Policy Documents:
The final Emergency Closing policy is located here. Also included are a comparison showing changes from the proposal and the prior version of the policy.
Summary:
The revised policy establishes options for modified university operations during periods of emergency campus closures (e.g., severe weather), including remote operations.
Comments:
Several commenters requested changes to reinforce the instructor’s discretion to continue or cancel classes in the event of a closure, even if other university operations continue on that day.
Other comments highlighted the difficulty of navigating work responsibilities remotely that are more likely to conflict with family/personal obligations and other constraints in the event of severe weather (e.g., childcare when K-12 schools are closed, internet disruptions) and noted the risk of inconsistent interpretation by different supervisors.
Commenters also pointed out potential difficulties in anticipating a campus closure in advance, which may complicate the transition to remote operations during those days (e.g., not bringing home a work laptop).
Other comments objected to any policy that would allow for remote university operations in the event of a campus closure, with some explaining that this posture is inconsistent with limitations on remote work that are contained in the Flexible Work Arrangements policy.
Changes in Final Policy vs. Proposal:
The policy retains a new option for remote operations during campus closures, given workrelated necessities and the enhanced remote capability for many employees, but also includes other changes in response to comments:
