MU Campus Remains Closed, Classes Canceled for Wednesday

February 4th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— After reviewing reports from the Missouri Department of Transportation, the city of Columbia and university crews, University of Missouri officials have decided to keep the campus closed on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Only employees that are situationally critical should report for work.

“This winter storm hit the region very hard, and we recognize that approximately two-thirds of our students, and the vast majority of our faculty and staff, have to drive to campus,” said Gary Ward, interim vice chancellor for administrative services. “Keeping this additional traffic off the roads will allow our crews, and crews from the city, county and state, to properly blade and treat the roads so everyone can travel safely to campus when operations resume. Our No. 1 priority at MU is safety for our faculty, staff, students and visitors.”

All MU Health Care hospitals and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital will remain open 24/7. For more information on MU Health Care, please visit http://www.muhealth.org/. The MU Student Center, Student Recreation Complex, and residential hall dining facilities and select dining facilities in the MU Student Center will remain open. Ellis Library will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; however, no services will be available. Branch libraries will be closed. (For more information about the MU Libraries, please visit: http://library.missouri.edu/).

“We also want to recognize the large number of employees who are working to clear our campus, make sure our students are cared for, maintain our health care operations and keep our research projects operating,” MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin said. “The university could not run without the dedication and skills of these individuals.”

Employees who are unsure of their status as to whether or not they are situationally critical should contact their supervisor. More information on MU’s campus closure policies can be found at the below links:
http://bppm.missouri.edu/chapter1/1_010.html
http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/rules/hrm/hr200/hr217

UM System personnel are included in this campus closure.

A decision on Thursday’s operations will be made by 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb.5. Information will be sent to media and posted on http://MUalert.missouri.edu.