Effective Date: 1/1/2009
Last Revised: 1/31/2011
Responsible Party: B. Forney
Persons Affected: College of Human Medicine faculty, staff, students at the Grand Rapids Facility
Severe weather or other emergencies such as total power failure may create conditions that could affect safety, health or access to MSU-CHM facilities. The MSU Vice President for Finance and Operations or his/her designee has sole authority to delay the beginning of University classes or close the University. Given the geographic distance between East Lansing and Grand Rapids, the weather conditions could be significantly different in each location. Therefore, the Vice President has delegated authority to cancel CHM classes in Grand Rapids to the Dean who has delegated the decision-making authority to the Community Associate Dean in Grand Rapids. The decision will be made in consultation with the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and/or the Dean. The Community Associate Dean will be informed if Grand Rapids Community College decides to cancel classes; this information is solely advisory and CHM's decision will be made independently. A decision to cancel or delay the start of classes will be communicated to GRAIL to be announced over local radio and television stations. Students, faculty and staff should assume that the facilities are open and that classes will meet as scheduled unless they hear otherwise on radio or television. Note that the decision to close the building is distinct from the decision to cancel classes. A decision to close the building due to an emergency would be a highly unusual situation and will ultimately be made by the MSU Vice President for Finance and Operations or his/her designee in consultation with the Dean.
Note to Employees:
MSU expects that employees assume responsibility for their own safety and health, and this extends to travelling to and from work when the weather is inclement. Employees who are concerned about their safety in severe weather conditions may choose to arrive late to work, leave early from work, or not report to work. However, in order to be paid for the time missed from work, support staff employees (i.e. non-faculty) must use accrued vacation, personal or comp time; with approval of their supervisory, they may also use administrative leave without pay.
The City of Grand Rapids has informed us that the DASH parking lot does not close in severe weather and that the clearing of the DASH route is a main priority for the city in any weather emergency. Thus, it is expected that the DASH lot and bus will also be an option for MSU employees in the downtown Grand Rapids area.
1.0 - Effective date: 1/1/11 - Revised by T. Pruitt/B. Forney - Original
2.0 - Effective date: 1/31/11 - Revised by B. Forney - Changes CHM authority to CAD