University of Missouri plans to create severe weather policies

University leaders look to create policies for campus closures and severe weather.

“We seem to be having more weather issues than we did in the past,” said MU Faculty Council Chair of Academic Affairs Dan Cohen.

He said the Provost Office wants to develop a regular policy when canceling classes and addressing inclement weather.

“It’s much more complicated than it seems, it’s not just about classes and labs,” Cohen said. “It has to do with online courses whether they’re in real time or not.”

The MU Faculty Council voted to hold an optional class day this semester to make-up for canceled classes last Thursday due to icy conditions.

The make-up class day is scheduled for May 10, commonly known as Reading Day, the Friday before finals week.

Cohen said instructors can choose to have classes on Reading Day, but students are not required to attend. No finals can be scheduled on Reading Day.

Instructors must inform students by April 5 if they choose to have class on Reading Day.

Historically, MU rarely cancels classes. In February 2014, a snow day forced Mizzou to cancel classes for the eighth time in its 175-year history, according to the MU News Bureau.

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