Adverse Weather & Emergency Closing Policy
POLICY
Adverse Weather & Emergency Closing
The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our number one priority in making any weather and emergency incident decisions about campus.
Catawba College is open year-round except for designated holidays.
The College will remain open, and classes will be held unless there is clear and substantiated evidence to necessitate otherwise, such as inclement weather or safety concerns. The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority in making any weather and emergency-related decisions about campus.
The decision to move the campus’ operational status is a complex process. Many individuals from across the College may be involved in the decision. The President and the Executive Vice President and Provost will determine if the College should move to modified operations (C1, C2, C3, or C4). A Vice President designee will determine if the President and EVP/Provost are unavailable.
College operations will remain open, and essential employees* should report to work unless otherwise notified.
Generally, such actions fall under four categories:
Condition 1 (C1) – Adverse Conditions – when an event will likely impact the local area. The College is open, but some operations may be reduced. Faculty and department heads may determine to be in session, delay, or shift to remote learning/working in consultation with their Dean and/or Vice President. Faculty and staff are expected to teach and work as scheduled, either in person or virtually. Remote work is permissible with supervisor approval, depending on the nature of the employee’s job. Essential employees must report to work or stay on the job. Catawba Online class schedules are not impacted.
Condition 2 – Modified Schedule - when an event has significant potential to or is already negatively impacting local area commuting, important campus services, or the efficient functioning of campus buildings and grounds. The College may determine whether to delay employees reporting to work or dismiss employees early. Remote work is permissible with prior supervisor approval, depending on the nature of the employee’s job. Individual faculty are encouraged to offer asynchronous online assignments and arrange make-up work for students unable to report to class due to the weather event. Catawba Online class schedules are not impacted.
Condition 3 – Remote Teaching/Learning/Working Schedule - when safety risks or logistical challenges are more severe and there is a substantial interest in having a relatively limited number of individuals travel to or remain on campus. The College is open on a limited basis with only mandatory operations functioning. Only essential employees will report to work or remain on the job unless otherwise directed by supervisors. Faculty and staff are asked to teach and work remotely where possible. Catawba Online classes are not impacted.
Condition 3 - Closure – is limited to events that pose the most severe risks to health and safety or present the most difficult logistical challenges that will severely impede the efficient and effective functioning of the College. Only essential employees will report to work or remain on the job unless otherwise directed by supervisors. Essential employees who are not needed for a particular adverse weather or other emergency events as determined by their supervisor may be instructed not to report to work.
When the campus is closed, all events (including those sponsored by off-campus organizations) are canceled. Announcements about individual departments or program activities will not be made.
College Delay/Early Dismissal: When an official delayed start or early dismissal announcement is made, it will include the timeframe to which it applies. In these circumstances, weather and other reports suggest that conditions will improve or deteriorate later in the day. A delay or early dismissal allows students, faculty, and staff additional time to arrive or leave campus, limiting the number of people commuting during hazardous conditions. Essential employees* will be required to report to work as normally scheduled.
*Essential employees are personnel involved in operations that must continue, including:
- Public Safety
- Dining Services
- Maintenance
- Housekeeping
- Student Affairs
Certain departments must remain open. Your supervisor will determine exactly which employees are essential to the operations of the College and will communicate that with you.
Individual students, faculty, and staff, many of whom commute to Salisbury from a multi-county area, must use their own best judgment regarding their ability to travel safely to and from campus, given local conditions.
If commuting students believe that safety considerations prevent them from getting to campus safely, they must notify their professors directly.
If commuting faculty and staff believe that safety considerations prevent them from getting to campus safely, they must notify their supervisors immediately. Remote work is encouraged when possible.
When the College remains open, faculty and department heads are permitted to make individual decisions about classes and work schedules if they reasonably believe adverse conditions impact individuals' abilities to come to or from campus safely.
Notifications: Catawba will use several methods to communicate in the event of a change in operations including:
- CatawbAlert
- Official Catawba College Social Media
- Catawba College Homepage
- Radio and TV
- On-Campus Digital Signage
CatawbAlerts
All new students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled in CatawbAlerts when they enroll or join the College. You can register additional contact information to receive emergency notifications.
Family and community members may also sign up at:
Off-Campus Member Sign-Up
Each user may register up to two text (cell) numbers, six (off-campus) e-mail addresses, and four voice numbers. When an emergency occurs on campus — anything from inclement weather to a life-threatening situation — a brief CatawbAlert will promptly be sent via the numbers or e-mail addresses you have registered. The CatawbAlert is a condensed summary of an emergency situation; characters are limited due to constraints on the length of text messages.
