Dear Campus Community,
The University of Texas at Dallas community is asked to make note of the best ways to stay informed if inclement weather or other events require changes to campus schedules.
UT Dallas is open for normal business operations and instructional activities unless indicated otherwise on the UTD homepage. Employees and students are expected to exercise judgment regarding their ability to travel safely to campus when inclement weather is in the area. They are not expected to place travel for work or class attendance above considerations for individual health and safety.
If conditions require suspension of in-person classes, meetings and other activities on campus, every effort will be made to post information on UTD-controlled sites no later than 6 a.m. Students and faculty are encouraged to make use of eLearning and other means of continuing academic progress if conditions prohibit travel.
Late-breaking weather developments may occasionally require afternoon notifications of evening event cancellations. Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to monitor UTD’s communication outlets when threatening weather is forecast.
If suspension of activities is necessary, UT Dallas will:
- Post closure information on the UTD website – utdallas.edu.
- Post an announcement on UT Dallas’ official Facebook page – facebook.com/utdallas.
- Post via the official UT Dallas X (Twitter) channel – x.com/UT_Dallas.
- Post via the official UT Dallas Instagram channel – instagram.com/ut_dallas.
- Send an announcement via UTD Alert, triggering a text message to all registered cellphone numbers and an email to all students, faculty and staff.
- Inform local media outlets as needed.
The official and authoritative sources of closure information are the UTD homepage and UTD Alert messages that members of the campus community should automatically receive. If you are not receiving messages during tests conducted the first Wednesday of every month at noon, please log in to Galaxy and update your cellphone number. When you are updating your cellphone number in Galaxy, make sure it’s correctly added to the field labeled “Mobile.”
Local media are helpful and will be notified but are not the primary source of such information.
The UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders and the Center for Vital Longevity (Dallas campuses) may have different closure situations than the main campus in Richardson.
- At the Callier Center, check for voicemail message advisories at 972-883-3601, option 1. Also see the Callier Center’s homepage.
- The Center for Vital Longevity will send direct emails to faculty, staff and students, and post updates on the CVL website and X for instances affecting the Dallas campuses only.
The UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth and Brain Performance Institute in Dallas will follow UTD’s schedule. Additional updates will be communicated via email.
UT Dallas students attending classes at the Collin Higher Education Center (CHEC) or the Collin College Technical Campus should monitor their email for updates. Weather and emergency closures at the CHEC and the Technical Campus will be emailed directly to UTD faculty, who will need to share the information with their students. When all of Collin College is closed, CHEC and the Technical Campus will also be closed. Students may also choose to sign up for CougarAlert to be notified by email and/or text when the main Collin College campuses are closing. Please note that Cougar Alert does not automatically send notices regarding the CHEC campus.
Faculty and staff will transition to remote work operations as designated by their supervisor in times of inclement weather, restricted access or campus emergency, building closure, or other events that affect their regular on-campus workspace.
Remote employees experiencing a weather event, utility outage, or other situations impeding their ability to work from their regular location must consult with their supervisor to find an alternative location – either on campus or remotely – that is secure to perform regular or alternative duties. Employees who must be on campus to work but are not required to be on campus during an emergency will be assigned alternative duties by their supervisor to be performed remotely. Alternative duties may include but are not limited to professional development, monitoring emails or websites, assisting other units, or being on call to respond and assist their unit, department or UTD, as needed.
Supervisors are to be understanding and flexible in their expectations of work performed if employees are balancing their work duties with caregiving for family or experiencing utility outages due to inclement weather. If possible, supervisors may adjust employees’ work schedules for the designated workweek to account for hours not worked. Approval to adjust a work schedule is at the discretion of the supervisor.
If an employee chooses not to perform any duties in the above situations, including alternative duties or approved alternative work location, applicable accrued leave must be used.
Students who choose not to report for class when UTD is open and inclement weather impedes travel must make up their absences in the manner prescribed by their instructors in the class syllabi or as announced for the entire University.
Tiffany Parker
Assistant Director Emergency Management/Fire Marshal
Office of Institutional Risk & Safety