When severe weather hits or emergencies arise, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) follows the UNC System’s Adverse Weather and Emergency Events Policy. This policy guides decisions about adjusting university operations to ensure everyone’s safety. You might be wondering, What Does Unc Mean in this context? UNC stands for the University of North Carolina, and the UNC System is the statewide public university system of North Carolina, comprising 17 institutions including UNC-Chapel Hill. Understanding UNC’s policies is crucial for students, faculty, and staff to navigate weather-related disruptions.
Unless an official announcement states otherwise, UNC-Chapel Hill operates on its regular schedule.
Safety is paramount for our UNC community – students, faculty, and staff. When weather events occur, the University’s top priority is the safety of everyone on and commuting to campus. UNC-Chapel Hill strives to announce any changes to class schedules or work operations as early as possible. This advance notice allows individuals to make informed decisions about their travel and campus presence. However, because many in our community commute from various locations, individuals must also assess their local conditions and decide if it is safe to travel to and from UNC-Chapel Hill.
It’s important to note that general announcements about state government agency delays or closures do not automatically apply to the UNC System or UNC-Chapel Hill. The UNC System policy explicitly states, “The Governor’s declaration of a ‘State of Emergency’ or an advisory by the State Highway Patrol to avoid travel does not automatically necessitate suspended operations.” Therefore, always refer to official UNC-Chapel Hill communications for university-specific updates.
We recognize that weather-related decisions can be complex and may not satisfy everyone. Even with the best forecasting, weather can be unpredictable. UNC-Chapel Hill makes these decisions with careful consideration for the safety and well-being of the entire university community.
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Adverse Weather & Emergency Closing Conditions
Based on real-time information from various sources, including grounds, police, transportation staff, Chapel Hill Transit, law enforcement agencies, and the National Weather Service, UNC-Chapel Hill may activate one of three Adverse Weather Conditions (Condition 1, 2, and 3) as defined by the UNC System’s policy. These conditions dictate the operating status of the university.
The UNC System’s Adverse Weather and Emergency Event Policy outlines these three Adverse Weather Conditions:
Condition 1 – Reduced Operations at UNC
Condition 1, or Reduced Operations, indicates that while current weather conditions might not present severe safety risks across the board, there’s a significant potential or existing disruption to local commuting, essential campus services, or the smooth functioning of UNC-Chapel Hill’s buildings and grounds. During Condition 1, UNC encourages individuals to consider their personal circumstances when deciding about reporting to campus.
For UNC Students and Faculty:
- Classes at UNC-Chapel Hill operate on their regular schedule.
- Faculty members at UNC have the flexibility to accommodate students who cannot attend class due to weather. This includes adjusting schedules and arranging make-up work.
For UNC Non-Faculty (Staff) Employees:
- Non-mandatory UNC employees, after informing their supervisors promptly, have the option to arrive late, leave early, or not come to work at all.
- Any time away from scheduled work hours must be covered by using available personal leave (compensatory, vacation, or bonus leave).
- Alternatively, and only with supervisor approval (not just notification), non-mandatory staff may be allowed to work remotely if feasible and safe, as determined by their supervisor. Employees working remotely do not need to use leave. However, remote work may not be suitable for all roles or during every type of adverse weather event.
- Mandatory UNC employees (those designated as essential for university operations during adverse weather) are expected to report to work or remain on duty. Supervisors may also adjust their schedules or shifts as needed.
In extraordinary circumstances, UNC-Chapel Hill may temporarily designate non-mandatory employees as “mandatory” if a specific weather event or emergency requires it.
Condition 2: Suspended Operations at UNC
- Classes at UNC are cancelled.
- UNC-Chapel Hill is open solely for mandatory operations.
- All non-mandatory operations at UNC are suspended.
- Only mandatory employees at UNC are required to be on campus or working.
Condition 2, Suspended Operations, signifies severe safety risks or logistical challenges. The goal is to significantly reduce the number of people traveling to or remaining on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus.
For UNC Students and Faculty:
- All classes at UNC-Chapel Hill are cancelled.
For UNC Non-Faculty (Staff) Employees:
- Non-mandatory UNC employees must not report to work and should leave campus.
- For any missed work time, these employees must use personal leave (compensatory, vacation, or bonus), unless:
- Off-site work was pre-approved by their supervisor.
- A Governor’s executive order allows for paid leave for missed work.
- The employee chooses to take leave without pay.
- The employee elects to use make-up time. Departments are responsible for determining if missed time during Condition 2 can be made up.
- Compensatory time must be used before make-up time.
- The maximum make-up time is the number of scheduled work hours during Condition 2, minus any hours actually worked.
- Make-up time must be completed within 90 calendar days of the event.
- Make-up time is not eligible for premium pay.
- Employees already on approved leave during adverse weather must continue to use their approved leave type.
- Mandatory UNC employees must report to work or stay on duty, unless instructed otherwise by their supervisors.
Condition 3: Closure of UNC
- UNC-Chapel Hill is closed.
- Classes are cancelled.
- Offices and facilities at UNC are closed.
- Only mandatory employees at UNC are required to report to or remain at work.
Condition 3, University Closure, represents the most severe conditions. These conditions pose extreme risks to health and safety or create insurmountable logistical obstacles that severely hinder UNC-Chapel Hill’s ability to function effectively. Examples include widespread downed trees/power lines, extensive flooding, threats to building stability, or loss of essential utilities.
For UNC Students and Faculty:
- All classes at UNC-Chapel Hill are cancelled.
For UNC Non-Faculty (Staff) Employees:
-
Non-mandatory UNC employees must not report to work and should leave campus.
- Employees are not required to use personal leave for absences during Condition 3.
-
Mandatory UNC employees must report to work or remain on duty, unless directed otherwise by supervisors.
It’s important to note that the UNC System policy designates Condition 3 as extremely rare, reserved for the most exceptional adverse weather scenarios.
Key Factors Influencing UNC Weather Decisions
Several key factors guide UNC-Chapel Hill’s decisions regarding adverse weather operations:
The personal safety of everyone at UNC – students, faculty, and staff – is the absolute priority. This is the most critical consideration in all decisions about university operations during weather events.
As a state institution and part of the UNC System, UNC-Chapel Hill must adhere to the rules, regulations, and personnel policies set by the state government and the UNC System Office. The university is committed to applying these policies with as much compassion as possible within their framework. While UNC-Chapel Hill is obligated to follow these policies, employees ultimately must make their own judgments about safe travel to work based on their individual circumstances. Employees should communicate any safety concerns and discuss office needs and remote work possibilities with their supervisors.
-
Chapel Hill Transit’s operations are vital to UNC-Chapel Hill’s functioning. The impact of weather on Chapel Hill Transit bus routes is a significant factor in university decision-making due to the high number of students (43%) who rely on public transit to commute. UNC-Chapel Hill regularly consults with local and regional transit authorities during weather events. Surveys indicate that over 12,100 commuting students (58%) and approximately 4,400 employees depend on local, regional, or park-and-ride transit services daily.
-
UNC-Chapel Hill recognizes the broader impact of operational changes beyond students and employees. Severe weather affects schools, daycare facilities, businesses, healthcare providers, and elder care, impacting the responsibilities of UNC faculty, staff, and students who are parents or caregivers.
-
Essential student support services must continue. During inclement weather, UNC’s Dining Services typically operates Rams Head and Top of Lenoir dining halls on a limited schedule. Check dining.unc.edu for the latest updates. Campus Health Services (campushealth.unc.edu) generally maintains walk-in, acute care services during inclement weather.
-
UNC-Chapel Hill also considers the impact of weather decisions on campus events, UNC Health Care System operations, and affiliated clinical practices. This includes athletic events, performances, lectures, and patient services. For athletic events, UNC Athletics follows Atlantic Coast Conference guidelines, aiming to play games if teams and officials can travel safely, while prioritizing public safety for spectators. Refer to goheels.com and relevant sports Twitter feeds for athletics updates.
-
Patients and families seeking information about UNC Health Care appointments should visit uncmedicalcenter.org. Contact your clinic directly if safe travel is impossible.
-
For UNC School of Dentistry appointments, visit dentistry.unc.edu for updates. Contact your provider or clinic to reschedule if you cannot travel safely. School of Dentistry personnel should check email for internal updates.
-
Conditions on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus itself are crucial. This includes roads, parking areas, and sidewalks. UNC’s transportation and grounds crews assess these conditions for snow/ice removal and other weather-related impacts, which is a vital safety factor in decision-making.
-
Class and work time are valuable. Canceling classes or altering work schedules is disruptive. UNC administrators make these decisions carefully, with substantial input and information.
-
When classes are missed due to weather, UNC-Chapel Hill encourages faculty to be flexible with students regarding assignments and make-up work. Faculty are expected to accommodate reasonable requests from students facing weather-related challenges.
-
UNC-Chapel Hill is committed to making timely decisions. The focus is on immediate operational issues, such as evening classes, shift operations, transportation, and safety services. UNC aims to provide decision updates well in advance to minimize uncertainty and allow for planning. Weather forecasts from the National Weather Service are monitored closely, and announcements are communicated via the university homepage (unc.edu) and official social media to provide early awareness of potential weather impacts.
UNC Information Sources
For updates on UNC-Chapel Hill’s operating status during weather events, consult the following official sources:
Adverse Weather and Emergency Phone Line: (919) 843-1234
Question mark icon directing users to contact Employee and Management Relations at UNC-Chapel Hill for weather and emergency policy inquiries.
Contact UNC Employee & Management Relations
Email | [email protected]
Phone | 919-843-3444
