To: All faculty, staff, and students
From:
Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost
Cheryl Reardon, chief human resources officer and associate vice president
Sarah Hansen, vice president for student life
Intent: Inform all University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students of the institution's extreme weather policy. Please review the information below and bookmark the webpage for future reference.
Date: Dec. 14, 2023
Whenever possible, the university continues to function during inclement weather. Regularly scheduled classes meet to the extent that students and faculty are able to travel to campus and attend class.
Units of the university providing essential services must remain open and in operation, including:
- University Hospitals & Clinics
- Dental Clinics
- Campus Safety
- University Housing and Dining
- State Hygienic Laboratory
- Facilities Management
Administrative functions on campus continue to the extent that faculty, staff, and administrators can travel to and conduct business on campus. Individuals should use good judgement and avoid serious risks in traveling to campus or in attending class.
Please reference the policy on Extreme Weather Protocol for information about canceling or postponing university activities.
Attendance During Extreme Weather Conditions
University employees will be expected to make every reasonable effort to report to work as scheduled, even in severe weather conditions.
When provided advanced warning, employees are expected to anticipate difficulties and delays in transportation. Upon evaluation of their individual circumstances, employees are expected to make reasonable judgements to avoid serious risks when traveling to and from work.
Employees are encouraged to actively communicate with their supervisor or other proper authority regarding their timeliness and attendance during extreme weather conditions, in order to ensure proper staffing. When delayed, employees may be expected to report to work as soon as they become available, unless otherwise excused by their supervisor, in order to meet operational needs. Supervisory staff are expected to utilize their discretion reasonably and humanely in relation to this policy.
Absences due to severe weather conditions may be addressed in the following manner, as applicable:
- Employees may be authorized to perform work at home or an alternate location, to the extent such is available, practical and feasible, and provided appropriate accountability.
- Employees may be authorized to make up the time absent through an alternate work schedule within the same work week.
- Employees may utilize accrued compensatory time (merit) or accrued annual leave (vacation), if available, to remain in pay status, or be placed on leave without pay.
