Closing and Delay Procedures

Recent Notices

How ETSU Handles Non-Emergency Interruptions to Operations   

ETSU uses a set of predefined operational plans to guide campus operations during inclement weather or other non-emergency situations that may impact campus operations (such as a utility service outage).  

When weather conditions affect campus operations, university leadership determines which plan — A, B, or C — will be activated. Each plan clearly defines the status of classes, administrative offices, dining, and campus facilities.   

Personal Safety & Flexibility   

Due to the region’s mountainous terrain, weather conditions may vary significantly across our service area. Students, faculty, and staff are always encouraged to exercise personal discretion when deciding whether it is safe to travel to campus. Instructors and supervisors are expected to provide flexibility when weather conditions affect an individual’s ability to travel safely.   

Guiding Principle 

ETSU’s primary aim is to ensure safety while providing continuity of services for faculty, staff, students, and constituents when at all possible. As such, ETSU will generally remain open during periods of inclement weather or other disruptions as long as conditions on campus allow us to safely continue. The university’s inclement weather policy allows individuals to exercise their own discretion as outlined in the Personal Safety and Flexibility section above. 

Communication   

If ETSU modifies its operational schedule, students, faculty and staff will be notified via:   

• Their ETSU email address  
• Text message
  • Students: When registering at ETSU, be sure to put your cell phone number (not a parent or guardian’s) to ensure you receive alerts
  • Employees: You may update your cell number in Voyager
• Notices on ETSU’s webpage 
• Announcements on ETSU’s main social media channels   
• Alerts to local news media outlets   
     

Operational Adjustments During Weekends or Academic Breaks   

If there is a need to modify operations during a time when classes are not in session (weekends or breaks in the academic calendar), the same notification procedures will apply.   

Off-Campus Instructional Sites  

 
Please note that ETSU’s instructional locations in Sevierville, Kingsport, Chattanooga, and other areas will follow their own operational plans depending on localized conditions. Faculty, staff, and students at those locations should monitor their ETSU email for updates.    

Emergency Communications   

To learn more about how ETSU handles emergency situations, visit etsu.edu/safety.    

 

Operational Plans 

Plan A: Normal Operations  

Plan A is “business as usual,” and ETSU will generally follow Plan A if conditions on campus allow us to proceed safely.  
 
However, due to the region’s mountainous terrain, we recognize that weather conditions may vary significantly across our service area.  
 
Students, faculty, and staff are always encouraged to exercise personal discretion when deciding whether it is safe to travel to campus.  
 
Instructors and supervisors are expected to provide flexibility when weather conditions affect an individual’s ability to travel safely. 
  

Possible Exceptions 

The University School follows Johnson City Schools’ protocol and procedures.  
 
ETSU’s instructional locations in Sevierville, Kingsport, Chattanooga, and other areas will follow their own operational plans depending on localized conditions. Faculty, staff, and students at those locations should monitor their ETSU email for updates.    
 
ETSU Health clinics operate independently from the university. For updates on clinical operations, visit etsuhealth.org.  

Plan B: Modified Operations  

To be used when: It is not necessary to close for a full day, but safety would be improved by a delayed start or early dismissal. 

Service or Function	Schedule
Classes	Delay or end early as announced
Administrative offices	Delay or close early as announced
CPA	Weekdays: Follows the same schedule as administrative offices for opening; follows normal closing hours unless otherwise noted*   Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted   Sunday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Sherrod Library	Building and online services open as usual. Service desk hours may vary as posted in the building and on the library website.
Main Dining Hall	Unless otherwise noted, the Main Dining Hall will follow regular operating hours.
Retail Dining	Weekdays: Follows the same schedule as administrative offices for opening; follows normal closing hours unless otherwise noted.   Weekends: Follows normal weekend operating hours unless otherwise noted*
Culp Student Center	Building access will follow the Dining Hall.  Offices will follow the administrative offices schedule.
University Health Center	Follows the same schedule as administrative offices
ETSU Health	Operates independently from university. Visit etsuhealth.org for information.
ETSU Martin Center (Commercial Operations and Events)	Operates independently from the university. Visit etsumartincenter.org for information .
Martin Center for the Arts (Classes and Academic Performances)	Classes delay or end early as announced; Performances proceed as scheduled unless otherwise noted
Athletics Events	Proceed as usual unless otherwise noted*
Other co-curricular or community events	Follows the same schedule as administrative offices unless otherwise noted
University School	Follows Johnson City School System closure protocols

Class Start Times 

As a reminder, when the university is delaying opening or closing early, students are expected to report to their regularly scheduled class if there are more than 30 minutes remaining in the session. For example, if a delayed opening is set for 10 a.m., students who have classes from 9:45 to 11:05 a.m. should report to that class at 10 a.m. However, a student who has class from 9:20 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. would not be required to report, because fewer than 30 minutes would remain in the session with a start time of 10 a.m. If you have questions, please reach out to your professors. 

Plan C: Limited Operations 

To be used when: Conditions are unsafe for most travel, but residential campus services can remain partially functional, as determined by Emergency Management protocols.  

 Please note that the university has in place emergency plans for maintaining critical services for on-campus residents during extreme situations. This includes backup power sources and continuity plans for dining.   

Function/Unit	Schedule
Classes	Canceled
Administrative offices	Closed
CPA	Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted   Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted   Sunday: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Sherrod Library	Building and online services open as usual unless otherwise noted. Service desks closed.
Main Dining Hall	Open as usual unless otherwise noted
Retail Dining	Closed
Culp Student Center	Building access will follow the Dining Hall. Offices will follow the administrative offices schedule.
University Health Center	Closed
ETSU Health	Operates independently from university. Visit etsuhealth.org for information.
ETSU Martin Center (Commercial Operations and Events)	Operates independently from the university. Visit etsumartincenter.org for information.
Martin Center for the Arts (Classes and Academic Performances)	Classes canceled or end early as announced; Performances proceed as scheduled unless otherwise noted
Athletics Events	Proceed as usual unless otherwise noted
Other Co-curricular or Community Events	Follows the same schedule as administrative offices; unless otherwise noted
University School	Follows Johnson City School System closure protocols

A Note to Event Organizers 

Event organizers are responsible for contacting their division’s leadership if they would like to proceed with planned events when the university has made the decision to modify operations. Event organizers must receive approval from their divisional leadership, who will consult with the Office of Administration, if plans to continue are made when the university has deemed it a potential hazard.  

If campus is operating normally but an event organizer feels it unsafe to proceed, they may elect to delay or cancel their particular event or activity at their own discretion. To avoid delays in communicating critical information, the university will not wait to hear from partners across campus before communication regarding broader operations is sent. If alternative plans need to be communicated after initial announcements, university administrators will work with organizers to do so.