PG-51 Severe Weather Conditions or Disaster

OFFICIAL CLOSE-DOWNS:

The President or the President's designated representative may officially cancel classes and/or close, remain open in virtual or hybrid operations, remain open and delay or suspend certain operations because of hazardous conditions caused by severe weather, a natural disaster or emergency. The official University weather plan will be used to denote the type of operations (Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D) for the day and will be communicated through a number of sources.

• Plan A: University closed
• Plans B, C, D: University open and/or any other altered conditions based on the circumstances.

Designation of EMERGENCY EMPLOYEE:

Emergency employees, for the purpose of defining eligibility for compensation in accordance with this policy, are those employees whose presence on campus is essential for the University’s operations and are necessary to alleviate a hazardous and/or emergency condition or provide an emergency service, if the University is completely closed under Plan A. Contingent upon the circumstances, any employee may be designated as an emergency employee and asked by their Vice President to report to campus. While it is the responsibility of each Vice President to designate emergency personnel to report to campus during official close-downs or delays, the following personnel are designated as emergency employees:

• University President
• Vice Presidents
• Human Resources leadership
• Facilities Management personnel (as determined by the situation)
• Information Technology personnel (as determined by the situation)
• University Police
• Communications and Marketing (as determined by the situation)
• Other employees as deemed necessary by each Vice President based on the situation
• Only employees designated as emergency personnel are subject to the provisions of this policy. It is the responsibility of the respective budget unit to address the additional costs associated with the compensation provisions of this policy.

MISSED TIME:

A regular full-time employee shall not lose pay for any work time missed during any period that University operations are officially closed because of inclement conditions caused by severe weather, a natural disaster or emergency. Time associated with these closures or delays should be noted in self-service for non-exempt employees.

A non-exempt emergency employee required to work during such period of closure shall first be granted flex time off (within the pay period) or, at the discretion of the University Vice President receive overtime pay.

Emergency exempt staff shall be granted equivalent time off if required to work during such periods.

In the event classes and operations are officially canceled, delayed or suspended under Plan A, the University may amend its calendar or workday to make up the missed classes, workday(s) or work hours. Time missed from work by a staff member because of inclement conditions caused by severe weather, a natural disaster or emergency, at times when Plans B, C, or D are in effect, is to be accounted for by taking vacation leave or leave without pay if no vacation time is available. In the event an employee does not have sufficient accumulated vacation pay to apply to the absence, the employee's supervisor is encouraged to make reasonable efforts to allow the employee to make up the missed time during the current or next pay period.

NOTIFICATION OF CLOSE-DOWNS OR DELAYS:

When it becomes necessary for the President or designated representative to close the University, notification will be made as soon as possible via MSU email, the MSU website, social media, LiveSafe, EagleAlerts, Morehead State Public Radio, and other local and regional broadcast media.  Employees may also call 783-INFO (4636) to obtain information on class or operational closing.

SUPERSEDES:

This policy supersedes Personnel Policies, PAd-4, PSE-5 and PSNE-6.