University administration is hoping to make changes to its Severe Weather Closing Policy and Procedures, which include the option of closing the University for short intervals of time.
The severe weather policy working group consists of 12 members from different areas of the University.
Any changes made will go to the President's Cabinet for approval in April.
"The current policy infers that if we're closed, we're closed for minimum of 24 hours," said Judy Hagemann, a member of the working group. "We want to shorten those times to four-hour or six-hour intervals."
Rebecca Ferguson, Chief of Human Resources, compared the intervals to one-hour and two-hour delays high schools have. The University will break down the day into chunks of time.
Sandra Jess, another member of the working group said the smaller intervals will help to detect changes in weather.
"It could be terrible out at one point and 12 hours later, it's better. We won't have to close for a whole day," Jess said.
Jess also said with all the different forms of communication, faculty and students should be able to keep track of the smaller intervals.
"I think all communication possibilities have been taken into account," Jess said. "With Alert BG, radio and television stations and Web sites, as long as everyone is paying attention it'll be fine."
The working group also wants to clarify the relationship between the University closing and canceling classes.
Ferguson said the current policy makes it seem that even if the University cancels classes, the University can remain open, and vice versa. These actions should be simultaneous.
Hagemann said in February 2009, the University remained open even after the University canceled classes.
"It was that confusion that lead to a review of the policy," Hagemann said.
The University has used the current policy since 2002, with amendments added in 2007 to include Alert BG.
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"The current policy infers that if we're closed, we're closed for minimum of 24 hours," said Judy Hagemann, a member of the working group. "We want to shorten those times to four-hour or six-hour intervals."
Funny thing is.....when the university says we are cancelling morning classes and will open at 12:00 PM, that means the university is not shutting down for 24 hours. It does not even infer the university is shutting down 24 hours. It means THE UNIVERSITY WILL RE-OPEN AT 12:00 NOON.
How hard is that? Do we really need another committee to look at something extremely simple to understand?