Weather Emergencies

Date:November 8, 2005
To:The Campus Community
From:S. Catherine Longley, Sr. VP for Finance and Administration & Treasurer
RE:Weather Emergencies

As we prepare for the Maine winter, the following outlines the College’s policy and procedures for weather-related emergencies:

The College rarely closes. We are a residential college, and employees and students should generally presume that classes will meet and that all essential services (dining, facilities, security, etc.) will remain in operation.

In extreme weather conditions, it may be necessary to declare a weather emergency requiring only "essential" employees to report to work. All managers and supervisors will review their staff lists in order to identify the essential employees in their departments and inform them of specific department expectations. Faculty members should attempt to notify students through their departments if a class is canceled and schedule a make-up class when possible. Since weather conditions can change rapidly, a declared weather emergency over night or in the morning may not affect campus events later in the day or evening. See information below about event cancellation notifications.

Announcements

Announcements that Bowdoin College has declared a weather emergency will be broadcast over radio stations WGAN (AM 560), WMGX (FM 93.1), WYNZ (FM 100.9) and WPOR (FM 101.9) as well as television stations WCSH-TV (channel 6), WMTW (channel 8), and WGME-TV (channel 13). In addition, campus-wide e-mail and voice-mail will also provide emergency weather-related closing information, and we will make every effort to update the Bowdoin website. If additional work shifts are affected by a closing announcement, updated information will be made available on voice-mail and e-mail. The Communications Center (Ext. 3314) will be kept advised but should only be called if the above methods are unavailable.

Parking Bans

To facilitate snow removal from campus roads and lots, parking bans will be in effect from 12:00 midnight to 5:00 a.m. following any accumulating snowfall. Parking bans may be in effect the night after the snowfall as well. During this period, employees may park vehicles in the Coffin Street and Farley Field House parking lots. Perimeter parking is also available along Sills Drive next to Dayton Arena and along the north side of College Street to the south of Dayton Arena as designated. Vehicles parked in the following lots will be towed unless prior arrangements have been made with Security due to out of town travel or other special circumstances:

  • North Campus Drive
  • South Campus Drive
  • Coles Tower Drive
  • Druckenmiller Hall/Morrell Gym/Dayton Arena parking lot
  • Sills Drive next to Druckenmiller
  • Health Center parking lot
  • Russwurm Center parking lot
  • Admissions/Burton-Little lot
  • Lancaster parking lot
  • Chamberlain Hall parking lot

Event Cancellations

If weather conditions make it necessary to cancel or postpone a campus event taking place Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., the event presenter must notify the Campus Scheduler (Roberta Davis, ext. 3421; rdavis@bowdoin.edu), so that room reservations and related services (Dining, AV, etc.) can be canceled.

If events are canceled on the weekend or at night, when the Campus Scheduler is not available, the event presenter must contact individual campus offices that provide services, such as Facilities Management, Audio Visual, Dining Service, and Security. Refer to your scheduling confirmation sheet for these service providers' contact information.

To publicize to the campus and the public that the event has been canceled or postponed, contact Sue Danforth in the Office of Communications and Public Affairs (sdanfort@bowdoin.edu; ext. 3832; pager 207-750-1778). Contacting Sue Danforth is for publicity purposes only, and does not provide cancellation information to the Campus Scheduler, Facilities Management, Audio Visual, Dining Service, Security, or other campus offices that provide services for events.

Payroll

Specific payroll procedures will be distributed as needed in the event of closing.