University Cancellation/Closure Policy

Op3.29 University Cancellation/Closure Policy

When the university is closed* or classes are cancelled or delayed due to an emergency or inclement weather situations, an official announcement will be issued through the news media (television and radio), Missouri State Alert, social media and via the Missouri State homepage. Responsibility for inclement weather procedures is shared by administration and finance, marketing and communications, student affairs, the executive vice president, and the provost.

Unless and until an official closing or cancellation announcement is issued, faculty members are expected to hold classes as usual, and non-faculty employees should assume that activities will continue as normal. If classes are cancelled, but the university otherwise remains open, non-faculty employees should report to work as scheduled. If the university is closed, non-faculty 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 non-faculty employees are to report to work. The major administrator of the operation will be responsible for ensuring that needed employees are notified.

When an official closing, cancellation, or delayed start announcement is made, it will include the time frame to which it applies. The announcement will include whether classes are cancelled or whether the university is closed.

* For the purpose of this policy, some operations of the university, such as residence life, housing and dining services, health and wellness services, library, computer services, university bookstore operations, Plaster Student Union, the Foster Recreation Center, athletics and potentially other administrative units, may continue to operate even when the university is officially “closed.” Specific operations not included in the general closure will make individual determinations as to the impact to their operation and will notify employees and the campus community through their normal methods.

Additional information regarding the impact of severe weather closings on staff can be found in section 2.15 of the Employee Handbook.