{"id":35957,"date":"2018-11-16T08:13:17","date_gmt":"2018-11-16T15:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=35957"},"modified":"2018-12-02T13:12:53","modified_gmt":"2018-12-02T20:12:53","slug":"how-and-when-uccs-closes-for-winter-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=35957","title":{"rendered":"How and when UCCS closes for winter weather"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Campus<\/a>
Campus on the morning of Nov. 12, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the delayed start on Nov. 12, UCCS employees and students have already learned how weather information is communicated across campus. But how and when that decision is made, and what it means, can sometimes create additional questions that are addressed here.<\/p>\n

How a decision is made
\n<\/b>Safety for students, faculty and staff is the top concern on decisions to close campus.\u00a0The primary factor will be road conditions, which is based on information from UCCS Police and the City of Colorado Springs. Other factors include future weather predictions by the National Weather Service <\/span>and <\/span>local school district decisions<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Campus facilities conditions is also a factor, but f<\/span>acilities services\u00a0crews <\/span>work<\/span> to clear parking lots, campus roads, sidewalks and stairways to keep snow from accumulating.<\/span> Crews report as needed throughout the day and night to keep up with snowfall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Weather conditions and forecasts can change significantly within a matter of hours because of slight variations in storm track and intensity. UCCS looks at a variety of forecasting models to make the decision, but those weather changes may mean the storm is stronger or weaker from when the initial decision is made.<\/p>\n

When a decision is made<\/b>
\n<\/span>Information about a delayed start or full day closure is typically announced between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on the impacted day. UCCS will typically not announce a closure or delay the night before. This allows university and city crews an opportunity to clear roads, parking lots and sidewalks during the night. Facilities and UCCS Police will meet on current conditions, and consult National Weather Service data for future conditions, starting at approximately 4 a.m.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For an early closure, information will be communicated as quickly as possible, with the goal of at least a two hour advance notice. Employees and students are encouraged to leave campus before or at the announced closure time if possible.\u00a0Campus shuttle systems typically end a few minutes after the closure <\/span>time, but<\/span> will work to move as many people to their vehicles as conditions allow. Drivers who rely on the shuttles to reach their vehicles are encouraged to leave campus as quickly as they can when an early closure is announced.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to find out about closures<\/b>
\n<\/span>UCCS uses multiple ways to communicate with students and employees through UCCS Alerts:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n