The weather outside is frightful! But is it a snow day?
It's snowing outside, and you're wondering if you have to go to work.

Well, probably.

NAU seldom closes campus operations. With nearly half of our undergraduate Flagstaff students living on campus, NAU works at staying open to ensure our students get the education they deserve.

"We want to serve our students, we have to serve our students," said MJ McMahon, executive vice president and interim vice president for administration and finance. "But we want to do so without putting anyone at risk."

Snow closure decisions begin with the NAU Police Department and Capital Assets and Services. When snow and ice become a concern, the two departments analyze Department of Public Safety highway information, study the road conditions on and around campus, and review the weather forecast. NAUPD and Capital Assets then make a recommendation to McMahon on NAU's ability to conduct normal campus operations.

McMahon consults with the president and the campus leadership before deciding.

"I don't make this decision on my own," McMahon explained. "We work as a team here and try to take everyone's concerns into consideration."

McMahon has three choices: open for normal business, cancel classes, or cancel all campus operations except for essential services on the mountain campus.

The decision is generally made by 6 a.m. with the decision on canceling evening classes, a more common occurrence, made between 3 and 4 p.m.

It's at that this point that students, faculty and staff are notified through local media, e-mail, the NAU home page, the portal and the NAU Now phone line at 523-0007.

McMahon emphasizes that students who feel unsafe driving to class should contact their instructors to determine how to make up classroom assignments. Employees should contact their supervisors or follow normal departmental procedures.

"Your own safety has to be your major concern," McMahon said. "We work hard to keep classes going and keep the campus operating. But we don't want anyone to put themselves in jeopardy."

NAU's snow closure policy can be found online here.