Severe Weather Policy

Winter Storm Class Cancellations

Winter Storm Class Cancellations: UW-Marinette rarely cancels all classes for winter weather and only when the campus cannot be safely accessed by a majority of our students. Like other area agencies serving adults, we generally stay open in the midst of stormy weather, even when children’s schools close. We will cancel classes for the whole campus only if weather and road conditions are bad enough to make driving unsafe in many of the communities we serve, or if the campus itself is inaccessible. In those cases, an announcement will be made on the following area radio and TV stations:

• WHYB (Menominee)
• WLST (Marinette)
• WOCO (Oconto)
• WIXX-FM (Green Bay)
• WBAY-TV (channel 2)
• WFRV-TV (channel 5)
• WLUK-TV (channel 11)
• WGBA-TV (channel 26)

All begin broadcasting cancellations around 5:30 -6:00 a.m. Please note that even when classes are cancelled, that does not mean the campus is closed. Please be aware of that, given that many radio and television stations report cancellations as “closures.” Campus closure requires Chancellor approval because it has complicated employment consequences. Of course, like our students, you will need to exercise sound judgment about the safety of your own driving route. Just be aware that any faculty/staff member who is unable to make it to campus for scheduled work should expect to use vacation or personal holidays. Classified Staff also need their supervisor’s approval. In the rare case of a snow day for everyone (campus closure), UWS policy requires that we all arrange to make up the work or take vacation leave (with variations on this policy for classified staff—please see classified staff policy).

Communicating about Cancellations: Once we get staff to campus, we will also record and continually update information about the status of our classes at (telephone number to be announced.) Make note of that number, particularly if you have afternoon or evening classes (most often affected by weather changes during the day). You are also encouraged to include that number on your syllabus, directing students to call that number any time the weather threatens. PLEASE DO NOT CALL—AND ASK YOUR STUDENTS NOT TO CALL—THE MAIN CAMPUS NUMBER FOR WEATHER CANCELLATION INFORMATION. If classes are not cancelled, but a storm nonetheless prevents you from getting to campus to teach a course, you should notify Reception immediately so that a cancellation notice can be placed on your classroom door. You should also create an extended absence greeting for your voicemail (or change your outgoing message) so that students who call your office line will get information about the class cancellation and any course schedule changes that result. Getting the information directly from you—through voicemail—will assure your students and provide them with the best information as well as minimize calls that will need to be handled by reception.

Distance Ed Courses & Cancellation: Be aware that DE classes are recorded only when all campus classes are cancelled.

Making up work missed due to Cancellation: Faculty members are responsible for adjusting their course schedules to facilitate the making-up of course work missed due to campus class cancellation and for communicating those changes to their students. Further, they are encouraged to make allowances for those students whose personal driving route to campus is to hazardous for their safe travel due to weather. While faculty members have the authority to decide how missed classes should be handled, they are encouraged to assure students that individual absences for such safety reasons will be excused and make-up work will be permitted.