Section 3.16
Date:     April, 1989

POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR SNOW STORMS AND CERTAIN EMERGENCIES

I.        PURPOSE

            To state policies and procedures concerning the curtailment of operations due to weather conditions or
            mechanical malfunctions, i.e. electrical failures.

II.        APPLICABLE TO:

            All University employees.

III.      POLICY AND PROCEDURES:

            1.    A decision to close the University, cancel classes, or curtail operations throughout the University or in
                  certain segments of the University due to inclement weather conditions, heat, or utility failures can only
                  be made by the President or the Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Administration, acting
                  for the President.  Where necessary, the President may consult with the Office of Human Resource
                   Administration in making the decision.

            2.    Shutdown decisions based on weather conditions will not be made until there is clear evidence of
                  danger or undue hardship to employees.  Therefore, in the absence of a decision to close, personnel
                  are expected to report for work at their assigned time, or, as the case may be, to remain at work
                  until the end of their shift. Employees who decide to leave early or not report must discharge vacation
                  or personal leave time to cover their absence.

IV.       SPECIAL TIME OFF:

                Deans, Directors/Department Heads do not have the authority to release personnel (special time off).
               Special time off is defined in most contracts and in the Board of Governors Personnel Policy Manual
               as "collective absence from duty due to extraordinary circumstances." This time off may be
               authorized only by the appointing authority.  (The appointing authority at the University of Rhode Island
               is the President of the University or the Office of Human Resource Administration, acting for the 
               President).  Consequently, no employee may authorize another employee to take special time off for
               any reason unless specifically approved in advance by the appointing authority.

V.           LOCALIZED MALFUNCTION:

               It is the responsibility of the Dean/Director to notify the Office of Human Resource
              Administration if there is an emergency situation in his/her area. In an emergency situation where 
              a malfunction in the building exists (i.e. heat, electricity, etc.) or operations within the building must 
              be curtailed or closed, Physical Plant will notify the appropriate Dean/Director and the Office of Human
              Resource Administration to determine appropriate action, i.e., discuss alternate work sites.  Again, 
              Deans, Directors/Department Heads do no have the authority to release personnel.

VI.          CURTAILMENT OF OPERATIONS AT NBC, CCE, AND THE ALTON JONES CAMPUS:

                Decisions to curtail the operations at the Narragansett Bay Campus will be made by the Vice President
               for Marine Affairs (or his designee) with the approval of the President. Decisions to curtail operations
               of the College of Continuing Education and/or the W. Alton Jones Campus will be made by the Dean
               of the College of Continuing Education with the approval of the President. (This does not include use of
               special time off.)

VII.        CLASS CANCELLATION:

                The President may cancel classes throughout the University or in certain segments of the University.
                Though classes may be cancelled, employees are expected to report to work.  Employees who fee that they
                cannot safely get to their worksites (due to weather conditions) may be excused from work providing
                they discharge a vacation or personal leave day.

VIII.        NOTICE TO THE MEDIA:

                Once appropriate measures have been taken by proper authorities, and if a decision has been reached to
                cancel all or certain classes, this will be made known to the Director of Communications (or in his/her
                absence to the Vice President for University Advancement) who shall be the only authorized person(s)
                to contact the broadcast media.  University employees should look to mass media school closing
                announcements only for clarification of whether classes have been canceled.  If the University itself is
                ever closed, such word would be made public only as part of a general announcement affecting state
                employees.  There are two types of announcements:

                1.    The University is CLOSED.
                       No Classes; employees are not to report to work. Essential employees will be called in as required.

                        OR

                2.     The University is not closed but classes are cancelled (for the entire University, or CCE, NBC as
                        appropriate).  No classes for students; employees are expected to report to work.

                        The Director of Communications shall make a class cancellation statement available to the 
                        broadcast media, including the campus radio station, and when appropriate, to stations
                         in communities outside the metropolitan Providence area where the University has
                        operations.  The on-campus notice shall be as specific as possible with regard to which of the
                        four campuses have class closings. In addition, this  statement shall be dictated or delivered to
                        Main University telephone number (874-1000); the Information Center (874-2737), the Memorial
                        Union Information Desk (874-2056), the new Snow Line (874-SNOW), and if appropriate, to
                        the Security Office at the Narragansett Bay Campus or the Director of Operations of the 
                        W. Alton Jones Campus.

IX.            PROMULGATION OF POLICY:

                Notice of these procedures and a policy statement shall be distributed by the President's Office each
                November to Deans, Directors, Department Heads and Union Presidents, printed in the campus
                telephone directory, the Personnel Policy Manual and Appendix G of the University Manual.