Purpose
This policy provides guidelines for campus closings including those that dictate suspension of services and/or closure of operations on one or more campuses.
Policy
In the event of severe weather conditions or other emergency situations, the university may suspend normal operations and classes in whole or part of the impacted campus(es). If normal activities are suspended in any way, all employees whose positions are designated as essential personnel at the affected campus(es) must report to work as soon as conditions reasonably permit in order to ensure the continuation of critical campus operations, attend to the needs of students and others, and maintain and protect the university’s property.
Campus Closing Notification
In emergency situations where the St. Paul campus (including off-campus sites) may close or suspend operations before the normal workday begins, the Office of Marketing and Communications will update the Bethel website and use the Bethel alert system to call or text students and employees at the number(s) registered with the alert system by 6 a.m. Announcements will also be broadcast on local television stations, including WCCO-TV 4, KARE-11, Fox 9, and KTSP-TV 5.
A decision to suspend campus operations during the workday will be communicated to departments from the Office of Marketing and Communications by 3 p.m.
Attendance when the Campus Remains Open
Employees who are unable to report to work due to weather conditions when the campus is open must use paid leave. Unpaid leave may be used after paid leave is exhausted. Emergency leave is not available when the campus is open. The university expects employees to make a good faith effort to report to work during inclement weather if the campus has not declared an emergency closing.
Attendance and Compensation During an Emergency Closing
Non-essential Personnel:
The university provides paid emergency leave to those employees whose positions are not designated as essential during an emergency closing and who were scheduled to work on the day of the emergency closing. Non-essential personnel are not required to call in or report to work when the university is closed.
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Employees who are not scheduled to work or who are on approved vacation and/or personal leave during an emergency closing are not eligible for paid emergency leave.
Essential Personnel:
During an emergency, essential personnel provide services that relate directly to the health, safety, and welfare of the university, ensure continuity of key operations, and maintain and protect university property.
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