As UVU prepares for the winter months ahead, we want to let you know the plan for inevitable hazardous weather days. Based on the availability of technology that allows professors to move classes online, we have changed the procedure to determine when campus closures will occur and how hazardous weather will impact courses.

What that means for you

After a decision is made that extreme weather will negatively impact the UVU community, we will enact one of two plans for the safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

 

Scenario A:

Hazardous conditions make travel challenging within the region and to campus, but the storm has not negatively impacted the campus itself. Crews are able to safely clear roads, sidewalks, and parking areas, and campus remains open.

• University administration, in collaboration with emergency management and facilities, will notify students, faculty, and staff that the impacted campus is operating under modified conditions. All campus facilities will remain open.
  • Courses will be offered remotely as well as face-to-face. Faculty may choose to teach remotely or in person while providing online learning options for students who are negatively impacted by the storm.
    • Faculty will communicate the change to their students, providing adequate warning if they will not be present on campus and will be teaching remotely.
  • Classes such as labs, dance, emergency services, and so forth that require face-to-face participation may be cancelled depending upon the recommendation of faculty supervisors.
• Employees who feel unsafe to travel should communicate with their supervisors about remote work arrangements.
• We will disseminate communication regarding the status of courses and campus conditions until hazardous conditions no longer exist.

 

Scenario B:

Hazardous conditions make travel challenging within the region and to campus. Weather conditions on campus are also hazardous. Facilities crews are unable to safely maintain roads, sidewalks, and parking areas, and/or power outages caused by the storm have impacted buildings.

• University administration, in collaboration with emergency management and facilities, will notify students, faculty, and staff that the impacted campus is closed due to hazardous conditions.
• All courses will be moved to an online or recorded format.
  • Faculty will contact students to inform them how to access the impacted courses.
• Classes such as labs, dance, emergency services, and so forth that require face-to-face participation may be cancelled depending upon the recommendation of faculty supervisors.
• Employees will contact their supervisors regarding remote work agreements.
• All classes will be moved to an online format until hazardous conditions no longer exist. We will disseminate communication regarding the status of courses and campus conditions until it is no longer necessary to operate under modified conditions.

           

How will you know which plan is being enacted?

• You will be notified via text message, email, and social media. We will also provide updates via the campus emergency information webpage: uvu.info.

 

If the storm occurs during the night and may adversely affect the morning commute and morning courses, we will send a message regarding delays and closures by 6 a.m. that day. If there’s enough information to make the determination the night before, you can expect notification by 10 p.m. 

If the storm intensity increases during the day and impacts classes and the ability to commute safely to and from campus, we will send a message as soon as possible.

 

How does the UVU administration decide to operate a campus under modified conditions?

We rely on the following resources to guide our actions.

• The National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a pinpointed forecast of the UVU campuses
• Utah Department of Transportation weather cameras close to the Orem Campus and other off-campus sites (e.g., Wasatch, Thanksgiving Point, Emergency Services, Aviation)
• Local weather forecasts 
• Utah County K-12 school districts
• UVU Police and Facilities for on-campus status updates (i.e., roadways, sidewalks, snow removal)

Your safety is our first priority. We will make every effort to ensure good decisions are made, parking lots and sidewalks are clear of snow and ice, and learning is unimpeded by winter weather — even if closing physical campuses become necessary.

 

Sincerely,

Wayne Vaught
Provost
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Val Peterson 
Vice President of Administration and Strategic Relations

Robin Ebmeyer
Director of Emergency Management and Safety