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Emergency Management

University Closures

As stated in University Policy 5.5.5, "the Emergency Operations Plan outlines considerations, steps, and communications for enacting closures, including considerations for students, employees, and others on campus.” This page summarizes that section.

Assumptions

  • A University closure, unless specified below, covers all University properties in McLean County
  • Unless otherwise noted, a University closure for a given day concludes at 11:59 p.m.
  • At a minimum, the University must have personnel who will operate on campus in an emergency situation that can include, but not be limited to, services such as University Police Department, University Housing Services, Heating Plant, and EMDH – Residential Dining. Department Heads in all areas should establish "essential personnel" within their department or unit and make those individuals aware of their “essential personnel” status.
  • If possible, delayed openings and University closures should be communicated to the University community no later than 5:30 a.m. for daytime activities and 2:30 p.m. for classes starting at or after 5:00 p.m.
  • During closure, all classes, on-site operations (not designated as essential) and scheduled events/activities are canceled

Cancelation of Classes Only

  • All classes scheduled during the closure, regardless of modality (including in person, on-line, hybrid and remote classes), are canceled
    • For example, if classes are cancelled from 4:30 p.m. through midnight and a class operates from 4:00 – 4:50 p.m., it is canceled
  • All employees normally scheduled to work, should do so
  • The University, including its services, is open
  • Activities may continue

Late Opening, Early Dismissal

  • The University is closed except for designated essential services
  • Classes, regardless of modality, that start or end during the closure period are canceled
    • For example, if the University is opening at 10:00 a.m., a 9:35 – 10:50 course is canceled
    • For example, if the University is dismissing early at 1:00 p.m., a class scheduled from Noon-1:50 p.m. is canceled
  • Non-essential personnel scheduled to work during the closure period, regardless of work location (remote or on-campus), will not be required to work. Start and end times of shifts may be adjusted to reflect the closure schedule.
    • For example, closure ends at midnight, employees working an 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. shift would report to work at midnight.
    • For example, closure begins at 9:00 a.m., employees working an 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. shift would depart at 9:00 a.m.

Laboratory Schools

  • If the University closes, the Laboratory Schools will also close
  • However, if the University is open, the Laboratory Schools may close, open late and/or dismiss early. In this situation, essential Lab School support staff are required to report to work.

Springfield Campus

  • If the main campus is closed and the Springfield campus is not impacted by the event (e.g. inclement weather), then the Springfield campus will continue normal operations
  • Conversely, the University may enact any of the above-mentioned measures that impact only the Springfield campus

Off-Site Internships, Student Teaching, Clinicals, Conferences, Competitions and other Off-site Activities

  • If the University is closed and the nature of the closure does not materially impact off-site activities (except for established remote work), those may continue, with the understanding that access to campus resources, services and personnel may be impacted during the closure