It takes an “act of God” to close Ohio University, according to its definition of an emergency in its policies and procedures.
Harsh weather conditions have forced OU officials to close all university campuses and centers for a 36-hour period from 5 p.m. Monday until 5 a.m. Wednesday.
OU has seven campuses in addition to its main one in Athens, which are mainly located in central and southern Ohio.
OU President Roderick McDavis ultimately has to make the final decision to call off classes, after he’s advised by the Critical Incident Response Team, which is comprised of seven officials.
The CIRT team is called in for any incident that requires immediate action to be taken to maintain a safe environment at OU.
Some of the CIRT members include the chief of police, assistant vice president for safety and risk management, dean of students and the emergency programs coordinator.
This is the third occurrence in recent history the university closed for weather-related purposes.
The university was closed Jan. 28, 2009 due to snow and June 30, 2012 due to a severe thunderstorm dubbed a “derecho,” said OU Spokeswoman Katie Quaranta.
Most university buildings will be closed, except Ping Center, Baker University Center, Alden Library, residential housing and dining halls.
But that means that students who are employed at these facilities will still be required to work. “Essential service employees,” as designated by supervisors, are also required to work.
Culinary Services employs more than 1,500 students, according to its website. Other data wasn’t readily available by press time.
“I was already scheduled to work, regardless of whether the university had to close or not,” said Kyle Criner, a senior studying exercise physiology and a facility assistant at Ping Center. “It’s all right, as long as you’re careful about how you get to Ping.”
Essential personnel who are required to work during a declared emergency are paid their regular rate as well as overtime, according to the university’s policies and procedures.
An Ohio Athletics spokesperson said each team’s coaching staff will choose whether the university closure will affect its practice schedule.
“When it looks like we’re going to have a snow event, we make a decision if we’re going to meet in the early evening,” said Steve Mack, director of Facilities Management.
About 100 tons of salt have already been used this year on campus. A shipment of an additional 100 tons was scheduled for delivery Jan. 24, Mack said.
The university typically spends about $30,000 per year on snow salt, which custodial staff members primarily use on the entranceways of buildings and on sidewalks.
Students and faculty are advised to stay indoors during the severe weather and to dress appropriately both outdoors and indoors, as the temperatures inside buildings might be lower than usual.
—Jim Ryan contributed to this report.
@Dinaivey
db794812@ohiou.edu
University Building Hours
Ping Center
Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday: regular hours
Baker University Center
Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday: regular hours
Alden Library
Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday: regular hours
Dining halls open regular hours
Pay scale for workers tomorrow:
Regular pay: Faculty, students, administrative employees and classified employees who aren’t required to work
Regular rate and overtime pay*: Classified employees who have been designated essential service employees and are required to work during a declared emergency
*1 hour regular pay plus one hour of overtime pay at 1.5 times regular rate equals 2.5 times regular rate during a declared emergency
