Inclement Weather Procedure Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove

This procedure supports Op 3.29 University Closure Policy and the Employee Handbook, Section 2.15.1 Severe Weather Closing. Due to the nature of the university’s 24/7 operation, some operations are essential and must continue regardless of weather conditions. Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station at Mountain Grove does not automatically follow the closure of the Springfield or West Plains campuses, but an independent decision is made for the Fruit Experiment Station.

1. Definitions

  1. Remote learning, offices open – The moving of academic classes to remote learning format when offices are open. This only impacts faculty and students.
  2. Remote learning, offices closed – The closure of office functions other than academic classes, which will move to remote learning. This impacts all non-faculty personnel other than those that have been deemed as essential by the vice president of the division.
  3. University closed – The cancellation of academic classes and the closure of offices. This impacts all faculty and non-faculty personnel other than those deemed as essential by the vice president of the division.

2. Preparation

  1. When winter weather may potentially impact operations to the Fruit Experiment Station, Emergency Preparedness will prepare one or more weather briefings the day prior and distribute via email to:
    1. Provost
    2. Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station
    3. Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman
  2. The Emergency Preparedness will attend the 4:15 a.m. National Weather Service call and when warranted, provide updated information at 4:30 a.m. on the day of the event via a phone call to the Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman and via email to the Chancellor and Provost.

3. Decision Process

  1. Inclement weather prior to the beginning of the workday
    1. Should conditions appear to warrant possible alteration to normal operations, the Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman and the Mountain Grove Vehicle & Equipment Mechanic will discuss the expected condition of the parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways on the Fruit Experiment Station and in the area of Mountain Grove. They will typically review information from the National Weather Service or other reliable weather forecast, local media, and the Missouri Department of Transportation concerning road conditions and impending weather changes to help shape their recommendation. This discussion shall conclude prior to approximately 4:45 a.m. with a recommendation as to whether to close the Fruit Experiment Station for the day.
    2. The Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman shall contact the Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station and provide their recommendation. The Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station will decide whether adjustments to normal operations should occur.
    3. The Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station shall inform the Provost of the decision.
    4. The decision to close the Fruit Experiment Station will typically be announced prior to 6 a.m. on the day of the altered operations and will include the timeframe affected.
  2. Inclement weather after the beginning of the workday
    1. Once the workday begins, if weather conditions occur that might warrant changes to the operations of the Fruit Experiment Station, a separate decision will be made later in the day.
    2. Emergency preparedness will prepare weather briefings and distribute to:
      1. Provost
      2. Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station
      3. Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman
    3. The Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman and the Mountain Grove Vehicle and equipment Mechanic will consult with one another concerning the expected condition of the parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways on the Fruit Experiment Station and in the area of Mountain Grove during the late afternoon and evening hours. They will typically review information from the National Weather Service or other reliable weather forecast, local media, and the Missouri Department of Transportation concerning road conditions and impending weather changes to help shape their recommendation.
    4. If the recommendation is to alter operations at the Fruit Experiment Station, the Mountain Grove Maintenance Foreman shall contact the Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station and provide their recommendation. The Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station will decide whether adjustments to normal operations should occur.
    5. The Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station shall inform the Provost of the decision.
    6. A decision to close the Fruit Experiment Station will typically be announced at least two hours prior to the start of the change.

4. Notification Process

  1. The Chancellor of the Fruit Experiment Station will provide the decision to:
    1. Director of University Safety, who will notify Campus Safety Dispatch
    2. Administrative Assistant on the Fruit Experiment Station
    3. Director of Facilities Management
    4. Director of Payroll, via email
  2. All notifications shall specifically denote the timeframe of the closure.
  3. The notification shall also specifically denote how long the change applies.
  4. Campus Safety Dispatch will notify the Fruit Experiment Station of the decision via:
    1. Missouri State Alerts, including phone, campus email, and text messaging, using the appropriate Mountain Grove template.
  5. The Administrative Assistant on the Fruit Experiment Station shall update the voicemail greeting on the Mountain Grove main incoming phone line and the Fruit Experiment Station webpage to provide information about the campus closure.