Frequently Asked Questions

A Guide for New Members of the Williams Community

How do I get a College ID and parking sticker?

• For your photo ID, go to Campus Safety & Security, Hopkins Hall, lower level, between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Family members and dependants, ages 13-23 (age 25 for full-time students), may get photo IDs for $5 per person. Parking stickers can also be obtained at the CS&S Office, limited to two decals per family. Please have your vehicle registration(s) with you.

What facilities and services are available to me?

• College faculty, staff, and spouses with a College ID have borrowing privileges and access to all services and resources at Sawyer Library, the Schow Science Library, and the Matt Cole Library of Environmental Studies. The Chapin Library of rare books and the Archives and Special Collections Department are also available for on-site use located temporarily in the Southworth School House (until 2011). See Williams College Libraries.
• College faculty and staff have access to indoor and outdoor athletic facilities (an ID may be required). Lockers are assigned in the Equipment Room, Chandler Gym, lower level. Faculty and staff may also join the Taconic Golf Club at a reduced rate (contact club office at 458-9669).
• Concerts and lectures are available to students, faculty, staff and their families. Most are free with an ID. Others require a small fee.
• Faculty and staff are welcome to join campus organizations such as the Berkshire Symphony (by audition), the Outing Club, or the radio station.
• The Williams College Children's Center on Whitman Street is available for children of faculty, staff, and students. Contact the Center at 597-4800.  A list of other local preschool and childcare providers is available through the Office of Spouse/Partner Employment Counseling, located in Mather House, x4589.
• Babysitting Service runs during school year.

What do I do in an emergency?

• Dial 9-911 from any campus phone to connect to the local emergency services. Campus security can be reached at x4444. See also the Campus Safety & Security brochure available in Human Resources and the Campus Safety & Security Office.
• The College has established a 'Weather Line' to inform employees of possible work delays, early closings or cancellations due to inclement weather.  Call 413-597-ICEY (4239). 

How do I reach someone in another office?

• The online directories contain the most up-to-date contact information. The People Directory lists information for faculty, staff, and students, and the A-Z Index has links to departments, programs, offices, and services. A printed directory is distributed in early October.

What about Office Supplies? Copying? Mailing? FAXes? Equipment? Furniture?

• Most departments have an inventory of office supplies and equipment. Central Office Services, in the lower level of Weston Hall, carries standard office supplies, orders some equipment, and does large scale copying. This office also acts as a courier for campus mail and outgoing U.S. mail (processed in Mears Mailroom).
• Most administrative and academic offices have FAX machines.
• See departmental assistants or supervisors for more information about ordering furniture or equipment.

What about computers?

• A Mac or PC is available to new faculty. All allocated computers are connected to the Williams network. Faculty should contact their department chairs with requests for equipment and user accounts. Administrative department heads will work with the Office for Information Technology staff to provide equipment, software, and accounts for new staff. The help desk at OIT is accessed by sending e-mail to desktop@williams.edu or by calling x4090.
• Faculty and staff may contact the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office in Facilities for an ergonomic consultation, x2406.

Where can I eat on campus?

• Dining Services offers a broad array of dining options for faculty, staff and students (see the website for hours, payment plans and menus). They include:
  • The Faculty House (lunch five days/week)
  • Paresky Center:
    • Grab 'n Go
    • Lee Snack Bar
    • Whitmans'
    • '82 Grill
  • The Eco-Café in the Science Center Atrium.
• The Committee on Undergraduate Life (CUL) subsidizes food for informal meetings between faculty/staff and students in the Eco-Café and the Lee Snack Bar. Up to $4.00/person, not to exceed $24.00, will be covered.
• All dining halls: payment may be in cash at the checker's station. Administrative staff and faculty members may dine in any dining hall at no charge when meeting with Williams College students.
• The Taconic Golf Club provides lunch seasonally. Membership is not required to dine in the clubhouse. (Ask for a lunch membership number in the club office).

How do I find out what's going on?

• The At Williams: Public Events calendar and Daily Messages are online. Daily Messages, a compendium of notes about events and news, is also sent to all Williams users by e-mail. The Williams website has links to College sites and information.
• The Williams Record is the weekly student newspaper.
• For more campus news and local events read The Advocate, The Berkshire Eagle, The North Adams Transcript, and The Bennington Banner.
• WCFM, 91.9 FM, the College radio, is run by students. WNAW, 1230 AM (North Adams), serves Northern Berkshire County. Public radio stations include: WAMC, 90.3 FM (Albany); WBTN, 94.3 FM (Bennington); WFCR, 88.5 FM (Amherst), serving western New England; and WRHV FM, 88.7 and WMHT 89.1 FM (Schenectady), serving eastern New York and western New England.
• Information about local activities is available online at http://www.williamstownchamber.com and http://www.iberkshires.com.

What are some "little known treasures" on campus?

• Chapin Library has an internationally recognized collection of rare books, manuscripts and letters, broadsides, prints and photographs, and ephemera, including the Founding Documents of the U.S., in addition to special exhibitions. While the new library is under construction, the Chapin Libraray collection and staff are located in the Southworth School House until 2011.  The Founding Documents of the U.S. are on display in the Williams College Museum of Art.
• Archives & Special Collections is home to a trove of college-related treasures - it too is temporarily located in the Southworth School House.
• Candlepin bowling alleys are in the Faculty House, lower level.
• Williams College Museum of Art where admission is free and members receive a 10% discount at the Museum Shop.
• Weston Language Lab makes available satellite TV reception with international TV news and variety programming.
• Walking/hiking trails are in Hopkins Forest and Stone Hill behind the Clark Art Institute.
• Hopkins Observatory has planetarium shows Friday evenings, 7:30 p.m. during the academic year; and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. during the summer. Call x2188 for free reservations and to check the times.

What do I do with my money?

• Local banks where you can establish an account include Hoosac Bank, South Adams Savings Bank, TD Banknorth, and Williamstown Savings Bank. You can set up direct deposit for your paycheck by contacting the Payroll Office in the B&L building, 2nd floor.
• The Williams College Employees Federal Credit Union provides a range of financial services for employees. It is located in Denison Gatehouse, x2160.

Where do I go if I have a concern about a member of the Williams community?

• Students: Dean's Office, x4261
• Faculty: Office of the Dean of the Faculty, x4351
• Staff: Office of Human Resources, x2681

What have we forgotten to include?

• Send responses to Martha Tetrault, Director of Human Resources, mtetraul@williams.edu.