2021 Inclement Weather or Hazardous Conditions

Editor's note: Please note new language in this year's notice regarding remote work.

MEMORANDUM 

To:                        All University Employees

Date:                    October 22, 2021                         

From:                   Cathy Hasenpflug, Chief Human Resources Officer

Subject:                Annual Notice: Closures or Curtailment of University Operations (Including Inclement Weather or Hazardous Conditions)

If it becomes necessary for the university to close OSU campuses and facilities or curtail on-site operations due to inclement weather or hazardous conditions, information regarding changes in university operations will be communicated using the following methods:

1. Notice of a Corvallis campus closure will be posted on the university’s Campus Alert website. Announcements of closures or operation curtailments also will be posted on the OSU Home Page, with a headline linking to the Campus Alert website.
   1. Notice of an OSU-Cascades campus closure or curtailment will be noted in an alert bar on the OSU-Cascades Home Page and Emergency Status webpage.
   2. Notice of a Hatfield Marine Science Center closure or curtailment of operations will be noted on the HMSC website by 6:30 a.m.
   3. Notice of closures or curtailment of operations at the OSU Portland Center will be sent to employees by email.
   4. The university will make every effort to announce closure and curtailment decisions as soon as possible.  The information will be distributed or posted by 6:30 a.m. the day of a closure.
2. When possible, information also will be posted online by the FlashAlert Newswire. For closure information related to OSU, visit the FlashAlert’s main webpage, click on the menu then view local news; select the region of the state where you work followed by “Colleges and Universities – Willamette Valley.” Choose Oregon State University to see any current information or new announcements.
3. Information related to weather alerts, closures and campus emergencies on the Corvallis campus are available by calling the OSU Department of Public Safety. A recorded phone message will report the operating status of the Corvallis campus and information related to the emergency or closure situation. You may access this information 24/7 by dialing 541-737-8000. OSU-Cascades’ phone line will include recorded information updating closure or curtailment details. That number is 541-322-3100.
4. The university also will provide information on closures and operations to local media, including:

Albany                                                                           Lebanon

KRKT - 990 AM/99.9 FM                                            KGAL - 1580 AM                                                              

Corvallis                                                                        Salem

KBVR - 88.7 FM                                                           KBZY - 1490 AM

KFLY - 101.5 FM                                                          KYKN - 1430 AM

KLOO - 1340 AM/106.3 FM                         

Eugene                                                                          Portland

KPNW - 1120 AM                                                        KEX - 1190 AM

KUGN - 590 AM                                                           KOPB - 91.5

KEZI TV Channel 9                                                       KXL - 750 AM and 101.1 FM

KLCC - 89.7 FM                                                            KATU TV Channel 2

KMTR TV Channel 16                                                  KGW TV Channel 8

KVAL TV Channel 13                                                   KOIN TV Channel 6

Bend                                                                              Newport

COTV - Channel 11                                                      KNTP – 1310 AM

KOHD TV - Channel 9                                                 BOSS FM – 100.7

KTVZ - Channel 12

KOPB/KOAB - 91.3
KBND-AM/FM 1110/100.1
KBNW-AM 1340/104.5

Unless otherwise communicated, employees are to assume that the university is open and that they are to report to work, whether on-site or in their supervisor approved, designated remote work status. The university encourages that employees use discretion in choosing how and when to safely travel to work as localized road conditions may be variable.

If an OSU campus is closed or its operations curtailed, supervisors will confirm with affected employees, who are currently assigned to on-site work, if the employee is able to perform their work duties remotely. Employees who are already working remotely may continue to do so as normal.

Employees who are designated in their position description as essential personnel are required to work on-site, at their regularly scheduled time during a closure or curtail, unless otherwise specified by their supervisor. Employees may temporarily be designated as essential personnel by their supervisor due to an urgent or critical need. 

As a reminder, only the university president or their designee may close the university. Departments may not cease operations and send employees home due to inclement weather or hazardous conditions unless the president has closed the university. Off-campus facilities should contact the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration to discuss the appropriateness of closing or curtailing operations at their location, if they believe a closure is necessary.

For additional resources, including a quick reference response guide, see the HR Inclement Weather page and for questions regarding time reporting for inclement weather closures, see the university’s time reporting matrix. Any other questions should be directed to Employee and Labor Relations at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.

Cathy Hasenpflug | AVP and Chief Human Resources Officer

University Human Resources | Oregon State University | Go Beavs!

236 Kerr Admin Bldg | Corvallis, OR 97331-8578 | Direct: 541.737.0546 | Fax: 541.737.7771