Due to inclement weather, Penn State is canceling on-campus work, in-person classes, and other in-person activities at its Altoona campus for Wednesday, January 25. Only employees who perform essential services should report. The campus will reopen for normally scheduled hours on Thursday, January 26.

Classes

Based on a course’s mode of delivery, the following actions apply during a change in normal campus operations:

  • In-person: In-person classes are canceled. Instructors may 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). Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these classes may not meet remote synchronously.
  • Remote synchronous: Classes already scheduled as remote synchronous may continue to be taught remote synchronously if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Alternatively, classes may be canceled or offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.

On-campus, in-person activities and events

Any in-person activities and events scheduled during the campus closure time are canceled.

Dining Facilities

Port-Sky Café will remain open for normal operating hours during closings, delays, and early dismissals.

Coasters, Dining Car Downtown, and Common Grounds will close during campus closures, delays, and early dismissals.

The Office of Housing and Food Services will close during campus closures, delays, and early dismissals.

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: Employees who have not been identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should not report to work until the resumption of normal campus operations and may be eligible for Campus Closure Pay, subject to guideline requirements. Employees should review the “official closedowns” section of the University’s Handling Weather Day Absences policy 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 Altoona 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 college’s 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.

Faculty and staff who have any questions about how these policies apply to them should consult with their unit human resources consultant.