Winter Weather: Class Cancellations & Advisories

This page is your source for the most up-to-date and reliable information regarding class cancellations and campus closings. Before contacting the campus, check here to learn if an individual class has been canceled or in the event of inclement weather, if the campus has canceled all classes.

Ashtabula Campus Advisories

• Campus Coronavirus Updates
• ASHTABULA CAMPUS ADVISORY: There are no advisories at this time.
• See all Kent State Advisories

Note: If you have recently received a FlashAlert or an email about a current campus advisory, please allow a few minutes for this Web page 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 web page.

POSTING ADVISORIES

Kent State Ashtabula will post delays, cancellations and closings in the following ways:

• Flash ALERTS text message and FlashLine email.
• Official Kent State Advisory website.
• Kent State Ashtabula homepage at www.kent.edu/ashtabula. A red bar containing an announcement will appear on the top of the page if there is a delay or closing.
• Kent State Ashtabula Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
• Television and radio broadcasts. See list below.

Daily Individual Class Cancellations

When an instructor cancels class as reported by the Office of Academic Affairs, the cancellation will be listed on the class cancellation twitter feed. Every effort will be made to post class cancellations in a timely manner. 

Tweets by @KSUAClassCancel

FLASH ALERTS

Flash ALERTS is Kent State’s official emergency text notification system to alert subscribers of critical information no matter what time it is or where they are in the world. Flash ALERTS expands the university's ability to send critical news and information to the university community during campus emergencies.

• Subscribe to Flash ALERTS
• Learn more about Flash ALERTS
• Unsubscribe from Flash ALERTS

Canceling Ashtabula Campus Classes

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, there are those rare occasions when weather conditions may delay or cancel classes, or close the Ashtabula Campus. (Note: All Kent State University campuses will follow the general guidelines, but each campus makes its own decisions based on weather conditions near their campuses.)
 
When snow and/or ice 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 leading to campus, by the condition of campus roadways and sidewalks, and by our ability to shovel our parking lots. For extreme cold, we will delay or cancel when the wind chill reaches (or is predicted to reach) -20 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period. Different campuses follow different guidelines when canceling classes which include current and future weather conditions and time of day.

Extreme Cold Weather Tips

In the event that a Kent State Ashtabula cancels classes due to inclement weather or other emergency, university policy specifies that:

• Morning classes begin before 12 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Afternoon classes begin after 12 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Evening classes begin after 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For example, if your class begins at 3:30 p.m. and evening classes are canceled, you are still expected to attend your 3:30 p.m. class.

Please keep in mind:

• For online or remote format classes: In the rare instances of a campus closure, all classes offered online or in remote formats will continue as usual.
• For in-person classes: In the event of a campus closure, in-person classes will not meet in person and may be canceled, but instructors teaching in person have the option to conduct a synchronous remote session or assign appropriate asynchronous work. 
  • Instructors should include a statement in their syllabus regarding expectations in the event of campus closure and inform students before the class is scheduled to begin on the day of the closure by email or BlackBoard/Canvas announcements about the expectations for their participation during the closure.
  • Students who are unsure about whether a class will meet synchronously or if there is an assignment should email their instructor.
  • Students in special classes, such as clinical rotations, should consult with their dean on the appropriate procedures for an early morning delay or cancellation.

Assessing Weather Conditions

Campus administration and staff continually monitor road conditions throughout the day and evening to determine if classes are to be canceled or delayed. Students are responsible for assessing their own situation to determine if it is too hazardous to travel to campus. Furthermore, it is the student’s responsibility to contact their professor if they are unable to attend class due to inclement weather. Students are expected to understand their individual professor’s policies regarding class attendance as indicated on the course syllabus.

ADDITIONAL POINTS

• 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 employ 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.
• Students in special classes, such as clinical rotations, should consult with their dean 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COVID-19 AND UNIVERSITY CLOSURES

Kent State will continue to use Flash ALERTS to inform faculty, staff and students when severe weather requires the university to close. This year, with so many of our courses being offered in alternative formats and virtual spaces (e.g., remote, hybrid and online), all instructors should inform their students of the plan for class if a university closure becomes necessary. In these rare instances, all classes being offered in person would be canceled, and all classes offered online or in remote formats will continue as usual. While in-person classes will be canceled during a university closure, instructors teaching in person may consider conducting a synchronous remote session or assigning appropriate asynchronous work. In addition to the Flash ALERT or FlashLine email that will be sent to students when the university closes, instructors should inform students before the class is scheduled to begin on the day of the closure by email or Blackboard about the expectations for their participation during the closure.

Kent State Winter Weather Advisory Statement

• Read 2021-22 Winter Weather Advisory Information (pdf) from Melody Tankersley, Senior Vice President and Provost, and Mark M. Polatajko, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration (emailed on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2021).

Contact

Questions regarding the campus's closing policy should be directed to ashtabula@kent.edu.

Media Announcements

Should it be necessary to cancel all classes for any reason, cancellations will be announced via local radio and television stations. Announcements of class cancellations and/or campus closings will be made on the following stations: