COLUMBIA, Mo. — It’s that time of year to begin preparing for the winter weather that can be experienced in mid-Missouri. For the University of Missouri, that means faculty, staff and students will once again shift to remote working and learning during inclement weather events to reduce interruptions.
Faculty members who have scheduled classes on days when campus is physically closed or have limited in-person operations will be expected to engage their classes in remote learning. The format of this learning is up to the discretion of the faculty member (e.g., holding a synchronous Zoom class meeting; assigning readings or other assignments to be completed asynchronously). Instructors should proactively communicate expectations with their students now to avoid any confusion if their class is impacted by winter weather.
Staff members who aren’t required to work on campus during a weather event will be expected to telework. Supervisors are responsible for coordinating alternative work plans with their employees. When there is sufficient forewarning of severe weather, this includes being prepared to bring home any items (e.g. laptop) necessary for remote work.
MU will stay open whenever possible for business and on-campus instructional activities during winter weather. On those days, employees and students are expected to exercise judgment when deciding if they can travel safely to campus. Each individual’s circumstance will be different; therefore, it’s important that supervisors and instructors facilitate conversations to determine what options exist for their teams or classes in the event they cannot make it to campus.
Employees will fall into three categories during an inclement weather event:
- Staff who aren’t required to work on-site and will telework from home or another location. Staff who do not telework must use their available accrued leave (personal, vacation or paid time off).
- Staff who cannot carry out their duties through telework and who are instructed that they are not required on-site to work will be compensated.
- Staff who are non-exempt (hourly) and are required to work on-site may be eligible to receive premium pay; those who are required to work on-site and choose not to must use their available accrued leave (personal, vacation or paid time off).
If there is a change in campus status due to severe weather, the university will:
- Issue an MU Alert, triggering a text message to all registered cellphone numbers and an email to the campus community.
- Post information to the Mizzou homepage.
- Post information to Mizzou’s social media channels.
- Inform local media outlets.
- Strive to provide campus status by 6 a.m. on weather-affected weekdays.
Visit the MU Alert website to learn more about the university’s inclement weather policies and find links to status updates from MU Health Care hospitals and clinics, the Veterinary Health Center, the MU Student Center, Ellis Library, Student Recreation Complex, Campus Dining Services and other campus departments. Some of these areas may continue in-person operations even when the campus has shifted to remote work and teaching, so please look for updates.
More information on MU’s campus closure policies can be found at the below link:
- http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/hrm/hr200/hr217
NOTE: Any member of the public can sign up for MU Alert. A text message is the fastest way to receive alerts about emergencies and campus closings.