Most University Park activities and on-campus work canceled March 12

Intercollegiate Athletics and Bryce Jordan Center events to be held as scheduled; all other events canceled 5 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Sunday; only employees who perform essential services should report; students urged to delay campus return until Sunday

Forecasted heavy snow has caused Penn State to cancel on-campus work and most in-person activities at its University Park campus beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, March 12, through 5 a.m. Sunday, March 13. Intercollegiate Athletics and Bryce Jordan Center events on Saturday will be held as scheduled. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Forecasted heavy snow has caused Penn State to cancel on-campus work and most in-person activities at its University Park campus beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, March 12, through 5 a.m. Sunday, March 13.

Intercollegiate Athletics and Bryce Jordan Center events on Saturday will be held as scheduled, including the men’s lacrosse game at noon, the women's lacrosse game at 3 p.m., the men’s gymnastics meet at 4 p.m. and the Sesame Street Live! shows at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Due to the inclement weather, the men’s and women’s lacrosse games will be held in Holuba Hall and the games will be closed to the general public because of limited space in the facility.

All fans and spectators are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety and use extreme caution if traveling to campus for events.

Students returning to campus from spring break are reminded that on-campus residence halls do not reopen until 10 a.m. Sunday. The University strongly encourages all students returning from spring break to postpone their arrival to University Park until Sunday.

Additionally, the University has declared a "Midnight Clear" for ice/snow removal for Friday night, March 11, and Saturday night, March 12, at University Park.

On-campus, in-person activities 

All other in-person activities scheduled between 5 a.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday are canceled. Activities beginning at or after 5 a.m. Sunday will be held as originally scheduled. 

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 during their regularly scheduled hours, 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 who are currently on campus are dismissed at 5 a.m. Saturday. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for the portion of their shift after 5 a.m. Saturday, subject to guideline requirements. 
    • Those scheduled to begin work before 5 a.m. Sunday and end after 5 a.m. Sunday should report at 5 a.m. Sunday to complete a partial day. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for the portion of their shift prior to 5 a.m. Sunday, subject to guideline requirements
    • Those whose work hours are scheduled to begin and end between 5 a.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday should not report. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay, subject to guideline requirements.
    • Those scheduled to report at or after 5 a.m. Sunday should report as regularly scheduled. 
  • 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 between 5 a.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday, and instead work remotely during the impacted period. 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 between 5 a.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time.  
  • 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. 

Additional weather info, ongoing updates 

The decision to cancel on-campus 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's PSUAlert system, Penn State News, Twitter, and WPSU TV and radio.

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. 

Last Updated March 11, 2022