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Inclement Weather


Guidance for Winter 2024 session courses only


The best way to receive inclement weather notifications directly is to make sure you are signed up for UMD text alerts

Updates regarding UMD’s closures, delays and other schedule changes, will be announced through various channels, including:

The university will not make an announcement if the campus is open and operating under normal operations. The university makes every effort to communicate changes to campus operations by 4:30 a.m. Local media outlets often cover changes to university operations; however, for the most up-to-date information, please check the university sites listed.

The university may close, delay opening or close the campus early in the event that inclement weather conditions pose a serious threat to the health and safety of the university community. A variety of factors are taken into consideration, including access to public transportation and Metro, the status of campus roads and sidewalks, availability of power and internet access on campus, and conditions on roads and sidewalks off campus and across the region. We prioritize our campus safety while doing our very best to minimize impacts on the academic and research enterprise.

When the university is closed, all classes during that time are canceled and all university offices and non-essential services are closed, unless specifically noted. The closing may not apply to essential employees. Those employees should contact their supervisor or department head for instructions. Impacts to on-campus student services are outlined below.

The following definitions apply to individuals who are considered essential during inclement weather events:

  • Weather/Other: Employees who are subject to being required to work because of weather or operational emergencies such as snow removal, flooding, electrical outages, etc.
  • Catastrophic & Weather/Other: Employees who are subject to being required to work to maintain continuity of University services in the event of any major catastrophic event AND who are also subject to being required to work because of weather or operational emergencies. For certain positions, work may be able to be completed remotely.

If an employee is unsure whether they are an essential employee for inclement weather events, they should contact their supervisor for guidance. 

Information for frequently requested services includes:

  • Resident Life:  When the University is closed due to inclement weather, residence halls remain open, however, Resident Life administrative offices are closed. Resident students who need assistance should contact their residence hall service desk to contact on-duty Resident Life staff. In an emergency, residents should contact the University of Maryland Police Department immediately by calling 301-405-3333. Residents should check the Resident Life website, follow @UMDReslife on X, formerly known as Twitter, and monitor email regularly for any pertinent residence hall updates.
  • Dining Services: In the event of a campus closure, Dining Services operates on an abbreviated schedule. For up-to-date information, visit the Dining Services website; or find additional information about Dining Services policies during emergency conditions.
  • Health Center: The University Health Center’s hours may vary during weather-related campus closures. If the UHC is able to open during a campus closure event, then they will only be available for urgent visits and will operate with limited hours. If the UHC is unable to open, then some previously scheduled in-person visits will be converted to telemedicine visits (if possible). In addition, other appointments may be rescheduled or canceled in the event the UHC is unable to open during a campus closure event. For the latest information on UHC’s availability, please visit the University Health Center’s website. For life-threatening or mental health emergencies, call 911 (off-campus) or 301-405-3333 (on-campus for the University of Maryland Police Department)
  • Counseling Center: The Counseling Center is closed whenever the university is closed, including closures for inclement weather. Anytime the Counseling Center is closed, our After Hours Phone Line can be accessed by calling the main Counseling Center number at 301-314-7651. The After Hours Phone Line is available for urgent situations, providing access to a mental health professional over the phone (appointment scheduling and rescheduling cannot be done via the After Hours Phone Line). In the case of an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
  • Libraries: The University Libraries follow the same closing schedule as the university. Access to online resources will be available.
  • Stamp Student Union: In the event that the university is closed, all events in the Stamp will be canceled. If the university has a delayed opening, the Stamp will open 30 minutes before the university's scheduled opening time, and events will begin one hour after the university's scheduled opening time. If the university closes early during the regular operational hours of the Stamp, all events will end one hour before the scheduled university close time and the Stamp may possibly remain open for up to one hour after the university's scheduled closing time. Follow @thestampumd on X, formerly known as Twitter, or visit Stamp’s website for the latest information on the Stamp’s hours of operation, service departments, and retail vendors during inclement weather.
  • University Recreation & Wellness: When campus is closed, RecWell facilities will operate on an abbreviated schedule and all RecWell programs, including group fitness classes, will be canceled. For more information about the availability of RecWell facilities during inclement weather, including provisions for when the university opens late, closes early, or is closed for the day, visit RecWell’s inclement weather website or follow @UMDRecWell on Twitter.

The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) inclement weather website will be updated to reflect any changes to Shuttle-UM service or parking. Status updates will also be posted on X/Twitter (@DOTS_UMD), Instagram (@DOTS_UMD) and on the Transit App.

Classes scheduled while the university is closed are canceled. In the case of a late opening or early closing, students are expected to report to their classes for any period of time that the university is open.

 

For example, if a class runs from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. and the university is opening late at 10 a.m., students will be expected to attend that class for its remaining time, from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m

Faculty and instructors are responsible for communicating with students with instructions for participating in their classes virtually. 

Please check umterps.com and follow @umterps on X/Twitter for the status of athletic events.

When the university makes a decision on its open or closed status, the university notifies other campuses that may also be affected by inclement weather, such as the Universities at Shady Grove and the USM Southern Maryland regional center. It is up to those institutions to determine their open or closed status and notify their campus community.

About

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

DO GOOD 

Introducing The Nation's First Do Good Campus Transforming Idealism into Impact 

Academics

Spanning 12 schools and colleges, Maryland offers more than 300 degree-granting programs, many of them ranked among the best in the country. Our faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 58 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. And our students, who include the highest achievers in the state and nation, enjoy experiences unique to our location just outside the nation’s capital, including internships, research, and leadership and service opportunities.

Research and Innovation

The University of Maryland is one of the world’s premier research institutions. With our strategic location and scores of partnerships with government and businesses, UMD conducts groundbreaking research on some of the biggest challenges facing our global community, including cybersecurity and terrorism, bioengineering, public health equity, food safety and climate change. We strive to discover new knowledge and put it to work through innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing economic development and transforming lives. 


The newly launched Innovation Gateway will guide you to the resources, programs, partners, and spaces you need to activate and scale your fearless ideas into innovations that launch new ventures, catalyze growth, and advance economic development.

Arts

At the University of Maryland, the arts, the humanities and the sciences intersect to address important societal issues and shed new light on the human experience. Our vibrant campus arts community collaborates with local and national cultural organizations such as the Phillips Collection, Kennedy Center and Folger Shakespeare Library. Student and faculty artists, designers, historians, writers and performers are exploring new media, presenting new perspectives, investigating new techniques and engaging new audiences.

Athletics

Home of the Terrapins, the University of Maryland has one of the nation’s most recognizable and successful athletics programs. More than 550 student-athletes compete each year in 20 intercollegiate sports—12 for women and eight for men. Since 2005 alone, Maryland has won 19 national championships, including NCAA titles in women’s basketball, men’s soccer, men's lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and field hockey. Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014, UMD has won a combined 32 regular season and tournament championships. Fear the Turtle!

Student Life

The Terp experience extends beyond classrooms, labs and studios. It encompasses residence halls and dining halls, clubs and sports, fraternities and sororities, campus events and performances, and countless off-campus destinations. Maryland touts 800-plus student organizations, dozens of prestigious living and learning communities, and countless other ways to get involved. Students here can create a unique identity and grow as individuals, even as they’re part of a close-knit and diverse community. 

On Campus

News

Latest news at Maryland Today

For media releases visit UMD Right Now

Terps are bold, smart, curious and proud. We do good, in our communities and out in the world. We are fearless. And we are always looking to expand our ranks. Interested in becoming a University of Maryland student? This is where to start.

 

Give to Maryland

Giving back is a fearless Terp tradition, and there are many ways you can not only keep it alive, but also make an instant impact. 

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