New weather policy aims for consistency
Larry Fleury
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Front Page
In a departure from previous years, PSU has developed a universal weather policy that would allow for campus-wide class cancellation in the event of bad weather.
President Steve Scott said the university has the potential of closing, that is, if this season reflects previous years.
"If this is a typical winter, it is possible we may decide to close the campus as a matter of safety for students, faculty and staff," Scott said. "Another option is that we may want to delay the opening of the campus in order to clear parking lots and sidewalks."
The new policies method begins with a look at the road conditions and an evaluation of the weather by John Patterson, vice president of administration and campus life. With the vice president's recommendation, as well as consultation with the provost and the vice president of university advancement, the president will make a decision on whether to cancel class or not.
Scott said a decision is based on an up-to-date forecast, even if a cancellation isn't popular.
"The weather is unpredictable. It can be snowing in Pittsburg and clear in Parsons, and the forecast may change dramatically in just a few hours," Scott said. "We will make these decisions together with the best information we have at the time. We probably won't always be right, but we will always base these decisions on what we think will keep students, faculty and staff safe."
Andrea Cole, senior in finance, says PSU is taking the correct course of action with the policy.
"I definitely think it's the next step that the university needs to take," Cole said. "I understand that a lot of professors felt the burden to cancel class or to have class."
Cole said she's chosen to miss class in the past because of inclement weather. "I did not go, and from what I heard, there were very few students, so it was not worth it to hold class that day," Cole said. "I know it hardly ever happens."
Sam Heady, senior in psychology, agrees with Cole on the policy and says that PSU needed to be more proactive in previous years.
"I feel like it's a good thing," Heady said. "I think in the past, the university has kind of had a stubborn hands-off approach to it, where they let the teachers decide to deal with it, and I think that is a little na've."
Heady said she knows students who have been in mishaps on the road when classes haven't been cancelled, and is glad that the administration is encouraging safety.
"I know people who've been in car accidents who have come to school when the weather was bad," Heady said. "It's nice not to worry about what classes you have, and you know that the entire university is closed."
President Steve Scott said the university has the potential of closing, that is, if this season reflects previous years.
"If this is a typical winter, it is possible we may decide to close the campus as a matter of safety for students, faculty and staff," Scott said. "Another option is that we may want to delay the opening of the campus in order to clear parking lots and sidewalks."
The new policies method begins with a look at the road conditions and an evaluation of the weather by John Patterson, vice president of administration and campus life. With the vice president's recommendation, as well as consultation with the provost and the vice president of university advancement, the president will make a decision on whether to cancel class or not.
Scott said a decision is based on an up-to-date forecast, even if a cancellation isn't popular.
"The weather is unpredictable. It can be snowing in Pittsburg and clear in Parsons, and the forecast may change dramatically in just a few hours," Scott said. "We will make these decisions together with the best information we have at the time. We probably won't always be right, but we will always base these decisions on what we think will keep students, faculty and staff safe."
Andrea Cole, senior in finance, says PSU is taking the correct course of action with the policy.
"I definitely think it's the next step that the university needs to take," Cole said. "I understand that a lot of professors felt the burden to cancel class or to have class."
Cole said she's chosen to miss class in the past because of inclement weather. "I did not go, and from what I heard, there were very few students, so it was not worth it to hold class that day," Cole said. "I know it hardly ever happens."
Sam Heady, senior in psychology, agrees with Cole on the policy and says that PSU needed to be more proactive in previous years.
"I feel like it's a good thing," Heady said. "I think in the past, the university has kind of had a stubborn hands-off approach to it, where they let the teachers decide to deal with it, and I think that is a little na've."
Heady said she knows students who have been in mishaps on the road when classes haven't been cancelled, and is glad that the administration is encouraging safety.
"I know people who've been in car accidents who have come to school when the weather was bad," Heady said. "It's nice not to worry about what classes you have, and you know that the entire university is closed."
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