Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
December 8, 2000

Winter wake-up call

by Debra Gibson
You've packed the trunk with sleeping bags and Twinkies. Your windows now shimmer with that distinctive blow-dried- plastic-across-the-panes effect. Your bread and milk supply would rival that of any local supermarket. But before you sit back smugly waiting for that first big blizzard, add these university reminders to your checklist:

1) Log on to the ISU Web site (http://www.iastate.edu) for possible class cancellations or university office closings. This information also will be distributed to the Associated Press and central Iowa radio and television stations and newspapers, as well as radio and television stations in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

2) Remember that even if classes are cancelled, in many cases university offices will remain open, and staff will be expected to report to work. University administrators, consulting with officials from the weather services, Iowa Department of Transportation, city of Ames, CyRide, road maintenance staff and various law enforcement agencies, will make the call on closings and cancellations. The university often remains open when public elementary and secondary schools are closed because many ISU students live within walking distance of campus and CyRide routes. In addition, the university calendar does not have built-in makeup days. Students are expected to make their own decisions about travel safety. (During severe weather, faculty are asked to accommodate those unable to attend classes.)

Employees should promptly notify their immediate supervisors when it is impossible to report to work due to inclement weather. Employees can request to make up compensatory time within the work period, take vacation pay or take leave without pay. Employees who are unable to return home after completing regular work schedules will be paid only for the number of hours of work authorized by their immediate supervisors.

3) Should the university offices be closed, some staff members whose jobs are vital to the university's daily operations may be required to report to work. Those areas include food service, security, power plant, animal care, critical maintenance or snow removal. Other faculty and staff will be expected to:

Those staff members covered by collective bargaining agreements should refer to the appropriate sections of the contract governing severe weather emergencies.

4) If media announce the ISU winter storm parking plan is in effect, faculty and staff are asked to park in one of three perimeter lots until their usual lots are cleared: Iowa State Center (sections A3, A4, B5 and B6), north of the Molecular Biology building (lots 29 and 30) or north of the General Services building (lot 41).



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Revised 12/6/00