03:24:00 Inclement Weather (Cancellation of Classes)

Purpose

Cancellation of day and evening classes.

Policy

In the event day classes need to be cancelled due to inclement weather and/or road conditions, the following procedures are followed.

After gathering as much information as possible concerning weather and road conditions, the on-duty officer consults with the vice president for Business and Finance. The vice president for Business and Finance then consults with the vice president for Academic Affairs and the vice president for Student Services to form a recommendation to the president in regards to cancellation of classes for faculty and students and/or closing the college for staff. The vice president of Business and Finance then contacts the president with the recommendation; a final decision is made as to whether or not classes will be cancelled or the college closed. This decision is normally made by 5:30 a.m. for day classes and by 3 p.m. for evening classes. Once the decision has been made, the information is disseminated in a number of ways including the WSCC website (www.ws.edu), the college’s social media sites, the Emergency Call Tree, Student Information phone line (1-800-225-4770), and the Senator’s Emergency Text (SET). Campus Police also contacts all local radio and TV stations listed below:

• Morristown: WCRK AM 1150 and FM 105.7, WMTN AM 1300 and FM 93.3, WJDT FM 106.5
• Newport: WLIK AM 1270 and FM 97.9, WNPC AM 1060 and FM 92.3
• Knoxville: WIVK FM 107.7, WATE-TV (ABC), WBIR-TV (NBC), WVLT-TV (CBS), WIMZ FM 103.5, WOKI FM 98.7
• Greeneville: WGRV AM 1340 and FM 99.5, WIKQ FM 103.1, WSMG AM 1450 and FM 95.5
• Rogersville: WRGS FM 94.5, WEYE-FM 104.3
• Sevierville: WSEV FM 105.5
• Tazewell: WNTT AM 1250
• Tri Cities: WKPT-TV (ABC)

In the event that evening classes (classes beginning 4 p.m. or later) need to be cancelled due to inclement weather and/or road conditions on a day when day classes have been held, the president and/or president’s staff and/or designee make the decision to cancel classes.

Communications and Marketing staff posts the information on the college’s website homepage and on social media. Campus Police records messages on the college’s phone lines including
the Student Information line, 1-800-225-4770; the Niswonger Campus, 423-798-7940; the Claiborne County Campus, 423-626-6200; and the Sevier County Campus, 865-774-5800. Campus Police also contacts all local radio and TV stations once a decision has been made. Due to an unexpected and sudden change in the weather and road conditions, a decision may be modified and previous notices will be updated. In all instances, decisions are made with the safety of students, faculty, staff and employees as the primary consideration. When day or evening classes are in session and inclement weather necessitates class cancellation or college closure by the president, the vice president for Business and Finance notifies Campus Police, the IET department and Communications and Marketing. Communications and Marketing sends out an “All Users” and “Adjunct Users” email notifying faculty and staff of the decision.

Students should check eLearn, as there may be assignments made or virtual learning required.

03/12; 05/16; 04/21