As winter nears, here's what you need to know

It’s still a little early to forecast exactly what kind of weather Buffalo may be in store for this winter, but as the calendar turns to November, here’s what the UB community should know in case of severe weather:

• Who’s monitoring the weather? UB’s Office of Emergency Management monitors the weather, and when severe weather is forecast, consults with UB’s Winter Weather Advisory group. This cross-section of representatives from around the university will conference call as early as 5 a.m. to discuss whether conditions warrant recommending to the president that he cancel or delay classes and activities for the day. 
  

That recommendation is made after considering the regional weather, forecast and road conditions; area travel bans and restrictions; capacity to clear campus roadways, parking lots and sidewalks; and the ability to provide bus service on and between campuses.

• Sign up for UB Alert. If the decision is made to cancel classes, the UB community is primarily notified through UB Alert. Sign up, if you haven’t already. The system sends emergency texts to cell phones and emails to everyone who has a UB address.

Notification also will be made through UB’s social media and the 645-NEWS hotline, as well as traditional media outlets.

• Employee absences.  When UB cancels classes and activities because of a snowstorm, employees who do not report for work must take vacation time or otherwise charge their absence to appropriate leave accruals. Employees may want to review procedures for cancellations and consult with their supervisors.
• Use caution. If classes and campus activities are not cancelled, but conditions may be inclement where you live, use best judgement when assessing the risks of traveling to and from campus. Safety is the primary consideration.
• Can’t make class. If classes are not canceled, but students are unable to get to campus safely due to the weather, they should notify their instructors. They will not be penalized if they cannot make it to class or a campus job because of severe weather. Faculty should provide reasonable accommodations for students who miss class, an assignment or exam because of the bad weather. Students, however, are responsible for making up the work in a timely fashion.
• In-person vs. remote. Cancellation of classes due to severe weather applies to both — whether classes are in-person or remote.
• Essential workers. Employees considered “essential” should be identified by their supervisors and notified if they must remain at or report to work in the event of severe weather. Those who cannot safely get to work also must use vacation time or appropriate leave accruals.

“The UB community has a history of coming together and rising to the occasion whenever weather conditions get challenging,” says Jessica Alaimo, senior emergency manager. “As winter nears, I would like to ask our community to recognize and thank the hard-working employees who show up in even the harshest conditions to clear snow, keep us safe and support our on-campus residents.”