Staff Policy on Severe Weather

When University classes are canceled due to severe weather, offices will also be closed. The decision to close the University or to cancel day classes will be announced to the news media prior to 6:00 a.m. Since the decision to cancel day classes due to inclement weather does not pertain to evening classes or second or third shift employees, a separate decision will be released to the media in time for the 12:00 noon news. An official announcement will be issued through the public media (television and radio). Employees are not to report to work unless they are notified or have been given prior instructions to report as part of essential services. It is the responsibility of each vice president to designate which employees are to report to work. The major administrator of the operation will be responsible for ensuring that needed employees are notified.

When the University officially closes before the start of an employee's work shift, the hours of the employee's work shift will be paid. When the University officially closes during an employee's work shift and the employee is sent home, the remaining hours in the employee's work shift are paid. Support staff required to work during the hours the University is officially closed will be paid at their straight time rate in addition to regular pay. Due to budget restrictions, departments may, in lieu of extra compensation, grant employees compensatory time off. Employees required to work over 40 hours and eligible to receive overtime compensation will be paid according to the University's normal policies on overtime compensation and hours worked.

An employee who is on leave without pay on a day that the University is closed due to severe weather will not be paid for the hours of their shift that the University was closed.

If no announcement is made, employees should assume that activities will continue as normal. Loss of work time because of weather conditions when the University continues operations will not be considered an excused absence. Such time lost must be taken as leave without pay or earned vacation leave, or compensatory time off.