Adverse Weather Alert – Reduced operations at 11 pm tonight; suspended operations start at 3 am Friday

Current predictions call for a combination of snow, ice, freezing rain or sleet by early tomorrow morning. Based on information from the National Weather Service, local law enforcement and transit officials, the University will activate Condition 1 of its adverse weather plan starting at 11 p.m. tonight (Jan. 21) and will activate Condition 2 beginning at 3 a.m. Friday (Jan. 22).

Condition 1: Reduced Operations. (starting at 11 p.m. tonight)

The University is open. Classes will operate on a regular schedule through tonight. Non-mandatory employees can decide to leave early, arrive late, or not report, with timely notice to their supervisors. They must use personal leave if not working. Alternatively, and only with supervisor approval, these employee may work from home or an alternate site. Mandatory employees must report to or remain at work unless otherwise notified.

Condition 2:  Suspended Operations. (starting at 3 a.m. Friday)

The University is open only for mandatory operations until further notice. Classes are cancelled on Friday. Individual faculty may use discretion to arrange any make-up classes or work.

All non-mandatory operations are suspended. Non-mandatory employees must not report, or must leave campus. They must use personal leave if not working. Alternatively, and only with supervisor approval, these employees may either work from home or an alternate site, or where feasible, make up the time within 90 days. Mandatory employees must report to or remain at work unless otherwise notified.

Background

Staff employees are reminded of the new UNC system-wide Adverse Weather and Emergency Closing Policy, effective Jan. 1, 2016. Visit https://hr.unc.edu/benefits/leave-holidays/weather-emergency/ to view the new policy and http://bit.ly/1OviRd8 for a summary that explains the key factors in the decision-making process about weather events in greater detail.

Key factors include projections about weather and travel conditions on area roads and campus sidewalks, as well as the operating plans of Chapel Hill Transit and other regional transit. Safety is the number one priority when making weather decisions about campus operations.

Please continue to check the University’s homepage, www.unc.edu, and official Twitter accounts (@UNC and @UNC_HR) for updates, along with the information sources listed below.

The University is committed to announcing any decision to change operations promptly to give people as much lead time as possible to plan travel to and from class and work.

Many University units – including Carolina Dining Services, Campus Health Services, performing arts and cultural venues and the Department of Athletics – plan to post updates about their status of operations and events on their individual websites and social media accounts.

Unless a change in operational status is announced, the University always operates on a regular schedule for students, faculty and staff employees. The University uses three new adverse weather operating conditions:  Condition 1 – Reduced Operations. (University is open.); Condition 2 – Suspended Operations. (University is open only for mandatory operations.); and Condition 3 – Closure. (Classes are cancelled; offices and facilities are closed.)

As a general rule, students, faculty and staff must use their own best judgment about whether they can travel safely to and from campus. General notices about state government agency delays and closings do not apply to the UNC System or UNC campuses. Please note the UNC System policy also says, “The Governor’s declaration of a ‘State of Emergency’ or an advisory by the State Highway Patrol to avoid travel does not automatically necessitate suspended operations.”

Information Sources

If winter weather changes the University’s operating status, campus communications will include:

  • An email, website post and, if conditions warrant, a text message from Alert Carolina, http://www.alertcarolina.unc.edu. You must be signed up to receive an Alert Carolina text message. Alert Carolina will send text messages about decisions to activate or deactivate Condition 2 or Condition 3.
  • Adverse Weather and Emergency Phone Line: (919) 843-1234. You may call this number to hear recorded announcements about campus operations.
  • UNC Traveler’s Information System Radio, 1610 AM, near campus.
  • UNC Transportation and Parking for information including parking lot conditions. (http://move.unc.edu)
  • Area news media websites and news reports.
  • Many University units and UNC Health Care post news about the status of their specific operations and events on their websites and official social media accounts.
  • Chapel Hill Transit also posts adverse weather news and routes and schedules. Refer to http://www.townofchapelhill.org/government/news-events/emergency/adverse-weather-updates