Severe weather conditions may require the cancellation of classes or the closing of the campus on either a partial or full-day basis. The campus community can stay informed of any delays or cancellations by:
- Subscribing to the PSUAlert system, which provides accurate and timely notifications via text, voice call and email,
- Checking our homepage, and
- Following the official Facebook and Twitter profiles of Penn State Schuylkill.
Examples of situations are:
Two-Hour Delay – Classes begin at 10:00 a.m.
We will follow the compressed class schedule for the remainder of the day. Students are to report to their 8:00 a.m. class at 10:00 a.m. and follow the compressed schedule for the rest of the day.
Campus Will Open at [time will be indicated]
This statement applies to all but essential employees. Students are to report to their class at the indicated time, even though, in some cases, it would already be in progress. All afternoon and evening classes will be held after the time indicated. Staff should report at time indicated.
Campus Will Close at [time will be indicated]
All operations after the closing time will be terminated. All but essential staff will be authorized to leave at the time indicated.
Campus Is Closed
Only essential staff should report.
Principles governing faculty practices
If faculty make personal decisions to cancel classes or move them online during inclement weather, each instructor must discuss any weather-related arrangements in advance with the students, preferably at the beginning of the semester.
If a faculty member cancels a class or moves it online, he/she must notify students through telephone trees, email lists, text messaging, or any other appropriate means. These arrangements should appear in the course syllabus. To assist students who travel a significant distance for classes, any such decisions should be announced, if possible, no later than one-and-one-half hours prior to the beginning of the class period.
Faculty must also notify the office of Academic Affairs. Such information is essential should students call the campus.
Principles governing student practices
If students notify the office of Academic Affairs that they are unable to travel to class because of weather conditions, faculty members should assist students in making up the missed work.
Principles governing staff practices
With the exception of essential employees, who have been informed of their status by letter, all other staff should follow the same instructions that apply to students. Staff should know the specific meanings of the scripts shown above, and follow the instructions carefully. If a staff member believes that he/she is in any danger, each employee should exercise her/his own good judgment about reporting to work. However, each staff member should understand the implications of personal decisions, and follow the directions provided in Human Resources Guideline 10, “Handling ‘weather day’ absences or official University close downs due to weather conditions.”
