Extreme Cold/Storm Advisory: Jan. 23–26
Over the next several days, our area is forecast to experience dangerously cold temperatures followed by a significant and prolonged winter storm. Together, these conditions will create hazardous circumstances over several days. This page contains important, time-sensitive information regarding campus operations, safety precautions, and available resources. It will be continuously updated throughout the duration of the storm.
Storm Information and Resources
UNIVERSITY CLOSED SUNDAY, JAN. 25, AND MONDAY, JAN. 26
- Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Mittens or gloves and a hat will prevent the loss of body heat.
- Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air. Avoid taking deep breaths; minimize talking.
- Stay active to maintain body heat, take frequent breaks from the cold, and avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body.
- Drink liquids, such as warm broth or juice, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
PARKING AND VEHICLE RELOCATION INFORMATION
Virtual visits will be available on Monday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and then again from 5 to 9 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled through the Student Health Portal.
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO
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.