Office of the Provost

Winter Weather & Academic Operations FAQ – Fall 2024

Please review the following information regarding weather-related and emergency policies and procedures at the UConn Storrs and regional campuses.

For further clarification, please refer to the Emergency Closing Policy available through the Office of University Compliance. Emergency Closing Policy | University Policies (uconn.edu)

Please note that the information provided does not apply to UConn Health, which has established its own relevant policies. Closing and Cancellations | UConn Health

Safety First:

The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is of utmost importance. At the same time, the University remains committed to fulfilling its essential missions in teaching, research, and service. These priorities are carefully balanced when determining whether the University can maintain safe and effective operations during and after inclement weather or other unusual events.

Decisions to cancel classes or modify business operations across campuses are made with caution, based on the latest information regarding weather forecasts, road conditions, and other relevant factors.

Please prioritize your own safety first. Since weather and road conditions may differ across the state and from one UConn campus to another, all members of the University community are encouraged to assess their own circumstances, plan additional time for travel if necessary, and take reasonable safety precautions.

Employees and students are reminded to exercise particular care when traveling on campus during inclement weather, especially near vehicles engaged in plowing and sanding activities.

Instructions for signing up to receive text message notifications regarding schedule changes, cancellations, emergencies, and other critical information are available under the “Get Alerts” section of the UConnALERT page: UConn Alert | Get Alerts

UConn Status Updates:

The Office of Emergency Management strives to notify the University community promptly if it becomes necessary to delay or cancel classes, close campuses, or alter business operations.

Because conditions can change rapidly, adjustments to scheduled classes and business operations may sometimes need to be made with limited notice. The University also adheres to directives from the Governor regarding the closure of state agencies, the release of employees from work, and restrictions on road travel due to weather conditions.

For the most definitive and up-to-date information on the University’s operating status, please visit the UConnALERT page: UConn Alert | Get Alerts

UConn community members at all locations, except UConn Health, may also call the 24-hour emergency closing information number at 860-486-3768 for updates.

While the University notifies media outlets about changes to campus operations, it cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of information reported by news sources.

Decisions to cancel or continue specific services, such as transportation, are made on a case-by-case basis, reflecting current conditions and needs.

The Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, UConn Athletics, and units sponsoring activities or events will decide independently whether to continue or cancel events. Please contact these units directly with any questions

Class Cancellations, Delays, or Early Closures:

The Office of Emergency Management may either issue a cancellation or delay of classes within a certain timeframe. For cancellations, any class with meeting times that overlap with the cancellation period is considered fully canceled. For delays, classes beginning prior to the delayed start time are entirely canceled, and for early closures, classes beginning before the closing time are also canceled.

NEW for 2024-2025: If the university has announced a delay or cancellation of classes, the delay or cancellation pertains only to in-person classes.  In the case of online or hybrid modality classes, instructors may choose whether to hold the class as scheduled or cancel.  In cases where instructors choose to hold the class, the following conditions must be met:

• The class must be provided in an online format.
• The class must be recorded in a manner that allows students to view it later.
• Students must be given at least 72 hours (starting from when classes are once again held) to view the missed class before any materials from that class are used again in the course.
• Students must not be penalized for not being present synchronously.

 

Additionally, for canceled in-person classes, instructors have the option of providing asynchronous class materials on any day (including on the day of the cancellation); however, if such materials are being provided in lieu of a canceled class, it is essential that students are given 72 hours to view those materials before they are used again in the class.

 

Assessments or exams cannot be required on days when classes are canceled, even if they can be administered online.

In situations where there is inclement weather and the University has not closed, faculty may change the modality of their in-person classes to online at their discretion.

If a faculty member determines they cannot safely travel to campus, they must notify all students in a timely manner and inform their dean and department head.

Faculty are expected to respect commuting students’ decisions not to travel to campus or to leave early if needed to ensure their own safety. Options for making up missed work should be offered to these students.

These policies aim to ensure fairness and equity for all students. Some students may face unique challenges during an emergency event, such as the need to provide dependent care, lack of Wi-Fi access due to power outages, or limited smartphone access. Please consider these circumstances when University closures are warranted.

 

Who Reports to Campus:

Emergency and essential staff are required to remain at or report to in-person work as directed.

Employees who choose not to come to campus or who decide to leave early due to travel safety concerns may use vacation days, personal time, or other accrued time without prior approval but must notify their supervisors accordingly. With supervisor approval, remote work may also be an option.

Employees who typically work on-site but are advised by UConn not to report to campus due to weather or other operational changes are expected to work from home, unless they have a supervisor-approved flexible schedule or choose to use accrued time (e.g., vacation or personal time).

All employees working remotely are expected to remain accessible and responsive to supervisors during work hours via email and telephone. Supervisors may require that assigned work suitable for remote completion be finished on time.

Supervisors may also make reasonable adjustments to ensure the continuity of University operations, such as holding meetings by teleconference or virtually, with the expectation that employees who would normally be present participate. Supervisors are encouraged to be mindful of challenges that storms may present, including potential power or internet outages affecting employees.

For further clarification of these expectations, please refer to UConn’s Emergency Closing Policy and the guidance available on the Human Resources site. Applying the University’s Emergency Closing Policy | Human Resources (uconn.edu)

Once again, we emphasize the critical importance of safety. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to carefully assess their individual circumstances, exercise sound judgment, and prioritize their safety when making decisions during inclement weather and emergency situations at UConn Storrs and regional campuses.

 

Common Questions:

1. Can an instructor give an extra assignment when a class is canceled?

Yes, as long as the assignment can be completed in the student’s own time and only counts toward participation or engagement. Assigning any additional work as a new assessment that would factor into the final grade—if it was not outlined in the syllabus—is generally not permitted.

2. I teach multiple synchronous sections across different campuses, typically meeting in classrooms, but also allowing students to join remotely. Can I hold these classes remotely if the campus is closed and accommodate students with recorded sessions or individual make-up work?

Yes, provided that the four conditions from the policy noted above are met.

3. I teach an in-person class. Is it acceptable for me to record a lecture on a canceled class day and assign it for students to watch before our next meeting?

Possibly.  This depends on when the next class meeting is scheduled and whether understanding the material in the next class is dependent on having watched the prior (recorded) class.  Students must be given at least 72 hours (from university reopening) to watch any missed materials before that material is needed for the course (this could be for a subsequent lecture, assessment, etc.)

4. I teach lab/studio classes that are scheduled for three hours. Should this class be fully canceled, or can it begin late once the regular schedule resumes? Alternatively, is it acceptable to end the class early if the institution announces an early closure?

The class should be fully canceled. Classes scheduled to overlap with any part of the cancellation period are considered canceled. For delays, classes starting before the delay period are canceled, and for early closures, classes beginning before the closure time are also canceled.

5. If I teach an online class, and classes are canceled, am I obligated to still teach the class and meet the four conditions noted in the policy.

No. Choosing to teach a class in an online format (regardless of the original modality) during a university closure is solely at the discretion of the instructor.