Possible weather cancellations vary

January 17, 2005 —

SVSU faculty and staff have acknowledged dangerous weather conditions by making an adverse weather policy.

Vice President for Administration and Business Affairs James Muladore was given the power to make the decision to cancel classes and/or close the main campus. According to the policy, the decision will always be made prior to 6:30 am for daytime classes (those beginning before 4 pm) and by 2:30 pm for evening classes. On occasion, classes and the opening of campus may only be delayed.

"A number of factors are taken into consideration when deciding to keep the campus open or to close it due to adverse weather conditions," Muladore says. "Due to the variability and unpredictability of the weather, assumptions must be made as to the potential impact of winter storms on our ability to operate basic campus functions, such as plowed parking lots and walkways. Also, the safety of students and staff that must travel to campus is of the highest priority."

Instructors are directed to record a conditional message on their voicemail if they cannot reach the university because of weather conditions when the campus is still officially open. SVSU students and employees are also instructed to notify their teachers or supervisors if they cannot reach SVSU. A full statement of the SVSU weather policy can be found in the SVSU Operations Manual under policy 4.1.1.

"Since weather patterns may vary greatly even in the immediate geographic area," Muladore says, "our policy clearly indicates that if the University remains open students and staff should use their own judgment on the safety of travel to the campus.

During the event of adverse weather conditions, messages regarding the cancellation or delay of class or closing or delay of the main campus will be posted at www.svsu.edu, or relayed to WNEM TV-5, WJRT TV-12, WEYI TV-25, WGER-FM, WHNN-FM, WKQZ-FM, WYKYO/WIDL-FM, WMPX-FM, WSAM-AM, WKCQFM, WSGW-AM, WIOG-FM, WTLZ-FM, WUGN-FM, WUCXFM and WKJC-FM. No announcement will be made if the university is open.

The SVSU Weather/Information Line (964-4477) will also have messages regarding the status of whether campus and classes are open or closed.