Southwest Minnesota State University

Winter Recess Bulletin

Monday, December 22, 2025, through Monday, January 5, 2026

SMSU Will Be Closed on December 25 and January 1

(Facilities will be secured after 5:00 p.m. on these days)

Southwest Minnesota State University will have limited services available from Monday, December 22, 2025, through Monday, January 5, 2026. If a particular service is needed that is listed as not available, please contact that office/department directly.

Contact Numbers

Campus Switchboard: (507) 537-7678
Facilities & Physical Plant: (507) 537-7106
Emergency – Campus Security: (507) 537-7252

Early Payroll Deadlines

Timeline for Workday timesheets for pay period ending December 30, 2025 (12/17/25 – 12/30/25)

Employees must submit by 12 noon on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
Supervisors must approve by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

Student Payroll: All student payroll must be submitted and approved by Monday, December 22, 2025.

Electricity and Heat

Electricity and heat will be maintained at normal levels. The heating of our facilities is impacted by the lighting in use and the number of people in the facilities. Please be aware that the facilities may be cooler than when the campus is in full use.

Parking

Specific and General Reserve spaces are enforced at all times, along with all other parking regulations.

Snow Removal

Snow removal will be maintained on a limited basis as follows:

Appropriate sidewalks and walkways for access to the Student Center and the RA facility
Clearance of all fire lanes, including Stadium Drive, Mustang Trail, Wefald Drive, State Street and Birch Street
Access to Science and Math, Science and Tech, PE, Residence Halls, Founders Hall and IL building entrances
A-1 and a section of B-1 parking lots

Business Services

Business Services will be closed on December 25 and January 1, but will be open the remainder of the winter recess with normal hours, Monday through Friday.

Career Services

Career Services will be closed December 23 through January 5.

Center for Civic and Community Engagement

The Center for Civic and Community Engagement will be closed December 23 – January 5.

Communications & Marketing and Web Office

Communications & Marketing and the Web Office will be closed December 24 – 25 and December 31 – January 1. We will have limited staff available on open days between December 22 and January 2.

Contact the office at Communications@SMSU.edu or call 507-537-6255.

Deans’ Office & Online Learning

The Deans’ Office and Online Learning will be open by appointment only.

DeeAnn Griebel Student Success Center

The DeeAnn Griebel Student Success Center will be closed December 25 and January 1. For the remainder of winter recess, limited staff will be available in person and/or virtually between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m..

For assistance, call 507-537-6484 or email success@smsu.edu. Students may schedule an appointment by utilizing our Bookings page found on our website: www.smsu.edu/go/success.

Facilities & Physical Plant

The Maintenance building office will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The office will close at 12 noon on December 24 and 31. Facilities & Physical Plant maintenance staff will be available 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the break.

If you have a building emergency outside of these hours, contact Public Safety at 7252.

Financial Aid Office

The Financial Aid Office will be closed from December 24 to January 5. For the remainder of winter break, we will be open 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with limited staff available.

Health Services

Health Services will be closed on December 25 & 26 and January 1.

Information Technology Services

The Technology Resource Center will have limited staff from December 19 to January 9. During this period, we will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for December 25 and January 1. The TRC will not be open on Saturdays or Sundays. If any changes need to be made, a notice will be posted.

McFarland Library

McFarland Library will be closed on December 25 and January 1, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays. They will maintain business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the remainder of winter recess. Research Help services are not available during winter recess.

Mental Health Counseling Center

The Mental Health Counseling Center will be closed from December 24 through January 2.

Office of Admission

The Office of Admission will be closed December 25 and January 1. The office will otherwise be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, there will be no campus visits for prospective students on December 24, 26, and 31.

Post Office / Duplicating / Small Freight

There will be mail and package delivery to offices. Notification of package arrival will be by email. Please have all outgoing mail to the Post Office window by 10:00 a.m. each day.

Hours of operation for the Post Office Window are as follows:

December 22 – 23: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
December 24: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 26: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
December 29 – 30: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
December 31: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
January 1: Closed
January 2: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
January 5 – 9: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

President, Provost & VP Offices

The President, Provost & VP Offices will be open with limited staffing. Please call ahead to make an appointment.

Registration & Records Office

The Registration & Records Office will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. during the break. We will be closed on Thursday, December 25, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026. Grades are due Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Residence Life Office

The Residence Life Office will be closed December 25 – 26 and January 1 – 2. The office will be open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., December 22 – January 7. Regular hours resume on Thursday, January 8.

School of Graduate Studies

The School of Graduate Studies will be open by appointment only. All appointments are set up through Office 365/Bookings or by emailing GraduateStudies@SMSU.edu.

The office will be closed on the following days: December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1 and 2.

SMSU Campus Bookstore

The SMSU Campus Bookstore will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, from December 22 through January 2. Regular hours will resume on January 5 (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Monday – Saturday).

The bookstore will be closed December 24 & 25 and January 1, as well as on weekends from December 22 – January 5, but will be open for extended spring rush hours on January 12 – January 23.

Student Center

Semester Break (December 22, 2025 – January 5, 2026)

Mon – Fri Building Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Weekends Building Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 25: Building Closed
Wednesday, January 1: Building Closed

Switchboard Services

Switchboard Services at the Student Center will serve as the main information source for employees or vendors during this time. The switchboard will be operational every day, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, except on December 25 and January 1, when it will not be staffed.

Upward Bound (Marshall Offices)

Upward Bound offices in Marshall will be closed December 24 – 25 and December 31 – January 1.

Campus Events

January 3: SMSU Men's Basketball vs University of Sioux Falls at 2:00 p.m.
January 3: SMSU Women's Basketball vs University of Sioux Falls at 4:00 p.m.