When the University is declared officially closed due to weather-related or other conditions of a threatening or emergency nature, activities and events, including team practices and competitions, that have been scheduled in Athletics facilities during the period of closure will be considered to be cancelled, unless specific notification to the contrary is given. The Director of Athletics will determine the status of scheduled intercollegiate contests and must provide specific approval for any to proceed under such conditions. The Associate Director of Athletics, Internal Affairs & SWA, must provide approval for any optional team practices or other scheduled activities to occur. It is the responsibility of the head coach to make contact to secure such approval.
In extreme situations where a state of emergency, which permits only emergency vehicles to be on the roads, is declared by the governor, all staff members and students are expected to fully comply with state laws.
When no state of emergency has been declared, but the University is officially closed, head coaches may hold an optional practice, but may not require student-athletes to attend and may not penalize any team member who is unable to attend a practice in such conditions due to safety considerations. In making a decision about proceeding with an optional practice, head coaches are asked to consider the safety and welfare of student-athletes and support staff as paramount. Assistant coaches, operations, equipment room and athletic training staff may not be required to attend. If a certified athletic trainer is unable to attend, for personal safety reasons, such an optional practice, the following sports would not be permitted to hold the practice:
1. Football2. Men's Basketball
3. Women's Basketball
4. Men's Lacrosse
5. Women's Lacrosse (NOTE: Not applicable to non-championship season)
Individual decisions about personal welfare and safety will be expected to be honored by coaches, without question. Any salaried staff pay during such situations is at double time. No salaried staff employee may come in to support such an activity, unless they are contacted specifically by their supervisor, not a coaching staff member, and requested to come in and then, only if they feel comfortable/safe in doing so. Such requests are expected to be rare and infrequent. A related consequence of holding an optional practice, is that grounds crew may be hampered or completely prevented from preparing for a resumption of normal University activities by the presence of numerous vehicles in a parking lot where they would not otherwise be located (e.g., snow removal). In such situations, cars should be parked in areas which have already been fully cleared, if applicable, even though it may not be in the closest proximity to the building.
(Approved by AGB, 4/10/03)