FAQ - Faculty and Staff

What is defined as inclement weather?

Inclement weather can include any kind of extreme weather, usually snow or ice, which might create hazardous driving conditions or significantly impair normal operations at the University of Arkansas. Inclement weather may also include severe thunderstorm activity, tornadoes, flooding or other natural perils.

How does the university respond to inclement weather?

In general, the university must continue certain operations during periods of inclement weather due to the needs of students, the requirements of ongoing research activities, and other factors. However, the university has a policy on inclement weather, which defines how such declared days impact faculty and staff. University staff designated as weather or event essential should report to work as regularly scheduled, unless directed otherwise by their supervisor. Employees should check with their supervisors if they are unsure of their work status during an inclement weather day. Generally, there are three possible responses to incidents of inclement weather:

Delayed opening: During a delayed opening, university officials will publicly announce the specific time at which the campus will open. Students and employees not designated as weather or event essential are expected to report to campus by the designated opening time. Employees are not expected to work remotely before reporting to campus for a delayed opening.
Early Dismissal: In the event of an early dismissal, the university will cease all on-campus academic classes and regular business operations at a publicly announced time. Students and employees who are not designated as weather or event essential will be dismissed to go home. Employees are not expected to work remotely after an early dismissal.
Closure of offices: In the event of a full day closure, all on-campus classes will be cancelled. Instructors may choose to continue classes through virtual instruction at their regularly scheduled times. During a full-day campus closure, all on-campus employees not designated as weather essential are expected to conduct work remotely, if possible, to continue the vital operations of the university. Employees who are not designated as weather essential should not report to campus that day.

What should employees know about declared inclement weather days?

Delayed opening

Employees who are not identified as “Essential On-Site Weather, Emergency, and Event Personnel” are expected to arrive at work by the designated opening time. Employees arriving after the designated time will be charged the full amount of time that they are late, and employees who do not come to work will be charged a full day's absence – unless other arrangements are made with their supervisor. Employees whose shift begins after the delayed opening time should report to work as regularly scheduled.

Employees identified as “Essential On-Site Weather, Emergency, and Event Personnel” should report by their regularly scheduled start time, regardless of the announced delayed opening, unless otherwise advised by their supervisor. “Weather or event-essential personnel” arriving after their scheduled start time will be charged the full amount of time that they are late, and employees not coming to work will be charged a full day’s absence – unless other arrangements are made with their supervisor.

Early dismissal

In the event of an early dismissal, the designated early dismissal time for the university’s on-campus classes, offices and business operations will be determined with each incident of inclement weather and followed consistently. Employees who are not identified as "weather or event essential personnel" will be dismissed to go home and will not be charged any leave for the balance of the employee's workday. If the early dismissal time occurs before the beginning of the shift, non-weather or event-essential personnel should not report to work. Employees who leave earlier than the designated dismissal time will be charged leave for the full amount of time that they are absent prior to the dismissal time.

“Essential On-Site Weather, Emergency, and Event Personnel” are expected to remain at work as regularly scheduled, unless otherwise directed by their supervisor.

Closure of offices

During a full-day campus closure, all on-campus employees not designated as weather essential are expected to conduct work remotely, if possible, to continue the vital operations of the university. “Essential On-Site Weather, Emergency, and Event Personnel” are expected to report to work as regularly scheduled, unless otherwise directed by their supervisor.

Are extra-help hourly employees eligible for inclement weather pay?

Extra-help hourly employees who miss work due to inclement weather will not be paid for time missed, unless the inclement weather has affected the operating status of the university for the time they are scheduled to work. If the university has a delayed opening, early dismissal or closure due to inclement weather, extra-help hourly employees will receive inclement weather pay as defined in the policy, unless they are designated as “Essential On-Site Weather, Emergency, and Event Personnel”

What is meant by "the full amount of time that they are late" when an employee arrives after the designated opening time?

The employee will be charged leave for their absence beginning at the designated opening time until the time they arrive. For example, if the designated opening time is 10 a.m. and the employee arrives at 10:30 a.m., they will be charged one-half hour of leave.

If I had received prior approval to be absent from work on an inclement weather day, will I receive inclement weather leave with pay (IP)?

Employees who are not scheduled to be at work on an inclement weather day will not receive inclement weather leave with pay. The absence should be charged to annual or sick leave as appropriate.

How do I know if my position is defined as weather or event-essential or non-weather or event-essential personnel?

Individual departments are responsible for designating weather or event essential personnel and ensuring that all such employees are aware of their responsibilities. These areas might include positions in facilities management who assist with snow and ice removal, personnel working in residence halls or employees performing important services in the Arkansas Union. Individual staff members who are uncertain of their designation as essential or non-essential during inclement weather should consult with their supervisor.

I live in an area that is particularly hazardous to drive through during inclement weather. What should I do if I can't make it into work?

Faculty and staff who face particularly dangerous hazards in transit to work during inclement weather should consult their supervisor before inclement weather strikes. Depending on the circumstances surrounding an individual's responsibilities on campus, it may be possible to make arrangements to work remotely, make up lost time or use annual leave when weather conditions prohibit an individual from traveling to campus for a regularly scheduled shift.

How does the university decide to remain open, delay opening or cancel classes and close business operations?

In the event of inclement weather, the university recognizes the need to address how such conditions may affect the overall operations of the institution. In general, the University of Arkansas Police Department and Razorback Transit authorities check road conditions in the early morning hours when inclement weather is expected to occur. Conditions are reported to university administrators who discuss via conference call whether the university should delay opening or cancel on-campus classes and close business operations. They make this determination based on the following four criteria:

Designated university transit bus routes are open to travel
Major commuter parking lots are safely accessible
Interstate 49, from County Line Road in Springdale to West Fork city limits, is open for travel
Conditions appear to allow students, faculty and staff to safely reach campus

Details on the university's policy for weather emergency procedure can be viewed on the Weather Emergency Procedure page.

On weekends, will the university make the decision to remain open, delay opening or cancel on-campus classes and business operations?

Yes. The procedures are similar to the decision-making process for Monday through Friday operations. Details can be viewed on the Weather Emergency Procedure page.

How do I find out if the university delays opening or cancels on-campus classes and closes business operations?

The university's primary means for communicating emergency information to students, faculty and staff – including information on weather-related delays, closure of non-essential offices and cancellation of on-campus classes – is WxALERT (weather alert). All students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive WxALERTs via email, as well as voicemail and text messages for those who provide cell phone numbers. Please note that students, faculty and staff must provide their cell phone numbers in UAConnect or Workday to receive any emergency alerts, including WxALERTS, from the university via cell phone/text.

In most cases where decisions on the university operating status can be made in the overnight and early morning hours, information on weather-related delays or closure of non-essential offices and cancellation of on-campus classes will be made via WxALERT by 6 a.m. Additional details on the process and timeline for weather emergency decisions can be viewed on the Weather Emergency Procedure page.

In addition to the WxALERT, the university employs secondary communication methods to disseminate weather-related closures, delays or other emergency information. These sources are activated after a WxALERT is sent, and should not be relied upon as the most timely and accurate information sources, since some are outside the university's direct control:

University of Arkansas home page: In the event inclement weather affects the university's operating status, a graphic link to detailed information and policies will be placed prominently on the university's homepage.
Social media: The @UArkansas social media channels will share campuswide updates after a WxALERT is issued. Other handles owned by individual colleges, departments and services may share updates on their operations as well.
Campus directory assistance: Call 479-575-2000 to get the latest information about the university's operating status when inclement weather strikes; this number often may be busy due to volume.
KUAF radio, 91.3 FM: The university's public radio station makes regular announcements if the university's operating status is impacted and assists in correcting errors in external media announcements.
UATV: The university's student-run television station manages the RIBTV Information Board in the early morning hours and makes announcements regarding the university's operating status.
University supervisors: Supervisors may arrange to notify employees in their unit, or employees can call supervisors for instruction.
External media: Local radio and television stations will be informed whenever the university's operating status is affected but should not be relied upon as a primary source of information.

If the university cancels on-campus classes and closes offices for the day, when does it officially resume normal operations again?

Normal university operations, including all on-campus academic classes and business operations, will commence at the regularly scheduled time on the next workday unless directed otherwise.

Why doesn't the university close when local school districts close?

Local school districts build snow days into their annual schedules and must make decisions that involve the transportation of small children – often across rural bus routes. The university, on the other hand, is essentially a residential community, where students depend on the campus to provide essential services like food and shelter, especially to students who live in residence halls.

Who is responsible for snow and ice removal on campus?

Multiple departments across campus coordinate to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, roadways, parking lots and building entrances. Specific information about these departments, including prioritized areas of snow and ice removal, can be found in the university's Snow and Ice Response Plan.

It is not uncommon for severe thunderstorms in northwest Arkansas to produce localized flooding, tornadoes and strong straight-line winds. In the event of a tornado threat, the campus is equipped with sirens that will go off if a tornado has been reported in the area. If a siren is heard in connection to a weather emergency, individuals should follow the tornado drill procedures appropriate for their location at the time.

General tornado safety tips include:

Do not go outside.
Seek shelter immediately in an interior hallway or a lower floor, away from windows.
Get under sturdy furniture if available.
Stay indoors until the all-clear signal is transmitted through the campus siren or another emergency notification system.