University Times

A new severe weather policy for the University has been signed by Chancellor J. Dennis O'Connor and went into effect on Jan. 3.

Developed by the policy committee of the Department of Human Resources, the policy establishes guidelines concerning operations during severe weather or other emergencies for all Pitt campuses, employees and students.

(See accompanying stories on page 4 for a summary of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's severe weather policy and a list of television and radio stations to watch and listen to for information on full-day and partial-day closings during severe weather conditions at the Pittsburgh, Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville campuses.) Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Darlene Lewis said a copy of the policy will be sent to all members of the University community and that it also probably will be available in the Policies and Procedures section of PittInfo.

"God has been good to us," Lewis said about the timing of the final approval of the policy. "There hasn't been a lot of bad weather" (so far this winter).

It was the mass confusion over the closing of the University and the compensation of employees during last winter's heavy snowfall that spurred development of the severe weather policy.

According to the policy, only the chancellor is authorized to officially close the Pittsburgh campus. Presidents of the regional campuses are authorized to officially close their respective campuses.

An Emergency Operation Center, consisting of representatives of the officers of the Provost, Business and Finance, and Student and Public Affairs, has been established and charged with monitoring the situation and advising the chancellor on closing the University.

Given its range of programs, essential services and resident student needs, the University will remain open in all but the most extreme cases, according to the policy.

"However, all University employees and students are urged to use their own discretion in deciding whether they can safely commute to class or to work," the policy notes. "If personal health or safety is at issue in that decision, responsible judgment should be used." Following is a summary of the new severe weather policy: Student/Class Announcements Cancellation of classes does not imply that the University is closed, but only that classes have been canceled for students.

Individual instructors who are unable to meet a scheduled class should contact their school or department to inform them that their class is canceled because they cannot make it to campus.

Students who have questions regarding a specific class should contact the school or department that offers the class to determine if it has been canceled. In situations where the University conducts classes off campus, students and instructors should contact the department that offers the course to determine the status of the class involved. Decisions on opening or closing off-campus facilities may be made independent of the University.

All Employees Employees who cannot make it into work at their appointed time should contact their supervisor within the first hour of their workday.

Essential Personnel Even when the University is closed, certain essential functions must be maintained, so some personnel may be required to report to work. Essential personnel at the Pittsburgh campus will be designated by the chancellor in consultation with the provost, senior vice chancellor for Business and Finance, senior vice chancellor for the Health Sciences, and the senior vice chancellor for Health Administration.

A listing of essential personnel will be maintained by each responsibility center head. Essential personnel at the regional campuses will be designated by the respective regional campus presidents.

Staff Employees, Partial-Day Closing When a partial-day closing is authorized, non-exempt staff members who work in nonessential operations will be authorized to be absent from work. Such employees will be compensated at their regular rate of pay for the hours they are scheduled to work.

The hours for which non-exempt staff members are paid but do not work because of a partial-day closing will result in a reduced workweek and will not be counted as hours worked for overtime purposes, according to the policy.

Non-exempt employees who are in essential operations and are required to work when a partial-day closing has been authorized will be compensated at the rate of 1 1/2 times their regular pay during the period of the closing.

Essential staff members who do not remain at their job during a partial-day closing will not be paid for the hours they normally would have worked during the partial-day closing "unless there is a valid and compelling reason for their absence," the policy states.

Exempt and non-exempt employees on vacation, personal or sick leave on a day when a partial-day closing is authorized will be charged for vacation, personal or sick leave.

Exempt employees required to work during a partial-day closing will be eligible for compensatory time off.

Staff Employees, Full-Day Closing When a full-day closing is authorized, non-exempt employees working in nonessential operations will be authorized to be absent from work and will be compensated at their regular rate of pay for the hours they were scheduled to work.

The hours for which non-exempt employees are paid but do not work because of an authorized full-day closing will result in a reduced workweek and will not be counted as hours worked for overtime purposes.

Non-exempt employees who are in essential operations and are required to work when a full-day closing has been authorized will be compensated at 1 1/2 times their regular pay. They will not be given time off at a later date for hours worked during such a period.

Essential staff members who do not report to their jobs when a full-day closing has been authorized will not be paid for the hours they normally would have worked during such a period "unless their is a valid and compelling reason for their absence," according to the policy.

Exempt and non-exempt staff members on vacation, personal or sick leave on a day when a full-day closing is authorized will be charged for vacation, personal or sick leave.

Exempt employees required to work during a full-day closing will be eligible for compensatory time off.

Union Employees Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements will be governed by the terms of those agreements concerning severe weather.

–Mike Sajna