UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Forecasted ice and snow have caused Penn State to cancel on-campus work, in-person classes and other in-person activities at its University Park campus after 6 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 3). On-campus work and other activities are scheduled to resume, weather permitting, at 5 p.m. Friday (Feb. 4), however all in-person classes scheduled for Friday are canceled.

Classes

Based on a course’s mode of delivery, the following actions apply during a change in normal campus operations:

• In-person: In-person classes scheduled from 6 p.m. Thursday through all day Friday are canceled. In-person classes scheduled to begin before 6 p.m. Thursday and end after 6 p.m. Thursday must dismiss at 6 p.m. Thursday. Instructors may offer content asynchronously (such as recording a lecture for students to watch at another time or asking students to complete a reading or other self-directed learning activity). Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these classes may not meet remote synchronously.
• Hybrid: Hybrid classes scheduled to meet in-person from 6 p.m. Thursday through all day Friday will not be held, however, content may be offered asynchronously. Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these class sessions may not meet remote synchronously. Hybrid classes previously scheduled to be delivered remote synchronously may be held as scheduled, if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Alternatively, these classes may be canceled or offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.
• Remote synchronous: Classes already scheduled as remote synchronous may continue to be taught remote synchronously if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Alternatively, classes may be canceled or offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.
• Web: Classes will continue to be offered as planned with no changes. 

On-campus, in-person activities

Any in-person activities scheduled between 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday are canceled. Activities beginning at or after 5 p.m. Friday will be held as originally scheduled.

University Libraries will remain closed all day on Friday. The Pattee & Paterno Libraries will open at noon on Saturday for their regular hours. 

Employees

• Employees required to report to campus: Employees who are required to report to campus for work and have been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining campus operations should report to, or remain on, campus as directed by their supervisors. Employees who are required to report to campus for work are eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time for all hours worked, subject to guideline provisions.
• Employees working on campus who cannot work remotely: Employees who have not been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations, who are unable to perform their work remotely, and who are currently reporting to campus for their job, should not report to work.
  • Those who are currently on campus are dismissed at 6 p.m. Thursday. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for the portion of their shift after 6 p.m. Thursday, subject to guideline requirements.
  • Those scheduled to begin work before 5 p.m. Friday and end after 5 p.m. Friday should report at 5 p.m. Friday to complete a partial day. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for the portion of their shift prior to 5 p.m. Friday, subject to guideline requirements.
  • Those whose work hours are scheduled to begin and end between 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday should not report. These employees will be eligible for Campus Closure Pay, subject to guideline requirements.
  • Those scheduled to report at or after 5 p.m. Friday should report as regularly scheduled.
• Employees working on campus who are able to work remotely: Employees who are currently working on campus but who can perform their job responsibilities remotely should not work on campus between 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday and instead work remotely during the impacted period. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time.
• Employees working remotely (including hybrid schedules): Employees who are working remotely and continue to be able to work should perform their regularly assigned work functions. These employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time. Employees working a rotating schedule of on-campus and remote work (i.e., a hybrid location schedule) should perform their regularly assigned work functions remotely between 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time. 
• Employees working at an alternate work location: Employees working at an alternate location (e.g., attending a conference or training) who continue to be able to work should perform their regularly assigned work functions. Such employees are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time, if they are able to fulfill their job responsibilities.

Employees who have questions about a campus closure should contact their unit’s Human Resources consultant. 

Additional weather info, ongoing updates

The decision to cancel on-campus work and other activities at University Park was determined to be in the best safety interest of the University community. University officials are continuing to monitor conditions and will provide updates as necessary. The most up-to-date information will be shared via Penn State's PSUAlert system, Penn State News, Twitter, and WPSU TV and radio.

All employees and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety. Faculty, staff and students should use their own best judgment when considering traveling to campus or the need to leave early during times of inclement weather. Faculty and staff should review Handling Weather Day Absences (Human Resources Guideline 10) for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled.

Faculty and staff who have any questions about how these policies apply to them should consult with their unit human resources consultant.