By Detroit News

Oakland University officials are continuing repairs to resolve heating issues that have affected multiple buildings on campus, including three of its six dorms, as the semester ends.

This week, OU officials said in a statement on the university website that a “precautionary pressurization” of its high-temperature hot water system during the Thanksgiving holiday break led to workers finding a leak amid temperature and pressure fluctuations.

“We noticed a small leak in the hot water pipes that heat several buildings on campus in the last week of October. Our plan was to finish the semester and make the fix over the semester break in December,” said Brian Bierley, a university spokesman. “Then, in November, it became clear that we needed to make the fix earlier than planned. So, at that time, we looked at the week of Thanksgiving, thinking this would only impact three days of classes.”

The university said heat would be out in several buildings while repairs were underway and staffers in the sites affected should move to remote work or meetings.

“Supervisors in buildings with limited heat may need to adjust onsite staffing to support essential operations. Students should check directly with their instructors regarding class modality and location,” officials wrote on the website. “Campus residents should watch for separate updates from University Housing. Faculty in buildings without heat should communicate directly with students regarding whether their courses will be held remotely or in an alternate location.”

Bierley said the heating issue affects three of the university’s six dorms. The school website also listed campus buildings impacted.

“Most students chose to move home until the fix is complete,” he said. “Those students who could not leave campus have been re-housed in the student housing facilities that remain online. The outage does not impact our on-campus apartments or Greek housing.”

SAT Prep was also canceled, Bierley said.

The hot water leak is expected to be fixed by Dec. 11 in time for winter commencement ceremonies on Dec. 12-13, Bierley said.