Michael Newton knows the decision never pleases everyone. Regardless, advising senior leaders on campus closures because of weather or another significant event always comes down to one thing -- safety.
"Not everyone likes it when you make the decision," said the chief of the Iowa State police department. "We tell everyone that if they don't feel comfortable coming to campus, they need to make that decision for themselves, whether we are open or not. It's always what is best for the individual."
Stay winter safe
A message from campus operations leaders about severe weather and emergency campus closings.
Newton's is one of many voices across campus and the state that weigh in to determine if campus will close. Closures are rare. One of the most recent occurred in 2019 when record-breaking wind chills compelled closure across parts of three days.
Virtual learning
The university community's forced pivot to virtual learning during the pandemic provides an alternative during severe weather for faculty, staff and students. Moving classes online keeps student learning in a safe environment and helps faculty stay on schedule with their syllabi. Policies provide guidance for faculty as they decide how to conduct courses, Newton said.
He noted that another option, a partial closure, typically involves moving classes online while critical campus services remain open.
The process
Newton said weather-related decisions often begin several days in advance with a review of extended forecasts as well as conversations with senior leaders and staff from:
- Public safety
- Environmental health and safety
- Facilities planning and management (FPM)
"We bring all these people together to monitor the weather, discuss campus preparedness and determine the ability of our faculty, staff and students to safely be on campus," he said.
Newton and the team also consults with National Weather Service (NWS) staff, who provide information and advice but are not involved in determining a closure. Newton said NWS staff conduct webinars in advance of significant weather events to provide current information and the potential impact.
Severe weather days begin at 4 a.m. or earlier for Newton, who checks in with the patrol supervisor to learn the current conditions across campus. Iowa State has 45 miles of paved roads and 52 miles of sidewalk maintained by FPM. Newton said in seven and a half years in his role, CyRide bus staff have never told him they could not operate, even if at a slower pace.
Ideally, a decision is made by 5 a.m. -- and may rely on information from the Iowa State Patrol about road conditions -- to keep early morning commuters off the roads if campus is closing.
Once Newton has gathered the information, he and general counsel Michael Norton decide on recommendations to give to President Wendy Wintersteen. Her senior leadership team makes the final decision.
In the event of a partial closure or move to virtual classes, information is shared through a campus message and posted on the ISU Alert page. University policy provides guidance and expectations for employees related to cancellations and closings.
Additional information for faculty and staff when campus operations are disrupted is available in an FAQ.
