effective 12/2020
Policy Name |
Weather Policy |
Policy Category |
Human Resources |
Policy Approved By |
Cabinet |
Responsible Division Head or VP |
Senior Vice President for Student and Campus Life |
Responsible Department |
The unit under the Responsible VP with direct responsibility for implementing and maintaining the policy. |
Responsible AVP or Director |
Director of Human Resources and Director of Public Safety |
Original Policy Date |
Historical |
Last Known Revision Date |
2015 |
Current Policy Effective Date |
12/9/2020 |
Recommended Policy Review Date |
1/1/2023 |
Policy Applies To |
Entire Campus |
Additional Authority/References |
N/A |
POLICY PURPOSE
This policy provides guidance on how all types of weather schedule modifications should be handled by the campus community.
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BACKGROUND
As a residential learning community, Albright College provides many services to its students and others on a 24/7 basis. It is imperative that essential services be maintained and safety preserved. Given the wide variation in where College personnel live and the range of work activities they perform, it is not possible to have a one-size fits all inclement weather policy. Individual employees and the College collectively share an interest in and concern for both getting the work done and protecting the well-being of those performing the work. In this spirit, individuals should make reasonable efforts to be at work, keeping individual safety in mind.
All efforts will be made to ensure the overall safety and security of our total campus community. This includes the students, faculty, support staff, and administrators. Every effort will be made to minimize the concerns of all as we commit to providing essential services for those who rely on us. |
DEFINITIONS
TERM |
DEFINITION |
Essential Weather Departments |
Departments that may be required to have staff actively working during a weather-related schedule modification, including, but not limited to, Facilities, Dining Services, Public Safety, and the Residential Life departments. |
Essential Weather Personnel |
Designated employees within an Essential Weather Department, as specified by the respective Directors. An employee who is designated as a member of the “essential weather personnel” group will be expected to report to duty as specified by the College and his or her supervisor. |
Weather Response Team |
The Weather Response Team is a group of key Albright decision makers, led by the Director of Public Safety, who are charged in determining schedule modifications for the College during times when inclement weather creates a condition that might raise questions about whether the College can operate safely on a normal basis.
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POLICY TEXT
Decision Making Authority
When the weather forecast predicts inclement weather, Albright’s Weather Response Team will convene to discuss current conditions and whether a College delay or closure is necessary. The Weather Response Team is a group made up of key decision makers from various areas of the college. Led by the Director of Public Safety, the team meets when the weather forecast predicts inclement weather. If the anticipated weather event is expected to be minor, the Director of Public Safety may only convene a sub-set of the Weather Response Team. The Weather Response Team discusses current conditions and whether any modifications to the normal College schedule are necessary. Depending on the circumstances of the inclement weather, all efforts will be made to have a decision rendered as early as possible. Ideally, decisions will be made by the Weather Response Team no later than 5:30 am for day schedule and no later than 3 pm for evening activities. Decisions resulting from the Weather Response Team meeting are relayed to campus as described in the Communications section below. The Facilities Director, or designee, will consult with the Director of Public Safety to determine the applicable start and end times for the weather event which warrant premium pay to the essential weather personnel and email those hours to HR, Payroll, and the Directors of the Essential Weather Departments.
Communications
The Communications division will initiate communication for any inclement weather schedule modifications, based on decisions made by the Weather Response Team. The primary methods of communication will be e2Campus text messaging, the Albright website and college email.
Modifications to Normal Schedule
When weather conditions become extreme, the following are some of the most common scenarios that would be in effect for all students and non-essential weather employees of the College. Essential weather personnel must contact their supervisor for instructions, even when classes are canceled or the campus is closed.
No Schedule Change: If no schedule modification is announced by the Weather Response Team, all administrative and department offices will remain open and classes will take place as scheduled. On an individual basis, classes may be canceled, postponed, or moved on-line if a faculty member is unable to report to campus. Faculty members are required to notify their students, the Registrar’s Office, the Provost’s Office, and Public Safety of any cancellations or postponements due to inclement weather. All employees are expected to report to work, even if they are late. If, for safety concerns or personal reasons, an employee cannot reach the campus or will arrive late, the employee is required to contact his or her supervisor to report the situation and make alternative arrangements, as described in the “Pay Policies” section of this policy.
Late Opening: When the Weather Response Team designates a late opening time (such as 9:30 am or 10:00 am), all administrative and department offices will open at the modified time. Classes beginning before the designated time are canceled. On an individual basis, classes starting later may be canceled, postponed, or moved on-line if a faculty member is unable to report to campus. Faculty members are required to notify their students, the Registrar’s Office, the Provost’s Office, and Public Safety of any cancellations or postponements due to inclement weather. Essential weather personnel are required to report for duty at their regular time or other time specified by their supervisor. All non-essential weather employees are expected to report to work at the modified opening time, even if they are late. If, for safety concerns or personal reasons, an employee cannot reach the campus or will arrive late, the employee is required to contact his or her supervisor to report the situation and make alternative arrangements, as described in the “Pay Policies” section of this policy. Early Closing: When the Weather Response Team determines an early closing is necessary, all non-essential weather employees are expected to leave at the defined time for safety reasons. All essential weather personnel are required to report for duty, unless otherwise directed by their supervisor. Classes that begin after the time announced for the early closing will be cancelled.
Closed/Canceled: If the Weather Response Team declares a campus closure, the type of closure will be specified: Day Classes Canceled: All classes on the main campus normally scheduled from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. are canceled, and administrative offices are closed. Essential weather personnel should report to work. Please note: Because of changing conditions, evening classes may be held even when day classes have been canceled. Evening Classes Canceled: All classes on the main campus normally scheduled at 5 p.m. or after are canceled. Information about classes at individual School of Professional Studies (SPS) sites will be posted to the Albright emergency weather website (https://www.albright.edu/emergency-closing-information/).
*Other Activities and Events: Activities, events, or individual facilities may run on hours that differ from the adjusted college hours.
**Status may change: For example, an initial modification to a 9:00 am opening may later be changed to a 10:00 am opening or closure. Late-afternoon and evening classes may be canceled, even if the college has been open all day.
Pay Policies During Weather Closing Scenarios
No Schedule Change: If there is no schedule change, employees are expected to come to work. In cases where this is not feasible, the employee will need to talk to their supervisor to agree on a flex time option, as described below:
Late Opening or Early Closing: On occasions where the Weather Response Team decides it is in the best interest of the community to announce a schedule modification, employees will be paid as described below:
Closure/Cancellation
Special Situations
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ASSOCIATED PROCEDURES LOCATION
Timekeeping Procedures Weather Response Team Procedures
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REVISION LOG
DATE OF REVISION |
MAJOR CHANGES (Note: electronic copies of the former versions of the policy must be maintained within the unit, department, or division) |
12/9/2020 |
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Click or tap to enter a date. |
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IMPLEMENTATION PLAN – For decision-making purposes only. This will not appear in the Final Policy that is posted to the Policy Repository.
Most of this revised policy is documentation of what is already in place. Slight modifications to the handling of payroll for essential weather personnel that are new have already been relayed to the Essential Weather Department Directors. A link to the policy will be put in the Lowdown and a broader email communication will be sent out to the campus in early January. |
DECISION – For decision-making purposes only. This will not appear in the Final Policy that is posted to the Policy Repository.
Date of Draft Policy Review |
11/19/2020 |
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Name of Reviewing Committee/Individual |
Senior Vice President of Student and Campus Life/Chief Health Officer took the policy to Cabinet for review. |
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Date Approved |
12/9/2020 |
Comments: |
Date Rejected |
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Comments: |
Date Draft Tabled or Further Review Needed (provide comments including plan for re-submission) |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Comments: |