The Chapel Hill region is under a winter storm warning. The University will move to Condition 1 (Reduced Operations) of its adverse weather plan at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16 and remain at Condition 1 until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17. At 6 a.m., the University will move to Condition 2 (Suspended Operations) until 5 p.m. Conditions will be re-evaluated tomorrow and an update regarding campus operations for the second and third shift for Wednesday, Jan. 17 will be communicated to the campus by 3 p.m.
Condition 1 (beginning at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16)
Current conditions may not pose severe safety risks or logistical challenges, but an event has significant potential to negatively affect – or already is affecting – local area commuting, important campus services, or the efficient functioning of campus buildings and grounds. Employees, faculty, and students should consider their own personal circumstances to determine whether to report late, leave early, or not report at all.
Condition 2 (beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17 until 5 p.m.)
Classes are cancelled and all laboratories are closed. All non-mandatory operations are suspended; only mandatory employees must report to or remain at work. Non-faculty (staff) non-mandatory employees must not report, or must leave campus. These employees must use leave time if not working or can use make-up time subject to applicable rules. Alternatively, and only with supervisor approval, non-mandatory employees may work from home or an alternate site.
UNC Health Care
All UNC Health Care clinics will be running normal schedules on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
UNC School of Dentistry
The school’s clinics will be closed and classes cancelled on Wednesday, Jan. 17. If your appointment is cancelled due to this closing, you should contact your provider and/or the clinic to reschedule. Patients in need of information about appointments at the UNC School of Dentistry should visit www.dentistry.unc.edu for the most recent update about clinic closings.
Dining
On Wednesday, Chase Dining Hall will open at 9 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Top of Lenoir Dining Hall will open at 11 a.m. and remain open until 3 p.m. These hours may be extended if conditions allow. Refer to dining.unc.edu/menu-hours/ for the most recent information on hours and locations. Students that do not have a meal plan will be offered discounted prices.
Housing
All residence halls on campus remain open. If students need assistance, please contact your resident advisor or Community Office. The Package Centers will be closed until the University returns to normal operations. Students are encouraged to be extra vigilant if they leave the residence halls as walkways may be slippery and snow or ice may slide off nearby buildings.
Facilities
Today, University grounds crews began pre-treating roads, sidewalks and parking lots. Crews will clear priority areas per the Facilities Services Snow Removal Map, which identifies priority entrances, sidewalks, roadways and parking lots and the order in which they will be addressed. Snow clearing priorities will be adjusted based on planned campus events, weather conditions or other circumstances.
Parking
Parking regulations will be suspended when the University moves to Condition 2 at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The top levels of parking decks will be closed and gates will be lifted. The Dogwood Deck is expressly reserved for UNC Health Care patients and visitors only and will be in full operation to meet patient/visitor parking needs.
Transportation
- P2P On-Demand (provides ADA access from parking lots to buildings and from campus location to campus location) will suspend operations at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
- PASS Cart (provides ADA transport on main quad from parking lots to buildings) will not operate on Wednesday.
- Chapel Hill Transit Refer to the website for latest updates.
- Regional transit Check transit websites for updates.
Adverse Weather Policy and Background
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 (classes are cancelled; University is open only for mandatory operations); and Condition 3 – Closure (classes are cancelled; offices and facilities are closed).
Staff employees are reminded of the University of North Carolina system adverse weather policy for all UNC campuses that took effect in 2016.
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.
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.
- 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.
- Adverse Weather and Emergency Phone Line: (919) 843-1234. You may call this number to hear recorded announcements about campus operations.
- 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