Emergency Closing Policy
Please read the following information regarding emergency closing announcements carefully. Faculty and staff who have questions about this information should see their supervisors for clarification.
If a decision is made to close or delay opening the university information will be given to media. The university cannot make announcements about individual department or program activities. Departments wishing to communicate cancellation information about specific activities are advised to set up their own systems of communication, either through recorded telephone messages or telephone trees. Please inform your department and/or outside groups in advance how cancellation information will be disseminated. When the main campus is closed, all events (including those sponsored by off-campus organizations) are canceled.
Off-campus programs and courses (at the HEAT Center, for example) adhere to the announcements of the off-campus facility. Towson University's announcements apply only to the main campus, including 7400 York Road and Terracedale.
Emergency Essential Personnel
Regardless of campus closing, emergency essential personnel are required to report for work. Emergency essential personnel are employees who have been designated as vital to the operation of the facility, whose presence is required regardless of the existence of an emergency, and whose absence from duty could endanger the safety and well-being of the campus population and/or physical plant.
The presence of individuals on campus other than emergency essential personnel requires the approval of the appropriate vice president.
Sustainable Operations Personnel
In liberal leave scenarios, staff are authorized to use earned leave for lateness or absence because of an emergency. However, employees identified as sustainable operations personnel would need to work. Sustainable operations personnel are designated as vital to the operations of their division/department, which may or may not have an impact on services for students, faculty and staff. The functions and level of operations to be sustained are determined by department heads.
Radio and TV Stations
The following stations are notified:
In the Baltimore area: WBAL Radio 11 (1090 AM), WLIF (101.9 FM), WWMX (106.5 FM), WYPR (88.1 FM), WTMD (89.7 FM), WBAL-TV (11), WJZ-TV (13), and WMAR-TV (2)
In the Washington, D.C. area: WTOP (820 AM / 103.5 FM), WJLA-TV (7), Newschannel 8, and WRC-TV (4)
Morning Closings
When an emergency occurs overnight or during early morning hours, the vice president and CFO will make a decision before 6 a.m. to close the main campus or delay classes. University Relations will:
- Call radio and television stations immediately.
- Post a special announcement on the TU homepage and at the top of this page.
- Record a message on 410-704-2000 and 410-704-NEWS.
The TU Police Department will send a campus-wide email announcement and text message alert to those who have signed up to receive them. For more information or to register for emergency text alerts, visit www.towson.edu/textalerts.
Afternoon and Evening Closings
When an emergency occurs during the day, a decision to close administrative departments early, and/or cancel classes will be made and media will be called immediately. University Relations will:
- Call radio and television stations immediately.
- Post a special announcement on the TU homepage and at the top of this page.
- Record a message on 410-704-2000 and 410-704-NEWS.
The TU Police Department will send a campus-wide email announcement and text message alert to those who have signed up to receive them. For more information or to register for emergency text alerts, visit www.towson.edu/textalerts.
One of the following announcements will be made at the top of this page:
Towson University’s main campus is closed. This means that the main campus is closed for students, faculty and staff. No one except for emergency essential personnel should report to work. Regular and contingent staff scheduled to work that day will be granted administrative leave.
Towson University’s main campus will open at ______ o’ clock. This announcement applies to both classes and offices on the main campus. Emergency essential personnel should follow their assigned schedules. All other employees are to report at the announced time. Administrative leave will be authorized for eligible employees for hours between their usual work schedule and the actual opening. Employees who were scheduled off must use their own earned leave for their regularly scheduled hours.
Towson University main campus (day and/or evening) classes are cancelled; campus offices remain open. This means that all emergency essential personnel should report to work. Sustainable operations employees should contact their supervisors to determine the function and level of operations to be sustained. All other employees are encouraged to report to work; however they have the option of using their own earned personal, holiday, annual or compensatory leave in accordance with the university’s liberal leave policy.
Towson University main campus classes are delayed until ______ o’ clock; campus offices open on time. This means that all classes, which begin at or after the announced time, will be held as usual. Staff should report to work at their regularly scheduled time; however they have the option of using their own earned personal, holiday, annual or compensatory leave in accordance with the university’s liberal leave policy. Sustainable operations employees should contact their supervisors to determine the function and level of operations to be sustained.
|
NOTE: Liberal leave and administrative leave are not applicable to students. For information on the Liberal Leave Policy and Administrative Leave Policy, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 410-704-2162.
Clarification About Messages on 410-704-2000 and 410-704-NEWS
DIAL 410-704-2000 or 410-704-NEWS FOR EMERGENCY UPDATES.
Please do not call the University Police Department with emergency closing-related questions.
A special voice-mail line, 410-704-NEWS, provides brief recorded updates during campus wide emergencies. The service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the calendar year. With 20 telephone lines allocated to 410-704-NEWS, callers are less likely to get a busy signal.
Although campus-wide emergencies are most likely to be weather-related, 410-704-NEWS may be used for any unforeseen event affecting the entire university. The decision to use the line will be made by the director of University Relations, in consultation with the University Police Department, the Office of the President and/or other appropriate agencies.
Policy updated 12/21/11
|
