Severe Weather Policy
Policy Statement
Although Marywood University is committed to keeping its campus open at all times, inclement weather may result in necessary cancellations. Cancellation announcements will specify classes, offices, and/or special events.
Classes
If a decision is made
- to delay opening until 10:00 a.m., the published compressed schedule will be in effect;
- to delay opening until 11:30 a.m. or later, the regular schedule will be in effect for the remainder of the day.
If a particular class does not follow a standard starting time, the individual instructor should determine the meeting time closest to the standard for that day of the week.
Students should be informed of the compressed schedule meeting time within the course syllabus.
It is understood that weather conditions can vary by geographic location. Therefore, in times of inclement weather, when University classes are in session, students and faculty members should use their own discretion in determining whether it is safe to travel to campus.
Accordingly and preferably, when a faculty member cancels an individual class, he/she should notify the students a minimum of ninety minutes before the start of the class meeting time. The faculty member should notify his/her Department Chair and Dean at that time. Similarly, a student should notify the faculty member that he/she will be absent from a class as a result of severe weather conditions. This notice should also be given in a timely fashion, preferably ninety minutes before the meeting time of the missed class. Where possible, the student should be afforded the opportunity to make up missed class contents without penalty. It is the responsibility of the faculty member to arrange for the student to receive, by an alternate means of the faculty member’s choice, all material covered in that class. Upon the student’s satisfactory completion of this class material, the absence will be designated an “excused absence.”
Employees
In addition to University closings, regular full-time and part-time employees may take two severe weather days per year. These days may be used during severe weather only, and unused days are not carried over into the next fiscal year.
An employee who wishes to use a severe weather day must notify the supervisor within thirty minutes after the scheduled starting time.
If an employee calls in to use a severe weather, a personal, or a vacation day due to the weather, and the University later closes, the charge is made to the benefit specified in the call up to the time of the closing.
If an employee is on a previously scheduled benefit day, such as a vacation, sick day for a medical appointment, or personal day, and the University closes, the employee is charged with the benefit as it was scheduled.
If the University is closed on a day when the Day Care Center is open, exempt employees at the Day Care Center are entitled to take a paid day off at a later date with the approval of and coordinated with their immediate supervisor(s).
Supervisors of essential personnel will award up to two additional days per fiscal year to essential employees whose work schedules prevent them from using severe weather days during the year.
Definitions
Essential personnel are named by position within the following departments: Grounds, Maintenance, Housekeeping, Security, and Fricchione Day Care Center.
Payment for weather emergency days: Essential Personnel will be paid for excused time, like holiday, plus time worked.
Procedures
Members of the Marywood Community should access the following sources for official announcements:
Marywood University Homepage: www.Marywood.edu
Inclement Weather Hotline: 570-961-4SNO, 570-961-4766
Text Messaging: e2Campus Notification System
Related Policies
- Class Meetings
- Employment Benefits Eligibility
- Excused Absences for Special Circumstances
- Personal Days
- Sick Leave
- Vacation for Administrators and Staff
Related Committees
History
1995 - Weather Emergencies Days revised to include snow days as a benefit; title of policy changed to Snow Days; definitions added; references to essential personnel added
02/13/98 - Options for use of snow days clarified
03/12/04 - Revised to extend the use of the benefit to severe weather days throughout the year; title changed from Snow Days to Severe Weather Days
01/27/06 - Cyclical review approved
03/02/09 - Revision approved by the President of the University as recommended by the Policy Committee of the University
12/10/10 - Revision approved by the President of the University as recommended by the Policy Committee of the University
07/09/14 - Editorial revision to include the removal of The Tony Domiano Early Childhood Center due to closing of Early Childhood program approved by the President of the University
12/11/15 - Revision addressing procedure regarding cancellation of individual class by faculty/ missed class by student due to inclement weather approved by the President of the University as recommended by the Policy Committee of the University.