University officials spent more time looking at weather than students may have thought.
When severe weather seems imminent, officials constantly monitor the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration website, noaa.gov, which provides a constantly updating forecast for weather across the nation. If it seems that conditions worsen, then the university provost, assistant provost, the university’s risk management department and the chief of police will make a group decision on whether to close the campus or not.
“It is a complicated process,” said Susan Barber, university provist. “We have to look at other schools and conditions else where too. If a class meets once a week and we close that day then that class will miss out on an entire week.”
If other universities near close such as University of Central Oklahoma and University of Oklahoma, then officials will look closer at the NOAA report.
“It’s not a matter of how long we take,” Barber said. “It is a matter of making a decision at the right time.”
The weather for Feb. 23 was predicted to have a large ice and snowstorm to pass through the Oklahoma City metro, but the storm slowed down during the night, Barber said.
Officials have decided not to close the campus Feb. 23, but will continue to monitor the weather and NOAA website throughout the day.
“We are all looking it,” said Barber. “The weather is not always as predictable as we like to think it is.”
If officials decide to close the campus, then all classes and events will be cancelled as well. The caf and Alvin’s will remain open until their normal closing time.
Stay with MediaOCU for updates on campus closings.
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