Storm Ready: Updates, Closings, What to Know
During major winter storms and extreme cold, updates and time-sensitive information regarding campus operations, safety precautions, and available resources will be shared on this page. General information about weather-related closings is also included below.
CAMPUS SPEED LIMIT
The campus speed limit has been reduced to 10 mph until further notice in the aftermath of the recent heavy snow.
PROLONGED ARCTIC COLD
Residential Students
With arctic cold continuing, residential students must follow these preventive steps: Leave your heat on no lower than 68 degrees and make sure all windows are closed. These are simple but critical elements to campus infrastructure and student safety.
Commuters and Employees
We want to also ensure that our commuter and employee community remains safe and prepared during this current cold spell. Please ensure you are following critical preventive steps:
- Vehicle Readiness: Maintain at least a half-tank of gas to prevent fuel line freeze-ups and ensure you have enough fuel to keep the heat running if you encounter traffic delays or a breakdown.
- Emergency Kits: Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a winter emergency kit, including a blanket, ice scraper, jumper cables, and a portable phone charger.
- Dress for the Walk: Temperatures can drop fast between your car and classrooms/offices. Always wear multiple layers, including a wind-resistant outer shell, gloves, and a hat.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO
In the event of an emergency, contact the Public Safety emergency number—860.768.7777—or use the LiveSafe app for a direct connection to our public safety officers. For non-emergency matters, the Public Safety phone number is 860.768.7985.
During normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), report any urgent issues in any campus facility by calling 860.768.7925 or emailing facilities@hartford.edu. After 5 p.m. and on weekends, urgent facilities issues should be reported to Public Safety dispatch at 860.768.7985.
General Information for Weather-Related Closings
When a determination is made to close based on current and forecast conditions, the University will announce either a campus closing or delayed opening. Faculty and instructors are expected to follow the announced schedule and to conduct class when the University is open.
Please note that when campus closing prevents an in-person class from meeting at its scheduled time, professors may opt to conduct classes or provide assignments online. Students should check Blackboard and their email regularly on such days to learn of any alternate arrangements. Online and remote courses are not affected by campus closings.
During the time that the campus is closed, individuals will not be permitted to enter campus other than providers of critical services and residential students.
What It All Means
Under most circumstances, the University will open 20 to 30 minutes prior to classes beginning. Faculty and staff should not arrive on campus prior to the announced opening time.
During exam periods, Winterterm, and Summerterm, the advisory will specifically detail exam and class times affected and the preceding may not apply. The following summary applies to regular fall and spring semester classes held on campus:
If it is announced that the "UHart campus will open at 10 a.m., classes will begin at 10:30 a.m."
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Faculty and staff should report to campus at 10 a.m.
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In-person classes begin at 10:30 a.m.
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In-person classes 90 minutes or less that start before 10:30 a.m. will not meet
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In-person classes scheduled at or after 10:30 a.m. will meet as scheduled
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In-person classes longer than 90 minutes that start before 10:30 a.m. will:
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Begin at 10:30 a.m., if at least 50% of the class time remains
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Example: A 9:30 a.m.–noon lab will meet at 10:30 a.m.
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If UHart closes at 2 p.m.:
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In-person classes starting at or after 2 p.m. will not meet
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In-person classes already in session at 2 p.m. will dismiss
Online and Remote Courses
Online and remote courses at the University are not affected by weather-related closings and will meet as scheduled.
Transportation
On days that the University announces a campus closing due to severe weather, campus shuttles will not operate. If the University opens late, the off-campus shuttle route will begin with the next scheduled pick-up time. On-campus shuttle service will begin at the time the University opens. If the University closes early, the shuttle will pick up passengers at the Handel Center to return them to campus at the exact announced time of the University closing. A final off-campus route with all stops will leave Millard Circle 15 minutes after the official closing time. On-campus shuttle service will end with the circuit of campus that immediately follows the official closing time.
Sources to Monitor University Closings
The University's Web Alert system will be activated if there is an advisory. A message will be highlighted at the top of all pages on hartford.edu detailing the emergency announcement.
Dial the University's main number (860.768.4100), where you will hear the latest advisory if the normal operating schedule has been altered.
Emergency closing alerts will be sent via text message to students, faculty, and staff who have accurate cell phone numbers registered in the Self-Service Center.
Confirm or modify your cell phone number on the Text-Alert System emergency notifications page.
Independent of text alerts on cell phones, all currently enrolled students and active employees will automatically receive emergency notifications through their official University email.
While the University provides closing information to local TV stations, we urge you to follow up on any announcements you see on TV by checking the University's website or by calling 860.768.4100. TV stations provide limited information and don't offer the complete advisory available on the University's website and main telephone number as described above. In addition, with the rise of other technologies, most area radio stations have eliminated announcing weather-related closings.
Under most circumstances, the University will open 20 to 30 minutes prior to the next scheduled standard class time. Faculty and staff should not arrive on campus prior to this announced opening time.
Providers of Critical Services
Staff performing critical functions in departments that are responsible for public safety, health, and facility operations must report to work as they normally would, or as directed by their supervisors, during a campus closing. Employees who are unsure if they are considered a critical-service provider should discuss the matter with their supervisors immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
UHart's Storm Operations and Communications Committee reviews updated storm information, analyzes current and expected road conditions in the area, and evaluates conditions on campus among many factors considered before making its determination.
If only the New England weather were an exact science! Weather in our area can change dramatically in a very short time and no two situations are exactly alike. This makes committing to a specific time frame problematic. However, we recognize that people are anxious for a decision to be made and have varied commuting schedules. We make every effort to communicate decisions for all-day closings and delayed openings by 6 a.m. and early closings a minimum of two hours in advance.
Online: Go to hartford.edu and look for an alert on top of each page
Phone: Call 860.768.4100, and listen to the message at the beginning
Text Alert: sent to the cell phone registered in self-service center (hartford.edu/alert)
Email: notification sent to University email for all students, faculty, and staff
What about TV or radio?
Local television stations provide limited information and do not offer the complete advisory available on the University's website and main telephone number. In addition, most area radio stations have eliminated announcing weather-related closings. Please double check any announcements you do or do not see on TV by checking the University's website (hartford.edu) or by calling 860.768.4100.
None. Students, faculty, staff, and the public should not call any college department or public safety to find out whether the University is closed or is going to close. They will not have any "inside scoop" to share. As soon as an official decision to close is made, it will be communicated within minutes via the website, main phone number, and text message.
Faculty, staff, and students who have accurate cell phone numbers recorded in the Self-Service Center will receive emergency text alerts, including notice of weather-related closings, on their cell phones. Confirm your current number is registered and learn more on Text-Alert System.
All currently registered students and active employees will automatically receive the same emergency notifications through their official University email.
An advisory will be issued when there is a campus closing or delayed opening. If you do not see an alert at hartford.edu or hear a message upon calling 860.768.4100, the University is operating on a normal schedule.
No, the University decision is independent of the magnet schools, so be cautious if “University of Hartford” catches your attention during radio closing announcements as it may be referring to the magnet schools—another reason why radio is not a recommended source.
In addition to the safety risk to both you and our facilities staff, the presence of people and vehicles on campus greatly hinders our ability to effectively clear campus of snow and ice. The announced opening time is usually 30 minutes before the start of classes to allow for arrival.
No. Online courses at the University are not affected by weather-related closings and meet at their scheduled times.
It depends on the length of your lab. All classes or labs longer than 90 minutes in duration with a normal start time prior to 10:30 would meet beginning at 10:30 if 50 percent or more of the class or lab time remains. In the example above, a 9:30 to 11 a.m. lab would not meet but a 9:30 a.m. to noon lab would meet when classes begin (since the lab is normally scheduled for more than 90 minutes and half or more of the scheduled lab time remains once classes begin at 10:30). During exam periods, Winterterm, and Summerterm, the advisory will specifically detail exam and class times affected and the preceding may not apply.
No. Unfortunately, for safety reasons and to allow the facilities team to do their work without obstacles, faculty and staff (outside of providers of critical services as outlined at the top of this page) should not attempt to enter campus during the announced time that the University is closed.
If an event on campus run by another entity is canceled due to the University being closed, please contact the host group.
Our dedicated Facilities staff works tirelessly during the winter to remove snow and apply ice treatment. If you notice an area on campus that is in particular need of attention, please let us know by calling 860.768.7925 or reporting it using our online TMA Service Request Form.