Snow forecast and the SMU Weather Policy

With snow in the Dallas area weather forecast for Tuesday, SMU reminds you that the best source of current information on the University’s status is at 214-SMU-INFO (768-4636) and the SMU homepage ( http://www.smu.edu ). You are encouraged to check both the phone line and the website for weather-related updates. Television and radio stations do not always have the most current information although every effort is made to quickly inform them of any change in SMU’s status.

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SMU Weather Policy

It is the goal of SMU to remain open and hold classes as scheduled. However, if conditions warrant closing, the President in consultation with the SMU Police and the Provost will make that decision.

As soon as a decision is made, the following steps are taken to notify the university community:

• An e-mail message will be sent to all students, faculty and staff. 
• A recorded message will be available at 214-SMU-INFO (214-768-4636). Please do not call the SMU Police Department.
• Closing announcements will be posted on the SMU web site and via SMU’s Twitter feed at twitter.com/smu.

Additionally, the Office of News and Communications will attempt to contact the news media by 6 a.m. if day classes must be cancelled. If it becomes necessary to cancel evening classes or events, News and Communications will attempt to contact the news media by 4 p.m.

SMU cannot guarantee that local media will announce closing information promptly or fully. Therefore, confirm information from non-SMU sources against official University communications.

If SMU remains open, faculty, students and staff are expected to report to their classrooms or offices. If someone lives in an area that is affected by bad weather and feels that travel to campus would be an unreasonable safety risk, that individual should contact his or her supervisor or department head to discuss possible options. For staff members, an absence when SMU is officially open must be taken as vacation leave. Emergency service personnel are expected to report to work in any case.

SMU-in-Plano and other locations away from the main SMU campus:

Should the main SMU campus close because of inclement weather, SMU-in-Plano and all other North Texas locations also will close. However, inclement weather may cause SMU-in-Plano and/or other locations to close independently of the main campus. Should this occur, the above-mentioned procedures will be followed.

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