The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount during inclement weather. At the same time, the University has important research, teaching, and service missions to carry out, and must maintain effective operations. With all due consideration to safety, the University’s goal is to maintain normal operations to the greatest extent possible. We make decisions about canceling classes or curbing business operations very carefully, with full consideration of all available information about weather predictions and road conditions. The following guidance applies to all UConn locations, except UConn Health. Please review the University’s Emergency Closing Policy for complete, official information.
In the rare cases when we determine it is necessary to cancel or delay classes, or to close business operations at the University, the community will be notified as quickly as possible. When storms occur overnight, we will endeavor to make this notification by 5 a.m. Sometimes conditions change rapidly, however, and we may need to adjust decisions about class schedules and business operations on short notice. UConn’s alert website is the definitive source of information about the University’s operating status and should be your primary source. You can also check the University’s 24-hour emergency closing information number: (860) 486-3768. While the University makes every effort to notify the news media about operating changes at UConn’s campuses, we cannot guarantee that details provided by news outlets represent the most current or complete information.
UConn acts accordingly if the governor closes state agencies, releases state employees from work, or restricts road travel due to weather conditions. Certain operations must continue without interruption even in severe weather, including public safety, residential and dining services, health services, animal care, and facility maintenance. Decisions about whether to continue or cancel other services, such as transportation, are made on a case-by-case basis. The Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, UConn Athletics, and other units that sponsor activities decide independently whether to continue or cancel their events and you should contact them directly with questions.
Emergency Support Services/Essential Staff are expected to remain at or report to work as directed. Supervisors must make themselves aware of and follow the applicable policies and procedures for their units. If the University has not announced a delay or cancellation of classes, faculty are expected to hold classes as scheduled. Faculty members scheduled to teach who decide it is unsafe for them to travel to campus must notify their students as soon as possible that their class is cancelled. Faculty should respect the decisions of commuting students who decide not to travel to campus, or to leave class early in order to get home safely, and provide options for them to make up missed work. Students should contact their professors as soon as possible if they must miss a class or other activity due to weather conditions.
Always consider your safety first. Weather and road conditions may vary considerably across the state, so all members of the University community must evaluate the circumstances they face. Even when the University remains open for business, individuals may appropriately decide not to come to campus or to leave campus early. In these situations, employees may use a vacation day, personal time, or other accrued time without advance approval, but they must notify their supervisors that they are doing so.