Campus and Operational Closures in an Emergency - UTDBP3120

Policy Statement

The University of Texas at Dallas is open for regular business operations and scheduled academic and instructional activities unless otherwise indicated by an announcement posted on the UT Dallas homepage, in an email to campus and on official UT Dallas social media channels.

Inclement weather or other adverse conditions may occasionally require UT Dallas to close, suspend, or alter regular business operations, academic events and/or instructional activities. If conditions necessitate, UT Dallas will post information as stated above, and further guidance can be found at https://news.utdallas.edu/campus-community/inclement-weather-policy-2022/.

Notification to Campus Community

For campus or operational closures occurring in the morning, every effort will be made to have this information posted on University-controlled sites no later than 6 a.m. See guidelines and more information at http://www.utdallas.edu/weather/.

Closure decisions regarding evening or weekend classes or business operations at all locations will be made independently of the decision regarding daytime operations. Employees and students should obtain information directly from campus emails, the UT Dallas homepage, or by checking official UT Dallas social media channels. Media reports may not be reliable if, for example, UT Dallas is closed during the day but open for night classes.

The UT Dallas Callier Center for Communication Disorders (Dallas campus), the Center for BrainHealth (CBH), the Brain Performance Institute, the Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (BMES) Building and the Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) may have different closure conditions than the main campus in Richardson or different expectations for reporting for duty based on patient care needs and collaborations with other health care facilities. In the event of facility closure or adjusted hours of operation, a voicemail message advisory will be placed on the following: Callier (Dallas) at 972-883-3601, option 1; the Center for BrainHealth at 972-883-3007; the Brain Performance Institute at 972-883-3400; and the Center for Vital Longevity at 972-883-3200.

The decision to close the Collin Higher Education Center in McKinney will be made by Collin County Community College District officials who will advise those students of any schedule changes via identified channels.

Expectations of Employees and Supervisors

All employees should use good judgment regarding their ability to travel safely to campus or their assigned facility.

No employee is expected to place work or class attendance above their personal health and safety. If an employee is unable or does not believe it is safe to travel to campus when the UTD campus grounds and buildings are open, they must notify their supervisor as soon as possible to discuss options. If unable to report to campus and remote work is not feasible or applicable based on the scenario, the employee will use eligible accrued leave for the absence or, if possible, adjust their work schedule within the same pay week with the approval of their supervisor.

Employees

Employees will transition to remote work operations as designated by their supervisor in times of restricted access, campus emergency, building closure, or other events impacting their regular on-campus workspace. This transition applies to all faculty and staff who work fully on campus, fully remote, or in a hybrid capacity. In compliance with Section 658.010 of the Government Code, the President authorizes the performance of remote work under such circumstances.

Remote employees experiencing a weather event, utility outage, or other situations impeding their ability to perform work duties from their regular work location must consult with their supervisor to find a work location on campus or an alternative remote location, travel permitting, that is secure to perform regular or alternative duties.

Employees in positions that require a physical presence on campus to perform their duties but are not required to be on campus during an emergency, will be assigned alternative duties by their supervisor to be performed remotely until further notice. Alternative duties may include but 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

Supervisors are to be understanding and flexible in their expectations of work performed if employees are balancing work duties with caregiving for family or experiencing utility outages due to inclement weather. 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. If possible, supervisors may adjust employee work schedule for the designated workweek to account for hours not worked. Approval to adjust work schedule is at the discretion of the supervisor.