UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Forecasted sleet, freezing rain and icy road conditions have caused Penn State to cancel classes, activities and work at its University Park campus beginning at 5 a.m. and continuing until noon on Thursday, Feb. 6. Only employees who provide essential services should report.
Classes
Based on a course’s mode of delivery, the following actions apply:
- In-person: In-person classes scheduled between 5 a.m. and noon on Feb. 6 are canceled. Instructors may 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 except for when extenuating circumstances exist (see University Faculty Senate policy 45-00).
- Hybrid: Hybrid classes scheduled to meet in-person between 5 a.m. and noon on Feb. 6 will not be held, however, content may be offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.
- Web: Classes will continue to be offered as planned with no changes.
On-campus, in-person activities
Any scheduled in-person activities scheduled between 5 a.m. and noon on Feb. 6 are canceled. Activities beginning at or after noon will be held as originally scheduled.
Employees
Employees who perform “essential” services: Employees who are required to report to campus for work and have been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should report to campus as directed. During such events, employees who are required to report to campus for work are eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time, subject to guideline provisions. Employees should clarify their status as essential or nonessential with their supervisor before inclement weather strikes.
All other employees, except for those employed at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), should not report to work until the resumption of normal campus operations and are eligible for Campus Closure Pay per university policy. Employees should review the “official closedowns” section of the University’s Handling Weather Day Absences policy (Human Resources Guideline 10) for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled. ARL will continue to follow ARL internal policies for all weather-related closures.
Employees who have questions about a campus closure should contact their unit’s Human Resources consultant.
- Those scheduled to begin work before noon on Feb. 6 and end after noon should report at noon to complete a partial day. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for the portion of their shift prior to noon on Feb. 6 subject to guideline requirements.
- Those whose work hours are scheduled to begin and end between 5 a.m. and noon on Feb. 6 should not report. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay, subject to guideline requirements.
- Those scheduled to report at or after noon on Feb.6 should report as regularly scheduled.
Additional weather info, ongoing updates
The decision to cancel classes, work and other activities at University Park was determined to be in the best safety interest of the University community. University officials are continuing to monitor conditions and will provide updates as necessary. The most up-to-date information will be shared via Penn State News, Penn State's PSUAlert system and WPSU-FM (learn how to listen in your area at this link).
All employees and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety. Faculty, staff and students should use their own best judgment when considering traveling to campus or the need to leave early during times of inclement weather. Faculty and staff should review Handling Weather Day Absences (Human Resources Guideline 10) for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled. Union-represented employees should reference their collective bargaining agreements. Information on class attendance policies is available at undergrad.psu.edu and in Faculty Senate Policy 42-27 (Class Attendance). Students should coordinate with their instructors any time they have to miss class.