Inclement Weather Policy

Operational Status Notifications 

Inclement weather can sometimes affect the operational status of the university in the form of a delay or closure. In these instances, UNC may adjust operations to ensure the health and safety of our university population while maintaining essential services needed for those who live on campus.  

When possible, day closures will be announced by 6:30 a.m. Evening closures will be announced by 4 p.m.  
If a severe weather warning is issued while you are on-campus, it is recommended that individuals remain in the building, follow posted emergency procedures, and await further instructions.  

Notifications about delayed starts or closures are made via the following methods: 

UNC Emergency Alert — mass emergency notification issued to:

• UNC computer desktops 
• Personal cell phones 
• UNC email addresses 
• RAVE Guardian App 

UNC Web Alerts 

• Messaging on emergency.unco.edu 
• Alert banner on UNC homepage

UNC Social Media accounts 

• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• Instagram 

As time permits and the situation warrants, external notifications may be made to the following (information may be delayed): 

• KUNC 91.5 FM 
• Greeley Tribune 

Cancellations and Closures

In the event of a campus closure due to severe weather, the university community will be notified of class cancellations, an administrative closure or, most likely, the cancellation/closure of both classes and administrative operations.  

When an administrative closure is issued, administrative functions of the campus are closed, which may include campus events, facilities and venues. Unless otherwise noted, essential services needed for those who live on campus (such as dining services), will continue to operate. 

Class Cancellations

• On days when the university announces class cancellations, all in-person and online synchronous classes (online classes that meet at specified times) are canceled. 
• There are no changes to online asynchronous classes, which don’t have meeting times.  

Administrative Closure

• On days when the university announces an administrative closure, most faculty and staff are not expected to work, regardless of normal work modality.
• Critical and essential services personnel should report to their duty locations. 
   

Delays 

Class Delay

• When the weather delays campus opening, all in-person and online synchronous classes (online classes that meet at a specified time) that occur before the stated opening time are canceled.
  • For example, if the campus issued a delayed start at 10 a.m., this means all in-person and online classes scheduled to begin before 10 a.m. are canceled. All classes scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. or after would be held as normal.  
• There are no changes to online asynchronous classes, which don’t have meeting times. 

Administrative Delay

• Most faculty and staff are not expected to work during an administrative closure or delay, regardless of normal work modality.
• Critical and essential services personnel should report to their duty locations. 

Campus community members in need of assistance during inclement weather events  

Reporting accessibility issues on campus due to weather 

If you see any areas of concern around campus after a weather event, such as icy spots on sidewalks, please call UNC Facilities at 970-351-2446. 

Weather Policy FAQs

• Who makes the decision regarding university closures and delays? 

  The emergency preparedness team consists of representatives from Facilities, Landscaping and Grounds, Finance & Administration, Environmental Health & Safety and UNC Police. They work together to monitor conditions and make recommendations to the president regarding the university's operating status. 

• What kind of information is considered in making decisions to delay or close?

  When responding to inclement weather conditions the university primarily considers conditions in the immediate vicinity of campus, including road conditions in Greeley, and our obligation to students who live on campus. Our Facilities staff arrive early in the morning, some as early as 3 a.m.,  to clear snow and de-ice with the intention of being open whenever possible. 

• If the university is closed, can I still be on campus? 

  Employees and students who do not live on campus are asked to leave campus once the university is closed if it is safe to do so. This allows facilities crews to more readily clear snow from parking lots and roadways as it accumulates. Some employees are required to report to campus even if the University is closed; otherwise, employees are encouraged to stay home. 

• What should I do if the campus is open and I cannot make it to work or class? 

  Individual students or employees who cannot travel safely should use sound judgment and make a choice based on their individual circumstances. Students and employees who choose not to travel to campus should make arrangements with their professors and supervisors. 

  • If you are a student, it is your responsibility to make accommodations with all of your professors and instructors to be excused from class prior to your absence. 
  • If you are an employee, it is your responsibility to make timely accommodations with your supervisor. Employees who cannot safely travel to work during adverse weather and who are not authorized to work from home or who cannot work from home should use annual leave or leave without pay if annual leave is not available. 
• Are alternate work arrangements available during extreme weather conditions prior to or in the absence of an official closure? 

  A supervisor may determine that an alternate work arrangement, such as working from home, could be used during extreme weather conditions. Alternate work arrangements must be approved by the supervisor. 

• When is a decision made to re-open the University? 

  The decision to re-open campus will be made based on weather and road conditions. If the university is currently closed and weather conditions improve during evening hours, a decision to reopen the next day may be made that evening, or before 6:30 a.m. the next day, depending upon the weather forecast and available information. 

  • It should be assumed that the university is open the day following a closure, unless a new closure for the current day has been communicated. 
• How is employee leave handled during a university closure? 
  • When campus is closed, administrative leave is granted to regular employees for their scheduled work hours during the period of closure. 
  • Regular part-time employees who are normally scheduled to work when a closure occurs are given paid administrative leave for the scheduled work hours. 
  • Non-student hourly employees and student employees are not eligible for paid leave during a closure. 
• How is leave handled when the campus closes early or opens late? 

  Early closure: 

  • Regular employees are granted paid administrative leave and released under the guidance of the department head or supervisor. 
  • The amount of administrative leave granted for sequential/staggered release or early closure is based on the official time of release authorized by the president. 
  • Regular shift employees are granted paid administrative leave for their normally scheduled work hours occurring after an official University closure. 
  • Early release time not authorized by the president is charged to annual leave or leave without pay, unless alternate work arrangements or options are approved by the supervisor. 

  Delayed start: 

  • Regular employees are granted paid administrative leave if the delay occurs during their scheduled work hours. 
  • Regular employees who arrive late to work beyond the delayed opening due to extreme weather conditions may be granted administrative leave if their supervisor determines that the lateness was reasonable. 

   

• Who is considered an essential employee and should still report to work if the campus is closed?

  Some employees may be required to report to work because their job functions include maintaining or protecting thehealth, safety or physical well-being of students, faculty and staff, such as police officers, some facilities employees, those caring for certain research laboratories or employees providing dining services to students. Employees should ask their supervisor for information about their designation.