IC News

We share this message with you today to provide additional information and clarification regarding Ithaca College’s inclement weather operating status options for the 2022-23 academic year. We encourage members of our campus community to please bookmark this message and refer to it as a resource as we encounter inclement weather events during the upcoming winter season. 

As a reminder, Ithaca College’s Core Emergency Response Team (CERT) evaluates all potential weather events and will communicate timely updates regarding the college’s operating status. Please continue reading to learn more about the various statuses and what members of our campus community should expect.
 
Thank you for your time and consideration to reviewing and adhering to these important updates to our operating status and protocols.

Sincerely,
Bonnie Prunty
CERT Co-Chair and Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life

Dave Weil
CERT Co-Chair and Chief Information Officer

During an Open - Normal Operations status, all college activities, classes, and procedures are expected to proceed as scheduled.

Staff expected to attend work in-person are required to inform their supervisor if they are unable to report to work and will be required to use paid time away if unable to attend.

Faculty unable to host class as scheduled should advise their chair or dean and must follow one of the following plans of action:

• Arrange for a colleague to conduct the class
• Schedule a make-up class
• Provide other approved activities or assignments for students

Students are expected to attend class as scheduled unless otherwise notified by their professor.

Ithaca College will most often move to an Open - Remote Operations status in the case of an inclement weather event. This status is reserved for situations when weather makes it increasingly hazardous to drive to campus and/or facilities needs additional time to clear walkways and parking lots to ensure safer travel while on campus. 

Essential Services and Work Expectations
During this status, all essential in-person services remain open and essential staff supporting these services are expected to report to campus. This includes staff members in the following areas:

• Dining Services (options may be limited)
• Office of Facilities
• Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management
• Student Health Services
• Office of Residential Life Live-In Duty Staff
• Office of Mail Services
• Additional in-person services related to health and safety

Essential staff in the areas listed above are required to report to campus as normal. Many of these departments alternate the essential staff required to report to campus during each subsequent weather-related emergency. Essential employees should consult with their supervisors if they are unsure of their need to report to campus.

Non-Essential Services and Work Expectations
All non-essential in-person services not listed above will be closed to in-person traffic unless otherwise specified. These services include, but may not be limited to:

• Ithaca College Library
• Fitness Center
• Athletics and Events Center Facilities
• IT Labs
• Practice Rooms and Performance Spaces
• Wellness Clinic

Any services that can be delivered in a remote format with remote staff can remain open. 

Staff whose basic job duties cannot be accomplished remotely will be compensated per the IC Compensation Program policy. All other staff who are able to complete job functions in a remote format are expected to work remotely. Staff who require special arrangements should contact their supervisor to discuss specific work arrangements or assignments.

Student Employees and Work Expectations
Student employees who work in pre-defined student essential roles may report to work if they are able, but are not required to report during this operational status. These roles include:

• Dining Services
• Resident Assistants (RAs)
• Campus Center Information Desk
• Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol (SASP)
• Mail Services

All other student employees not listed in the categories above are not permitted to work on campus during this operating status.

Please note that students will not be compensated for missed in-person work shifts; however, student employees whose work is able to be performed remotely may continue to do so with approved permission from their supervisor. 

Classes and Events
During Open – Remote Operations status no in-person classes or extracurricular events and programs are permitted.

Faculty are expected to utilize the following options for their scheduled classes:

• Synchronous remote delivery during scheduled class time
• Asynchronous substitute or out of class assignments
• Rescheduling the class during a time when campus is open with normal operations

Faculty are expected to communicate class status with their students in a timely manner.

Please note that this status is reserved for only the most extreme of weather events and will be exceedingly rare. An example of a situation in which the college would utilize this status is a weather event that causes widespread power outages, such as an ice storm, that would make remote work impossible.

Essential Services and Work Expectations
During this status, all essential in-person services remain open and essential staff supporting these services are expected to report to campus. This includes staff members in the following areas:

• Dining Services (options may be limited)
• Office of Facilities
• Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management
• Student Health Services
• Office of Residential Life Live-In Duty Staff
• Office of Mail Services (to support mail-order prescriptions)
• Additional in-person services related to health and safety

Essential staff in the areas listed above are required to report to campus as normal for their regularly scheduled hours, and may be asked to remain on campus beyond normal hours, until the weather emergency concludes. Many of these departments alternate the essential staff required to report to campus during each subsequent weather related emergency. Essential employees should consult with their supervisors if they are unsure of their need to report to campus.

Non-Essential Services, Student Employees, and General Employee Work Expectations
All other employees not listed in the categories outlined above are not to report to campus and should not complete work during a closed operating status. Please note that this also includes all student employees.

Classes and Events
During the Closed operating status all classes and extracurricular activities and events are cancelled.

Ithaca College would most often utilize the Delayed Opening status in a situation where a significant weather event occurs overnight, but ends early enough to allow on-campus walkways and parking lots to be cleared and roadways to become less hazardous in time for the college to resume operations at a specific time during the day.

In a Delayed Opening status, the college will begin the day in a Closed or Open – Remote Operation status until a pre-determined time when Open – Normal Operations can be resumed. The timing of such status changes will be communicated with the campus community in a timely manner.

Work Expectations
Employees should refer to the information outlined above regarding their individual work status and expectations if the college is to experience a Delayed Opening.

Classes
Given the significant challenges a mid-day change in operating status can impose on course delivery, faculty have discretion as to how to proceed. If the college begins the day in an Open – Remote Operations status faculty should refer to the options outlined above for their course delivery.

Once Open – Normal Operations status resumes, faculty are encouraged to use their discretion with the following options:

• Hold in-person classes as scheduled
• Hold classes in synchronous remote format during scheduled class time
• Offer asynchronous alternative class assignments and/or activities to replace missed hours of student learning
• Reschedule class for another time

Faculty must notify students regarding class status in a timely manner.