Missouri State University - West Plains

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University Communications 

Weather Policy

The general policy for weather is that classes will not be canceled because of inclement weather. Students should use their own good judgment regarding travel when weather conditions are questionable. Faculty, staff and students should call the Missouri State University-West Plains Weather Hotline at 417-255-8075 for information regarding the status of Missouri State University-West Plains classes, Extended Campus classes, and Missouri State University-Springfield Academic Outreach classes. In extreme conditions, however, classes may be canceled. When all campuses are closed due to weather, local radio stations and Springfield television stations will be notified. There is no need to call the administrative offices or your instructor if you cannot attend class because of weather conditions. Faculty members are encouraged to allow make-up work for classes missed because of weather conditions. The policy may be found at the following Internet address: http://www.wp.MissouriState.edu/UnivComm/WeatherPolicy.htm

West Plains Campus

Inclement Weather Procedures for Day Classes

The decision to close the University or to cancel day classes will be made by 5:30 a.m. Listed below is the sequence of events that should be followed:

Should conditions appear to warrant possible cancellation/closure of day classes or delay of morning classes, the Superintendent of Buildings, Grounds, and Custodial Services will contact the Director of Business and Support Services by 5:00 a.m. The Director of Business and Support Services will contact the Chancellor by 5:30 a.m. (If the Chancellor is unavailable, the Dean of Academic Affairs will assume the responsibilities of the Chancellor outlined in the weather policy.) Once the decision to cancel classes has been made, the Director of Business and Support Services will contact the Director of University Communications. The Director of University Communications will contact the news media and update the weather hotline specifically denoting "Day Classes Only".

If classes are officially canceled because of weather, all efforts will be made to maintain services in the following operations:

  • Residence Life
  • Food Services

If classes are delayed in the morning, all efforts will be made to maintain services in the following operations:

  • Residence Life
  • Food Services
  • Lybyer Technology Center– Custodians will open the building at 7:30 a.m. regular time so students who did not get the message about classes being delayed will have a place to go until all classroom buildings are open. Custodial staff will put signs on all other classroom building doors indicating that classes are postponed and the Lybyer Technology Center is open for student use until classes resume. The Information Technology department will provide supervision for the open lab.
  • When the decision has been made to delay classes, opening times will be coordinated with the class schedule.

Inclement Weather Procedures for Evening Classes

Since the decision to cancel day classes due to inclement weather does not pertain to evening classes (classes beginning at 4:00 p.m. and after), a separate decision will be made later in the day.

The following procedures will be followed:

  1. Between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., the Superintendent of Buildings, Grounds, and Custodial Services will contact the Director of Business and Support Services concerning the condition of the parking lots and their possible availability during the late afternoon and evening hours and will review information from the National Weather Bureau and the Missouri State Highway Patrol District Office concerning road conditions and impending weather changes.
  2. At 1:30 p.m., the Director of Business and Support Services will consult with the Chancellor (If the Chancellor is unavailable, the Dean of Academic Affairs); a decision will be made. Once the decision to cancel Evening Classes has been made, the Director of Business and Support Services will contact the Director of University Communications. The Director of University Communications will contact the news media and update the weather hotline specifically denoting "Evening Classes Only".
  3. The University reserves the right to alter its decision if weather conditions change during the afternoon.

Mountain Grove Extended Campus

When weather conditions are questionable, the Coordinator for the Mountain Grove Extended Campus will confer with the Dean of Academic Affairs as to the condition of the Mountain Grove campus parking lots, sidewalks, and area roads and highways; then the Dean of Academic Affairs will contact the Chancellor for the West Plains campus. (If the Chancellor is unavailable, the Dean of Academic Affairs as to the condition of the Mountain Grove campus parking lots, sidewalks, and area roads will assume the responsibilities of the Chancellor outlined in the weather policy.) Once the decision to cancel classes has been made, the Dean of Academic Affairs will contact the Director of University Communications. The Director of University Communications will update the weather hotline.

Houston Extended Campus

When weather conditions are questionable, the Coordinator for the Houston Extended Campus will confer with the Dean of Academic Affairs as to the condition of the Houston campus parking lots, sidewalks, and area roads and highways; then the Dean of Academic Affairs will contact the Chancellor for the West Plains campus. (If the Chancellor is unavailable, the Dean of Academic Affairs as to the condition of the Houston campus parking lots, sidewalks, and area roads will assume the responsibilities of the Chancellor outlined in the weather policy.) Once the decision to cancel classes has been made, the Dean of Academic Affairs will contact the Director of University Communications. The Director of University Communications will update the weather hotline.

Weather Notification Communication Policy

Once the status of Missouri State-West Plains and Extended Campus classes has been determined, the following steps will be taken:

  1. The Director of University Communications will contact the Missouri State Coordinator of Academic Outreach to find out the status of Missouri State-Springfield Academic Outreach classes. The Director of University Communications will post the status of Missouri State-West Plains, Extended Campuses and Missouri State Academic Outreach classes on the Missouri State-West Plains Weather Hotline at 255-8075.
  2. Missouri State-Academic Outreach will post the information for Missouri State Academic Outreach and Missouri State-West Plains classes on the Academic Outreach voice mailbox.
  3. If the West Plains campus is open, the Director of University Communications will e-mail the status of Missouri State-West Plains, Extended Campuses and Missouri State Academic Outreach classes to all faculty and staff, including per course faculty.
  4. If the campus is open, faculty and staff members should make every reasonable effort to make it to class or the office. Faculty members unable to make it to class should contact the Academic Affairs office as soon as possible to cancel their individual class(es). (Faculty members canceling early morning classes should call Cheryl Caldwell at 256-0761 by 6 a.m. so the information can be posted to the Weather Hotline.) Staff members unable to make it to the office should contact their supervisor. The Academic Affairs Executive Assistant or Administrative Assistant will compile the faculty cancellation list and send the list via e-mail to the Director of University Communications. Periodic updates will be provided by Academic Affairs, as needed. The Director of University Communications will add this information to the Missouri State-West Plains Weather Hotline message.
  5. Each time the Missouri State-West Plains Weather Hotline message is updated, the Director of University Communications will e-mail the current hotline message to the following offices: Academic Affairs, Business Office, Chancellor’s Office, Physical Plant, Academic Outreach, Admissions, Faculty Secretary–Melton Hall, Mountain Grove Coordinator, Nursing, Registration and Records and Student Services.

Staff Policy on Severe Weather

If the campus has been closed, employees are not to report to work unless they are notified or have been given prior instructions to report as part of essential services. It is the responsibility of each dean or director to designate which employees are to report to work. The major administrator of the operation will be responsible for ensuring that needed employees are notified.

When Missouri State-West Plains officially closes before the start of an employee's work shift, the hours of the employee's work shift will be paid. When the University officially closes during an employee's work shift and the employee is sent home, the remaining hours in the employee's work shift are paid. Support staff required to work during the hours the University is officially closed will be paid at their straight time rate in addition to regular pay. Due to budget restrictions, departments may, in lieu of extra compensation, grant employees compensatory time off. Employees required to work over 40 hours and eligible to receive overtime compensation will be paid according to the University's normal policies on overtime compensation and hours worked.

An employee who is on leave without pay on a day that the University is closed due to severe weather will not be paid for the hours of their shift that the University was closed.

If no announcement is made, employees should assume that activities will continue as normal. Loss of work time because of weather conditions when the University continues operations will not be considered an excused absence. Such time lost must be taken as leave without pay or earned vacation leave, or compensatory time off.

"Emergency Operations Personnel" List

The following University personnel are required to attend work when the University is closed during a time when it would otherwise be open:

Business and Support Services
  • Superintendent of Buildings, Grounds, and Custodial Services
  • Public Safety Officers (all shifts)
  • All Custodial Services Personnel (expected to report for normal shift)
Student Affairs
  • Coordinator of Student Life and Development
  • Residence Assistants (RAs)
  • Food Services Personnel

Note: The attendance of other employees will be required based on exceptional, emergency situations (e.g., natural disasters, cyber-terrorism attacks, etc.) These staff will be notified by their supervisor if/when their attendance is required during a time when the University is otherwise closed.