Preparing for Winter Weather

[DATE]

Dear students, staff and faculty,

We hope everyone made it safely through last night's high winds. This is a good reminder to review our inclement weather procedures described below.

In the event of snow, ice, high winds or other dangerous conditions, campus leadership will assess conditions and will usually make a decision no later than 5 a.m. about whether to suspend operations or modify operations for the entire day or operate on a delayed schedule. These guidelines apply on weekends and whether classes are in session or not.

• If operations are suspended, in-person classes are not held, administrative offices are closed and all events and activities on campus are cancelled. Classes scheduled to be taught remote should continue as normal.
• When a delayed start is called, in-person classes and offices will resume operations, usually at 10:30 a.m. or noon, depending on conditions. Classes scheduled to be taught remote should continue as normal.
• If a storm or other emergency hits during the day, campus leaders may decide to suspend or modify operations (i.e. pivot to remote operations). An announcement is usually made by 2 p.m., or as needed, when a mid-day emergency occurs.

How to get information

All students, faculty and staff will receive UW Alert email notifications. You can also sign up to receive text messages about suspended or modified operations and other emergencies. Sign up or update your contact information at tacoma.uw.edu/alert. Closure and delay information will also be available on:

• UW Tacoma homepage: tacoma.uw.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/uwtacoma
• TV and radio stations will broadcast information from FlashAlert.net

What if UW Tacoma is open but I can't make it to campus?

Inclement weather can cause transportation problems or hazardous conditions that vary widely across our region. Severe weather may result in closures to school or child care facilities, even as UW Tacoma remains open for in-person activity. Use your own best judgement about whether you are able to safely get to campus.

Students should talk with instructors about making up class time lost during a suspension of operations or a delayed opening, or if they are unable to get to campus to attend an in-person class. If your instructor needs to cancel a class, they should notify you through e-mail or Canvas.

You can always find this information in our UW Tacoma Emergency Guide.