Rhodes College is committed to protecting the safety of its students, faculty, and staff while maintaining essential operations during emergencies. This policy establishes the College's procedures for responding to inclement weather and other emergency situations that may affect campus operations, including campus closures, remote operations, delayed openings, and early dismissals.
This policy applies to all College employees and covers disruptions resulting from weather-related events and other emergencies, including but not limited to winter storms, flooding, utility failures, public health emergencies, and security incidents.
The College reserves the right to modify campus operations as circumstances warrant and to implement, modify, extend, or terminate any operational status as conditions change. Decisions regarding campus operations will be made by senior leadership based on available information, the College’s ability to maintain safe operations, and the College’s operational responsibilities.
When the College closes, transitions to remote operations, delays opening, dismisses early, or otherwise modifies operations, employees will be notified through one or more of the following communication channels:
- College-issued email communications;
- Text message notifications;
- The Rhodes College website and other official College communication platforms.
Employees are responsible for maintaining current contact information and monitoring official College communications during emergency events.
Definitions
College Status
- Campus Closure - A Campus Closure occurs when College operations are suspended due to an emergency. Classes, administrative offices, and most College operations will cease for the duration of the closure. Essential operations may continue as determined by the College.
- Remote Operations - A Remote Operations designation occurs when campus access is limited or restricted, but College operations continue remotely. Employees whose duties can be performed remotely are expected to work their regular schedules unless otherwise directed.
- Altered Schedule - An Altered Schedule occurs when the College modifies normal operating hours due to an emergency. Altered schedules may include:
- Delayed opening;
- Early dismissal; or
- Other temporary modifications to operating hours announced by the College.
As a general practice, the College will seek to align academic and administrative operations whenever practical and operationally feasible.
Essential Employees - Essential Employees are employees designated by the College to perform functions necessary to protect life, safety, property, residential operations, critical infrastructure, or other mission-critical services during an emergency.
Essential designations may vary depending on the nature, timing, and duration of the emergency. Depending on the circumstances, an employee may be considered essential for one type of emergency but not another or may be considered essential for a partial length of time but not the entire duration of the emergency.
The College will determine and communicate which positions or employees are designated as essential for a particular emergency event.
Essential employees are expected to report to their assigned work location as directed by their supervisor.
Non-Essential Employees - Non-Essential Employees are employees who are not required to report to campus during a closure or whose duties are suspended during the emergency period.
Employee Expectations
Campus Open - In the absence of an official College decision to close, operate remotely, delay opening, or dismiss early, employees are expected to work as scheduled.
Employees who believe weather or emergency conditions make travel unsafe under their individual circumstances should notify their supervisor as soon as possible.
With supervisory approval, employees may:
- Work remotely if operationally feasible; or
- Use available vacation leave.
Employees who do not report to work when the campus remains open and do not have sufficient available vacation leave will be placed in an unpaid status for the missed time.
Remote Operations - Employees approved or directed to work remotely are expected to perform their normal duties and work their regular schedules unless otherwise instructed. Non-exempt employees must accurately record all hours worked and may not work overtime without prior supervisory approval.
Essential Employees - Essential employees are expected to report to work or perform assigned duties during emergency operations unless specifically excused.
Essential employees who do not report to work when required must use available vacation leave for missed time or will be placed in an unpaid status if insufficient vacation leave is available.
Compensation During Emergency Operations - Compensation during emergency operations, campus closures, remote operations, and other operational disruptions will be administered in accordance with applicable law and College policies and practices in effect at the time of the emergency.
Nothing in this policy creates a contractual right to any form of compensation, premium pay, incentive payment, or leave benefit during an emergency event.
Policy Administration
The College reserves the right to interpret, modify, suspend, or amend this policy at any time consistent with applicable law and institutional needs.