Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories Issued by the National Weather Service
Weather Closures and Delays at GSU
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories Issued by the National Weather Service. If there is a weather alert, check for school closings at the Emergency Closing Center website.
On rare occasions, severe weather can lead to campus closure, a delayed start or a suspension of classes for all or part of the day. The university will remain open, and classes will be held when it is feasible to do so. University closure will be declared when weather conditions are such that it would be very unsafe for students or employees to attempt to go to work or class. Only weather-essential personnel will be required to report to work.
Faculty and instructors are expected to follow the announced schedule and to conduct class when the University Park campus is open. Faculty and students attending classes at off campus sites should follow weather related announcements associated with that specific site.
Please note that when the campus is closed preventing a class from meeting at its scheduled time, professors may opt to conduct classes or provide assignments online. Students should plan to check Blackboard and their email regularly on such days to learn of any alternate arrangements.
Communication
The university communicates information about a cancellation of classes or campus closure through the following channels:
- Post a message on the front page of university's website: www.govst.edu;
- Notify the Emergency Closing Center www.emergencyclosingcenter.com; and
- Send an email to your GSU email account and a text message to the phone number that you have on file with the university. When applicable, call the phone number that you have on file with the university.
- Unless it is an emergency, please do not call the Department of Public Safety simply for closure information as personnel are deployed to address campus public safety issues and weather related emergencies.
When is the snow closure decision made and announced?
Administration aims to make the decision by 5:00 a.m. for overnight storms. On rare occasions, some circumstances push the decision to a later time.
During daytime storms or emergencies, safety officials keep tabs on conditions throughout the day and continually assess conditions. If conditions deteriorate to merit a closure discussion, a conference call is scheduled for as soon as possible to discuss an early closure or other options.
When on-campus evening classes are canceled, announcement of this decision will normally be made by 3:00 p.m. and all classes starting at or after 4:30 p.m. will normally be affected.
If the university is closed, can I still be on campus?
Employees and students who do not live on campus are asked to leave campus once it is closed. This allows facilities crews to more readily clear snow from parking lots and roadways as it accumulates. Some employees are required to report to campus even if the university is closed; otherwise, employees are encouraged to stay home.
When is a decision made to re-open the campus?
The decision to re-open the campus will be made by the Emergency Response Team chair with information provided by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Facilities Development & Management (FDM), based on weather and road conditions. If the campus is currently closed and weather conditions improve during evening hours, a decision to reopen the next day may be made that evening, or before 5:00 a.m. the next day, depending upon the weather forecast and available information.
What should I do if campus is open and I cannot make it to work or class?
- If you are a student, it is your responsibility to communicate with your professors and instructors regarding class attendance and assignments.
- If you are an employee, it is your responsibility to make timely accommodations with your supervisor. Employees who cannot safely travel to work during adverse weather and who are not authorized to work from home or who cannot work from home should use annual leave or leave without pay if annual leave is not available.
How can I report an accessibility issue or area that needs additional snow removal?
FDM strives to remove snow from sidewalks, parking lots and streets by 7:30 a.m. after an evening or early morning storm when the university is open. If a storm is moving in during operating hours, FDM crews regularly shovel routes during the day. Snow is removed and beet juice and ice melt is applied according to priority routes across campus, including vehicle and pedestrian routes, with a focus first on the most traveled sidewalks and streets. Some routes may be more clear of snow than other routes in the morning hours, particularly if snow falls during business hours and crews are making their rounds. Please use caution when walking and driving to campus, and wear appropriate clothing and shoes
Areas of concern, including accessibility issues created by snow, should be reported to the Department of Public Safety at (708.534.4900) Please do not contact the university grounds crew or other FDM employees directly; they may be away from their phones working to clear campus of snow.
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