2024 - 2025 Snow Emergency Protocols
Please keep the following snow emergency procedures handy so you know what to do in the event the College cancels classes or has a delayed opening due to inclement weather. During term time, the College tries to remain open and to operate as normally as possible to avoid disruptions to the academic program. Plan ahead when snow is in the forecast and close all windows before leaving your office.
WHEN SEVERE WEATHER MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE NORMALLY
There may be occasions when we must delay opening the College or even close the campus for an entire day. A delayed opening designates 11:00 a.m. as the opening hour, in time for the second set of classes.
Essential staff, including but not limited to Campus Safety, Facilities, and Food Services, are expected to work their scheduled shifts during delayed openings or closures.
INFORMATION ABOUT A DELAYED OPENING OR CLOSING
You will be contacted through SLC’s emergency/weather notification system as soon as a decision is made. The College uses the RAVE Mobile Safety notification system. All new students, staff, and faculty are automatically enrolled in the RAVE system. Once enrolled you should have received a registration notification with a link to RAVE, which allows you to set up preferences. If you have any questions about RAVE please reach out to Matt Brewster, Associate Director, Physical Security/Events, at mbrewster@sarahlawrence.edu.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO CLASS OR WORK
If a member of the undergraduate faculty is unable to hold class/conference, even after a delayed opening, they should notify their students via email and email Pauline Mulcahy, Academic Support Coordinator, at pmulcahy@sarahlawrence.edu.
Members of the graduate faculty should notify their program director and their students via email and copy the Graduate Studies Office at gradstudies@sarahlawrence.edu.
If a Writing Institute faculty member is unable to meet their class, they should email the Writing Institute (Courtney Gillette and Ava Robinson) at cgillette@sarahlawrence.edu. They should also notify their students via email.
Please note: Due to the College operating at full capacity, undergraduate classes cannot move online should the College have a delayed opening, early closing, or full closure. However, some graduate-only classes may move to Zoom, at the discretion of graduate program directors in collaboration with graduate faculty; if this is the case, graduate students and faculty will receive a follow up communication from their program directors with more details. If a graduate class does move to Zoom, faculty and students will attend the class from off-campus locations. Most Writing Institute classes will continue online (as scheduled).
When a staff member is unable to make it into work due to weather, they must notify their supervisor.
PARKING
All community members who require overnight parking, regardless of duration of time, must park their vehicle in Kober lot. This policy is in effect until March 31, 2024. Vehicles found in parking lots other than Kober overnight will be subject to a fine or boot at the owner’s expense.
On days when the College has a delayed opening, faculty and staff should NOT park in any faculty staff lots or house driveways before 10:30 a.m. in order to give the grounds crew an opportunity to clear snow and salt. If you arrive before 10:30 a.m. you must park in Kober Lot.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Essential services, including but not limited to Campus Safety, Facilities, and Food Services, remain operational during weather emergencies. If other community-related facilities such as the Library and Sports Center are able to open when the campus is closed, we will post on slc.edu/status and/or send a global email with hours of operation.
SHUTTLES
Depending on road conditions, shuttles on and off campus may not operate. Changes to the shuttle service will be listed on slc.edu/status.