Year after year, Michigan is reminded it’s no stranger to the cold. Yet, Michigan State University has no standing criteria for deciding when to close its doors.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, the National Weather Service issued a severe weather advisory for much of Michigan, warning of dangerous conditions through Friday, Jan. 24. Many students were hoping MSU would suspend university functions for the day. Still, students walked to class on Friday in subzero temperatures, with the windchill dropping to the negative twenties.
The advisory warned of wind chills as low as minus 25 degrees, conditions the NWS says can cause frostbite in under 30 minutes. Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University and Oakland University called off in-person instruction, citing the weather.
Michigan State University has suspended university functions for weather seven times in its history.
MSU Spokesperson Amber McCann confirmed MSU does not have a policy that leadership follows on when to close the university for weather. Instead, McCann said, leadership “meets regularly” to assess if classes should be held.
“There's some general guidance that we operate on to make sure that we can ensure the safety of students' faculty and staff, but there isn't a specific trigger that we have to hit to cancel classes,” McCann said.
Instructors were advised ahead of the most recent cold day that they could move their classes online or asynchronously if they determined the move practical, according to an email sent to faculty from Provost Laura Lee McIntyre on Thursday, Jan. 22.
That message also stated that instructors were "encouraged to communicate expectations clearly while offering flexibility and understanding for students who may face extreme challenges due to winter weather."
McCann added that instructors should have reach out to the Provost’s office if they had questions on how to operate their class.
Lyman Briggs Professor, Robert Bell, said faculty, department chairs and deans are not consulted on if classes should be cancelled or not. That decision is the Provost's call.
