Advisory

About Advisory Updates

Note: If you have recently received a Flash ALERTS text message or an email about a current campus advisory, please allow 10-15 minutes for this webpage to reflect the related advisory information and additional details. The text alert is sent first, followed by an email and then the post to this webpage.

Procedures

While the safety of our people is our priority, in general, the university does not close or cancel classes because of cold weather, winter ice and/or snow. However, on rare occasions, weather conditions may delay or cancel classes, or close campus. (Note: Kent State's campuses will all follow the general guidelines below, but each campus makes its own decisions based on weather conditions.)
 
When inclement weather threatens or extreme cold prevails, we expect to announce our actions by 5:30 a.m. for morning and all-day cancellations, 10 a.m. for afternoon classes and 3 p.m. for evening classes. In general, our decision will be guided by the condition of major roadways, campus roadways and sidewalks, and by our ability to plow our parking lots. For extreme cold, we typically will delay or cancel when the wind chill reaches (or is predicted to reach) -20 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period. 

There are several ways to learn about delays, class cancellations or campus closings:

• Flash ALERTS. Find out how to set your campus preferences.
• An email to your @kent.edu email account.
• Kent State website. A red bar containing an announcement will appear on the top of the homepage if there is a cancellation or closing.
• Television and radio broadcasts. 

Additional Points

• We understand that on bad weather days some areas on campus may require additional attention. Please help identify those areas on the Kent Campus by calling 330-672-2345 or the main office for Regional Campuses.
• When classes are canceled, university services remain open. This means that staff members are expected to report to work as usual.
• Employees and commuting students should always use sound personal judgments regarding the safety of their travel when deciding whether or not to report to work or classes. Students must arrange to make up missed work promptly; university leave policy governs the reporting and recording of work absences.
• When driving in the snow, please warm up your car before driving, allow extra travel time to get to your destination and go slow.
• Students in special classes, such as clinical rotations, should check with their instructor or placement supervisor on the appropriate procedures for an early morning delay or cancellation.
• A closing order from the governor’s office applies to state office buildings and other state employees in the field. Colleges and universities do not fall into this category.
• If you are a College of Podiatric Medicine student and/or support the Cleveland Foot & Ankle Clinic, in many instances, the Kent Campus and Twinsburg Academic Center closures do not apply to the College of Podiatric Medicine. Always check your @kent.edu email account to verify status of the College of Podiatric Medicine location.
• For more information regarding business operations during inclement weather closures, please visit the Delays and Closures page.
• For more information regarding payroll and timekeeping for inclement weather closures, please see the University Closure Chart.

Kent Campus Operations

When the Kent Campus is closed, all university offices on the Kent Campus are closed with the following exceptions:

• Dining locations are open; refer to the University Culinary Services website for specific locations and hours of operation.
• Residence hall directors and graduate assistants will still be available, and area desk locations will continue to operate during a university closure. Student security will work its usual schedule. However, the central office of University Housing will be closed.
• The Kent Student Center will have adjusted hours; refer to www.kent.edu/kentstudentcenter.
• The Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center may adjust its hours; refer to www.kent.edu/recwell.
• The University Libraries may adjust its hours and services; refer to www.library.kent.edu for details.
• The DeWeese Health Center may adjust its hours and services; refer to www.kent.edu/deweese for details.

Normal Kent Campus operations will resume the following day at 6 a.m.

Be aware that during a university closure, PARTA operates a reduced bus schedule with only one bus per route, and Student Accessibility Transportation Services (SATS) is canceled during closures.