As the threat of inclement weather approaches, it’s a good time to review the university’s policy on cancellations and delays, as found in the 2009-2010 edition of Hilltopics.
The University of Tennessee will remain open except in the most severe weather conditions. The Chancellor (or appointed representative) may officially close or suspend selected activities of the University because of extreme weather conditions. When a decision to close is reached, campus and local radio and TV stations will be notified and the notice will be posted on the front page of www.utk.edu.
If the University is officially closed, certain essential activities such as campus dining, facilities services, police, steam plant, and telephone services will continue to operate. Some facilities such as the Library and University Center will, if possible, continue to function as a service to students and faculty. When the University is officially closed, its policy of Days of Administrative Closing will apply for staff exempt and staff nonexempt employees.
In the event of inclement weather when the University remains open, all faculty, administrators, and staff will be expected to make every reasonable effort to maintain their regular work schedules, but are advised to avoid undue risks in traveling. Employees who anticipate arriving late or not arriving at work at all should notify their immediate supervisors. Employees have the option of charging their time off to annual leave or leave without pay, or, with approval, they may make up their lost work hours.
In the event of a delayed opening, the chancellor (or appointed representative) will determine a specific time of opening and that information will be distributed to the campus community through the local media and via the front page of www.utk.edu. All faculty and staff are expected to report to their specific work location by the set opening time.
Students are expected to report to their regularly scheduled class only if there are 30 or more minutes remaining in the session. For example, if a delayed opening is set for 10 a.m., students who have classes from 9:40 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. should report to that class at 10 a.m. Students who have classes from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. should not report to class. In a delayed opening, all classes scheduled prior to the set time of opening and those that have less than 30 minutes remaining after the set opening time are cancelled for the day.
Students will be responsible for any academic work they miss due to absences caused by severe weather conditions. It is the individual student’s responsibility to take the initiative to make up any missed work, and it is the instructor’s responsibility to provide a reasonable opportunity for students to complete assignments or exams missed due to such absences. Faculty members have discretion in determining whether an additional session will be added for the class or if additional work is assigned due to the closure or delayed opening.
More information can be found online at http://dos.utk.edu/hilltopics/.