UPDATE: Campus Closure Extended to 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 16

Dear Faculty and staff,

Campus will remain closed until 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 16. Updates will be provided by 8 a.m. if the closure is extended. Otherwise, no additional communications are planned.

• Essential staff in FM, Dining and Campus Safety will report for regularly scheduled shifts.
• Staff or faculty who are not required to report to campus prior to 10 a.m. on Tuesday should remain home or off campus to allow Facilities Management to safely address snow removal.
• Employees that are approved to work remotely are encouraged to do so Tuesday to limit pedestrian and vehicle traffic on campus.
• Any employees who are unable to report to work or work remotely after 10 a.m. on Tuesday should report to their supervisors per college or department protocols and utilize accrued vacation time available.

Please monitor windchill and road conditions to adjust your outdoor activities and travel as necessary. Avoid parking on city streets that have not been cleared. Stay alert for local road crews and FM staff as they continue to remove snow and treat walking surfaces.

Although the dangerous windchills will begin to ease by mid-morning Tuesday, temperatures will remain below zero through Wednesday and can still pose significant safety risks. Please refer to the following resources for more information on severe cold weather safety, including guidance on windchill, frostbite, and hypothermia:

• National Weather Service - Extreme Cold Safety  
• National Weather Service - Des Moines Office
• National Weather Service - Windchill and frostbite chart
• CDC Hypothermia and Frostbite Guidance
• May Clinic Hypothermia First Aid
• Mayo Clinic Frostbite First Aid

These resources may also be helpful in your travel planning: 

• Road Conditions: Iowa 511 Travel Information or download the Iowa 511 app on Android or Apple devices.
• Weather Forecasts: National Weather Service – Des Moines Office. 
• Inclement weather policy and essential staff information is available in the employee handbook.  
• City of Grinnell Snow Emergencies parking information. 

Thank you, 

Heather Cox
Director of Emergency Management & Risk Mitigation; Data Privacy Officer