With a winter storm warning predicting heavy snow and strong winds, UWM is canceling all in-person classes, public events and student activities at all three campuses for Thursday, Feb. 16. Online classes and virtual sessions for hybrid courses will be held as scheduled. Students should check e-mail and Canvas for additional information that instructors of the canceled classes might provide.
For off-campus events including athletics, performances, receptions or others, please contact the sponsoring unit of the event for details on the status of the event.
Building Information
The UWM Student Union will be closed. The UWM at Waukesha and UWM at Washington County libraries will be closed all day. The Golda Meir Library’s Learning Commons will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, but other areas of the building will be closed. The Klotsche Center will close at 11 a.m. Residence halls and their dining services will remain open.
Weather Updates
The safety of our students, faculty and staff is paramount. All are encouraged to take steps to ensure individual safety during extreme weather. We will continue to monitor the weather forecast and update our campus communities should there be any changes. All updates and announcements will be shared as follows:
Notifications are posted on the UWM home page.
Current weather information can be found at uwm.edu/innovativeweather.
Current watches and warnings can be found on the National Weather Service website.
Information for Employees
Employees who normally work in-person should contact their supervisor to determine if they provide essential services and must report to work. Given the weather conditions, it is helpful to UWM if employees who are not responsible for essential functions work from home if their job responsibilities permit, or take leave. However, they are not required to stay home and may report to work if they wish. Please review the system policy on leave and absences below.
Employees who come to the Milwaukee campus may park in the Union and EMS parking garages free of charge. If a surface lot is closer to your office or work area, you may park in that surface lot without purchasing a permit. There will be no ticketing of cars on Thursday, Feb. 16, during daytime hours.
Normal parking enforcement will be in effect during the overnight hours, as crews need to be able to access the lots overnight to continue to remove snow.
UW System’s policy on leave and employee absences due to weather says:
Employees absent from work because of inclement weather or emergency conditions must use available vacation, accrued compensatory time, available holidays, or leave without pay to cover the absence, or they may arrange another work schedule with their supervisor. Supervisors may require the employee to make up lost time during the same workweek of the absence if required for the operation of the work unit.
Employees who are not exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime pay provisions (i.e., those who must be paid overtime for hours worked over 40 in a workweek) must account for each hour of scheduled duty during the workweek. FLSA-exempt employees may account for their time in a manner consistent with their professional responsibilities, as approved by their supervisor.
See UW System Administrative Policy 1235, Inclement Weather/Emergency Conditions.
