Administrative Regulation:  Emergency College Closure or Delayed Opening

Regulation Number:  3.20.2

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For this rule, essential personnel are defined as employees in a position who may be required to remain at their work location or report to work to protect, recover, and continue operations when the college is faced with an institutional emergency. These positions may include security, safety, custodial (i.e., snow removal, animal care), food services (if residence halls remain open), emergency purchasing and processing authority, President’s Cabinet members, and/or residence hall director.

In the event of unusual circumstances resulting from extremely adverse weather, natural disaster, fire, or other natural emergency beyond management control, it may be necessary for management to delay opening and/or close some or all college operations.

Announcements for unexpected closure or delayed opening of the college shall be made over local media and via established protocol.

Short-term Closure. Short-term closure is 14 or less consecutive days and may occur for any unexpected reason. Only benefitted employees will receive regular pay for scheduled work days and they will not be charged any leave. The College may require essential personnel; if so, these employees will be informed of such and required to report to work. If college operations are open at a given location, all employees are expected to work unless travel to and from the location is impossible due to road closure. In such case, or if the employee deems travel is unsafe, employees are expected to communicate directly with their supervisor. Absences for benefitted employees will be handled in one of the following ways as to the employee’s discretion and with supervisor approval:

  • Chargeable to accrued Personal Leave days (within Health/Wellness Leave), Emergency Leave (within Health/Wellness Leave), or Paid
  • Chargeable to compensatory time (if applicable).
  • Chargeable to leave without pay.

Long-term Closure. Long-term closure is 15 or more consecutive days and may occur for any unexpected reason. Benefitted employees may receive regular pay for scheduled work days pending duration of forecasted closure, President’s decision, and Board approved action. The Board may choose to continue regular pay and Paid Leave Benefits in extenuating circumstances. The College may require essential personnel; if so, these employees will be informed of such and required to report for work. All employees will be informed once college operations re-open at a given location; upon notification all employees are expected to report to work unless travel to and from the location remains impossible due to road closure. In such case, or if the employee deems travel is unsafe, all employees are expected to communicate directly with their supervisor. Benefitted employee absences will be handled in one of the following ways as to the employee’s discretion and with supervisor approval:

  • Chargeable to accrued or Personal Leave days (within Health/Wellness Leave), Emergency Leave (within Health/Wellness Leave), or Paid Leave.
  • Chargeable to compensatory time (if applicable).
  • Chargeable to leave without pay.

Original Adoption Date: 12/8/92

Revision Date(s): 11/8/05(RF), 8/13/13(RF), 2/27/17, 5/26/20, 6/17/21(RN)

Date reviewed, no change: