Dear OSU Community Members,

Advancing safe working, learning, and living environments is at the heart of all that we do within the university. We recognize that inclement weather, hazardous conditions, extreme heat, and unhealthy air quality are environmental situations that can affect your wellness and safety, and the successful operations of the university.

There are circumstances in which the president, or designated OSU leaders, might determine it necessary to delay the opening or close the university’s operations while maintaining ongoing essential residential and research functions. Recognizing that fall, winter, spring, and summer terms each come with unique weather events and potential for conditions that may be hazardous, this communication is focused on inclement weather (snow, ice, heavy rain) and conditions (flooding, icy roads, fallen trees) which may occur during fall and winter terms.

Announcements of Closure or Curtailments of Operations

To inform OSU community members and to contribute to continuity of services, the university will make every effort to announce campus or university closures or curtailment decisions as soon as possible. The information will be distributed or posted no later than 6 a.m. and, when possible, earlier. An announcement of closure or curtailment of operations will be distributed as follows:

Corvallis campus: Posted on the OSU Home Page with a headline linking to the Campus Alert website. Additionally, OSU’s Department of Public Safety will maintain a recorded phone message reporting the operating status of the Corvallis campus and providing information related to an emergency, delayed opening, or closure situation. This information is accessible 24/7 by dialing 541-737-8000.

OSU-Cascades: Posted in an alert bar on the OSU-Cascades Home Page and Emergency Status web page. Additionally, see OSU-Cascades’ Weather Delays and Closures web page for complete list of delay or closure notifications. OSU-Cascades’ phone line will include recorded information updating closure or delayed opening details. That number is 541-322-3100.

Hatfield Marine Science Center: Noted on the HMSC website by 6:30 a.m.

OSU Portland Center: Sent to employees by email by local leadership.

Experiment Stations and Extension programs:  Sent to employees by email by local leadership.

General Closure and Curtailment information:

·        The university will provide information on closures, delayed openings, and curtailment of operations to local media. A detailed listing can be found at Closures or Curtailment of Operations.  Employees are encouraged to monitor local media to stay informed of university conditions.

·        If an OSU campus or facilities are closed or operations curtailed, supervisors should confirm with affected employees who are assigned to on-site work whether the employee can perform their work duties remotely. Employees who are already working remotely may continue to do so as normal.

·        Employees whose position description designates them as performing essential work are required to work on-site at their regularly scheduled time during a closure or curtailment unless otherwise specified by their supervisor. An employee may temporarily be designated to perform essential work by their supervisor due to an urgent or critical need.

·        For additional information and resources, see the Closures or Curtailment of Operations policy, which includes links to a quick reference guide and information on how to report time during for inclement weather closures or curtailment of operations

During inclement weather or hazardous conditions, I encourage all students, faculty, and staff to utilize this information and always carefully consider their personal safety and local conditions when making decisions about their commute to work or campus, and travel across an OSU campus or center.