Inclement Weather Policy

Three Plans for Operations

During times of inclement weather, the College will follow one of the following plans: 

• Plan A. Normal Operations.
• Plan B. Delayed Opening or Early Dismissal.
• Plan C. Remote Operations.

When operating under Plan A (Normal Operations) all Centre community members are expected to follow their normal work practices. If a staff member cannot do so, they will be expected to use a PTO day. If an instructor cannot do so, their classes may shift to asynchronous work, meet remotely, or be cancelled, with the instructor informing their students and their Division Chair as specified in the Faculty Handbook.
 
When the College decides to suspend normal operations for any period (Plans B and C) due to inclement weather, all College activities are suspended for the time in question and there will be no general access to academic buildings, athletic facilities, or administrative offices, except for designated personnel fulfilling their responsibilities. 
 
For Plan B, classes shift to a truncated schedule corresponding to the delayed opening or early dismissal. Organizational meetings, performances, and practices may meet normally during open times, but must meet remotely or be canceled when normal operations are suspended. Designated employees (defined below) are expected to maintain their normal in-person work schedules; other employees are expected to work remotely or use PTO when normal operations are suspended. 
 
For Plan C, classes may shift to asynchronous work, meet remotely, or be cancelled, but may not meet in-person, not even for “optional” class meetings. Likewise, organizational meetings, performances, and practices must meet remotely or be cancelled, but may not meet in-person. Designated employees are expected to maintain their in-person work schedules; other employees are expected to work remotely or use a PTO day. 

Decision Process

The Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Director of Athletics and Recreation, the Director of Facilities Management, and the Director of Public Safety collaboratively decide which of Plans A, B, or C to follow in case of inclement weather. Directors of other areas will be consulted as needed. This college-wide decision must be followed by all members, programs, and offices of the College.

Decisions about inclement weather will be made with as much advance notice as possible and consider current and forecasted weather, road and campus sidewalk conditions, campus accessibility and facility readiness, and announcements of other local delays and closures. When possible, a decision will be made the day before inclement weather is anticipated.

Communications Process

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Chief Human Resources Officer will consult with the Vice President for Student Life, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Vice President for Marketing and Communications as necessary.

Any inclement weather plans will be communicated to the campus community by email. The announcement will share when the operational plan ends or will be re-evaluated and, when appropriate, a truncated class schedule. In addition, these details will be shared on the Centre website, social channels, and with local media.  

Any office that is responsible for events on a day with delayed opening, early closure, or remote operations is responsible for notifying their constituents, including Admission for visiting students, and the Norton Center for the Arts, Athletics, and Library for in-person events.  

Designated Employees

Because Centre College is a highly residential campus, certain critical services must be provided and these require designated employees to maintain their in-person work, even in inclement weather. Human Resources will maintain a list of all critical services and designated employees at the College. Please note that designated employees are informed of this status at hiring unless a position changes, in which case, a manager will inform the affected employee in advance.

Designated employees are expected to maintain their normal, in-person work hours for all inclement weather plans. In case of inclement weather, they will be offered housing, meals, and transportation to campus, as determined in consultation with their supervisor. Designated employees who are paid on an hourly basis will be paid at time-and-a-half based on their normal work schedule for the day. Designated employees who cannot maintain their in-person work will utilize a PTO day. Supervisors of designated employees are responsible for communicating attendance expectations in advance.  

Each supervisor is responsible for sharing the Inclement Weather policy with their team members, identifying critical services and designated employees, and sharing the confirmed assignments along with accompanying expectations. All supervisors are responsible for reviewing their area’s critical services and the designated employees who will provide those services annually. This review should take place before Fall Break each academic year, and the confirmed designations shared with Human Resources.

Every employee is expected to understand the College’s inclement weather policy and to clarify their personal responsibilities and expectations with their supervisor. Designated employees should notify their supervisor if they will likely need housing, meals, and transportation to campus. Non-designated employees should be prepared to work remotely during Plan B or C, or plan to take PTO.