Emergency Facility Closures

FACILITY CLOSURES 

Procedure 2515 

1.0     Scope 

This procedure applies to all persons on Northland Pioneer College (NPC) premises. 

2.0    Purpose 

The purpose of this procedure is to provide information on closures at facilities due to inclement weather, maintenance, repair, loss of utilities, and/or emergencies. 

3.0    Definitions 

3.1    NPC Premises - includes all land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by NPC. 

3.2    Emergencies - A sudden serious event that constitutes danger to life, property, or health such as criminal activity, damage to property (fire, flooding, hazardous material) and medical emergencies that require immediate action.  

3.3    RAVE - NPC’s emergency alerting system designed to provide text and email alerts to  NPC affiliates. 

4.0    Procedure  

 
4.1    Weather Closures 

Closing a campus/center due to adverse weather conditions falls under the authority of the Vice President for Learning and Student Services (VPLSS) or designee. 

In the event of adverse weather conditions, campus/center managers will call the Lead Campus Manager who will in turn call the VPLSS as soon as possible to discuss the local situation. The campus/center managers will attempt to determine road conditions by reviewing websites and social media outlets of local area schools, local departments of transportation and local law enforcement agencies.  

The priority of NPC is to remain open whenever possible.  Students, faculty, and other NPC employees are expected to exercise judgement regarding travel to campuses/centers in adverse weather conditions.  Employees are required to  keep their immediate supervisor informed of their decision to travel or not travel.  The supervisor, in conjunction with the campus/center manager, will coordinate contact of affected students by phone, text or email, and provide cancellation notification when faculty cancels a class. 

When a class is canceled because of adverse weather, affected faculty members will determine how the missed course content will be made up by their students. If a student is absent from class due to adverse weather, they should contact their instructor as soon as possible. The instructor shall have discretion to determine whether or not, and how, the absence is resolved. 

Students who are traveling or have arrived at a clinical site will need to assess when it is safe to travel home.  

If classes are to be canceled at a campus/center for a period of time, a decision to do so should be made, if possible: 

•     By 6 a.m. for morning classes 
•     By 10 a.m. for afternoon classes 
•     By 3 p.m. for evening classes 

If a decision to cancel a class and/or classes at a campus/center has been made, the VPLSS will: 

    1. Notify the Director of Communication or designee as soon as possible. A public announcement will be prepared in the Marketing & Public Relations department and  disseminated as appropriate. 

    2. Utilize NPC-wide alert system to notify employees and students.  
    If a campus/center is closed for safety reasons due to weather, all personnel are requested to leave the campus/center location when it is safe to travel, using their best judgement.  Personnel may remain in the building until it is safe to travel. Employees and students will be campus/center to clear the snow.) 

4.2     Maintenance/Repair or Loss of Utilities Closures 

Closing a facility, campus/center due to maintenance or repair, related to facilities or utilities falls under the authority of the Vice President for Administrative Services (VPAS). 

1. The VPAS will notify NPC of any scheduled building closures and possible reopening as soon as possible. 
2. Supervisors will have the responsibility for rescheduling the work of employees under their direction for completion at a different site, if possible. 
3. Supervisors in conjunction with the VPAS will make every effort to provide alternate work sites and/or alternate work assignments for employees who are in buildings   scheduled to be closed. 
4. When the loss of utilities or other unscheduled events makes the workplace intolerable, the immediate supervisor may select another place for employees to continue assigned work, which may include a remote location. 
5. If it is not possible for the employee to perform their regular job functions at another site, the employee may be reassigned to assist employees in another building. 
6. If an employee is unable to be given a suitable alternate assignment and is unable to provide services to other departments, that employee may appropriately be released from duties without any deduction from accrued leave. 
7. If an employee is unwilling to accept an alternate assignment, that employee may elect to use accrued leave. 
8. When the assigned work site is open, employees will return to their normal work location and scheduled work hours. 

4.3     Emergency Closures 

Closing a campus/center long term due to a local or county-wide emergency falls under the direction of the President or designee. 

The president or designee will notify NPC of any closures and possible reopening as soon as possible. Refer to the NPC Emergency Procedures “Flip Book” that addresses various situations for additional information.  These Flip Books are located in each NPC office and classroom and distributed by the campus/center offices when updates have been made.