Employee Winter Weather Procedures

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Campus Closure (“Campus Closed”)

• Both campuses and all buildings (including Hutchinson East Campus) are closed to students, employees, and the public, except essential employees.
• The college remains open remotely, and telework‑eligible employees are expected to work from home.
• All on‑campus, in‑person classes, services, meetings, and events are cancelled. Online and hybrid virtual sessions continue as scheduled.

Telework Expectations

• Telework‑eligible employees must take laptops home nightly from Nov. 1–Apr. 1 (pilot for 2025–26).
• Employees able to work remotely are expected to telework:
  • During a campus closure
  • During a delayed start (from their normal start time until they leave for campus)
  • During early closures, once home
• Employees who cannot telework during required times must contact their supervisor to discuss leave options.
• Employees whose jobs cannot be performed remotely and who are not required on campus use the MSL time code.
• Travel time needed to get to campus after a late start counts as normal work time.

Delayed Opening / Late Start

• All on‑campus in‑person services, meetings, activities, and events scheduled during the delayed period are cancelled (situational exceptions may be considered).
• On‑campus classes scheduled to start during the delayed period begin at the new start time (instructors may cancel instead).
• Employees are expected to telework until they leave home to arrive on campus by the delayed start time.

Weather Communications

• Closure or late‑start announcements will be sent by 6:00 a.m. via Star Alert, email, the website, social media, and local media.
• If no announcement is issued by 6:00 a.m., campuses operate normally.
• Advance notice will be provided whenever possible.

Individual Telework Requests Due to Weather

• Employees unable to travel safely must contact their supervisor in advance, at a reasonable hour (not late at night or before 6:00 a.m.).
• Supervisors consider:
  • • Validity of the circumstance
    • Operational and staffing needs
    • Whether duties can be performed remotely
• Teleworking employees must perform their own duties; tasks cannot be shifted to coworkers.
• If duties cannot be fully completed remotely, personal leave must be requested.
• Telework or leave approval is not guaranteed, and should not be expected for every snowfall.