When the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) campus is closed or classes are cancelled or delayed due to an emergency or inclement weather situations, an official announcement will be issued through Missouri State Alert, at the top of the MSU-WP homepage, on the university’s main social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the Mountain Grove Facebook Page), and through the news media (television and radio). Responsibility for inclement weather procedures is shared by business services, university communications and the chancellor.
Students should use their own good judgment regarding travel when weather conditions are questionable. Students should contact their instructors if they cannot attend classes because of weather conditions. Faculty members are encouraged to allow make-up work for classes missed because of weather conditions.
In extreme weather conditions, classes may be canceled. Faculty, staff and students should call the Missouri State University Safety and Emergency Services Center at 417-836-5509 for information regarding the status of Missouri State-West Plains classes, Mountain Grove Extended Campus classes and Missouri State-Springfield Outreach classes.
An official announcement will be issued through local radio stations and Springfield television stations ONLY if Missouri State-West Plains and/or Mountain Grove Extended Campus classes are canceled. In addition, a message will be posted on the MSU-WP homepage and the university’s main social media channels and sent out through the Missouri State Alert system.
When classes at the Mountain Grove Extended Campus are cancelled but the West Plains campus is open, the cancellation will be posted to Mountain Grove Facebook Page.
Unless and until an official “classes canceled” announcement is issued, faculty members are expected to hold classes as usual, and non-faculty employees should assume that activities will continue as normal.
If faculty members choose to cancel their classes due to inclement weather, they should issue a statement to their students via Blackboard or university email as early as possible.
When university classes are canceled due to severe weather, a decision will be made as to whether offices also will be closed. If a decision is made to close the university or to cancel day classes, details will be posted on the university’s main social media channels and the Missouri State-West Plains website, and sent out via Missouri State Alert by 7:00 a.m.
Since the decision to cancel day classes due to inclement weather does not pertain to evening classes or second or third shift employees, a separate decision will be made by 3 p.m. If classes are canceled and/or offices closed, an official announcement will be issued through public media (television and radio), the university’s main social media channels and through the Missouri State-West Plains home page at https://wp.missouristate.edu/
If classes are canceled, but offices remain open, non-faculty employees should report to work as scheduled. If offices are closed, non-faculty employees are not to report to work unless they are notified or have been given prior instructions to report as part of essential services. It is the responsibility of the Chancellor to designate which employees are to report to work. (Essential employees are noted on page 3.) The major administrator of the operation will be responsible for ensuring that needed employees are notified. If no announcement is made, employees should assume that activities will continue as normal. Essential employees are required to report to work, and the failure of essential employees to report for work because of weather conditions is not an acceptable excuse and may result in employee discipline. Loss of work time because of weather conditions when the University continues operations will not be considered an excused absence. Such time lost may be taken as paid leave or the employee will not receive pay for the time missed due to the University closing.
Employees can see the full Severe Weather Closing Policy for more information.