Updates to Campus Operations During Severe Winter Weather

With the move into the remaining months of 2020 and looking ahead to the early months of 2021, it is important that members of the campus community have the information they need to be prepared for any severe winter weather that may have an impact on normal campus operations.

Following much discussion and feedback from campus, it has been determined that the university's existing policies on severe winter weather will not be changed due to the current dedensified nature of campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This means that in cases of severe winter weather campus operations, including all classes and events unless otherwise noted, will be suspended through a late start, early release, or campus closure.

NOTE: The decision to suspend campus operations will also apply to classes that are delivered digitally, including those that are fully online, remote, and asynchronous. Any assignment or project deadlines that fall within the window of a suspension of campus operations due to weather should be adjusted accordingly.

More details on the process of severe winter weather closures is included below:

• Communicating a Decision
• Decision Timing
• Classes
• Shuttles
• Bad Weather Pay
• Previously Designated Personnel
• Additional Questions
  
  

Communicating a Decision

Once a decision or decisions are made by the Chancellor, that decision - and all supplemental information - will be shared with the campus and larger community through the UNO website, email, social media, text alerts, and through local news outlets. Until such a message is shared, all regularly scheduled classes and campus operations are considered to be active.

A full list of UNO's severe weather policies, including closures and delays, can be viewed online.

Decision Timing

In the event of Severe Winter Weather approaching during normal business hours, every attempt will be made to decide on campus operations prior to 3 p.m., subject to changing weather conditions.

In the event of Severe Winter Weather approaching during the evening or overnight hours, every attempt will be made to decide on campus operations prior to 5 a.m., subject to changing weather conditions.

Classes

Any class that would normally take place during the window in which a suspension of campus operations is in place due to severe weather should be considered to be canceled with all assignments or projects due at that time needing to be adjusted by the faculty member or instructor accordingly.

In the event of a late start, any class that would normally start any time during the window of time in which campus operations are suspended should be considered cancelled. This is true even if the class would normally end after the suspension period lapses. (Ex: A late start with campus operations returning to normal at 10 A.M. would cancel a class whose normal instruction time is 9 - 10:15 A.M.)

In the event of an early release, any class currently underway or that would have started prior to the suspension timeframe, but would normally end after the timeframe begins, should end as soon as the suspension of operations goes into effect. (Ex: An early release with campus operations being suspenseded at 4 P.M. would mean a class whose normal instruction time is 3 - 5:40 P.M. would need to end promptly at 4 P.M.)

Shuttles

In the event of a late start, UNO shuttles will begin operations one hour before the return to normal campus operations.

In the event of an early release, UNO shuttles will cease operations one hour after the suspension of campus operations takes effect.

Bad Weather Pay

Any hourly worker whose regularly scheduled duties are impacted by the late start, early release, or a closure will need to mark any such time as "Bad Weather" on their time sheet before submitting to their supervisor.

Previously Designated Personnel

Certain employees, who have been previously designated as needing to be on campus even in the event of remote operations or severe weather, will be asked to work with their supervisor to determine their scheduled time on campus. Those who are required to come to campus will receive their normal pay as well as up to eight hours of bad weather time.

Additional Questions

Any individual with specific questions about how a decision regarding severe winter weather may impact them is encouraged to direct their questions to their immediate supervisor or instructor.

For any questions that cannot be answered by a supervisor or instructor, please reach out to one of the following contacts based on your association with UNO:

• • • Student Questions - Dean of Students | 402.554.3523
    • Faculty Questions - Office of Academic Affairs | 402.554.2262
    • Staff Questions - Human Resources | 402.554.4481
    • Guest Questions - MavIGATION | 402.554.2800

Related Resources

Emergency Information Website

Bad Weather Procedures

Emergency Notifications