4.07 Weather/Working Conditions

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish work and time reporting guidelines for faculty and staff during severe weather and working condition emergencies.

Policy

It is the policy of the university to continue normal hours of operation and maintain a regular work schedule for staff members during periods of severe weather and/or adverse working conditions. It is a basic premise of this policy that university faculty, staff, and students shall have the opportunity to make their own decision about reporting to work or class with due consideration for travel safety conditions.

Cancellation of Classes

The Provost and Executive Vice President may declare a delayed start or cancellation of university classes due to severe weather. Such declarations apply to students and faculty members, but do not apply to other employees.

Weather-Related Reduced Operations

The Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations may declare reduced operations due to a severe weather emergency. Such declaration applies to faculty, staff, and students and may involve a delayed start of the normal work schedule to permit safer travel, clearing of fire lanes and parking lots, etc. Pre-designated staff members (e.g., Public Safety, Housing and Dining, University Health Services, Facilities Management) are expected to make special efforts to report/remain at work in order to provide food, health, and safety services to the campus community and emergency repair and maintenance services of university property.

Working Condition Emergencies

The Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations may declare an adverse working condition emergency when incidents such as fire, power failure, etc. render facilities unsafe or uninhabitable.

When planned action, i.e., boiler shutdown, will create adverse working conditions, affected departments will be notified ahead of time so that alternate arrangements can be considered for affected faculty and/or staff members.

Authorized Closing of the University

In rare cases, the Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations may declare the university is closed. For information about weather-related reduced operations or the closure of the university, employees should refer to the MyUNI mobile app, the UNI home page, and/or tune in to local radio or television stations.

Work Expectations

Pre-designated staff members are required to report/remain at work in order to continue essential university services. Employees able to perform at least some portion of their work remotely may do so with prior approval from their department head/director. Employees with established telework agreements are expected to continue working their normal schedule during a reduced operation or closure, unless notified otherwise.