Inclement Weather Procedure

This procedure supports Op 3.29 University Closure Policy and the Employee Handbook, Section 2.15.1 Severe Weather Closing. Due to the nature of the university’s 24/7 operation, some operations are essential and must continue regardless of weather conditions.

1. Definitions

  1. Remote learning, offices open – The moving of academic classes to remote learning format when offices are open. This only impacts faculty and students.
  2. Remote learning, offices closed – The closure of office functions other than academic classes, which will move to remote learning. This impacts all non-faculty personnel other than those that have been deemed as essential by the vice president of the division.
  3. University closed – The cancelation of academic classes and the closure of offices. This impacts all faculty and non-faculty personnel other than those deemed as essential by the vice president of the division.

2. Decision Process

  1. Day prior when winter weather may potentially impact operations
      1. Emergency preparedness will prepare weather briefings and distribute to:
        1. Vice president for administration and finance
        2. Director of university safety
        3. Director of facilities management
      2. Support services will provide a listing of the hourly number of seated courses for the following day and the number of students in those classes to the vice president for administration and finance.
  2. Prior to daytime classes beginning
    1. Should conditions appear to warrant possible alteration to normal operations, the director of university safety, the vice president for administration and finance, and the director of facilities management will discuss the expected condition of the parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways by 4:45 a.m. They will typically review information from the Greene County Office of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, local media, and the Missouri Department of Transportation concerning road conditions and impending weather changes.
    2. The vice president for administration and finance will consult with the executive vice president, vice president for marketing and communications, vice president of student affairs, and the provost or their designees, after which the vice president for administration and finance will decide whether adjustments to normal operations should occur.
    3. Based upon the decision for the university, Greenwood Lab School and the Child Development Center will follow their approved Inclement Weather/School Closure Procedures.
    4. The president will be informed.
    5. The decision will typically be announced to the news media prior to 6:00 a.m. on the day of the altered operations and will include the timeframe affected.
  3. After daytime classes begin
    1. Once classes begin for the day, if weather conditions occur that might warrant alterations to normal operations, a separate decision will be made later in the day.
    2. During periods of inclement weather, the director of university safety, the vice president for administration and finance, and the director of facilities management will consult with one another concerning the expected condition of the parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways during the late afternoon and evening hours. They will typically review information from the Greene County Office of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, local media, and the Missouri Department of Transportation concerning road conditions and impending weather changes.
    3. The vice president for administration and finance will consult with the executive vice president, vice president for marketing and communications, vice president for student affairs, and the provost or their designees, after which the vice president for administration and finance will make a decision on whether adjustments to the normal operations should occur.
    4. Based upon the decision of the university, Greenwood Lab School and the Child Development Center will follow their approved Inclement Weather/School Closure Procedures.
    5. The president will be informed.
    6. A decision to alter the operations of the university will typically be announced at least two hours prior to the start of the change.

3. Notification Process

  1. The decision will be given to the director of university safety, the director of strategic communication, and the director of facilities management to provide notifications. The decision shall specify the:　
    1. whether classes are moving to remote learning or are canceled.
    2. whether offices are open or closed.
    3. when the change in operations begins
    4. when the change in operations ends.
  2. The director of university safety or their designee shall notify the campus of the decision via
    1.  KY3/KSPR33
    2. School closing network (all other media outlets).
    3. Child Development Center.
    4. Greenwood Lab School.
    5. The director of the UMKC Pharmacy program.
    6. Campus Safety and Dispatch.
  3. The director of strategic communication or their designee will:
    1. Notify the units in section 4 below
      1. Advising them of the university's decision
      2. Requesting they notify the director of strategic communication of any changes to their operations.
    2. Notify the campus of the decision via:
      1. Missouri State Alerts, including phone, campus email, and text messaging,
      2. The Missouri State University homepage,
      3. The Missouri State Alert page,
      4. Social media, including Facebook and X (Twitter).

4. Special Considerations

  1. In the event offices are closed due to weather, efforts will be made to maintain services in the following operations:
    1. Selected units within the division of student affairs
      1. Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services
      2. Magers Health and Wellness Center
      3. University Bookstore Operations
      4. Foster Recreation Center
      5. Plaster Student Union
    2. Computer Services
    3. Meyer Library
    4. Athletics and Events, if events scheduled
    5. Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center and Plaster Free Enterprise Center, if open
    6. MSU Care Clinic
    7. Academic buildings, if events scheduled
    8. Bear Line Shuttle
  2. Closure decisions impacting those areas will be made by the appropriate administrator and communicated to the campus community and employees through their normal processes and will be posted on the Missouri State University homepage.