Inclement Weather

The university may close, delay opening or close early in the event of extreme weather conditions. This decision will be made based on the severity of the weather and the potential impact on campus operations. We are committed to minimizing disruption to our academic and research missions and to prioritizing the safety of our campus. 

As a residential campus, certain essential services and operations, such as housing, dining and public safety, will continue during weather-related closures. Employees are encouraged to speak directly with their supervisors to address any questions.

All classes scheduled while the university is closed are canceled. While classes scheduled during closures or delays will not meet, instructors may offer asynchronous instruction to maintain continuity of learning. While the form and utility of asynchronous virtual instruction will vary across courses, these options are useful and advised in the event of a multi-day campus closure.

While classes scheduled during closures or delays will not meet, instructors may offer asynchronous instruction to maintain continuity of learning. While the form and utility of asynchronous virtual instruction will vary across courses, these options are useful and advised in the event of a multi-day campus closure.

Instructors are encouraged to proactively begin planning for the possibility of asynchronous remote instruction before the first day of classes. Instructors may visit the Teaching and Learning Transformation Center’s website on emergency closures and continuity of learning, which provides a wealth of information on how to temporarily shift to asynchronous learning. Some basics include guidance on updating course ELMS pages and the best way to contact students. More advanced options for asynchronous virtual instruction are also available.

It’s important to keep the following in mind:

• Communication - Instructors are responsible for communicating directly with their students about asynchronous virtual instruction, assignments and expectations.
• Access - Instructors should ensure students have access to the necessary materials and resources to continue studies remotely.  
• Flexibility - Please be mindful and flexible regarding students' ability to meet expectations and deadlines, as some may face unexpected challenges such as limited access to Wi-Fi, electricity, or other necessary resources during inclement weather.

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. 

Faculty and Instructors are responsible for communicating directly with their students about asynchronous virtual instruction, assignments and expectations. Students should plan to check their email and ELMS for updates from their instructors. 

All classes scheduled while the university is closed are canceled; and 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

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/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, follow @UMDDining on Instagram 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 UHC opens during a campus closure, they will only be available for urgent visits and will operate on 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 if the UHC is unable to open during a campus closure. 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. In the case of a delayed opening, library facilities and service desks will typically open 30 minutes after campus reopens. For the latest information on the Libraries' hours of operations during inclement weather, please visit the Libraries' website. 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/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.

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

Please check theclarice.umd.edu for the status of events at The Clarice.

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.