The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will remain open except in the most severe weather conditions. Decisions about campus operations are made based on conditions on campus and major transportation routes. It is anticipated that the campus community shall also monitor local conditions to assess the travel risk.
The below guidelines are provided to give campus leaders the flexibility necessary to respond effectively to short disruptions in campus operations and may be implemented for disruptions not specifically related to weather. Specific guidance will be communicated for disruptions that are likely to extend for multiple days.
Employee Guidelines
In the event of inclement weather when the university remains open, all faculty and staff are expected to make every reasonable effort to maintain their regular work schedules but are advised to avoid undue risks in traveling. Remote or Hybrid workers should coordinate their activities with their supervisor. Employees who anticipate arriving late or not arriving at all should notify their immediate supervisors. Employees have the option of charging their time off to annual leave or taking leave without pay. With prior approval, employees can make up lost work hours. There are detailed answers to frequently asked questions by university employees available here: Inclement Weather FAQs
Administrative Closings
The chancellor (or appointed representative) may officially close or suspend selected activities of the university because of extreme weather conditions. When a decision to close is made, information is distributed to the campus community, shared with local media, and posted on the front page of the campus website.
Delayed Openings
In the event of a delayed opening, the chancellor (or appointed representative) will determine a specific time of opening and that information will be distributed to the campus community, shared with local media, and posted to the front page of the campus website.
All faculty and staff are expected to report to their specific work location by the set opening time. Students are expected to report to their regularly scheduled class only if there are thirty or more minutes remaining in the session. For example, if a delayed opening is set for 10:00 a.m., students who have classes from 9:40 to 10:55 a.m. should report to that class at 10:00 a.m. Students who have classes from 9:05 to 9:55 a.m. should not report to class.
In a delayed opening, all classes scheduled prior to the set time of opening and those that have less than thirty minutes remaining are canceled for the day.
Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to make every reasonable effort to attend class but are advised to avoid undue risks in traveling.
Students are responsible for any academic work they miss due to absences caused by severe weather conditions. It is the student’s responsibility to take the initiative to make up any missed class work. If a faculty member cannot attend class, it is that faculty member’s responsibility to notify students in a timely manner, preferably at least one hour prior to the start of class. Faculty should also be mindful that hazardous weather conditions can cause students to miss class. In all such cases, faculty are strongly encouraged to provide a reasonable opportunity for students who are unable to attend to complete assignments or examinations missed due to hazardous weather conditions.
Faculty members have discretion to determine whether an additional session of the class should be held or if any additional assignments should be required to make up for classes that were not held.