Campus weather closure guidelines
by Bill Jacob, Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services |
Dear UAA Community,
As winter approaches and road conditions worsen, I am providing an update about our policies surrounding inclement weather and campus closures. Please note that we have established new policies in response to questions about how weather-related closures affect those who can work remotely.
Snow and icy road conditions during the winter months may make it difficult for you to travel to work. Please use your best judgment and do not put your safety at risk when it comes to traveling to work in dangerous weather conditions. Work with your supervisor if weather conditions in your area prevent you from safely traveling to work.
How does UAA decide whether to close campus for inclement weather?
The Incident Management Team (IMT) assesses weather situations and makes a recommendation to the chancellor about campus closures based on the following considerations:
- Safety conditions of roads on and around campus
- Safety conditions of roads in the Anchorage Bowl
- Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department accident reports/warnings
- NOAA weather reports and predicted conditions
- Safety of the campus communities at each location
IMT will announce initial weather closures by 6 a.m. Alerts will be posted on social media, the UAA website and will be sent out via email. For those who want to receive weather closure notifications via text, please visit uaalert.alaska.edu and select “Check/Update Your Information” to confirm that your UA Alerts profile is up to date and you have opted in to receive telephone alerts.
With your safety in mind, we have also adopted the Rave Guardian safety app, which works in partnership with the emergency alerts you receive via text message. This is a free personal safety app that provides emergency information and support services straight to your phone. Simply search “Rave Guardian” in the app store on your mobile device and select UAA while registering.
If there is a closure due to inclement weather:
Administrative leave use during an inclement weather closure is intended for employees who are traveling to and from a work location. Use earnings code 466 - Administrative Leave on your timesheet. Temporary and student employees are not eligible for weather-related administrative leave.
Remote work:
Remote work can and should continue if adverse weather conditions permit. This means that those who have remote work agreements in place, as well as those who can effectively work remotely, should do so even on closure days if conditions permit. Employees should discuss specific conditions or circumstances which prevent remote work with their primary supervisor.
Guidelines for inclement weather without office closure:
Employee well-being is our first concern. Contact your supervisor to work out possible options such as:
- Working from home
- Working adjusted hours for the day
- Using annual leave to stay home
Thank you,
Bill Jacob
Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services
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