Question:  Can I work during spring break if I want to? I do not have a lot of comp time and have to use most of my vacation time for it.

Answer: The university closes during spring break and allows employees to use vacation or comp time to cover the energy conservation (EC) days assigned to the spring break. Staff members must acquire the necessary comp time for the energy conservation days prior to those days. Supervisors must provide ample opportunity for those employees observing EC days to earn the comp time in advance. If comp time is not available, an employee must use available vacation or take leave without pay.

There are several designated essential offices that REMAIN OPEN with skeleton crews for the energy conservation days during spring break. Some additional offices may also be requested by their vice president to remain open as well. In any case, it is the supervisor’s decision to allow an employee to work during spring break. Keep in mind though, that the reason these days are called energy conservation days is because the intent is to close offices in order to save on utilities during a period that most of the campus is closed to student learning activities.

See the following link to look at the Holiday and EC Day schedule. It includes a listing of essential offices that remain open. http://www.humanresources.txstate.edu/holidays.htm

Question:  I understand that a staff member gets release time to attend Texas State classes during Fall and Spring semesters (3 hours per week.) How about the time it takes to get to and from class? I this time charged or need to be made up or do you just assume this is part of the release time?

Answer: A 3 hour class typically meets 3 days a week for 50 minutes each of those days for a total of 2 ½ hours of course time. This leaves 30 minutes during that week that a staff member can still use to get to and from the class as part of the release time. If it takes the staff member longer than the 30 minutes, then they would have to use vacation or compensatory time to cover the extra time, or make the time up at the discretion of the supervisor.

There is also the opportunity for release time for a class during one of the summer sessions. This would allow up to 6 hours of release time for that class.

Since faculty do not accrue vacation or compensatory time, release time is treated differently. Faculty members can obtain release time provided enrollment does not interfere with the completion of their duties. In any case, the faculty member must request approval from the Chair of their department so that the Chair can determine no conflict exists.

See UPPS 04.04.01 section 02.01(a) for staff release time and 02.01(b) for faculty release time at http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-04-04-01.html.