Campus Closure Extended to 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 16

Published:

January 13, 2024

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Campus will remain closed until 8 a.m. Tuesday, January 16 due to dangerously low windchills and hazardous travel conditions across the state. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day; any non-essential services which would otherwise be open during a holiday will be closed. Updates will be provided by 5 p.m. on Monday if the closure is extended. Otherwise, no additional communications are planned.

Essential staff in FM, Dining and Campus Safety will report for regularly scheduled shifts.
Staff or faculty who are not required to report to campus prior to 8 a.m. on Tuesday should remain home or off campus to allow Facilities Management to safely address snow removal.

Any employees who are unable to report to work or work remotely after 8 a.m. on Tuesday should report to their supervisors per college or department protocols and utilize accrued vacation time available.

Please monitor windchill and road conditions to adjust your outdoor activities and travel as necessary. Avoid parking on city streets that have not been cleared. Stay alert for local road crews and FM staff as they continue to remove snow and treat walking surfaces.

Dangerously low windchills pose significant safety risks. Please refer to the following resources for more information on severe cold weather safety, including guidance on windchill, frostbite, and hypothermia:

These resources may also be helpful in your travel planning:

Road Conditions: Iowa 511 Travel Information or download the Iowa 511 app on Android or Apple devices.
Weather Forecasts: National Weather Service – Des Moines Office.
Inclement weather policy and essential staff information is available in the employee handbook (internal link).
City of Grinnell Snow Emergencies parking information.

Thank you,

Heather Cox
Director of Emergency Management & Risk Mitigation; Data Privacy Officer