Plan Outlines Emergency Operations

October 15, 2024 | News, UToday
By Tyrel Linkhorn



The University of Toledo’s Continuity of Operations Plan helps to ensure students, faculty, staff, patients and other campus visitors are safe during severe weather and other emergencies that may temporarily suspend University operations.

The plan, which is regularly reviewed, guides how UToledo will maintain critical operations, including public safety, clinical operations and student support services in the event of an emergency.

In the event severe weather or other emergency situations impact campus operations, the University is committed to communicating key information quickly to ensure everyone is safe and infrastructure is maintained.

If a major snowstorm or other type of emergency affects classes, the University will announce this information through the following channels:

•  UT Alert text message and email — sign into the myUT portal to update contact information;

•  Rave Guardian smartphone app — download free from your app provider

•  Website — utoledo.edu and utoledo.edu/weather, which provides time-stamped updates;

•  Social media — UToledo on Facebook and X; and

•  Local media outlets, including TV and radio stations.

Decisions to delay or cancel classes due to severe weather are based on the condition of UToledo campuses and area roads, as well as reports from local transit authorities and weather forecasters.

The University’s goal is to announce suspension of morning classes by 6 a.m., afternoon classes by 10 a.m. and evening classes by 3 p.m.

During a temporary suspension of University services, UToledo Health clinical operations will remain open.

The University’s policy is to remain open whenever possible to minimize interruption of teaching and research.

Leaders are asked to designate and notify essential personnel with skills or expertise critically necessary to ensure successful, continuous operations during an emergency.  The notice to essential employees should be processed through the electronic Essential Personnel Acknowledgement Form. Those essential employees may be required to report to work, regardless of the level of emergency, when a temporary suspension of University operations is authorized, and the Continuity of Operations Plan is activated.

Leaders also will provide essential employees UToledo’s Essential Personnel Restricted Travel Memo. Essential employees should present this memo to law enforcement if the employee is stopped while traveling to or from work at the University during an emergency.

UToledo areas defined as essential in maintaining continuous operations include: clinical operations, public safety/UToledo police, information technology, academic and student services; supply chain operations (for clinical operations only), facilities, employee payroll and human resources information systems.

More information is available on the Continuity of Operations and Essential Personnel website.

Additional information on policies and procedures for weather-related emergencies and other situations that may impact the operations of the University is available on the Emergency Preparedness website.