Since the start of the spring semester, the University has been faced with many challenges related to the chilly weather.
Friday, Jan 12 saw a delayed opening on both the main and Law school campuses at 9 a.m.
Later that day, students, faculty and staff were informed through the OCU communications office that extreme freezing weather was imminent over the following days according to the National Weather Service.
Potential sub-freezing temperatures were a concern as well as impending snowfall. Students were given precautions to follow for on-campus housing and recommended to prepare adequately for the weather.
Sunday, Jan 14 saw plenty of snow on campus and resulted in the announcement of the university being closed on Tuesday, Jan 16. The University was already scheduled to be closed on Monday, Jan 15 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This announcement therefore extended the three-day weekend further.
Following the melting of the snow, campus resumed normal activity on Wednesday, Jan 17 and continued through the rest of the work week.
On Sunday, Jan 21, the university announced an early closure that same day at 2 p.m. in anticipation of freezing rain. Later that evening, university officials reacted to the rain by declaring a delayed opening on Monday, Janu 22 at 12 p.m.
In communications, it was clarified that classes were not cancelled due to the delayed opening but could continue as scheduled either virtually or at the faculty’s discretion.
However, by 9 a.m. the morning of Monday, Jan 22, University officials deemed it still unsafe to travel due to icy surfaces and closed the university for the duration of the day. Ice covered most outside surfaces from sidewalks to trees.
Icy conditions were gone by the following morning and schedules resumed as normal in the days after. There have not been any more weather closures or adjustments since.
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