Inclement Weather - NMU Police Department

Should you attempt to drive to the Northern Michigan University campus if the blizzard outside keeps you from being able to see your mailbox at the end of your driveway? 

If you attend or work at NMU, you know we sometimes have inclement weather. There are several ways to get an update on the university’s decisions about bad weather, including messages on the NMU home page (www.nmu.edu) and NMU Police Department home page (www.nmu.edu/policedepartment), as well as calling the B-R-R-R line (906-227-BRRR) and listening to area media outlets.  The media outlets are notified by 6 a.m. if day classes are cancelled and by 2 p.m. if night classes are cancelled.

The decision to cancel classes due to inclement weather is made cooperatively by the director of the Police Department and NMU’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.

Read the full policy and procedure below.

Road condition information throughout the State of Michigan may be found on the Michigan State Police Road Conditions site.  To use the site, simply click the county you are driving through and a list of current road conditions will be displayed.

Inclement weather tips

When snow starts to blow, it brings a new set of concerns with it. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read the tips below to learn how to deal with conditions created by inclement weather on campus and in the surrounding communities. 

Ways to know NMU is closed:

An announcement is provided to all local media as soon as the decision is made to close Northern, which is usually between 6-7 a.m. for day classes and around 2 p.m. for evening classes. The announcement is posted on the NMU home page (www.nmu.edu), as well as on Upper Peninsula public broadcasting channels 13 and 20. There is also an announcement on the NMU weather line: 906-227-BRRR. Finally, the campus community will receive a message e-mailed to their NMU account.

Assessing road conditions:

Commuters can check the Michigan State Police website or call the Michigan State Police hotline at 1-800-381-8477 for road conditions.

Missing classes due to inclement weather when NMU is open:

No student should risk life and limb to attend class. Students are expected to make responsible decisions regarding driving to campus. Northern makes its decision about cancellations based on what best serves the majority of the NMU community. However, since Northern serves a geographical area that is larger than some states, there are times when weather conditions may vary from one place to another. Students who can’t make it to class because of weather when classes are in session should contact their professors via e-mail or phone to explain the situation.

Using public transportation:

As the temperature drops, NMU suggests taking the Wildcat Shuttle. It’s free and convenient for students and it provides transportation to anywhere in Marquette County.

Avoiding parking fines:

Snow means the enforcement of the City of Marquette’s winter parking ordinances, including no on-street parking from 1-6 a.m. There is also a ban on parking in the front yards of homes where it blocks sight lines. Both ordinances are in effect from Nov. 1 through April 1. Fines begin at $50. One option available to off-campus students who live close to Northern is to park in Lot 56 in the NMU Sports Complex. Students must have a commuter parking pass to take advantage of this parking option.

Inclement Weather Policy

Purpose

To make appropriate evaluations of current and projected conditions, to be used in considering if normal operations of the university will be curtailed during times of inclement weather.

Applicability

All University employees, full time, part time, temporary, casual labor, students.

Policy

Following, during or when periods of inclement weather are predicted, the Director of Public Safety will be responsible for gathering pertinent information and consultation with the Vice President, Academic Affairs. Once a decision has been made to close the University, appropriate media and personnel notification will be made by Public Safety.

Bus transportation to and from off campus events may be provided regardless of the open/closed status of the University depending upon the weather condition en route. The go/no go decision for bus transportation provided by a charter bus company rests with the charter company and depends upon their company policy. The go/no go decision for bus transportation provided by the University will be made jointly by the bus driver, Director of Public Safety and Police Services and the department head for the department using the service.

While traveling to or from a destination, if inclement weather conditions are encountered, the travel/not travel decision is the ultimate responsibility of the bus driver. The driver may contact Public Safety and Police Services via cell phone to receive information on weather and road conditions to aid in the decision process.

Inclement Weather Weather Procedure

The following guidelines should serve as an aid in interpreting the University’s Inclement Weather Policy. By clearly stating what the responsibilities are and where they lie, the policy will hopefully be administered fairly and serve the purposes for which it is intended.

Guidelines: A General Statement

The primary responsibility for implementing the Inclement Weather Policy resides with the individual. As a student, you bear the responsibility of making your special circumstances known to your professor. As a professor, you bear the responsibility of making your special circumstances known to your students and to apply this policy as fairly as possible.

A reminder: University policies are not made lightly, and they are not meant to be taken lightly. Everyone should try to avoid creating a situation where conflict might arise in operating under or applying a given policy.

Guidelines to the Student

1. Excused absence because of inclement weather conditions is generally a matter between you and your professor. If there is an unresolved matter after you have sought an excused absence from your instructor, it is your right to appeal the matter to the head of the department in which the instructor is a member or, in his/her absence, to the dean of the college.
2. If you miss class because of inclement weather, you must notify the faculty member at the earliest possible time—preferably within 24 hours—and not a week or two later.

Guidelines to the Faculty Member

1. If a student resides in an area where conditions have caused local school closings, then weather should be a factor in excusing that student. For example, if schools in Ishpeming have been closed, a student in that area may well have problems driving into Marquette.
2. If you are unable to drive to the campus for a class because of inclement weather/unsafe road conditions, it is your responsibility to call the department/dean’s office to do everything possible to provide timely notification to students that you have canceled class. You may also notify your students through the class roster function in EduCat.
3. If you want/need verification about road or weather conditions on a particular day, contact the Office of Public Safety (227-2151). They should be able to provide this information.

Guidelines to the Staff

1. IF THE UNIVERSITY IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED

AFSCME, LOCAL 1094
Staff members are to report to work as regularly scheduled. Individuals who find it impossible to make it to work (e.g., police have closed roads making it impossible to travel to the University) may take annual leave, personal leave, or a floating seasonal bonus day, if applicable, providing the staff member has called his/her supervisor or Public Safety prior to the start of his/her shift. Staff members who work will be given compensatory time off. Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 37, for detailed information.

EXECUTIVE, SENIOR MANAGEMENT, SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR, DEAN, ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HEAD, AND COACH
Staff members should exercise good judgment as to the necessity to work if the University is closed. Individuals will lose no pay if they cannot make it to work, or if they choose not to come to work because of the weather conditions.

UAW-A/P, LOCAL 2178
Staff members will lose no pay. Individuals who are required to report to work will be given compensatory time off (within the next 30 days). Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 1, for detailed information.

UAW-C/T, LOCAL 1950
Staff members will lose no pay. Individuals required to report to work will be given compensatory time off (within the next 30 days). Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 1, for detailed information.

2. IF CLASSES ARE CANCELED BUT THE UNIVERSITY IS NOT CLOSED

AFSCME, LOCAL 1094
Staff members are to report to work as regularly scheduled. Individuals who find it impossible to make it to work (e.g., police have closed roads making it impossible to travel to the University) may take annual leave, personal leave, or a floating seasonal bonus day, if applicable, providing the staff member has called his/her supervisor or Public Safety prior to the start of his/her shift. Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 37, for detailed information.

EXECUTIVE, SENIOR MANAGEMENT, SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR, DEAN, ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HEAD, AND COACH
Staff members are to report to work as regularly scheduled; however, good judgment should be exercised in each individual case regarding personal safety. Individuals who are unable to come to work may use annual leave, personal leave, compensatory time, or a floating seasonal bonus day, if applicable, providing the staff member has called his/her supervisor prior to the start of their work schedule.

UAW-A/P, LOCAL 2178
Staff members are to report to work as regularly scheduled. Good judgment should be exercised in each individual case regarding personal safety. Individuals who are unable to make it to work may use annual leave, personal leave, compensatory time, or lost time providing the staff member has called his/her supervisor prior to the start of their work schedule. Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 1, for detailed information.

UAW-C/T, LOCAL 1950
Staff members are required to report to work as regularly scheduled. Good judgment should be exercised in each individual case regarding personal safety. Individuals who are unable to make it to work may use annual leave, personal leave, or lost time providing the staff member has called his/her supervisor prior to the start of their work schedule. Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 1, for detailed information.

3. IF NO OFFICIAL ACTION IS TAKEN BUT THE WEATHER IS SEVERE

AFSCME, LOCAL 1094
Staff members are to report to work as regularly scheduled. Individuals who find it impossible to make it to work (e.g., police have closed roads making it impossible to travel to the University) may take annual leave, personal leave, or a floating seasonal bonus day, if applicable, providing the staff member has called his/her supervisor or Public Safety prior to the start of his/her shift. Please refer to the Master Agreement, Article 37, for detailed information