University Communications
 
 


WEATHER-RELATED CLOSINGS
(from Marshall University Board of Governors Policy No. GA-9,
Revised October 15, 2009)

Generally it is Marshall University’s policy to maintain its normal schedule, even when conditions are inclement. However, that is not always possible.

Huntington Campus Delays and Closings

In those instances when it is necessary to alter the schedule in response to weather conditions, every effort will be made to notify all those affected—students, faculty, staff and the general public—as expeditiously and as comprehensively as possible in the following ways:

  1. Television stations in Huntington and Charleston will be notified.
     
  2. Radio stations in Huntington and Charleston will be asked to announce the delay or closing.
     
  3. Time permitting, newspapers in Huntington and Charleston will be notified. Often, however, decisions must be made after deadlines of newspapers.
     
  4. The Office of University Communications will communicate the specific details of the delay or closing to the Office of Public Safety at 696-HELP.
     
  5. The Office of University Communications will place the delay or closing message on the Huntington campus AUDIX system (696-6245) as well as the university response number (696-3170).

NOTE: This section applies only to the Huntington campus and all releases should make it clear that it relates only to the Huntington campus. The Marshall University Graduate College (South Charleston campus) weather-related policy will be managed by the Vice President for Regional Operations, and all releases from that office should make clear that it applies only to the South Charleston campus. The South Charleston phone number is 746-2500.  See below for information on MUGC (South Charleston) procedures.

Definitions:

University Closed: All classes suspended and offices closed.

Classes Cancelled: All classes suspended; offices open.

Delay Code A:  Means a delay in the opening of classes BUT no delay in the opening of offices.  Delays will usually be in the range of one to two hours.  Employees are expected to report to work at their normal starting times unless they feel that travel is unsafe.  If an employee feels that he/she cannot travel safely to work, he/she may charge accrued annual leave for the portion of the workday from 8:00 a.m. (or the normal start time) until arrival at work.

Delay Code B:  Means a delay in the opening of classes AND a delay in the opening of offices.  Delays will usually be in the range of one to two hours.  Employees do not have to report to their offices until the stated delay time.  If they believe they cannot travel to work safely by the stated delay time, they may charge accrued annual leave for the work hours from the stated delay time until they can next report to work.

Class operation under delays: Under both categories of delay, students should go to the class that would begin at the stated delay time or the class that would have convened within 30 minutes of the stated delay time.  A two-hour delay means that classes that begin at 10:00 a.m. begin on time.  Classes that begin at 9:30 a.m. meet at 10:00 a.m. and continue for the remaining period of that class.

Exceptions with regard to employees: Certain critical and emergency employees may be required to report to work on time or earlier than normally scheduled despite the particular delay code published.

Clarification:

Information about closing, cancellations, or delays will ordinarily be disseminated to area radio and television stations.  These outlets may, however, publish the university’s notification incorrectly.  Therefore, the authoritatively correct statement of the university’s condition (Huntington) is stipulated to be the message on the AUDIX system (696-6245) or the message available at the University response number (696-3170).

Staff and Administrative Personnel:

The university will be completely closed only rarely and in extreme situations since it is essential that public safety be maintained, that buildings and equipment be protected and that services be provided for those students housed in campus facilities. Therefore, under Classes Cancelled, above, all university staff and administrative employees will be expected to report to work, unless notified otherwise.

In the event of critical need, certain employees may be required to report to work or temporarily reside on campus to ensure human safety and preservation of university property and/or facilities.

Employees may be eligible for substitute time off (STO) if they were directed by their
supervisor to be present for work during a period of inclement weather closing or other
emergency closing. Eligible individuals must be in regular-status, leave-accruing
employment and must have received a direct instruction from their supervisor to be
present for work during such a closing. Eligible part-time employees may receive STO
on a pro-rata basis according to appointed percentage time unless they actually worked
longer than their appointed hours. The provision of STO for such periods of inclement
weather/other emergency closing is authorized by the responsible vice president or
his/her designee.

In order to provide STO to an eligible employee, the supervisor must produce a statement to be
preserved in the employing department which will include (1) identification of the affected
employee(s); (2) a statement that the employee(s) was/were directed by him/her to come to
work or remain at work for any or all of a period of inclement weather/other emergency closing;
and (3) a statement of why it was necessary to require the employee(s) to attend work. A copy
of the statement(s) should be sent to Human Resource Services.

The following should be noted: (1) eligibility for STO is not determined on the basis of being a
member of a work group or work unit deemed essential; (2) status as a federal Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA) non-exempt or exempt employee does not apply because the periods of
inclement weather/other emergency closing do not represent overtime; (3) no employee is
eligible for STO who was present for work for some or all of the periods of inclement
weather/other emergency closing on a voluntary or elective basis; (4) premium pay or premium
compensatory time off for holidays worked does not apply because the inclement weather/other
emergency closings are not holidays; (5) STO is not compensatory time off as used in
calculations of Fair Labor Standards Act overtime for hours actually worked; (6) STO may be
provided in cases where the employee was directed to report to work at a time prior to the
determination of inclement weather/other emergency closing [such direction will be construed
to mean a stated requirement to come to work just as if inclement weather/other emergency
closing had actually been announced]; and (7) STO made available due to inclement weather or
other emergency closing must be used within one year of its award.

Nothing in this process shall preclude a non-exempt employee from earning additional straight
time or Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime pay or compensatory time off for weeks
which include emergency closing(s) and during which the subject employee worked more than
37.5 hours (with respect to additional straight time pay) or worked more than 40.0 hours (with
respect to FLSA overtime pay or compensatory time off).
Individual employees may, in their best judgment, determine the risk of travel to be too great and elect to remain home. Those who do should contact their respective supervisors and indicate they are: (1) taking annual leave that day, or (2) taking compensatory time, in the event compensatory time is owed to them.

In the event a building, or section of a building is closed (because of heat loss, power outage, etc.) employees working in that affected area will be permitted to take their work to another area or building on campus. Or, in consultation with the supervisor, the employee may elect to take annual leave that day, or take compensatory time off.

In the event of an extreme situation (tornado, flood, ice storm, campus disturbance, etc.) and the employees’ presence is not desired on campus, this information will be disseminated to the news media. A decision as to whether the missed time will be chargeable to annual leave, compensatory time, or a non-pay situation will be determined by the president and communicated through supervisors.

Supervisors must take steps to ensure offices and work stations are open to employees at all time when those employees are expected to be at work, including inclement weather situations and other disruptive situations.

Faculty:

Once operations are resumed, deans, and departmental chairs must take steps to ensure that faculty meet their scheduled classes or substitutes secured so that class schedules are met.

Decision Making:

Decisions on closings and/or delays will be made jointly by the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration following the consultation with other appropriate officials, including the President. Should only one of those two vice presidents be available, that person will make the decision.

Every effort will be made to reach decisions to allow time for adequate notification to the news media, and in turn those affected.

Marshall University Graduate College (South Charleston campus) and Other Education Centers:

General Policy:

Because weather conditions can vary substantially, it is possible that classes will be delayed or cancelled at some locations and not at others.   The Vice President for Regional Operations, in consultation with staff at other learning centers, will decide on class cancellations.

  1. Marshall University Graduate College – South Charleston Campus: Since MUGC classes do not generally meet until late afternoon, an effort will be made to decide about classes by noon.  Notification of delays or cancellations at the South Charleston Campus will be announced by (a) local media, (b) MUGC telephone system, and (c) university web site.  Any delay will be placed on the MUGC automated switchboard. Students may check the status of their classes by calling the MUGC telephone system (304-746-2500) or checking the South Charleston Web site (http://www.marshall.edu/schas).
     

  2. Point Pleasant, Beckley, Teays Valley and Other Educational Centers: Procedures for delayed openings and class cancellations are similar to those for the MUGC.  At Point Pleasant, Beckley, and Teays Valley local media will provide information regarding cancellations.  In addition, each site has a weather hot line: (a) Point Pleasant, 304-674-7239; (b) Beckley, 304-252-0719; (c) Teays Valley, 304-757-7223.
     

  3. Remote Locations and Other Education Centers: Because the Marshall University Graduate College may have several classes meeting on an irregular schedule in a geographically dispersed area throughout the semester, decisions about whether to meet during inclement weather will be made by the instructor.  Those decisions will be transmitted to students by e-mail or other methods as agreed by students and the instructor.

Definitions:

MUGC Closed: All classes cancelled and offices closed.

MUGC Classes Cancelled: All classes cancelled. Details provided by site.

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