Weather emergencies and Closings
Weather emergencies and Closings
Rowan University’s closure guidelines:
Are we open or closed?
Updated Feb. 21, 2026
Rowan University has four states of operation: normal, remote, closed and delayed opening/early closure. With several campuses and many medical offices across the region, operational status can differ from campus to campus and site to site. Please read the guidelines below carefully to see how you are affected.
Notification of operational status
The University uses the Rowan Alert system, email, social media and the Rowan website to notify students and employees when there is a change in operations. It is critically important for the University to have your most up-to-date contact information in the Rowan Alert system. Please review and update your contact information today.
- Normal Operations
The University, its campuses and off-campus facilities are open and will follow regular operating procedures. - Remote operations:
If unique conditions arise whereby physical presence is limited or disrupted, but work and classes can be maintained remotely, the university will communicate Remote operations. In such conditions…
- Faculty are encouraged to transition in-person courses to alternate instructional activities, including but not limited to using their preferred mode of remote instruction while maintaining continuity. Resources for faculty are available on the Faculty Center’s Instructional Continuity Plan webpage.
- Students will attend courses remotely.
- Essential employees should physically report to their respective campus locations.
- Non-essential employees are expected to work remotely.
If Remote Operations or University/Campus Closed status is warranted, the Office of the President will notify the University community by 5:30 a.m. for day classes and 3 p.m. for evening classes. Additional messages will be released throughout the day if conditions warrant.
- University/Campus closed:
There will be no classes or student activities/meetings held on these days. Only essential employees will be required to report to work.
Fully online classes are not impacted by University Closure with the exception that Online instructors have discretion to adjust due dates if needed. Instructors will communicate any such adjustments directly with their students. In cases of closure, faculty are encouraged to transition courses to alternate asynchronous instructional activities rather than remote synchronous instruction in order to maintain continuity. Resources for faculty are available on the Faculty Center’s Instructional Continuity Plan webpage. If faculty choose to offer a remote synchronous option, students will not be penalized for missing class and must have an opportunity to review the synchronous material and make up any related assignments.
Guidance for virtual instruction for Cooper Medical School, Virtua Health School of Osteopathic Medicine and Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine will come from their respective deans. - Delayed opening/early closure:
If weather and campus conditions permit, campuses may be temporarily closed. Delayed opening times will be at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. To avoid complications for students and faculty, classes prior to the delayed opening time will be cancelled.
Early closures may occur if conditions are worsening. Early closure times are 1:45 p.m., 3:15 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. Faculty should use their discretion to transition classes to remote format using videoconferencing (Zoom or WebEx), instructional tools in Canvas or other means for maintaining instructional continuity as appropriate. Resources for faculty are available on the Faculty Center’s Instructional Continuity Plan webpage.
Faculty have the discretion to cancel or dismiss early if their class spans an early closure period.
Employee guidance
All employees designated as essential employees by the University and/or state must come to work and remain at work in accordance with policy and protocols. Based on the official needs of each department, employees may be deemed essential or non-essential by their supervisor during a change in operating status.
In the case of inclement weather, but the University is under Normal Operations status, employees who are deemed non-essential for purposes of inclement weather and who may feel uneasy about driving conditions may choose to either leave before the University closes or not report to work. They must, however, notify their supervisor and make reasonable arrangements about any existing work assignments that may be affected by the early departure or the employee’s anticipated absence.
Reasonable arrangements may include having the employee work remotely for the remainder of the day (or the entire workday), if remote work is an appropriate and feasible option for the employee on that day. If remote work is not possible for the employee that day or the remainder of the workday, the employee and the supervisor may agree that the employee can use accrued vacation time, comp time, administrative leave or floating holiday to cover the employee’s time for the day.
Employees may review the Employee Inclement Weather Policy for more information.
Responsibilities during campus closures
During University/Campus Closed status, some employees who are essential during closed status may be switched to non-essential status, and vice versa, depending on the needs of the department. Some employees may be required to perform some duties remotely during these situations to facilitate learning or other activities. These employees will be informed by their departmental leadership in these situations.
During University/Campus Closed operations status, non-essential employees are generally not expected to work because the area may suffer power outages and/or other events that will interrupt employees’ ability to work. Any such exceptions will be communicated to any applicable employees, as described above.
When there is an early closure, all non-essential employees are not required to work for the balance of the day.
As a reminder, Rowan has several campuses and many medical offices across the region. Closures can differ from campus to campus and site to site.
Student guidance
The University has made it a practice to hold classes during inclement weather whenever possible. For those who have in-person classes during a change in Normal Operations, it is the student's decision, based on their assessment of the situation, whether or not to attend class in-person. Students will not be penalized for missing classes because of inclement weather, but they must contact their professors prior to class and make up any work assigned.
If there is inclement weather, but the University is maintaining Normal Operating status, faculty have the discretion to switch their in-person classes to virtual instruction as described above.
Rowan Medicine and Shreiber Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Rowan Medicine, Virtua Medical Group Affiliate providers and staff with in-patient duties will receive separate guidance from Rowan Medicine administrators and supervisors. Shreiber Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinicians, staff and students with instructional and/or patient care responsibilities will also receive separate guidance from their supervisors.
State of Emergency
On occasion, the governor may declare a state of emergency due to inclement weather. This may also include a declaration that state agencies and offices will not open or will close early.
These executive orders are NOT applicable to colleges and universities. Rowan is required to make decisions about operations locally, based on local conditions. The University can remain open during a State of Emergency unless the governor mandates all roads are to remain clear of traffic.
Report hazardous walkway/lot conditions
During a snowstorm, sidewalks, roadways and parking lots will often be cleared and/or treated multiple times as conditions evolve. We encourage the prompt reporting of weather-related hazardous conditions or impediments on University property. Please call the Rowan University Police Department at 856-256-4922 to report hazardous campus conditions.
Unless announced otherwise, the University will always be physically open
Balancing the effects of inclement conditions with holding classes and keeping the campuses and remote offices open can be very challenging. We thank the University community for understanding the complexity of the situation and for being patient during inclement weather and emergency events.
For questions, please contact:
- Office of the Dean of Students: 856-256-4283
- Rowan Police Department: 856-256-4922
- Human Resources: 856-256-4134
Questions & answers
- Which buildings are open and which services are available when the University is in remote operations or closed status?
When the University is under remote operations status or is closed, the University will make sure essential services are available for residential students and researchers. Below is a list of facilities on the Glassboro Campus that will remain open, but with limited services. Please check their respective websites for postings about changes to operations.
Wellness Center
Student Centers
Recreation facilities
Research labs (check with lab supervisor) - What can I do if I feel unsafe about driving to campus?
Regardless of the University’s operational status, it is each student's decision, based on personal assessment of the situation, whether to attend an in-person class. Students will not be penalized for missing classes because of inclement weather, but they must contact their professors prior to class and make up any work assigned.
Employees who feel uneasy about driving conditions and choose to leave before the University closes, or to not report to work at all when required, must notify their supervisor. See Human Resources’ guidance for inclement weather. - May faculty move their classes to remote status if they feel the roads are too dangerous to drive in their area?
Yes, faculty have the discretion to hold in-person classes virtually using videoconferencing (Zoom or WebEx), instructional tools in Canvas and other means for maintaining instructional continuity as appropriate. In such cases, faculty are encouraged to consider asynchronous delivery or access of materials so that students who are unable to attend, given the situation, can make up any missed material. Resources for faculty are available on the Faculty Center’s Instructional Continuity Plan webpage. - How do I know if I am an essential employee and must report to work?
Your supervisor will notify you of your status. During remote operations status, all employees designated as essential employees by the University and/or state must come to work and remain at work.