HAZLETON, Pa. — A winter storm system predicted to bring snow and ice has caused Penn State Hazleton to cancel on-campus work, in-person classes and other in-person activities beginning at 5 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, and continuing until 5 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5. Based on a course’s mode of delivery, the following actions apply during a change in normal campus operations:
- In-person: In-person classes scheduled for Friday, Feb. 4, will not be held. 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). Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these classes may not meet remote synchronously.
- Hybrid: Hybrid classes scheduled to meet in-person on Friday, Feb. 4, will not be held, however, content may be offered asynchronously. Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these class sessions may not meet remote synchronously. Hybrid classes previously scheduled to be delivered remote synchronously may be held as scheduled, if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Alternatively, these classes may be canceled or offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.
- Remote synchronous: Classes already scheduled as remote synchronous may continue to be taught remote synchronously if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Alternatively, classes may be canceled or 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 on Friday, Feb. 4, are canceled.
COVID-19 testing
COVID-19 testing will be closed on Friday, Feb. 4. Students with appointments for required COVID-19 testing scheduled during the cancellation period will receive a follow-up email about future testing dates and times.
Employees
- Employees required to report to campus: Employees who are required to report to campus for work and have been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining campus operations should report to, or remain on, campus as directed by their supervisors. Employees who are required to report to campus for work are eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time for all hours worked, subject to guideline provisions.
- Employees working on campus who cannot work remotely: Employees who have not been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations, who are unable to perform their work remotely, and who are currently reporting to campus for their job, should not report to work.
- Those whose work hours are scheduled to begin and end between 5 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, and 5 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, should not report. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay, subject to guideline requirements.
- Employees working on campus who are able to work remotely: Employees who are currently working on campus but who can perform their job responsibilities remotely should not work on campus on Friday, Feb. 4, and instead work remotely. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time.
- Employees working remotely (including hybrid schedules): Employees who are working remotely and continue to be able to work should perform their regularly assigned work functions. These employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time. Employees working a rotating schedule of on-campus and remote work (i.e., a hybrid location schedule) should perform their regularly assigned work functions remotely on Friday, Feb. 4. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time.
- Employees working at an alternate work location: Employees working at an alternate location (e.g., attending a conference or training) who continue to be able to work should perform their regularly assigned work functions. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time, if they are able to fulfill their job responsibilities.
Employees who have questions about a campus closure should contact their unit’s Human Resources consultant.
Additional weather info, ongoing updates
The decision to cancel on-campus work and other activities at Penn State Hazleton 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's PSUAlert system and the Penn State Hazleton website.
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.
Faculty and staff who have any questions about how these policies apply to them should consult with their unit human resources consultant.