Rowan University’s Closure Guidelines:

Are we open or closed?

Rowan University has three states of operation: normal, remote and closed. 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.

1. Normal Operations

   Unless specifically stated, the University is open and will follow regular operating procedures.

2. Remote Operations:

   If conditions warrant (i.e., inclement weather, campus emergency), a notice will be sent to the University community stating:

   • Faculty should 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 their courses remotely.

   • Essential employees should physically report to their respective campus locations.

   • Non-essential employees are to work remotely. 

3. University/Campus Closed:

   This status will only be activated in extreme events, such as when utilities and services may be impacted or there is a life-threatening emergency--for example: severe inclement weather, or active shooter scenario. There will be no classes or student activities/meetings held on these days. Only essential employees will be required to report to work.

Notification

The University uses the Rowan Alert system, email, social media and the Rowan website to notify students and employees when there is 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.

If Remote or University/Campus Closed status is warranted, the Office of the President will notify the University community by 5:30 a.m. for daytime operations and 2 p.m. for evening operations. Additional messages will be made throughout the day if conditions warrant.

Personal assessment during inclement weather

Regardless of the University’s operational status, it is each student's decision, based on a personal assessment of the situation, whether or not 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.

 Medical school students assigned to clinical rotations/activities and scheduled for assessments should follow your respective medical school protocols. Please refer to your student handbook for more information.

Faculty who are impacted by inclement weather should notify their department head/chair before moving their in-person class to alternate instructional activities, including but not limited to using their preferred mode of remote instruction.

All other employees who feel uneasy about driving conditions and choose to leave before the University closes, or to not report to work at all, must notify their supervisor and use accrued vacation time, comp time, administrative leave or floating holidays.

Essential employees

Employees will be informed in advance by their supervisor that they are considered an “essential employee.”

During remote operations status, all employees designated as “essential employees” by the University and/or state must come to work and remain at work. All other employees are expected to work remotely. 

During University/Campus Closed status, some employees who are “essential” during remote status may be switched to non-essential status, depending on the needs of the department. The employees at home during University/Campus Closed operations status are not expected to work because the area may be expected to suffer power outages and/or other events that will interrupt the ability of employees to work.

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. If there is the potential for a change in status (i.e., severe weather expected), employees should be prepared in advance to work remotely.

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.

Unless announced otherwise, the University will always be physically open.

Balancing 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 more information about the University’s preparedness for emergencies, visit www.rowan.edu/emergency.

Answers to questions are below.

Questions & Answers

1. Will there be any delayed openings?

   No, there won’t be delayed openings for classes, but there may be in some cases for other campus activities. Depending on the weather and campus conditions, there could be a scenario where classes are remote for the day, but activities (i.e., club meetings, concerts, sports events) will be allowed to proceed as planned later in the day.

2. What buildings are open and services are available when the University is in “remote operations” status?

   When the University is under remote operations status, the University will make sure key services are available for in-person visitors. Offices/locations that will remain open include:

   • Wellness Center

   • Student Center

   • Dining options

   • Rec Center & Fitness Center

   • Rowan Medicine patient care offices

   • Libraries

   • Research labs (some labs may choose remote operations) 

      If the University/campus is closed, only the Wellness Center, Student Center and dining options will be available. 

3. 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 a personal assessment of the situation, whether or not 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 to, must notify their supervisor. If the employee is able to work remotely, supervisors may approve emergency flex time as indicated in the policy. If employee is unable to work remotely, the employee can use accrued vacation time, comp time, administrative leave or floating holidays. 

4. Can faculty move their classes to remote status if they feel the roads are too dangerous to drive in their area?

   Faculty who are impacted by inclement weather should notify their department head/chair before moving their in-person class to alternate instructional activities, including but not limited to using their preferred mode of remote instruction.

5. How will I know if I am an essential employee and will have to 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. All other employees are expected to work remotely. During University/Campus Closed status, some employees who are “essential” during remote status may be switched to non-essential status, depending on the needs of the department. The employees at home

   during University/Campus Closed operations status are not expected to work because the area may be expected to suffer power outages and/or other events that will interrupt employees’ ability to work.

   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. If there is the potential for a change in status (i.e., severe weather expected), employees should be prepared in advance to work remotely. 

6. How will I be notified of campus closures?

   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.

7. Why doesn’t the University close when the governor declares a state of emergency?

   The governor declares a State of Emergency to raise awareness of a situation and to be able to more easily mobilize resources if required. 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 makes decisions about operations locally, based on local conditions. The University can remain open during a State of Emergency unless there is a declaration that all roads in the state must be clear of traffic.