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Working at Cornell

Inclement Weather Planning

This message was sent to all faculty and staff working out of the Ithaca and Geneva campuses on November 21, 2023.

Dear Colleagues,

The season's first snowflakes have already fallen in upstate New York, making this an opportune time to review inclement weather planning and preparedness information for our Ithaca and Geneva campuses and satellite locations. While much of the information is consistent from years past, there are important changes to the inclement weather policy as it pertains to work expectations during closures. With a more flexible workforce today than in years past, our past practices are no longer best practices.

Campus operating status

Cornell University generally maintains full operating status, meaning university offices remain open, classes continue, and regular services are provided. However, there are times when inclement weather events challenge our ability to maintain normal operations, and the university may decide that a delayed opening or temporary closure is in the community's best interest. We recognize that any change to operating status or cancellation of classes can be extremely disruptive. These decisions are carefully weighed, considering the expected timing, intensity and duration of a weather event, and Cornell's ability to maintain a safe and passable campus. Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Continuity of operations

When normal university operations are disrupted, the university must still maintain functions and services that meet the needs of students, provide campus security and safety operations, preserve utilities infrastructure and services, and support critical research programs. Units should identify and prioritize these functions, and supervisors should communicate expectations to employees who support these functions well ahead of the anticipated disruptions. Units should also take this time to review their continuity plans to maintain services with a reduced number of employees.

Cancellation of classes

In-person instruction is central to our academic mission; therefore, when inclement weather causes a change in the campus operating status such that classes are impacted, all instruction and advising will be canceled. Students will not be expected to attend virtually or complete additional coursework that day.Any exams or prelims will be postponed and rescheduled during a cancellation in consultation with the instructor. If there is a change in the university's operating status during the final exam period, on-campus and online exams will be postponed until the operating status returns to normal and will be rescheduled in consultation with the instructors. In the event of a delayed opening for the campus during finals, exams will be held as scheduled for the portion of the day when the campus is open.

Work expectations during closure

Effective immediately, work expectations during a campus or location-based closure will vary based on an employee's flexible work arrangement. The purpose of this change is to acknowledge our increased hybrid and remote workforce and to realign our closure policy with its purpose: to keep students, staff, and faculty safe when weather overwhelms our campus operations.

  • When campus closes, there is a university-wide expectation for employees with flexible or fully remote work arrangements to work remotely that day.
  • Employees who support essential services on-site may be required to report to campus during a closure as designated by their supervisor.
  • Employees who work fully on-site but are not designated by their supervisor as required to report to campus during a closure are not expected to work.

The Working at Cornell website details the inclement weather program, including tables that outline the work expectations during campus closure and pay guidelines for each group, as well as FAQs and scenarios to address some of the more common queries. Please review the information below and follow up with your supervisor and HR representative if you have questions about how a change in operating status may impact you.

Employee travel

Employees should make reasonable efforts to maintain their regular work schedules but are advised to avoid undue travel risks. When the campus is open, supervisors are encouraged to be reasonably flexible if personal weather-related travel conditions impact an employee's ability to reach campus. Employees who can complete their job responsibilities remotely may be permitted to do so.

Stay informed

If a weather event has the potential to impact normal operations, Cornell may send out an email notice the day before. This advance notice will inform our community about the potential of changing circumstances so that they can make suitable preparations in case of a disruption to work and class schedules.Once a decision is made to change the university operating status, the campus community is notified by CornellALERT email and Rave Guardian notifications. To receive text or voice alerts on your phone, or to download the Rave Guardian app, visit: How To Receive CornellALERT Messages.

Sincerely,

Mike Kotlikoff
Provost

Christine Lovely
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Dave Honan
Associate Vice President, Public Safety

Inclement Weather Resources