Now that we are well into autumn, I would like to remind our faculty, staff, and students of the Emergency Closing Procedures for UConn Health and Correctional Managed Health Care.
The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount. At the same time, we have important research, teaching, and patient care missions to carry out. With all due consideration to safety, our goal is to maintain normal operations to the greatest extent possible.
We, therefore, make decisions about cancelling classes or curbing operations very carefully, with full consideration of all available information about weather predictions and road conditions. Faculty, staff, and students should evaluate their own circumstances carefully, exercise appropriate judgement, and take responsibility for their safety when making decisions during inclement weather.
Please review the Emergency Closing Policy at
http://health.uconn.edu/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2015/07/policy_2001_02.pdf.
It’s very important to remember that our policies and decisions are NOT the same as other state agencies, the main campus in Storrs, or the regional campuses. The nature of UConn Health’s activities, especially our 24/7 clinical operations, requires that official notification of emergency closing decisions be made and communicated ONLY by UConn Health.
It is your responsibility to know if your position is designated as essential or nonessential, as determined by your supervisor.
Labor Relations has a list of employees who are considered “essential” by their supervisors.
UConn Health Emergency Closing Notification:
UConn Health will make announcements about closing or delayed openings as soon as feasible, and generally no later than 5 a.m. When conditions change rapidly or unexpectedly, UConn Health many need to make or update decisions about operations or classes on short notice.
- UConn Health Emergency Notification System: The system is activated as soon as decisions are made regarding closings, delays, or cancellations.
- Operational Status Hotline, 860.679.2001: Faculty, staff, and students can call the Operational Status Hotline about delayed openings, class cancellations, or closings of UConn Health’s nonessential service units.
- UConn Health Advisory: Information about UConn Health’s operating status is announced through UConn Health Advisory as soon as decisions are made.
- UConn Health’s Closing and Cancellations webpage, http://health.uconn.edu/closing-and-cancellations: All information about changes to UConn Health’s operating status affecting faculty, staff, students, patients, and events is posted to this site as soon as decisions are made.
Because of restrictions imposed by mass media automated notification systems, UConn Health does not broadcast closing information through radio or television station outlets.
In the unlikely event that service of the UConn Health Operational Status Hotline is disrupted, UConn Health and CMHC employees and students may call our back-up number: 860.486.9292. We ask that you please keep the above two telephone numbers in convenient locations at home for quick access.
Correctional Managed Health Care Emergency Closing:
Under the UConn Health Correctional Managed Health Care policy, the Health Service Administrator will communicate any closing information to individual facilities. Employees may also call the UConn Health Operational Status Hotline at 860.679.2001. UConn Health Advisory email messages are also sent to correspond with the appropriate message. These are the only reliable and official sources of communication regarding closing information for the Correctional Managed Health Care Program. Please review the policy on the UConn Health Policies website under Emergency Closing: http://health.uconn.edu/policies/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2015/07/policy_2001_01.pdf.
In the unlikely event that service of the UConn Health Operational Status Hotline is disrupted, UConn Health and CMHC employees and students may call our back-up number: 860.486.9292. We ask that you please keep the above two telephone numbers in convenient locations at home for quick access.
Please contact Labor Relations at 860.679.8067 if you have questions.
Additionally, here are a few resources to keep you and your family safe during adverse weather conditions.
http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/winter/
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Carolle Andrews / Chief Administrative Officer
For more information, contact: Labor Relations at x8067