SUBJECT: CLOSING OF DENTON AND/OR DALLAS CAMPUSES DUE TO EXTREME                     WEATHER CONDITIONS

APPLICABILITY: FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS OF UNT, UNT SYSTEM                                 ADMINISTRATION

The University of North Texas Denton and/or Dallas campuses will remain open unless weather conditions are such that the majority of students, faculty, and staff are unable to reach their respective campus due to severe weather or impassable road conditions. The Denton/Dallas campuses may also close if a critical shortage of energy occurs.

1. Responsibilities:

1.1 The President, or his designee, based upon recommendations from the Senior Vice President for Administration and the Director/Chief of Police and Traffic will:

- Make the decision whether the Denton/Dallas campuses will remain open or closed.
- Notify the Chancellor who will notify the UNT System Administration.
- Implement the University Inclement Weather Notification procedures.

1.2 Director/Chief of Police and Traffic will:

- Immediately call the decision of the President, or his designee, to the Vice President for University Relations, Director of Telecommunications, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, and the UNTHSCFW Police Department.

1.3 Vice President for University Relations will:

- Immediately notify the news media, including the campus radio station, of University closing due to severe weather and post a notice of closure on the UNT website.

1.4 Vice Presidents will:

- Implement the University Inclement Weather Notification procedures.
- Notify their deans, directors/chairs of the closure.

1.5 Offices which will remain open during official University closings are:

- Campus Police (Sullivant Public Safety Center)
- Telephone Operators (Eagle Student Services Center)
- Health Center
- Housing and Dining Services (All dorms)
- Essential services staff of the Facilities Administration
- Other essential services determined by each Vice President

2. Closure Announcements:

2.1

- In the event the University plans to close offices and/or suspend classes at the Denton/Dallas campuses for an entire day, selected area television and radio stations, including KNTU, will normally be notified no later than 5:00 a.m. of the day in question. (If UNT is not on the news media's list of school and business closures, the Denton/Dallas campuses will be open for business as usual until further notice.) In the event inclement weather develops during the class day, the University will try to announce closing before 5:00 p.m. The timing will of course depend on the conditions.

2.2

- Inquiries during periods of extreme weather should be directed to the UNT Information/Campus operators at Denton phone number (940) 565-2000, Dallas/Ft. Worth metro toll free number (817) 267-3731.

2.3

- If the University closes offices and/or suspends classes at the Denton/Dallas campus, a closure notice will immediately be posted to the UNT website at www.unt.edu.

3. Faculty and Staff Attendance and Leave Issues:

3.1 When campuses are open:
- If the Denton/Dallas campuses are open during periods of extreme weather, all faculty and staff are expected to make every reasonable effort to report to duty while exercising their best judgment regarding hazardous conditions affecting their ability to travel to and from their work assignments. Faculty or staff members who believe they cannot travel safely to their work assignments are expected to notify their department head by phone. Absences by staff members who decide they cannot travel to their work assignments will be charged to applicable leave or pay will be docked. If a staff member has leave they may also choose to be docked. Absences by faculty members will be processed in accordance with current academic policies.

3.2 When campuses are closed:
- If the Denton/Dallas campuses are declared officially closed either for the entire day or as of a specified hour, all faculty and staff impacted by the weather, unless required to provide essential services, are considered relieved of duty until 12:00 midnight of that same day. As of 12:01 a.m. of the following day, unless the Denton/Dallas campuses are again declared closed, faculty and staff impacted by the weather will be expected to return to work according to their usual schedules. Impacted staff members’ absences from scheduled duty during the closing period shall be charged against Administrative leave.

3.3 Employees impacted by weather conditions:
- Those employees whose work assignment is within the areas impacted by weather conditions and who are required or permitted to work when the Denton/Dallas campuses are officially closed will earn compensatory time in an amount equal to the hours they work. Individuals whose work assignment is not impacted do not earn compensatory time.

3.4 Employees not impacted by weather conditions:
- Impacted by weather conditions versus not impacted: Only the Denton/Dallas campuses are subject to being officially closed. Faculty or staff whose work assignments are not impacted by extreme weather conditions are expected to work their normal schedules and staff members are not entitled to claim administrative leave for not working and shall not accrue compensatory time for work performed. Examples of those not impacted by extreme weather at the Denton/Dallas campuses would include: individuals scheduled to or requested by their supervisor to perform work from home (including teaching of internet or remotely located classes unless otherwise directed by the academic dean), individuals traveling on University business, and individuals working in satellite offices or other remote locations. If a staff member whose work assignment is not at the Denton/Dallas campuses is affected by extreme weather in another location, their department head may request approval for Administrative Leave on a case by case basis.

3.5 Closings are not University holidays:
- Extreme weather closings are not University holidays and do not accrue to an employee’s benefit if the employee is not scheduled to work or if the employee is not impacted by the weather conditions (see also item 3.6 below regarding employees on leave status.)

3.6 Absences charged to administrative leave:
- If an employee is in a paid leave status and would have been both scheduled to work and impacted by the weather conditions, their absence while the Denton/Dallas campuses are closed shall be charged to Administrative Leave. If an employee is in an unpaid leave status they are not entitled to Administrative Leave.

4. General Provision:
- This policy pertains to all University classes located in both satellite locations within the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and the UNT System Center at Dallas, unless exceptions are noted specifically in the news media announcements. Access to courses delivered via WebCT will not be affected. The President, UNT Health Science Center Fort Worth, and the Executive Director of the Universities Center at Dallas will issue appropriate policy guidance for those institutions.

See also 1.4.4, Emergency/Administrative Leave