Procedure to Cancel Classes in Case of Inclement Weather

In no case does the Campus have authority to simply close. Only the Governor has that right. Therefore, the local determination in cases of inclement weather involves a decision to cancel classes for all or part of the day. When a storm occurs during the evening or early morning hours, the following actions will take place.

Within the Physical Plant organization, the Assistant VP for Facilities Management/Director of Physical Plant prior to 5:00 am will assess:

1. Weather forecasts or predictions by contacting ASRC or if unavailable the National Weather Service (NWS).
   
   
2. Conditions of the roadways and walkways and the ability of staff and Equipment to keep the campus accessible for vehicle travel and parking.
   
   
3. Discuss conditions with staff on location including the Supervising Officer on duty in University Police (UPD).

Before 5:00 am the UPD Supervising Officer on duty, will assess conditions including conditions of roadways and walkways. Before 5:00 am, the Desk Officer will advise the Director or Assistant Director of UPD of conditions and confer with the Assistant VP for Facilities Management/Director of Physical Plant as noted above.

By 5:00 am, the Vice President for Finance and Business will be called by the Assistant VP for Facilities Management/Director of Physical Plant for a briefing of conditions so that the President can be briefed and then make a determination as to whether classes should be cancelled for the day, or the day and evening. If the President cannot be reached, the Provost will be contacted to make the decision. If the President decides to cancel classes:

Immediately, the VP for Finance and Business will notify each of the Vice Presidents and appropriate managers in Finance and Business. The Director of Telecommunications will be notified so that the message on the "442-SNOW" line can be modified remotely to advise callers whatever decision has been made.

The Vice President for University Advancement will notify staff in Public Relations who have responsibility to notify radio stations as well as any campus media or information centers needing the information.

In the event a major snowstorm or other severe inclement weather occurs during the daytime, the same general procedures will be followed. The UPD Supervising Officer and Grounds Department staff will take the actions specified in Section 2. The Assistant VP for Facility Management/Director of Physical Plant will contact ASRC/NWS, as outlined in Section 1, at the onset of the severe inclement weather or not later than 12:30 pm and will notify the Vice President for Finance and Business and the President, immediately thereafter. The President will decide whether to cancel late afternoon and evening classes by 2:00 pm. The Vice President for University Advancement or his designated representative will take the appropriate steps to inform local radio stations (Section 4) immediately.

This procedure is to be followed seven days a week so that even when classes are not in session, other events will be indicated as cancelled.

NOTE: Cancellation of classes does not suspend the ATTENDANCE RULES. Employees who are unable to report to work due to inclement weather are required to charge the absence against appropriate leave categories, i.e. annual, personal leave, holiday comp, etc. In the event that an employee is ill, he/she may charge sick leave.

Similarly, when the President permits employees who are at work to leave early in the event of a daytime storm, time not worked must be reflected in the appropriate charge to leave credits.