Inclement Weather Procedures
The university is reluctant to postpone or cancel classes because the schedule is already very compressed and it is difficult to schedule make-up classes. In order to make the most informed decisions possible, the university gathers information from the National Weather Service, State Police agencies, and site managers and personnel (when appropriate). Unfortunately, the university cannot make the decision based on an individual student's geographical situation and the driving distance to and from class. Students should be aware, however, that they are expected to use discretion and not to take unreasonable risks. If students choose not to attend class, they must notify their instructor and make appropriate arrangements for make-up work. Decisions to postpone or cancel classes will be announced by the university. Regional locations will be judged by the Regional Deans. In the event it becomes necessary for a Regional Dean to recommend to the Vice-President/Dean a weather related or emergency closing or postponement for an onsite cohort, the appropriate Program Director will work with affected faculty and students to make up the missed class session through an online alternative class session by observing the following guidelines:
Instructors will contact students on the date class is cancelled with written requirements for making up the cancelled class session through an online alternative.
In the event an onsite class session is cancelled that is deemed significant to the cohort (e.g., program orientation, the first class session of a program, the last class session of a program, etc.), the Regional Dean will petition the appropriate academic leaders to arrange a new date to make up the cancelled class session prior to the next scheduled class session.
To satisfy attendance requirements and earn participation points (if applicable), all assignments associated with the cancelled class session must be submitted prior to the start of the next scheduled class session.
Postponement decisions for evening classes will be made by approximately 3:00 p.m. on the day of class. Decisions about Saturday classes will be made the evening before, when possible, but may be made during the early morning hours on the Saturday of class if necessary. Postponement decisions will be announced through a variety of methods. In most cases the core group has a designated class representative who will be notified by the university. The representative should then activate the telephone calling tree to disseminate the information to the class. In cases where there is no class representative or calling tree, someone from IWU and/or the instructor will call the students. No notification will be made unless classes are postponed or cancelled. Information about postponements and/or cancellations will be announced on the university's Web site at http://www.indwes.edu/classinfo. Announcements will also be posted on the student portal at http://myIWU.indwes.edu and on the class information phone line at 1-800-621-8667 ext. 2022.
