New York Tech Inclement Weather and Emergency Closure Policy
Last Updated: February 2026
Purpose
In the event of severe weather or a large-scale emergency situation, New York Tech may decide to cancel classes, close the campuses, or delay the day's opening. This policy is intended to establish guidelines and procedures for university operations during inclement weather or other emergency closures. It sets out operational procedures, communication protocols, academic continuity, student activities, and employee work expectations, including those designated as essential personnel during emergency closures.
If the university closes prior to the start of the workday, you are not expected to report to work. Employees in specific departments, including facilities staff, may be designated to report even if a campus is closed. If the university does not close, you are expected to report to work as scheduled. If conditions exist that prevent you from reporting, you may use vacation or personal time for your absence.
Employee Handbook – Emergency Closings: U.S. Employees
Scope
This policy applies to all university campuses including New York City, Old Westbury, Jonesboro and Vancouver, and applies to academic programs, student activities, and employees, including faculty, staff, student workers, volunteers and contractors. Decisions to close one or more campuses, issue a delayed opening, or close early due to inclement weather or other emergency conditions may differ per campus location based on local conditions—for example: New York Campuses may be closed for inclement weather, but Jonesboro and Vancouver may not be closed.
Types of Operational Status
The university may declare one of the following:
| Level | Operational Status | Definition | Campus Operational Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Normal Operations | No inclement weather or large-scale emergency closure. No disruption to campus activities or business operations. In accordance with state and local authorities' guidance on roads, the campus community should be advised to use caution on roads. Campus will operate under normal operations. | All Students and Employees: Campus remains fully open and under normal business and academic operations. |
| 2 | Delayed Opening with Recommended Modified Operations | Inclement weather or emergency/planned closures that necessitate modified operations or delayed opening to ensure campus accessibility and safety for students and employees—e.g. 1–3 inches of snow requires facilities to clear campus roadways and parking lots. | Campus opens delayed, e.g. 11 a.m. Students: impacted classes during the delayed opening period are canceled; student activities are cancelled. Classes can move to remote delivery; limited on-campus services. Employees: advised to shift to remote work if feasible or proceed with arriving for on-campus work at delayed opening time. Employees who do not wish to report to work on-campus or work remotely will be required to use available vacation time. |
| 3 | Partial Closure | Inclement weather or emergency/planned closure of some areas of campus. | Selected buildings or areas of campus are fully closed or inaccessible. Employees: Impacted employees should shift to remote work where feasible, or relocate to alternate on-campus office arrangement for work activities. Students: at the recommendation of the provost, transition to remote learning or identify alternate classrooms for in-person classes in consultation with capital planning or registrar. |
| 4 | Early Closure | Rapidly changing inclement weather, anticipation of severe weather or hazardous conditions or other emergency conditions requiring early closure. | Employees: employees working on campus are advised to leave campus with no work expectations for the remainder of the business day. Employees who are working remotely when an early closure is announced should continue remote work where feasible. Students: All classes from early closure and forward will be canceled or transitioned to remote learning at the recommendation of the provost. |
| 5 | Full Closure | Inclement weather, rapidly changing weather or other emergency conditions that requires full closure of campus for entire day. | All non-essential operations are suspended. Students: classes and activities are suspended. Outside of residential facilities that house students, students are not permitted on campus, and students will not be transitioned to remote learning. Employees: are not permitted to work on campus and are not required to work remotely. With limited exceptions for essential workers responsible for campus safety as directed by Capital Planning. |
Communication of Closures and Delays
Employees and students are responsible for monitoring official university communications. Lack of notification should be interpreted as normal operations. Please be sure to sign up for New York Tech alerts at nyit.edu/alerts to receive text and/or voice alerts on your mobile device.
Official closure or delay announcements will be communicated through:
- University website homepage banner
- Campus emergency notification system (text and email)
Emergency closure resources can be found in the Employee Handbook – Emergency Closings: U.S. Employees
Academic Operations, Student Activities and Campus Events
Classes and Student Activities
- During modified operations (including partial or early closure), classes may proceed remotely at the discretion of Academic Affairs.
- During full closure, in-person and remote classes are canceled.
- During full closures, faculty are not required to provide remote or asynchronous instruction during closures.
- Faculty will not be required to deliver in-person instruction during a declared closure.
- During a full closure, all student activities are canceled. Residential life services will continue as needed to support on-campus students.
Exams and Academic Deadlines
- Missed exams, assignments, or required academic activities due to a declared closure must be rescheduled or provided with reasonable accommodations.
- Students will not be penalized for absences caused by officially declared closures.
Employee Work Expectations
Non-Essential Employees
- Non-essential employees are not required to report to campus or work remotely during a full campus closure as outlined above. New York Tech will observe the full closure as a one-time snow day for purposes of time-tracking in Workday.
- When feasible, employees may be authorized or directed to work remotely.
- Employees unable to work remotely following an early closure will not be required to use vacation time.
- Employees who do not wish to or cannot report to on-campus work at delayed opening times and who are unable to work remotely will be required to use available vacation time.
Essential Employees
Essential employees are those whose duties are necessary to:
- Campus safety: e.g. campus security officers
- Maintain critical infrastructure and facilities: e.g. facilities and cleaning staff
- Support residential students: e.g. residence hall directors
- Dining Services/de Seversky Mansion events: e.g. catering chef, cooks, sous chefs, waitstaff, wedding bridal staff or any critical dining services and/or catering staff responsible for catering events or supplying food to students living in campus housing.
- Ensure campus security and emergency response preparedness
Essential employees:
- Are expected to report to work as scheduled or as directed by management during closures.
- Will receive advance notice of essential designation from their department.
- May be eligible for overtime, or additional pay as defined by New York Tech policy or collective bargaining agreements.
Supervisor Responsibilities
- Clearly identify essential positions in advance.
- Communicate expectations to employees.
- Ensure employee safety considerations are prioritized.
- Apply this policy consistently and equitably.
Pay and Leave
Full Campus Closure
During a full campus closure where no work is expected to be performed, all full-time employees will receive pay. Exempt employees will receive their regular salary. Non-exempt employees will be paid their regularly scheduled hours. Non-exempt employees who have express approval from their supervisor to work during a campus closure will be compensated for any hours worked beyond an employee's regularly scheduled hours in accordance with all applicable wage and hour regulations.
Early Closure or Delayed Opening
During an early closure or delayed opening, exempt employees will generally receive their regular salary in accordance with applicable wage and hour laws. Non-exempt employees will be paid for a combination of hours worked in accordance with applicable wage and hour regulations and applicable snow day pay.
Delayed Opening – Choice Not to Report to Work
Any employee who chooses not to report to work following a delayed opening and are not approved or eligible to work remotely must utilize available vacation time to receive pay.
Safety and Personal Judgement
The university recognizes that weather conditions vary by location. Employees and students are encouraged to exercise personal judgment regarding travel safety and communicate with supervisors or instructors when conditions prevent safe travel, even when the university remains open.