November 11, 2002

TO: UGA Faculty, Staff and Students

FROM: UGA Public Affairs Office

RE: Winter Weather Closing Procedures
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This is to remind and update you regarding procedures when winter weather causes the University to close. Please be aware that in case of winter weather the University is either open or closed for everyone – faculty, staff and students – as such weather-related closings are done in the interest of public safety. Such decisions are not based on weather forecasts, but rather on developing conditions which may lead to icing on roadways.

By policy, the University makes one of three announcements:

– UGA is open and operating on a regular schedule;
– UGA is closed.
– UGA will delay opening until a specific time.

Please do not be confused if some media ad lib that “UGA has cancelled classes.” Winter weather closing announcements apply to all faculty, staff and students except those personnel previously designated by their supervisor to report in case of inclement weather, such as in Public Safety, Physical Plant, Housing and Food Services.

Up-to-date information is delivered to Athens radio stations as follows:
On the am dial: 960 and 1340.
On the fm dial: 88.9, 90.5, 91.7, 97.9, 102.1, 103.7, and 106.1.

Information is posted on University Cable Channel 15, which also is carried on Clarke/Oconee cable channel 15. You may also get it from the UGA home page, www.uga.edu, and more detailed information on the UGA Today website, www.uga.edu/news. An all-campus e-mail such as the one you are reading now is sent, although due to volume its delivery may not be immediate.

Winter weather in this area generally develops overnight, and every attempt is made to notify media by 6:30 a.m. Athens radio stations are used primarily, because they can give priority to UGA announcements where Atlanta stations cannot. Atlanta radio and t-v stations which have requested to receive UGA closing announcements are also notified. If the weather develops during the work/school day, the same procedures above are used, as well as notice being made to the office of each vice president and dean.

You are urged to use the above means of learning this information. Please do not telephone the UGA police, other campus offices, or the news media. During developing snow events, we have in the past experienced a slowing of the telephone system because of volume. The phone lines should be left open for priority messages.

Sometimes weather conditions are such that closings occur two or more days in a row. In such cases, this procedure is followed for each day, with an announcement being made each morning by 6:30 a.m.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation should we experience inclement weather during the coming winter season.

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