UA WEATHER POLICY UPDATE: WHERE TO GO FOR INFO

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - There’s a saying in Arkansas about the weather that goes something like this: Don’t like the weather? Just wait 24 hours and it will change. During the winter months, there’s a good chance that icy and snowy conditions will affect University of Arkansas faculty, staff and students.

For that reason, the University of Arkansas has a standing inclement weather policy. When the policy is in effect, the University is still open and staff are expected to come to work. Staff are to make every attempt to get to work at their appointed time. However, they are also asked to make a personal safety determination about getting to campus and have the benefit of a two-hour cushion from their normal appointed start time in which they will not be docked for late arrival. In severe weather the University may be closed. The policy is available for review at http://pigtrail.uark.edu/info/weather.nclk.

When the inclement weather policy is in effect, faculty members may, at their discretion, cancel their classes. Faculty are asked to communicate individual inclement weather procedures to their students in instances where the University remains open, and when weather may affect travel to campus. At the beginning of the semester, faculty should communicate to their students their procedure for notifying them in the event classes will be cancelled and review that procedure as winter storms are forecast. If the University is closed due to stormy weather, then classes are automatically cancelled.

The only time nobody is expected to show up on campus is when the University of Arkansas is closed due to severe winter storms.

There are three places where faculty, staff and students should turn to for the most current and information regarding notification about the inclement weather policy or closings.

1. The University of Arkansas Weather Hotline (479) 575-7000 - a recorded message giving explicit information about will be updated by 6 a.m. on the day in question. Faculty, staff and encouraged to use the Weather Hotline for information about possible delays and University closings.

2. The University of Arkansas Home Page www.uark.edu - There will be a notice on the page regarding inclement weather as well as links to the Weather Policy and Weather Notice pages, which will list any changes in the bus routes.

3. Individual Voice Mailboxes - All voice mailbox users will have a message on their individual voice mail stating if the inclement weather policy is in effect or if the University if closed. If the University is open, no announcement will be made.

Since time and space are limited on radio and television announcements, the information what will be communicated to local media will be brief and refer students, faculty and staff to the Weather Hotline.

Remember: If no announcement has been made via news media, the UA homepage or the Weather Hotline or individual voice mail, then the University is open for business as usual.