SFU and the 2010 Olympic Break
This information pertains to SFU’s involvement in the 2010 Olympic Games and is provided to assist university members by answering key questions relating to operations at SFU during the Olympic Break, February 15-26, 2010. As further developments or changes become known, this website will be updated.
Semester schedule
SFU will take a two-week break in classes during the Olympics. The break from Feb. 15- 26, 2010, was approved in January 2009 by the SFU senate, the university’s academic governing body. Dates for the spring and summer semesters at SFU in 2010 will be adjusted to accommodate the extended break, as follows:
2010
- Jan. 4: Classes start
- Feb. 15-26: Olympic break
- April 2-5: Easter break
- April 16: Last day of classes
- April 19: Exams start
- April 28: Exams finish
- May 12: Classes start
- Aug. 11: Last day of classes
- Aug. 13: Exams start
- Aug. 22: Exams finish
- Sept. 7: Fall classes start
If classes are cancelled, am I expected to come to work?
During the Olympic break classes will be cancelled but the University will remain open. Employees therefore are expected to come to work during this period unless they have made prior arrangements with their supervisor.
Can I work different hours during the Olympic break?
You are encouraged to speak with your supervisor to determine if it is possible to change your regular work hours during the Olympic break. It may be possible to do so in some instances where the delivery of services is not adversely affected.
I'm a faculty member, do I have to come to work during the break?
Yes. Faculty members, like staff employees, are expected to work as usual during the Olympic break.
As a faculty member, can I assign work to students similiar to a reading break format?
Students registered in courses in the Spring term are expected to complete work assigned in their courses as normal, but instructors will need to be reasonable about their expectations of students under these conditions.
Can I take holidays?
Requests for vacation during the Olympic break will be treated like any other period of the year. Employees are encouraged to make their vacation requests known to their supervisor as soon as possible and supervisors are encouraged to accommodate such requests, subject to operational requirements.
If I volunteer during the Olympic Games, does SFU pay my salary?
There have been a very limited number of SFU employees, with specialized skills, that have been seconded to work for VANOC in preparation for the Olympics and where VANOC has paid the employee's salary. Employees who have volunteered to work during the Olympic Games will not be paid by the University, unless they have arranged to take vacation during the Olympic break and thus will receive their normal vacation pay.
Burnaby campus
Parking
The university will provide parking spaces February 12-28 at its Burnaby campus to serve as a departure hub for Olympic-ticketed spectators (Parking lots B & G). SFU members who typically park in parking lots B & G will be re-directed to park in C lot and/or West Mall visitor parkade.
Public transportation (Burnaby campus)
TransLink says it will maintain normal service levels during the Games. All bus stops will remain operational. There may be slight delays along East Campus & Tower Roads.
Roadways
There will be some road/lane closures during the Games.
- University Drive East from UniverCity roundabout @ High Street to the three-way intersection at East Campus Road will be closed to commuter traffic Feb. 12-28, 2010.
- University High Street from Tower Road to University Drive East will be closed to eastbound traffic.
All other campus roads will remain open. People are encouraged to travel on Gaglardi Way to access the campus due to the departure hub at the east portion of campus. Tower Road will remain open, however heavy congestion is anticipated. A campus map outlining these closures will be available soon.
If a department is hosting a special event, conference, etc. during Feb. 12-28, 2010 please contact Parking Services at local 25534 or parking@sfu.ca.
Food Services
There will be limited food services provided by Chartwell’s on campus.
- The Alexander MacKenzie cafeteria in the AQ, Raven’s cafeteria & Tim Horton’s in the West Mall Complex will operate on reduced hours of operation (similar to the reading break of Spring 2009).
- SFU Residence cafeteria will be operating on reduced hours of operation and will be posted closer to the Olympic break.
- Higher Grounds coffee shop and the Highland Pub are currently reviewing their operating plan.
- Merchants at Cornerstone and The Hub will be open during the Olympic break.
Updated information will be provided as it becomes available. Please refer to signage at entrances of cafeterias and/or restaurants for posted hours of operation during the Olympic break.
Burnaby campus residence & housing
For people living in SFU residence and housing, please refer to the Residence & Housing contract addendum starting on page 26.
Burnaby Fitness facilities
The facilities will be open on a reduced schedule, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
W.A.C. Bennett library (Burnaby)
Adjustments will be made to operating hours. More details to follow.
Surrey campus
CARS/NS
Hours of operation will be adjusted; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Library
Hours of operation may be reduced and will be posted closer to the Olympic break.
Parking
This will remain as usual for SFU staff, students and guests. Central City Mall parking will not be used for Olympic related events.
Roadways
The southbound lanes of Old Yale Road adjacent to Holland Park will be closed during events at the park.
Holland Park
One of four officially-sanctioned 2010 Games Celebration Sites. Each night during the Games, thousands of people will gather at the site to watch broadcasts of the Games, enjoy food and drink from around the world, and family attractions including outdoors skating rink, curling ring and toboggan runs, artists; marketplace and live performers.
Vancouver campuses
Due to the three downtown campus locations being situated in the Olympic host city, there will be significant impacts to Segal Graduate School of Business, Harbour Centre and the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Information will be available in early November.
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How can I volunteer for the Games?
Please visit: http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/work-and-volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/-/33922/w6niz7/index.html
Comments
Comment GuidelinesHello Martin,
At the most recent meeting I attended with TransLink, they advised that they will maintain normal service levels during the Games. Should the conditions change, we will ensure that the campus community is advised.
Is it possible to ask Translink to give priority boarding to SFU Employees/UniverCity Residents for the 145 bus, both up and down the hill?
It would be nice to get to work without having to wait behind large numbers of Olympic(tm)Spectators who hopefully will be using our transit system.
I will teach a graduate course for teachers in the Spring semester on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 9:30 pm. The students would prefer to attend classes on the SFU Burnaby Mountain campus during the Olympic Break for a variety of reasons including the fact that school district spring breaks are scheduled at a variety of times other than during the Olympics, including the week of the Easter holiday now projected as part of the SFU revised semester.
Are there impediments to this proposal?
Tom,
Please consult with the graduate program office in your faculty for guidance. Please remember that individuals will not be permitted to park in lots B & G during the two Tuesdays during the SFU Olympic Break.
Martin Cooper, FASS
My contact at Translink is still saying that Transit will be running the 'Sunday service only' up the hill and to expect big delays on the 145/135, which are in fact the same buses,due to the traffic restrictions in the downtown core. Could you clarify/confirm this please?
Thank you