With the pandemic, remote learning, and relentless snowstorms looming over our heads, Penn State has updated its official guidance for changes in campus operations due to weather and other emergencies.

The university said instructors can opt for asynchronous learning in the event of changes to campus operations due to weather. This applies to professors teaching in every different mode of operation.

Penn State acknowledged that students and faculty “may not have the same access to University facilities and resources” in the event of campus closure, which is why it is providing different learning options. Here are the guidelines the university issued for different course types:

• COVID In-Person (CP) courses may not be moved to a synchronous online meeting per Faculty Senate policy. In the event of a change in normal campus operations, the instructor can choose to offer content asynchronously or may cancel class altogether.
• Hybrid/COVID Mixed-Mode (CM) courses are structured differently, so instructors need to specify in their syllabi how class content will be delivered. If a course is scheduled to meet in person on the day of a change in normal campus operations, instructors should give serious consideration to meeting asynchronously. As with CP courses, the instructor may choose to offer content asynchronously or cancel class altogether.
• COVID Remote (CR) courses may continue to meet remote synchronously at the usual time, or the instructor may choose to offer content asynchronously or cancel class altogether.
• Web and COVID Remote Asynchronous (CW) courses will continue with no changes.

Penn State also said that any sort of in-person on-campus activities set to begin during a campus closure should be canceled.

The university also updated its guidelines for its employees in the event of campus closure:

• Employees reporting to campus and performing essential duties: Employees who currently report to campus for work and have been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining campus operations should report to campus as directed. Employees who are required to report to campus during the cancellation period will be eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Pay in accordance with the HRG 10 guideline provisions.
• Employees working on campus who have not been previously identified as performing essential duties: Employees who are not identified as performing duties essential to maintaining campus operations should consult with their supervisor to see if they can perform work remotely during the cancellation period. If they can work remotely, these employees will work their approved schedule, and will not be eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Pay.
• Employees working remotely: Employees who are working remotely (because of the COVID-19 pandemic, under an approved telecommuting arrangement, or otherwise), and who continue to be able to work should perform their regularly assigned duties. Employees working remotely are not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time.
• Employees working at an alternate work location: If an employee is working at an alternate location, such as attending a conference or training, the employee is not eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time if they are able to continue their work responsibilities.

Penn State encouraged its students, faculty, and staff to only listen to guidance from official university sources in the event of campus closure. Penn State News, WPSU-FM, and the university’s alert system are all reliable sources of information.