Accessing Campus: Unless an instructor is designated an “essential employee,” they should not travel to campus during a change in normal campus operations. If a faculty member’s use of a classroom or other setting for specialized instructional materials is necessary in order to teach a class previously scheduled to be delivered remotely, then that class should be offered asynchronously or canceled.

Contacting Students to Communicate Intentions: In the event of a change in normal campus operations due to weather or an emergency, such as during a delay or cancellation, please contact your students to let them know if class is canceled or if you will provide your class content and materials by other modes. This includes in-person instruction. (Can be done through Canvas or other methods established in your class.)

  • In-person: You may choose to cancel class altogether or offer content asynchronously (such as recording a lecture for students to watch at another time or asking students to complete a reading or other self-directed learning activity). The class may not meet remote synchronously.
  • Hybrid: If the class is scheduled to meet in-person on the day of the change in normal operations, then content can be offered asynchronously or the class can be canceled. Otherwise, asynchronous content can be offered as planned.
  • Remote synchronous: Classes already scheduled as remote synchronous may continue to be taught remote synchronously (if you choose to do this and can safely accommodate).
  • Web: Classes will continue to be offered as planned with no changes.  

Delays

Following a delay, classes or activities beginning at or after the announced time for the resumption of normal campus operations will be held as originally scheduled. For example, in the case of a two-hour morning delay until 10 a.m. due to snow or ice, classes beginning at 10 a.m. or later will continue on their regular schedule, while classes scheduled prior to 10 a.m. will be subject to the provisions outlined in the “Classes” section above.

Any in-person activities that are scheduled to begin during a delayed campus opening are canceled. Activities beginning at or after the announced time for resuming campus operations will be held as originally scheduled.

Early dismissals

At times, the University may dismiss early students who are already on campus from their normal, day-to-day business and classes at Penn State due to approaching severe weather. The need to dismiss early may allow our commuting community to leave before roads become inaccessible.

If there is a fast-moving storm that strikes during normal hours of operation, University officials will attempt to communicate weather information, as well as the expected duration of the storm, so that individuals on campus can make reasonable choices. If the storm is of short duration, remaining on campus may be the best option for some. Other individuals may need to leave work for family reasons.

Complete information on class attendance policies is available at undergrad.psu.edu and in Faculty Senate Policy 42-27 (Class Attendance).

Employees who have questions about a campus closure should contact their unit’s Human Resources consultant.