Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
With the National Weather Service predicting winter weather, University officials are closely monitoring conditions as students return to campus and numerous events are scheduled this weekend. Current forecasts – all subject to change – predict a wide range of possible wintry precipitation beginning Friday night (Jan. 6) through Saturday (Jan. 7) across central North Carolina.
Your safety is our number one consideration. We rely on information from our grounds, public safety and transportation staffs, Chapel Hill Transit, law enforcement agencies, the National Weather Service, and other sources when determining the University’s operating status during winter weather.
Residence halls will open as previously scheduled for all residential students on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Those students have been advised they will not have access to halls before 9 a.m. when Flex Passes will be activated and staff can provide assistance. Students with concerns about travel this weekend due to weather conditions in and beyond North Carolina may arrive any time after the halls open and up to the start of classes next Wednesday (Jan. 11). Students may contact the Department of Housing and Residential Education at (919) 962-5401 or housing@unc.edu for more information.
Department of Athletics events include the men’s basketball game with N.C. State on Saturday at 8 p.m. Officials from both schools and the Atlantic Coast Conference will make a decision about the game as soon as possible on Saturday based on actual weather conditions. Under ACC policy, the primary factor that would prevent a game from being played at its scheduled time is the ability of the two teams, game officials and event management staff to safely get to and from the competition site. For updates, refer to GoHeels.com and @UNC_Basketball (Twitter).
In the event of adverse weather, other University units – including Carolina Dining Services, Campus Health Services, performing arts and cultural venues, the Department of Athletics, and health-care facilities – plan to post updates about the status of their operations and events on their individual websites and social media accounts.
University officials will continue weather monitoring efforts throughout the weekend to consider any possible impact to the start of the work week for employees on Monday (Jan. 9). University grounds crews will treat campus sidewalks and parking lots as conditions warrant. For details, refer to www.facilities.unc.edu and visit the “Snow Removal Plan” link near the top of the website for details on the campus routes and locations that would be cleared first.
Unless a change in operational status is announced, the University always operates on a regular schedule. UNC-Chapel Hill may activate three 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).
Please visit “Adverse Weather’s Impact on University Operations: A Summary,” posted on the Alert Carolina and Office of Human Resources websites to view an easy-to-read chart describing the three conditions in greater detail along with a summary explaining the key factors in the decision-making process. Staff employees are reminded of the University of North Carolina system adverse weather policy for all UNC campuses that took effect in 2016.
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.
- Posts on the University’s homepage, www.unc.edu, amplified via official social media accounts including @UNC, @Alert_UNCCH (for parents, family, Chapel Hill residents and friends) and @UNC_HR on Twitter.
- Adverse Weather and Emergency Phone Line: (919) 843-1234. You may call this number to hear recorded announcements about campus operations.
- UNC Transportation and Parking for information including parking lot conditions and the status of Point-to-Point shuttle operations, which may cease at any point when travel becomes hazardous for drivers and passengers. Refer to http://move.unc.edu.
- Area news media websites.
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