Classes, activities, work canceled at 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Penn State Hazleton

HAZLETON - A winter snowstorm has caused Penn State Hazleton to cancel classes, activities and work from 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Classes

In the event of a change in normal campus operations due to weather or an emergency, such as during a delay or cancellation, in-person courses cannot, except in extenuating circumstances, be moved to a synchronous remote meeting, per Faculty Senate Policy 45-00, due to the fact that all students, faculty and instructors may not have the same access to University facilities and resources (such as Wi-Fi or materials needed for specialized instruction) or they may have other commitments, such as child care. 

Based on a course's mode of delivery, the following actions apply:

• In-person or Zoom classes originating from Penn State Hazleton: In-person classes scheduled from 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, are canceled. The instructor can choose to cancel class altogether or offer content asynchronously (such as recording a lecture for students to watch at another time or asking students to complete a reading or other self-directed learning activity). The class may not meet remote synchronously except for when extenuating circumstances exist (see University Faculty Senate policy 45-00) at https://senate.psu.edu/policies-and-rules-for-undergraduate-students).
• Zoom courses delivered from other campuses: Consult with your instructor.
• Hybrid: If the class is scheduled to meet in-person on the day of the change in normal operations, then content can be offered asynchronously or the class can be canceled. Otherwise, asynchronous content can be offered as planned.  
• Remote Asynchronous: Classes will continue to be offered as planned with no changes.  

The library and bookstore are closed.

On-campus, in-person activities

Any in-person activities scheduled between 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, are canceled. Activities beginning at or after 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, will be held as originally scheduled. 

Employees

Employees who perform "essential" services: Employees who are required to report to campus for work and have been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should report to campus as directed. During such events, employees who are required to report to campus for work are eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time, subject to guideline provisions. Employees should clarify their status as essential or nonessential with their supervisor before inclement weather strikes.

All other employees at Penn State Hazleton should not report to work until the resumption of normal campus operations and are eligible for Campus Closure Pay per university policy. Employees should review the "official closedowns" section of the University's Handling Weather Day Absences policy (Human Resources Guideline 10 for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled.

Employees who have questions about a campus closure should contact their unit's Human Resources consultant. 

Additional weather info, ongoing updates

The decision to cancel on-campus work and other activities at Penn State Hazleton was determined to be in the best safety interest of the University community. University officials are continuing to monitor conditions and will provide updates as necessary. The most up-to-date information will be shared via Penn State's PSUAlert system and the campus website.

All employees and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety. Faculty, staff and students should use their own best judgment when considering traveling to campus or the need to leave early during times of inclement weather. Faculty and staff should review Handling Weather Day Absences (Human Resources Guideline 10) for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled. Union-represented employees should reference their collective bargaining agreements. Information on class attendance policies is available at undergrad.psu.edu and in Faculty Senate Policy 42-27 (Class Attendance).