Inclement Weather FAQ
What is defined as inclement weather?
Inclement weather can include any kind of extreme weather, usually snow or ice, which might create hazardous driving conditions or significantly impair normal operations at the University of Arkansas. Inclement weather also may include severe thunderstorm activity, tornadoes, flooding or other natural perils.
How does the university respond to inclement weather?
It is the policy of the university to remain open regardless of weather conditions. However, the university has a policy on inclement weather, which clearly defines how such declared days impact faculty and staff (see the Inclement Weather Policy page). Generally, there are two possible responses to incidents of inclement weather:
- Delayed opening. During a delayed opening situation, the university will declare an official inclement weather day. This policy only affects non-essential staff who will be allowed to report to work within two hours of their usual starting time.
- Closure of offices and business operations. In extreme situations, the University of Arkansas may close non-essential offices and business operations for the day, and cancel all classes. Students, faculty and non-essential staff should not report to campus that day. This decision also could be made during business hours if conditions unexpectedly deteriorate and pose a greater travel threat during evening hours.
What should employees know about declared inclement weather days?
If the university remains operating on a normal schedule but transit buses run on alternate snow routes, an official inclement weather day will be declared. In this situation, employees arriving within two hours of their normal starting time will be given credit for a full day's attendance. Employees arriving later will be charged the full amount of time involved in their tardiness, and employees not coming to work will be charged a full day's absence. The policy does not typically apply to hourly employees, work-study students and graduate assistants.
How do I know if my position is defined as essential or non-essential personnel?
All employees deemed weather-essential personnel should have been notified at the time of hiring that they would be required to report to work at their usual time regardless of weather emergencies. These duty areas might include positions in facilities management who assist with snow and ice removal, personnel working in residence halls, or employees performing important services in the Arkansas Union. Individual staff members who are uncertain of their designation as essential or non-essential during inclement weather should consult with their supervisor.
I live an area that is particularly hazardous to drive through during inclement weather. What should I do if I can't make it into work?
Employees should make every attempt to get to work within the bounds of their personal safety. Faculty and staff who face particularly dangerous hazards in transit to work during inclement weather should consult with their supervisor before inclement weather strikes. Depending on the circumstances surrounding an individual's responsibilities on campus, it may be possible to arrange for making up lost time or using annual leave when weather conditions prohibit an individual from traveling to campus for a regularly scheduled shift.
How does the university decide to remain open, delay opening, or close non-essential offices and cancel classes?
It is the policy of the university to remain open regardless of weather conditions. In general, the University of Arkansas Police Department and Razorback Transit authorities check road conditions in the early morning hours when inclement weather is expected to occur. Conditions are reported to university administrators who discuss via conference call whether the university should delay opening or close non-essential offices and cancel classes. They make this determination based on the following four criteria:
- designated university transit bus routes are open to travel;
- major commuter parking lots are accessible;
- Interstate 540 from County Line Road in Springdale to West Fork city limits is open for travel, and;
- conditions appear to be such as to allow students, faculty and staff to reach campus.
Details on the university's policy for weather emergency procedure can be viewed on the Weather Emergency Procedure page.
How do I find out if the university delays opening or closes non-essential offices and cancels classes?
The university's primary means for communicating emergency information to students, faculty and staff - including information on weather-related delays, closure of non-essential offices and cancellation of classes - is the RazALERT, a multi-modal emergency notification system. All students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled in RazALERT, which will issue alerts via web, email and voice mail, and also via SMS text messages to those who provide mobile phone numbers. More information about RazALERT can be found at the RazALERT home page.
In most cases where decisions on the university operating status can be made in the overnight and early morning hours, information on weather-related delays or closure of non-essential offices and cancellation of classes will be made via RazALERT by 6 a.m. Further details on the process and timeline for weather emergency decisions can be viewed on the Weather Emergency Procedure page.
In addition to RazALERT, the university employs secondary communication methods to aid in disseminating weather related closures, delays or other emergency information through the following sources. These sources are activated after RazALERT, and should not be relied upon as the most timely and accurate information sources, since some of these sources further down the list are outside the university's direct control:
- RazALERT information hotline: individuals may call 479-587-8820 for recorded announcements about the university's operating status;
- university home page: in the event inclement weather affects the university's operating status, a graphic link to detailed information and policies will be placed prominently on the university's home page;
- university switchboard: the switchboard, at 575-2000, provides information about the university's operating status when inclement weather strikes; this number often may be busy due to volume;
- KUAF radio, 91.3 FM: the university's public radio station makes regular announcements if the university's operating status is impacted, and assists in correcting errors in external media announcements;
- UATV: the university's student-run television station manages the RIBTV Information Board in the early morning hours and makes announcements regarding the university's operating status;
- university supervisors: supervisors can arrange to notify employees in their unit, or employees can call supervisors for instruction;
- External media: local radio and television stations will be informed whenever the university's operating status is affected, but should not be relied upon as a primary source of information.
If the university closes non-essential offices and cancels classes for the day, when does it officially resume normal operations again?
Unless specifically stated, the university will resume normal operations - except resumption of classes - at 6 p.m. that same day. All second-shift and evening employees should be prepared to report to work. Staff members are urged to discuss potential scheduling changes due to a campus-wide closure of non-essential offices and cancellation of classes with their respective supervisors ahead of time, before inclement weather strikes.
Details on the university's operating status will be updated in real-time at emergency home page. Operating status appears in a bar at the top of the page 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Why doesn't the university close when local school districts close?
Local school districts build snow days into their annual schedules and must make decisions that involve the transportation of small children - often across rural bus routes. Universities, on the other hand, are essentially residential communities, where students depend on the campus to provide essential services like food and shelter. Because of this, the campus never actually "closes" since it must support the students who live in the residence halls.
Who is responsible for snow and ice removal on campus?
Multiple departments across campus coordinate to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, roadways, parking lots, and building entrances. Specific information about these departments, including prioritized areas of snow and ice removal, can be found in the university's Snow and Ice Response Plan (Adobe PDF).
Are there other weather-related emergency procedures I need to know, such as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes?
It is not uncommon for severe thunderstorms in northwest Arkansas to produce localized flooding, tornadoes and strong straight-line winds. In the event of a tornado threat, the campus is equipped with sirens that will go off if a tornado has been reported in the area. If a siren is heard in connection to a weather emergency, individuals should follow the tornado drill procedures appropriate for their location at the time. If an individual does not know the tornado drill procedure for their workplace, they should consult with their instructor or supervisor.
General tornado safety tips include:
- Do not go outside;
- Seek shelter immediately in an interior hallway or a lower floor, away from windows;
- Get under sturdy furniture if available;
- Stay indoors until the all-clear signal is transmitted through the campus siren or other emergency notification system.