confidence to pursue it, and that was one of the things that totally launched me into this initiative. I like to say Revamped was born from a dumpster, which gives me hope any idea or dream can take shape if you work towards it. It’s really taken off from there,” she says.

Adding Funds, Growth

Lubkemann has continued to refine and grow her company and gain funding. She has won $25,000�� from campus competitions since November 2024, including the at the , a award, the and research monies. Her achievements include the following:

• Obtaining a DBA (“doing business as”) certificate and starting a limited liability corporation (Ava Lubkemann LLC).
• Acquiring a minibus and outfitting it to serve as mobile thrift shop/donation center.

  

• Establishing a account for potential investors.
• Hosting pop-up sales, cross-campus co-branding events and creating a to distribute on campus.
• Researching textile waste distribution to define more community re-distribution channels.
• Contacting local businesses seeking storage space for additional collected items.
• Ideating two podcasts about Revamped and sustainable living.
• Asking the Sustainability Management group to add sustainable entrepreneurship student ambassadors.
• Contacting George Washington University and Lewis and Clark College to gauge their interest in replicating the Revamped program.

That’s hardly Lubkemann’s limit. From finding goods, to reworking and repairing them, to setting up the mobile store and planning distribution points, she does most of Revamped’s work herself, helped by , the company’s marketer, a student in the Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Ava is also a resident advisor, entrepreneur-in-residence at the�� student business incubator, a part-time Orange Innovation Scholar worker and a research fellow on the ’s Carbon Capture Team. She continues to enter competitions such as and present at the . She’s also taking 17 course credits.

The Long View

The busy student has no shortage of vision, either. Lubkemann envisions expanding the company and hopes its success lets her form a 501C3 nonprofit organization to funnel a mass accumulation of textile waste to people who really need it.

“That’s what matters to me, trying to make a positive impact in the community. I was raised on the principle, ‘Wherever you go leave it a better place than you found it,” Lubkemann says. “I think that’s the core of making Revamped what I want it to be—a community-oriented program that connects universities with their communities and advocates for the little guy and people who are in need.”

Goods can be purchased from Revamped’s Instagram page, listing, or soon-to-launch website, revampedthrift.com. Lubkemann also plans to announce future campus sales and events via those avenues.

Ken Pontarelli ’92 credits the University for changing his life, opening up opportunities to pursue his passions and achieve professional success that allows him to focus on the public good. In return, he and his wife, Tracey, are paying it forward by supporting Syracuse students pursuing meaningful careers in the vital field of sustainability. Their recent gift endows the Pontarelli Professorship in the . It builds on their years of support that have helped position the University as a thought leader in sustainability. As part of the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program, the University has committed additional funds to support teaching and research activities in environmental sustainability, finance and public policy.

“Our goal is to build a sustainability program that ties together distinctive strengths from across the University, allowing business, policy and environmental science to work together to solve problems and tackle global challenges,” says Pontarelli. They are well on their way, thanks to previous support from the Pontarellis that a five-year funded professorship in 2019 and a scholarship fund in the , and helped create a unique master of science joint degree from the Maxwell and Whitman schools in sustainable organizations and policy, and the .

“When I (in 2022), Syracuse University was ranked No. 11 nationally for environmental policy and management by U.S. News & World Report,” says Jay Golden, Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance. “Each year our rankings have increased, and the most recent 2024 rankings have us tied with Harvard for No. 6. Certainly, our goal is to continue to rise in the rankings through the recognition of our peers of all the great programs we have going on at Maxwell and the other colleges at Syracuse.”

Growing Interest in Sustainability

Pontarelli graduated from the University with a bachelor of science in finance from the Whitman School and in economics from the Maxwell School. He immediately began what became a long career at Goldman Sachs, initially focusing on energy markets. “We made one of the first large-scale investments into renewable power back when few such investments were being made,” says Pontarelli. “As I gained more understanding of the field, I realized how critical private capital is, together with government policy, in addressing environmental issues. The business case for investing in sustainability is incredibly strong.”

In an interview with Private Equity International (November 2023), Pontarelli pointed out that sustainability was just a niche market with $20 billion of assets under management just 10 years ago and ballooned over the decade to more than $270 billion of assets under management.

At Goldman Sachs, where Pontarelli is partner and managing director, he leads the firm’s private equity impact investing efforts within the Asset Management Division. He was appointed to the University’s Board of Trustees in 2021, serves on the Whitman Advisory Council and, last year, was awarded the for Sustainability by Maxwell. His investments in academic and experiential programs are designed to ensure that environmental policy research is well-grounded in an understanding of markets and financial mechanisms.

“This is a pivotal time,” says Pontarelli. “There are so many things that could be done if we don’t get caught up in political issues. Everyone would agree that these are common sense business things to do.” He cites the example of one recent investment in a company that provides control panels to big data centers to manage power generation usage. The product can reduce usage by 10% for the average data center. “I’m focused on pragmatic solutions.”

That’s why Pontarelli is so impressed with the work being done by students in the which, according to Golden, is “a nonpartisan think tank and research lab focused on examining sustainability imperatives at the nexus of industry and government.” The lab launched in 2021 with just six students.

“From that early start we have maintained every semester 40 to 50 paid undergraduate and graduate sustainability research fellows spanning almost every college across the University,” Golden says. “In fact, we have more students interested than we can currently financially support or mentor with our current staffing levels. Not a week goes by that I don’t receive numerous emails from students interested in joining the lab.”

Inspiring More Philanthropic Support

It’s easy to see why students are so interested. They are doing what Pontarelli calls “eye-popping work” in partnership with industry or government, and he hopes to inspire more philanthropic support so that more students can participate. Golden cites a few examples:

• Students from the Maxwell School, Whitman School and are doing research in energy systems, biotechnologies and carbon capture technologies for various industrial sectors. This includes providing technical, finance and policy insights to develop recommendations for government agencies, policymakers and business leaders that would benefit the U.S. economy and the environment.
• Students are working with Thomson Reuters as well as the global footwear and apparel industries researching innovative best management practices and policies that can eliminate the utilization of forced labor in the global supply chain.
• A team led by Golden and School of Architecture Assistant Professor Nina Wilson is working with architects, engineers, design/build firms, insurance, government and finance on developing innovative strategies, policies and professional practices for resiliency in the built environment.��They are holding workshops throughout New York state.
• Students have developed an energy dashboard to quantify and visualize energy consumption on campus, by buildings and by energy source, that is continuously updated while also modeling economic impacts and opportunities for the University to manage energy consumption and other environmental impacts. This also involves working with Campus Dining to quantify food wastes across the campus and modeling the economic and greenhouse gas opportunities by implementing new strategies.

Preparing Future Leaders for the Public Good

The new joint master’s degree from Maxwell and Whitman, supported by the Pontarellis and directed by Golden, offers an intensive professional sustainability consulting course each spring through the lab, in which students work in project teams to provide high-level research and consulting to public and private organizations, including Fortune 500 global companies and smaller start-ups domestically and globally.

“I am grateful to Ken and Tracey for continuing to promote the values of high-quality teaching, experiential learning, evidence-based research, engaged citizenship and public service impact, which we hold dear at the Maxwell School,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke. “This professorship, endowed in their name, will make certain their commitment to climate, energy and environmental sustainability and working across levels of government and sectors of the economy continues to be a hallmark of the instruction and scholarship the Maxwell School pursues in preparing future leaders that seek to promote the public good.”

Golden says that “we have an incredible job placement rate for students even before they graduate” with organizations as diverse as Morgan Stanley, KPMG, the State of New York and the Department of Defense. “They stand out in the job market because they have learned to take theory from the classroom and apply it in the real world, with plenty of opportunities to do the work thanks to Ken and Tracey Pontarelli,” Golden says.

“We want students to get excited about careers in the sustainability field,” Pontarelli says. “It’s purposeful, meaningful work as they become problem-solvers who can change the world.”

In disability advocacy circles, the has gained a national reputation as one of the most progressive cities in the U.S. for incorporating the ideas and feedback of users with disabilities when creating new handicapped-accessible spaces, according to two prominent disability advocates.

, Baylor University professor of physical therapy and founder of mobility design studio , and , founder of the and a fellow, point to the work on and the adaptive design circles here as a model for other communities to follow.

The Creekwalk is a 4.8-mile paved pathway that runs from the Southside neighborhood to . When city planners and engineers decided to make accessibility a major focus of the Creekwalk, they tapped into local individuals with a range of backgrounds—medical and social model disability advocates, inclusive design experts, students at and local individuals with disabilities. , a city facilities engineer, and , City of Syracuse deputy commissioner of planning and sustainability, first invited local resident to provide a first-person perspective on the plans. McGough, a quadriplegic as the result of an accident��at age 21, is the program coordinator at ARISE Inc., a local independent living center.

The project soon drew in others McGough knew: faculty members , professor of industrial and interaction design, and , professor and coordinator of the , who are both ARISE volunteers.

Also joining the group were Upstate Medical University developmental pediatrician and staff members from the , an inclusive preschool in Syracuse. Galloway and Truesdell were aware of the initiative through their involvement with the adaptive design community here.

Carr involved School of Design master’s students because he recognized how the project presented an exceptional opportunity to learn inclusive design via a “living laboratory” at a site adjacent to their class space. He also knew the project supported key University goals for students: experiential learning; community-engaged scholarship; enhanced awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility; and a commitment to human thriving.

The city’s project leaders welcomed student involvement, Houck says. “These projects are something we’ve collaborated on with Don Carr and with other organizations in the community. Our projects are better for it, and it’s wonderful we can have that resource. Carr is raising the profile of the work that’s being done and it’s great that he’s involving his students in these efforts.”

Kerney agrees. “Whether it’s the first fully inclusive and accessible playground, our sidewalks, our recreational amenities, boat launches or trails that are available to all users, increasing access is an important part of serving the entire community. It’s something Mayor Walsh and the whole administration has prioritized,” he says. “The city has a responsibility to serve everybody, and these types of improvements do just that.”

The User View

The student designers began determining how to create a practical experience at the Inner Harbor site based on the disability community maxim, “Nothing about us without us is for us.” Their first step: borrowing a wheelchair to look at the pathway from a disabled user’s perspective.

They digitally mapped the entire Creekwalk path, then started ideating. One student created a video game to familiarize users with the trail virtually before they visit. Another made an app that offers information about all pathway features. A third designed an accessible interactive information kiosk housing electrical ports to recharge electric wheelchairs. Others created an animation of the trail that featured a series of accessible kiosks, each equipped with a joystick controller for those with limited dexterity.

Amaan Khan ’23, a student who worked on that project and who is now a product and branding designer, said the class with Carr was “an absolute pleasure. It taught us that even though societal paradigms are shifting toward inclusivity, we must unlearn many of our ways to better connect people with disabilities to the facilities that already exist. Doing that can unite people and guide them forward as a collaborative community.”

McGough says he welcomed the chance to offer ideas based on his lived experience. “I was excited that they listened to my feedback and wanted to follow up on it, and that they were open to suggestions about accessibility in the community spaces,” he says.

McGough was able to try the kayak launch last fall. It’s built so someone can comfortably transfer into and out of a boat via a bench, pull bars, hoists and a gradual rolling launch system. “I was so excited about this project. Getting out in the boat is such a great experience, getting some sun, being around water and nature, having some exercise and recreation,” McGough says. “It’s really freeing because once the boat is in motion, it’s all me making it happen. It’s a really nice thing to have when a lot of the time you require assistance from other people and aren’t able to feel so independent.”

Three Phases

The project has three access points—the kayak launch at the Inner Harbor and a wheelchair-accessible waterside access ramp at Kirk Park have been built. An access/launch point at Dorwin Avenue is planned as part of the third phase of the Creekwalk trail that is now under design.

A $70,000 grant from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration program supported the Inner Harbor site, and $380,000 from the Honeywell remediation settlement, for improvements connected to Onondaga Lake, was used for the more extensive construction at Kirk Park. The city continues to apply for grants for ongoing accessibility projects.

A Model Partnership

Working together came naturally to this group, so it’s unlikely they were aware of the “ripple effect” of their cooperation. Fathers believes the city’s openness to including disabled users from the start, the involvement of interested supporters and the inclusion of University faculty and students in the project helped the group gel. “The way the group came together was kind of an organic thing—because disabled people, designers and clinicians began working together in a matter of hours,” he says.

Fathers tells how Truesdell, who was involved in Syracuse’s adaptive design collaboration, referenced that coalescing as “the Syracuse effect”—something she said she had not seen previously in her experience, he says. “She means that in Syracuse, it’s very easy to connect to people with disabilities, their advocates, their families and designers in a way that she hasn’t seen in any other place. It’s all about the people here. She said it was a very powerful thing to observe,” Fathers says.

Galloway says the collective advocacy spirit here “is particularly rare. It’s a model the world needs to come here to look at to see what Syracuse does and how they continue it,” he says. “Where Syracuse jumps into the ‘I’ve never heard of this before’ category is that here, the people with the lived experience are the ones with the power. To step back and let the disability community lead and to have city planners listen and take direction from the folks having lived experience, that’s very unique. So many people in Syracuse break the mold—you’ve got a really radical set of individuals who, from the beginning of the idea, listened and believed and took action from the disability community.”

Hands-On Rewards

The hands-on learning students experienced was important to their training as designers, Carr says. “In teaching design, this is a great way to get students to co-design with individuals in our community to address real needs. Together, we’re able to build, test and modify these ideas on the fly. It’s very rewarding to work alongside someone and then see their immediate reaction vs. purchasing a product that, in the end, might not address their actual need.”

From an inclusive design standpoint having projects where faculty can jump in helps Syracuse be a leader in the accessibility space, and having an adaptive design focus is a major attractor for the University’s graduate design program, Carr says. “That’s because there are opportunities for students to do grant-based work as part of their studies and then apply ideas throughout their careers.”

In continuation of Syracuse University’s commitment to providing comprehensive benefits and in appreciation of the contributions of faculty and staff, the University will be operating under its holiday schedule and Orange Appreciation Days format for the winter break period from 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.�� Normal business hours will resume on��Thursday, Jan. 2.

In addition to the regular University holidays of Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 and bonus days Dec. 24 and 31, the following days have been designated as paid Orange Appreciation Days: Dec. 23, 26, 27 and 30.

Units providing essential services that will remain fully operational during the Winter Break include the Department of Public Safety and Facilities Services.

Services During Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break

Admissions and Enrollment Processing
The office will be closed for Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break and will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Advancement and External Affairs

Advancement Services staff will maintain business hours at the 640 Skytop Office Building Dec. 26, 27, 30 and 31, 2024 to receive and process fundraising gifts.

Building Occupancy

The University will be operating under its Orange Appreciation Days format for the winter break period from 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Normal business hours will resume on��Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

During the Holiday/Orange Appreciation Days period:

Request for Building Access (locking):
If you require your building to be open over the Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days period, please submit a request to your��building coordinator, noting the specific dates and times. Requests should be made by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. (Note that faculty and staff will be able to access the buildings you work in, as usual, by using their SU I.D. cards, even when the buildings are locked.)

Building temperatures will be lowered to 60 degrees unless prior arrangements have been made.

Request for Adjustments to Temperature and Lighting:
Deans, directors and department heads may submit a detailed request for adjustments to temperature and lighting during the Winter Break/Orange Appreciation Days period. Please review the University’s temperature guidelines. We ask that requests be made using the Maximo Maintenance system by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. Requests will be reviewed and approved by either the vice president and chief facilities officer or the provost.

Important: Buildings Not Included in Winter Break Reduced Occupancy Schedule
The following buildings will be excluded from the temperature setback, and will remain on normal access, temperature and lighting settings:

640 Skytop Road
Heroy Geology Laboratory
Bowne Hall – Fourth Floor
Lyman Hall – Fourth Floor
Sims Hall – Department of Public Safety
Center for Science and Technology
Bird Library – Operating hours are listed on the library website
Life Sciences Complex
Link Hall
Physics Building
Ensley Athletic Center
South Campus Library Facility
Lally Complex
Carmelo Anthony Center
Tennity Ice Rink
Crouse Hinds Hall

Questions on building occupancy can be directed to the Department of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management, 315.443.1535 or��energy@syr.edu.

Bursar’s Office

In continuation of Syracuse University’s commitment to providing comprehensive benefits and in appreciation of the contributions of faculty and staff, the Bursar’s Office will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, and will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 9 a.m. Student account payments can be made through MySlice under the billing/payments tile. Questions may be directed to the����form. The Bursar’s Office will monitor incoming questions sent through this form and will respond��as quickly as possible during this time.

Campus Bus Shuttle
The campus shuttle service will operate on a reduced schedule until the conclusion of Winter Break. For schedule updates, visit��parking.syr.edu. If a matter is urgent, on-call staff can be contacted through the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Campus Dining
Hours of operation for campus cafes and other dining facilities can be found on the��.

Campus Planning, Design and Construction

The office at 1320 Jamesville Ave. will be closed from 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Normal business hours will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2. If you have project-specific questions, please reach out to the assigned project manager. For general information, email��cpdc@syr.edu.

Campus Store

The Campus Store will be closed Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. During this time, the online store will be available for customer orders. Orders received on or after Friday, Dec. 20, will be processed beginning Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Staff will be available beginning Thursday, Jan. 2, at 8:30 a.m. Please contact��campusstore@syr.edu��with questions or for assistance.

Cash Operations (Bowne Hall)
The offices at Bowne Hall will be closed. For questions, email��cashops@syr.edu. Email will be monitored daily.

Counseling

Counseling will be closed from Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, as well as Monday, Jan. 20. However, in the event of a mental health emergency, or if there is a need to contact a member of the Sexual and Relationship Violence Response Team, 24-hour services remain available. These services can be accessed by calling 315.443.8000.

Custodial Services��

Services will be provided, on a reduced basis, in academic and administrative buildings. All residence halls close on Wednesday, Dec. 18, and no custodial services will be provided. If assistance is needed, call 315.443.1234.

�ٱ����������������

Delivery and pick up will be provided to departments requesting service. Arrangements for service can be requested by contacting Materials Distribution at��e-materials@syr.edu.

Deliveries (UPS and FedEx)

Materials Distribution will be operating/delivering Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., from Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, with the exceptions of Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. If your department has a specific request pertaining to deliveries over Winter Break, please email��e-materials@syr.edu.

Disability Benefits and Workers’ Compensation Benefit Payments
Disability benefits checks will be on regular payroll schedule. For those who don’t use the direct deposit option, checks will be mailed to the employee’s home address by the payroll department during the week of Dec. 23. For assistance with workers’ compensation checks, please contact our third-party administrator, PMA, at 1.888.476.2669. For assistance during Orange Appreciation Days, contact Sheera Buckley at��slbuck01@syr.edu��or 315.416.9066.

Disbursements

Disbursements will not be processing payments after Thursday, Dec. 19. The last payment run will be the night of Thursday, Dec. 19, for distribution and handling on Friday, Dec. 20. After Thursday, normal processing will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

To ensure timeliness of payments your department may have, please make appropriate arrangements to have requests received in the disbursements processing email��disburse@syr.edu��or in the��automated payment request module��or in the��MySlice Travel and Expense Center��on or before��2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9,��for the following:

• Vendor invoices on a purchase order (PO)
• Requisitions with invoices attached off PO
• Consultant forms
• Wire transfers: foreign and domestic
• Out-of-pocket travel submissions for employee or non-employee guests
• Travel advances for travel scheduled during the end of December 2024
• Clearing any outstanding travel advances for travel that occurred prior to December 2024

*Other considerations—Should your time sensitive payment requests require additional approvals such as sponsored or restricted fund approvals, please allow additional time to your planning process.

All JPMC credit card transactions, for activity through Nov. 30, 2024, should be submitted in the��MySlice Travel and Expense Center��on or before��5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20.

Drumlins

The Tennis Club will operate as follows:

Dec. 22, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Dec. 23, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 24, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Dec. 25, closed

Dec. 26, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 27, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Dec. 28, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Dec. 29, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Dec. 30, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 31, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Jan. 1, 2025, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Normal hours of operation will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Call 315.446.2323 for court times and reservations

Bistro 1926 will operate as follows:

Dec. 23, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 24, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Dec. 25, closed

Dec. 26, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 27, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Dec. 28, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Dec. 29, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Dec. 30, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Dec. 31, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Jan. 1, 2025, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Banquet Sales Office will be closed starting Monday, Dec. 23, and will reopen Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

The Golf Shop will be closed beginning Monday, Dec. 23, and reopen Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

The Business Management Office will be closed beginning Monday, Dec. 23, and reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

Energy Systems and Sustainability Management��

The Energy Management Operations Center is staffed 24/7. For building systems scheduling questions or concerns, call 315.443.1535. For building access issues, contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Enrollment Management
The office will be closed during Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break and will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Environmental Health and Safety Services

Environmental Health and Safety Services will have on-call staff available to assist in the event of a hazardous materials spill or emergency during Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break. Environmental Health’s on-call staff can be contacted through the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services

The office will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, and bonus days on Dec. 26 and Dec. 29. On Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, this year’s designated Orange Appreciation Days, the office will be available to employees by email at��equalopp@syr.edu.��Email will be checked once a day on Orange Appreciation Days and emergencies will be addressed within 24 hours. The office will return to normal business hours on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs
The office will be closed for Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break, and will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.

Fire and Life Safety Services

Fire and Life Safety Services will be staffed on Orange Appreciation Days from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If assistance is needed, call 315.443.5474 or the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. On Wednesday, Dec. 25, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Health Care at the Barnes Center at The Arch

Health Care at the Barnes Center will be closed from Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025, as well as Monday, Jan. 20; 24-hour on-call service is available at 315.443.8000.

Hendricks Chapel

The chapel will host the annual Pam Am 103 Memorial Service on Dec. 21 at 2:03 p.m., and will then be closed through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. The chapel’s food pantry will be available upon request (chapel@syr.edu) for those in need, and will fully reopen on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. For additional information please visit the chapel����or call 315.443.2901.

Housing, Meal Plan and I.D. Card Service Centers
The offices at 111 Waverly Avenue and 210 Goldstein Student Center will be closed beginning 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20. Both location centers will resume regular business hours on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. If you have an emergency that requires immediate attention, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Human Resources

The office will be closed for Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break. However, employees can reach HR Shared Services by calling and leaving a message at 315.443.4042 or by email at��hrservice@syr.edu. The voice and email service will be checked twice daily on Orange Appreciation Days, and emergencies will be addressed promptly. All other matters will be addressed when the University returns to regular business hours, 8:30 to 5 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.

ITS Support
ITS support staff is available by calling 315.443.2677, by emailing��help@syr.edu��or by chatting with us on�����ǰ�����during regular business hours through Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, and at the following dates and times:

• Dec. 20 to 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Dec. 26 to 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For ITS support during days and times outside those listed above, email��help@syr.edu��or call 315.443.2677. If you choose to call, follow the automated prompts and leave a message for the on-call ITS staff. On-call support is available outside the hours listed above and on the following dates: Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1, 2025.

The ITS Help Desk will��resume regular business��hours on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2025.

ITS��Service Center In-Person Support Hours����������������������

The ITS Service Center in Room 1-227 of the Center for Science and Technology will be closed starting Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, and will be moving locations during the break. The new location will be in the lobby of the Women’s Building, and will tentatively reopen on Jan. 10, 2025. Users needing assistance can call 315.443.2677 or��help@syr.edu��before we reopen.

Updates and Hours of operation will be available on the��.

Libraries

All libraries will be closed beginning Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, with the following exception: Bird Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22 and from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, Friday Dec. 27 and Monday Dec. 30. Special Collections, located on the sixth floor of Bird Library, will not be open on these days. All Library hours can be found on the��.

Mail Services

Delivery and pick up will be provided to departments requesting service. Arrangements for service can be requested by contacting Mail Services at 315.443.2803 or emailing��mailsrvc@syr.edu. A����is available.

Maintenance Requests

Maintenance requests for academic and administrative buildings, residence halls, dining facilities or South Campus apartments may be requested by contacting Facilities Services immediately at 315.443.1234.

Materials Distribution

Deliveries and pick up will be provided to departments requesting service. Arrangements for service can be requested by contacting Materials Distribution at 315.443.1940 or��. Service requests should be e-mailed to��e-materials@syr.edu.

Media Inquiries/University Communications
The University’s media relations team’s email,��, is monitored regularly over Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break. Urgent media inquiries should be directed to Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for University communications, at��sescales@syr.edu.

Paycheck Distribution��

Weekly Pay Immediately Prior to Winter Break
Weekly pay for the work week ending Wednesday, Dec. 11, will be paid on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Paper paychecks will be delivered to the employee’s department; direct deposit will be available to individuals’ accounts. Employees who have not signed up for direct deposit and will therefore receive a paper paycheck should inquire with their department for check delivery.

All paper paychecks are delivered to the employee’s home department on payday. As a reminder, anyone with a NetID and password is able to set up direct deposit through MySlice.

Weekly and Semi-Monthly Pay During Winter Break
Pay for the work week ending Wednesday, Dec. 18, will be paid on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Pay for the work week ending Wednesday, Dec. 25, will be paid on Tuesday, Dec. 31. This is the last paycheck of the calendar year 2024 Form W-2 reporting period.

The semi-monthly pay period ending Tuesday, Dec. 31, will be paid on Tuesday, Dec. 31. This is the last paycheck of the calendar year 2024 Form W-2 reporting period.

Employees who have not signed up for direct deposit, and will therefore receive a paper paycheck, should ensure their permanent address is accurate by going to MySlice and clicking on the personal profile tile on the employee home page. Weekly paper paychecks dated Tuesday,��Dec. 24, and Tuesday,��Dec. 31,��and semi paper paychecks dated Tuesday,��Dec. 31,��will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to the employee’s permanent address on file.

Direct deposit for the weekly payroll will be available in individuals’ accounts on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec 31. Direct deposit for the semi-monthly payroll will be available to individuals’ accounts on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Payments by direct deposit can be viewed anytime on MySlice by clicking on the payroll tile on the employee home page.

Weekly Pay Immediately After Winter Break
Pay for the work week ending Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, will be paid on Wednesday Jan. 8.

Payroll Deadlines

Weekly Payroll Deadlines Immediately Prior to Winter Break
The week ending Wednesday, Dec. 11, paid on Wednesday, Dec. 18:

• Time approval is due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12.
• Online RAP approval is due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The week ending Wednesday, Dec. 18 , paid on Tuesday, Dec. 24:

• Time approval is due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19.
• Online RAP approval is due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Semi Payroll Deadlines Immediately Prior to Winter Break
Semi online RAPs for the pay period ending Tuesday, Dec. 31, are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Weekly Payroll Deadlines During Winter Break

The week ending Wednesday, Dec. 25, paid on Tuesday, Dec. 31:

• Time approval is due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26.
• Online RAP approval is due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26.
• Employees will be paid (or not paid) based upon the time that has or has not been approved in the system. Any adjustments or corrections will have to be submitted for payment in the following pay period. There will be no special checks processed.

Payroll Frequently Asked Questions

If I do not have direct deposit, how will I get my paychecks on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday Dec. 31?
Paychecks will be mailed to your permanent address. You can verify your permanent address is accurate by going to MySlice and clicking on the personal profile tile on the employee home page.

Where can I sign up for direct deposit?
Log onto MySlice and click on the payroll tile on the employee home page.

Why might I not receive a paycheck at my home by Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday Dec. 31?
Several reasons could result in you not receiving your paper paycheck on or before Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday Dec. 31. Your permanent address in MySlice has to be correct. For example, if you have moved and did not change your address, the paper paycheck will be delivered to the address per MySlice and either forwarded to your new address (if you have filed a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service) or it will be returned to Payroll. Either case will result in potentially significant delays in your receipt of your paper paycheck.

What happens if my permanent address is incorrect in MySlice?
Since paper paychecks will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, Syracuse University cannot control, track or locate your paycheck once mailed. If you have filed a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service to forward your mail, delivery of your paycheck will be delayed. If no such form has been filed, the paper paycheck will be returned to Payroll. Either case will result in potentially significant delays in your receipt of your paper paycheck.

How do I change my permanent address?
Log in to MySlice and click on the personal profile tile on the employee home page.

If I receive my weekly paper paycheck before Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday Dec. 31, or my semi-monthly paper paycheck before Tuesday, Dec. 31, can I cash/deposit it?
No. Paychecks dated Tuesday, Dec. 24, or Tuesday, Dec. 31, are not valid prior to that date.

What happens if I don’t receive my paper paycheck?
If you have not received your paycheck by Thursday, Dec. 26, you can call Payroll at 315.443.4042, option 2, and leave a message with the following information:

• Indicate that you did not receive your paycheck.
• Give your name and SU I.D. number.
• Give the name of the University department that you were expecting pay from.
• Provide a telephone number where you can be reached.
• Messages will be reviewed at various times during the day and calls will be returned as soon as possible.

No special checks will be issued during Winter Break.

Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety will remain open 24/7 during the Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break. For emergencies or assistance, call 315.443.2224, connect with us via the Orange Safe app, or text or email��711@syr.edu.

Purchasing
With Orange Appreciation Days approaching, the Purchasing Department wishes to make you aware that any eProcurement requisition received after Friday, December 13, may not be sent out until after Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. If your purchase requires a bid to be completed, the requisition should be received by Friday, Dec. 6, to ensure processing.

All JPMC credit card transactions, for activity through Nov. 30, should be submitted in the MySlice Travel and Expense Center on or before 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20.

Other purchasing considerations to take into account as we approach the break:

Should your purchase request require additional approvals such as those for sponsored or restricted funds, please build in additional time to your planning process. If your purchase is over $50,000, please allow additional time, as the Office of Budget and Planning must review and approve those orders before they are released. Contact Vincent Patriarco at 315.443.7427 or��vmpatria@syr.edu��with any questions.

Recreation and Fitness

The recreation and fitness areas at the Barnes Center at The Arch, Ernie Davis Hall and the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion are closed from Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. For updates on operating status, visit the��.

Registrar’s Office

The office will be closed for Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break. If you need to reach our office during the closure, please email��registrar@syr.edu.

Research Integrity and Protections

Facilities Services will have staff on campus throughout Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break to monitor and maintain building systems for research spaces.��For emergencies or assistance, please call the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224.

Snow Clearing

Normal snow clearing activities will take place. If assistance is needed, call 315.443.1234.

Sponsored Programs
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will have limited staff checking email during the Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break period. OSP can be contacted at��ospoff@syr.edu��or Stuart Taub can be contacted directly at��staub@syr.edu.

Submission of applications with deadlines during the Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break period should be coordinated with OSP staff in advance of the break to ensure timely review and authorization.

Student Box Office

The Student Box Office is now virtual. Please email any questions to��boxoffice@syr.edu.

Student Engagement

The Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center and the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Student Center will be open during the following times:

• Dec. 18 to 20: Schine 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Goldstein 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, 2025: Closed
• Jan. 2 to 3: Schine 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Goldstein 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Jan. 4 to 5: Closed
• Jan. 6 to 9: Schine 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Goldstein 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Jan. 10: Schine 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Goldstein 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Jan. 11: Schine 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Goldstein 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Jan. 12: Schine 8 a.m. to midnight, Goldstein 9 a.m. to midnight

Student Experience

Career Services, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs,��Health Promotion (Barnes Center), Student Employment and the Office of Community Standards will all be closed from Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. If issues arise during this time, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 for assistance. New Student Programs will be closed Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. To support the arrival of our new and returning first-year and transfer students, staff members will respond to voicemails and emails during this time.

Student Living

Student Living’s main offices will be closed Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. On-call staff will be available in the event of emergencies. If issues arise during this time, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 for assistance.

Student Outreach and Support

The office will be closed for Orange Appreciations Days/Winter Break; however, the Division of the Student Experience staff is on call during this time in the event of a student emergency; please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224 for assistance. For 24/7 health and wellness support, contact the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000

Student Title IX Case Management

The office will be closed for Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break, however, on-call staff will be available to respond if issues arise. To file a report, email��titleix@syr.edu.��In the event of a student emergency, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 315.443.2224. For 24/7 health and wellness support, contact the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000.

Syracuse Abroad

The Syracuse Abroad main campus office will be closed from 2��p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, through Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, reopening at 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, Jan. 2.The general voicemail (800.235.3472 or 315.443.3471) and email (suabroad@syr.edu) will be checked regularly. In case of a true emergency, please call the Department of Public Safety: 315.443.2224.��For more information, visit the��.

Technology Transfer
Staff will be checking email during the Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break period and will respond to urgent matters as needed. Invention disclosures with imminent publication (conference presentation/poster session, grant application, paper submission) deadlines prior to Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, should be coordinated with the Office of Technology Transfer staff well in advance of Friday, Dec. 20, to ensure timely review and filing for protection.

Treasurer’s Office
The Treasurer’s Office at 621 Skytop Rd. will be closed starting Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. Only critical functions will continue to be performed during this time, including secure gift processing, bank transfers and electronic payments. For any requests for the Treasurer’s Office of an urgent nature, please e-mail��treasoff@syr.edu��with the subject heading URGENT or call Scott Kemp at 315.443.6204.

University Credit Cards
Please contact J.P. Morgan directly at 1.800.316.6056 for any issues related to lost or stolen cards, fraud charges or declined transactions. Please be aware that the digits 6 through 9 of your SU I.D. number is the pin number on file. University staff will also be available to handle credit issues relating to University procurement or credit cards by email to��JPMCSUCC@syr.edu��or by calling 315.443.1957 or 315.443.2281.

Additional information regarding Orange Appreciation Days/Winter Break services and resources may be found at:

Questions on building occupancy can be directed to the Department of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management at 315.443.1535 or��energy@syr.edu.

 

 

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to ������Ƶ at newsphoto@syr.edu. You might see it featured here.

Coach Fran Brown with his son on the field in the JMA Wireless Dome, surrounded by players and fans, after the Orange upset Miami in their final game of the season over the weekend. (Photo courtesy of Syracuse Athletics)

As part of National Coming Out Day, students and Otto the Orange participated in a Chalk the Quad event. (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and University staff members from the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) pose for a photo on the parade ground at the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC). The SBA representatives were visiting the NVRC to learn more about the IVMF’s entrepreneurship programs, post-program support and research initiatives in support of veteran small business owners. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

attended the Fulbright Pre-Academic Program at Syracuse University’s English Language Institute this summer for four weeks to participate in a variety of workshops, field trips and textual and oral communication courses before matriculating into their degree programs at institutions across the United States. (Photo by Amy McCoy)

New students move into the residence halls with help from orientation leaders, volunteers and the Goon Squad. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

In a newly-published paper, “,” researchers at Syracuse University College of Arts and Science examine how certain strains of bacteria, and specifically the genetic diversity of acetic acid bacteria, influence the smell and flavor of sourdough bread and even how it is processed by the body.

While previous research has focused more on lactic acid bacteria and yeast in sourdough bread, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and its the ecology, genomic diversity, and functional contributions remain largely unknown.

Researchers from Syracuse University and Tufts University sequenced 29 acetic acid genomes from a collection of over 500 sourdough starters and constructed synthetic starter communities in the lab to define the ways in which AAB shape emergent properties of sourdough. The team’s work was supported by a����awarded to Syracuse University Professor����earlier this year.

“While not as common in sourdough as lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria are better known for their dominant roles in other fermented foods like vinegar and kombucha,” says Beryl Rappaport, a Ph.D. student at Syracuse University and lead author of the report along with Oliverio. “For this study, we were interested in following up on previous findings which stated that when present in sourdough, AAB seems to have a strong impact on key properties including scent profile and metabolite production, which shape overall flavor formation.”

To assess the consequences of AAB on the emergent function of sourdough starter microbiomes, their team tested 10 strains of AAB, some distantly related and some very closely related. They set up manipulative experiments with these 10 strains, adding each one to a community of yeast and lactic acid bacteria.

“Since we can manipulate what microbes and what concentrations of microbes go into these synthetic sourdough communities, we could see the direct effects of adding each strain of AAB to sourdough,” says Rappaport. “As we expected, every strain of AAB lowered the pH of the synthetic sourdough (associated with increasing sourness) since they release acetic acid and other acids as byproducts of their metabolic processes. Unexpectedly, however, AAB that were more closely related did not release more similar compounds. In fact, there was high variation in metabolites, many related to flavor formation, even between strains of the same species.”

According to Rappaport, strain diversity is often overlooked in microbial communities, in part because it is difficult to identify and manipulate levels of diversity due to the vastness of microorganisms within a given community. By zooming into the diversity among closer relatives in the lab, researchers can start to understand key interactions in the microbiome.

The impact of this research is two-fold. ��When it comes to baking, she says their findings offer bread makers a new direction to shape sourdough flavor and texture.

“Since AAB reliably acidified the starters we worked with and released a large variety of flavor compounds, bakers who want their sourdough to be more sour or to create new flavors may try sourcing a starter with AAB or attempt to capture AAB themselves,” says Rappaport. “We hope that this study helps to shine a light on the diversity of microbes found in sourdough and their important functional roles.”

Their research could also have implications on the health benefits of sourdough bread.

During the fermentation process, AAB generates acetic acid, which significantly aids in breaking down gluten and complex carbohydrates, enhancing the digestibility of sourdough. By examining the genetic diversity of AAB and its influence on acetic acid production, researchers can develop strains that optimize this process.

The team uses sourdough primarily for its use as a model system because the sourdough microbiome is relatively simple to culture and use for repeated experiments in the lab. But their results stretch far beyond baking.

“Our findings will be relevant to people interested in more complex microbial communities, like the human gut or soil,” says Rappaport. This is because the sourdough system can be used to ask questions about ecology and evolution which would be more difficult to ask with more complex systems.

When it comes to the human gut, microbial communities can help build resilience to infections and improve efficiency in breaking down complex carbohydrates, fiber, proteins and fats. In the case of soil, microbes help to break down organic matter and maintain overall soil ecosystem stability. There are many unknowns, however, about how multiple levels of genetic diversity impact these processes.

By recognizing how strain diversity can have community-wide consequences on a microbiome, the team’s insights could have wide-ranging benefits for human health, wellness and environmental sustainability.

To arrange interviews with the researchers, please contact executive director of media relations Ellen James Mbuqe, ejmbuqe@syr.edu.

Syracuse University Libraries has selected four students as the 2024-25 Orange Innovation Scholars. This prestigious recognition highlights their dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship. These four students exemplify the spirit of innovation and leadership that the Orange Innovation Scholars program seeks to promote. The four Orange Innovation Scholars are:

• Ava Lubkemann ’27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) is studying environmental engineering with a passion for sustainable construction, design and entrepreneurship. She founded “Sustainable Concepts,” a business that sells upcycled clothing to support environmentally conscious organizations. Additionally, Lubkemann volunteers with STEM Explorer, helping local middle-school students engage in hands-on STEM learning. At Syracuse, she has been a researcher at the Dynamic Sustainability Lab, focusing on carbon capture sequestration. Lubkemann is a recent graduate of the summer accelerator program.
• Jair Espinoza ’25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) is actively involved in several student organizations, including the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Mexican Student Association, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity and the Syracuse Men’s Gymnastic Club. Espinoza brings a wealth of experience in organizing large-scale events, securing funding and promoting cultural understanding. As a software developer, his experiences have provided him with valuable insight in full stack development, artificial intelligence and mobile app development. He is a recent graduate of the summer accelerator program.
• Aidan Turner ’25 (School of Architecture), a fifth-year architecture student, is also completing a minor in real estate from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. He is a licensed real estate salesperson in Massachusetts. Turner has been recognized as Syracuse University Student Entrepreneur of the Year in both 2022 and 2024. He is the CEO and founder of Grater Things Threads, a premium garment design and supply company dedicated to crafting bespoke, sustainable garments with meaningful designs.
• Thomas O’Brien ’25 (College of Visual and Performing Arts) is an entrepreneur who combines the art of filmmaking with business and marketing. With experience in audience development for music artists and actors combined, O’Brien looks to revolutionize how narrative filmmaking is produced, shared and consumed in the new digital age. His work across all practices has generated millions of views on several social media platforms. He is an Invest in Success Scholar, a member of the ‘CUSE50 steering committee (where he was emcee for last fall’s gala) and a speaker at the ‘CUSE50 student summit.

Orange Innovation Scholars support commercialization programs offered through Syracuse University Libraries, including the and the , along with Universitywide entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives such as . They will engage University faculty, post doctorates and Ph.D. students, graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research, technology commercialization, venture development, innovation and entrepreneurship. Orange Innovation Scholars will also engage with SU alumni who are founders and leaders at top innovation companies. Orange Innovation Scholars work across all disciplines and academic units to build a pipeline of innovation and tell success stories.

 

According to the , scientists estimate there will be more plastics by weight than fish in the ocean by 2050.

World Refill Day, a campaign to reduce plastic waste that was celebrated this past Sunday, is a reminder of the simple ways individuals can transition away from single-use plastics toward more sustainable systems.

Eat, drink and shop with less waste in the following ways:

• Bring your reusable water bottle with you and look for refill stations.
• Coffee or tea drinker? Find places that offer discounts or rewards for bringing in your own reusable cup.
• When you head to the grocery store, don’t forget to bring your reusable bags and use reusable items to store your perishable items like fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to glass instead of plastic containers when packing your lunch or packing away those leftovers.

Take Advantage of Sustainable Systems on Campus

Committed to advancing its own sustainability efforts, the University has already taken steps to reduce its plastic footprint by releasing its Plastic Reduction Plan. The plan outlines how the University will work to drastically reduce the use of single-use plastics by the 2027-28 academic year.

Helping the University meet its goals, University community members can take advantage of more sustainable options on campus as it relates to beverages.

Refilling reusable water bottles on campus is easier than ever with a feature on the University’s interactive campus map showing exact locations of .

More of a coffee or tea person? Did you know that Food Services offers discounts for those with reusable mugs? At campus cafés, when you bring your own mug for a fill-up, you receive a 10% discount. If you join the mug club, you receive a 20% discount plus one free fill-up on Fridays when using your mug club cup! .

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about what you can do to help reduce our plastic consumption, email the Sustainability Management team at��sustain@syr.edu.

A longtime city manager committed to cultivating future public servants. A retired managing director dedicated to volunteerism and philanthropy. A public health pioneer who has improved the lives of millions. An accomplished executive and entrepreneur committed to advancing sustainability.

In their varied pursuits, the four individuals above have represented the Maxwell School’s commitment to engaged citizenship and making the world better for all. For their efforts, Wally Bobkiewicz ’89, Cathy Daicoff ’79, Anuradha Gupta ’07 and Ken Pontarelli ’92 will be honored with centennial awards at the planned for Friday, May 31, in the Smithsonian Institution’s

The event will mark the Maxwell School’s 100th anniversary and serve as a gathering for alumni and friends to connect and celebrate. “We are thrilled to honor these four highly engaged and accomplished individuals who have, in a variety of ways and across sectors, demonstrated a commitment to Maxwell’s ideals,” says Dean David M. Van Slyke, who will serve as the event’s emcee.

The centennial celebration includes five additional honors: will go to alumni B. Ben Baldanza ’84, Carlisha Williams Bradley ’09, Mary Margaret Graham ’78, Lia Miller ’03 and Jessica Sun ’09.

The centennial award honorees are listed below.

Centennial Champion Award

Wally Bobkiewicz ’89

The Maxwell Centennial Champion Award recognizes dedicated volunteer engagement and philanthropy in support of the school, and there is no greater champion of the Maxwell School’s local government initiatives than Wally Bobkiewicz.

A career city manager who has worked in local government for more than 30 years, Bobkiewicz tirelessly channels his passion for public service to uplift communities as well as the careers of countless Maxwell students and alumni. For decades, Bobkiewicz has been a powerful force behind the scenes, working to nurture relationships, create professional opportunities and galvanize support among Maxwell alumni. He is de facto host and connector at annual local and city management conferences and networking events; and he inspires others to invest their time and money to support career development opportunities for students.

Since 2019, Bobkiewicz has served as city administrator of Issaquah, Washington. He was previously city manager of Evanston, Illinois, and Santa Paula, California, and worked in local government for Novato, California, and Long Beach, California. He is a former president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association and served on its board of directors from 2001-10. He is the recipient of the 2024 American Society for Public Administration National Public Service Award.

Centennial Steward Award

Cathy Daicoff ’79

For significant engagement, volunteer service and philanthropic support that have sustained the continued excellence of the school, Maxwell School Advisory Board Vice Chair Cathy Daicoff is the recipient of the Centennial Steward Award. A dedicated supporter of the school since earning an M.P.A. in 1979, Daicoff has served as a member of its advisory board for more than 25 years and maintained an increasingly generous level of giving throughout this time.

Daicoff’s gifts, including her $1.2 million endowment to establish the Marguerite Fisher Faculty Research Fund and a major gift for the creation of the Daicoff Faculty Scholars award, help the school attract and retain world-class faculty. In addition, she shares her expertise in domestic and international finance with the board and as a trusted career advisor to students and alumni interested in the field.

Daicoff retired in 2016 as a managing director at Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services after 38 years with the company. Her career spanned management responsibility in U.S. domestic operations, Canada, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and global positions. She was the company’s first senior policy officer and director of policy training for Ratings Services, and she served for more than 20 years on the firm’s Analytics Policy Board.

Centennial Luminary Award for Global Health Equity

Anuradha Gupta ’07

For her profound impact in spearheading global initiatives that improve public health and increase equitable access to vaccines, Anuradha Gupta is the recipient of the Centennial Luminary Award for Global Health Equity.

Gupta’s work has helped to save and improve millions of lives. Currently, she is president of global immunization at Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington, D.C., an organization dedicated to strengthening immunization in communities most affected by infectious diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Prior to this, she served as deputy CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (2014-22) in Geneva, where she oversaw programs across 73 countries and partnerships with WHO, UNICEF and The World Bank. She introduced the pivotal concept of zero-dose children, bringing inequities into global focus.

Previously, Gupta served in the Indian Administrative Service for 30 years, holding leadership positions in a wide range of areas including health, education, nutrition and finance. As mission director of the National Health Mission of India (2010-14), she ran the largest public health program in the world, achieving several public health feats which include polio eradication and a steep reduction of maternal and child deaths in India.

Centennial Luminary Award for Sustainability

Ken Pontarelli ’92

For his leadership and dedication to developing solutions that balance the economic need for growth with environmental sustainability, Ken Pontarelli is the recipient of the Centennial Luminary Award for Sustainability.

As a Syracuse University trustee, Pontarelli lends his deep expertise in financial markets and sustainability investing, earned over a 30-year career at Goldman Sachs, to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, resulting in environmental policy research that is grounded in a realistic understanding of markets and financial mechanisms. Together with his spouse, Tracey, he established the Pontarelli Professorship of Environmental Sustainability and Finance at the Maxwell School, currently held by Professor Jay Golden, founder and director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab.

Pontarelli graduated from Syracuse University with a dual degree in economics, from Maxwell, and finance, from the Whitman School of Management, where he now serves on the advisory board. In 2018, Pontarelli founded Mission Driven Capital Partners, a New York City-based firm focused on sustainability investing. Two years later, he returned to Goldman Sachs, where he serves as partner and managing director and leads its sustainable investing group.

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Campus community members enjoy a spring day. (Photo by Hung Phung, a student in the School of Information Studies)

The joint U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force ROTC Color Guard passes by the reviewing stand during the 107th Chancellor’s Review held inside the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday, March 8. (Photo by Charlie Poag)

Heather C. Fischer, a graduate student in the executive master’s in international relations (E.M.I.R.) program in Washington, D.C., has been named a 2023 Eisenhower USA Fellow. One of 11 recipients of the honor by the organization Eisenhower Fellowships, she was selected for her work fighting human trafficking and other human rights crimes in the national security space.

Named after the U.S.’s 34th president, Eisenhower Fellowships was founded in 1953 to provide mid-career leaders from around the world the opportunity to travel to different countries to connect with fellow professionals of their respective fields.

Fischer works as the senior advisor for human rights crimes at Thomson Reuters Special Services, a D.C-based data and technology company. As a contractor for the federal government, she helps inform the company strategy to combat human trafficking, safeguard children from online sexual exploitation, pursue human rights violators, and promote women, peace and security.

The fellowship supported Fischer’s recent travel to Malaysia and Thailand to study best practices to address forced labor in global supply chains and develop a U.S. public awareness campaign to educate consumers about making ethical purchasing decisions for goods and services free of forced labor. Her academic research work during the fellowship was supervised and supported by Jay Golden, Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance and director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab.

“Heather and I are working with Thomson Reuters to develop a technical bulletin to educate multi-national corporations, governments and NGOs as well as consumers on the important issues of forced labor in supply chains,” says Golden. “A key component of our work is to provide both public policy and business strategies to assist in identifying and eliminating products that are derived from forced labor around the globe.”

Before joining Thomson Reuters, Fischer worked for the McCain Institute, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House. She was a special advisor for human trafficking and the inaugural human trafficking czar during the Trump administration.

Fischer enrolled in the E.M.I.R. program in August 2021 to enhance her policy-based perspective in support of her work.

“Obviously, my time in government provided valuable public affairs experience, but I was really thrown into the deep end of the pool,” she said in a . “When I saw Syracuse was offering an executive master’s program in conjunction with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, I knew this would be a great opportunity to work on the theory around the intersection of national security and human rights.”

Story by Sophia Moore