With winter weather returning to Iowa City, the university is reminding students how weather-related decisions are made and communicated.
The university is never fully closed. The residential, health care, research, and operational activities – including those that keep buildings, infrastructure, and campus services safe and functional – must continue at all times.
As long as students and their instructors are able to travel to and from campus safely, classes will continue to meet and campus services will remain operational.
Maintaining regularly scheduled classes and campus services ensures that students have access to the academic, technological, and well-being resources they rely on. While the university can and does use virtual instruction in some circumstances, shifting courses online on short notice is not always feasible or appropriate. Some courses – such as labs, clinical rotations, and hands-on experiences – cannot be completed online. Additionally, unlike K-12 schools, universities follow an academic calendar with limited flexibility to make up missed class time.
Students should use good judgement and avoid serious risks when traveling to and around campus. If you don't think you can safely attend scheduled classes because of weather conditions, you are encouraged to communicate directly with your instructors (and campus job supervisor) regarding your specific circumstances. While each course may have different class attendance and absence policies, instructors are encouraged to practice flexibility where possible during extreme winter weather events.
Operational Decisions
When weather conditions have the potential to significantly impact campus operations, decisions are made by evaluating relevant information from the National Weather Service, Campus Safety, Facilities Management, Parking and Transportation, UI Health Care, and other campus and community partners.
Every winter storm is different, and university leaders closely monitor and proactively discuss upcoming weather conditions specific to our area – including severity, timing, and duration of extreme weather – when making any operational decisions.
As part of this process, the university’s Department of Emergency Management is in direct communication with the National Weather Service, local emergency management agencies, and multiple campus entities to evaluate forecasts, road and walkway conditions, and the ability to maintain essential services across campus, both in advance and in real-time during each storm.
- Official announcements about delays, cancellations, or reduced operations will be communicated to campus through Hawk Alert, the UI home page, the UI Emergency website, and posts to official university social media accounts.
- If no announcement is made, the university is operating as normal. Continue to monitor your UI email and other relevant communication channels for any adjustments to classes, services, or activities you are involved in.
Snow and Ice Removal Procedures
The university’s landscape services team works to clear snow and ice from campus roads and walkways as quickly as conditions allow.
To report an area where winter conditions are preventing access to a building, call: 319-335-5071 or submit a request via FM@YourService.
For more information on how to report snow and ice removal-related issues, including the snow removal map, see FM’s Snow and Ice Removal page.
Winter Transportation Support
- Consider monitoring the National Weather Service and local media outlets for timely weather updates, and Iowa 511 for road conditions.
- Cambus passenger information is available through the Transit app. You should “favorite” routes you most frequently ride so you can receive notifications of any weather-related detours or delays. This information system can help you determine when a bus from Coralville, Iowa City, or the university transit systems will reach a bus stop near you so you can plan accordingly.
- UI Parking and Transportation offers free jump-start service for employees, students, and visitors parked on the university’s main campus. Motorist assistance is offered on an as-available basis from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The service is not offered on university holidays. To request service, call 319-335-8312.
- Free, late-night transportation for students and employees is offered from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. via Nite Ride. Review route and arrival times on the Transit app.
- Opt-in to the Hawk Vouchers program to receive five, $5 Uber Vouchers good through the end of the semester.