Inclement Weather
Inclement Weather Status and University Operational Adjustments
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has established an Interim Inclement Weather Policy to ensure consistent and orderly processes for adjusting campus operations and learning in response to inclement weather or other conditions. The policy applies to all students, faculty, and staff, and outlines possible operational statuses, including remaining open, implementing a compressed schedule, or declaring a full university/campus closure.
Decision and Notification Timing
A decision to shift to online instruction, a compressed schedule (delayed opening), authorize liberal leave, or close campus(es) will be made by 5:15 a.m. whenever possible, while a decision to cancel evening classes will be made by 3:00 p.m. whenever possible. Official notifications will be distributed through the university website, email, and alert systems.
Operational Statuses
During inclement weather or other conditions, the Incident Team will determine the appropriate operational status for each campus, which may include a University Open, Compressed Schedule, or Closure.
- Each campus may remain open with modifications.
- Liberal leave may be designated. Essential employees are expected to work during periods of liberal leave.
- If a compressed schedule is designated, all CU campuses will follow the same compressed schedule uniformly, unless conditions warrant closing a specific campus.
- The compressed schedule will be posted on the University’s main webpage.
- Liberal leave may be designated. Essential employees are expected to work during times of liberal leave designations.
- Employees with approved telework agreements are expected to work from the approved alternative worksite or will be required to submit leave. If it is a compressed schedule, offices open at the time of the compressed schedule. Employees with approved telework agreements should consult their supervisor for their work location.
- A change of modality is acceptable to provide flexibility for students and faculty regarding technology issues. Faculty may adjust their instructional modality as necessary and, in addition to emailing the class, faculty should post their plans in the announcement section of their Learning Management System for students to review. Faculty are also encouraged to include a statement in their syllabus about the inclement weather policy.
- Synchronous Online Classes: Synchronous online classes follow the same schedule as in-person classes. Therefore, during a compressed schedule, synchronous online courses will also meet using the compressed times.
- Asynchronous Online Classes: Asynchronous online classes continue as usual regardless of changes to schedule or modality.
- If a campus or campuses are closed for business, either in advance or after the workday has begun, traditional in-person instruction and extracurricular activities will be cancelled.
- The status of evening classes will be communicated to the University and on the website.
- On-campus activities at the impacted campus may be modified, limited, or cancelled at the discretion of the associated Vice President and will be communicated to the University and on the website.
- Designated online only degree programs will operate normally where possible. Faculty may consider the options for online courses below.
- Online courses may continue as scheduled, and faculty may consider one of the following options to meet their classroom responsibilities:
- Rework existing class sessions to cover required material;
- Identify an alternative time to meet for required activities (labs, etc.);
- Provide an alternative asynchronous assignment for students; or
- Change the modality to hold the class online at the normally scheduled time.
Compressed Schedule Information
If Commonwealth University declares a compressed schedule in response to inclement weather or other conditions, the following schedules, also available as a PDF, will apply to ensure that all classes scheduled for the day have an opportunity to meet.
During a compressed class schedule, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes that are normally 50-minutes long will be reduced to 35-minute sessions with a 10-minute break period between classes.
| Standard Times | Compressed Times |
|---|---|
| 8:00 – 8:50 a.m. | 10:00 – 10:35 a.m. |
| 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. | 10:45 – 11:20 a.m. |
| 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. | 11:30 – 12:05 p.m. |
| 11:00 – 11:50 a.m. | 12:15 – 12:50 p.m. |
| 12:00 – 12:50 p.m. | 1:00 – 1:35 p.m. |
| 1:00 – 1:50 p.m. | 1:45 – 2:20 p.m. |
| 2:00 – 2:50 p.m. | 2:30 – 3:05 p.m. |
During a compressed class schedule, Monday and Wednesday classes meeting at 3:00 p.m. that are normally 75-minutes long will be reduced to 60-minute sessions. Classes meeting at 4:30 p.m. will remain as scheduled.
| Standard Times | Compressed Times |
|---|---|
| 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. | 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. |
| 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. | 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. (no change) |
During a compressed class schedule, Tuesday and Thursday classes that are normally 75-minutes long will be reduced to 60-minute sessions with a 10-minute break period between classes.
| Standard Times | Compressed Times |
|---|---|
| 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. |
| 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | 11:10 – 12:10 p.m. |
| 11:00 – 12:15 p.m. | 12:20 – 1:20 p.m. |
| 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. |
| 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. | 2:40 – 3:40 p.m. |
| 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. | 3:50 – 4:50 p.m. |
Designated online only degree programs, listed below, will operate normally where possible. Faculty may consider implementing the available options in the Interim Inclement Weather Policy to meet their classroom responsibilities.
Designated Online Only Degree Programs
- BSW
- Business Education
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Curriculum and Instruction
- DNP
- Educational Leadership
- Information Technology
- Instructional Design and Technology
- MBA
- MSN
- MSW
- Nurse Administration
- Nursing (RN-BSN)
- School Counseling
- Sport and Performance Psychology
- Sport Management
- Technical Leadership
Clinical programs, labs or student teaching placements may have specific compressed schedules or closure procedures that should be followed.
Faculty and Staff
The following departments are considered essential in the event of a university delay/closing due to hazardous conditions unless otherwise notified by the appropriate vice president. Employees assigned to these departments at all campuses are expected to report for their scheduled shift in the event of a university delay/closing.
There are three possible situations, each requiring a different definition of essential personnel. It is understood that unusual, unanticipated circumstances may necessitate management bringing in other departments or personnel in any of these situations.
- Situation 1 – Winter Holiday Break
No students or employees on campus except Utility Plant and Police- Employees considered essential are:
- Police
- Utility Plant
- Employees considered essential are:
- Situation 2 – Winter/Spring Semester Break
No students on campus; staff employees on campus- Employees considered essential are:
- Police
- Facilities (All employees except employees assigned in the Planning and Construction department and the administrative/clerical staff)
- Employees considered essential are:
- Situation 3 – University is in full session
Students, faculty and staff on campus- Employees considered essential are:
- Police
- Facilities (All employees except employees assigned in the Planning and Construction department and the administrative/clerical staff)
- Library personnel (Designated personnel in Access and Reference Services)
- Networking and Telecommunications manager
- Technology Support Services (One systems administrator)
- Residence Life staff
- Student Health Center
- Food Services
- Recreation Center
- Designated Student Union staff
- Employees considered essential are:
Liberal leave may be authorized for an entire campus or any part of a campus in response to inclement weather or other conditions. When declared, staff may use annual, personal, or compensatory leave for any hours not worked in their scheduled workday. Supervisors must approve leave requests.
If a closure is declared, employees with approved telework agreements are expected to work from the approved alternative worksite or will be required to use approved leave (full or partial day).
Employees who do not have a regularly approved telework agreement may work with their supervisor on an annual basis for a weather or other related telework agreement that allows the employee to work from an approved alternate worksite to avoid taking leave for closures.
