MCC Daily Tribune

What happens if MCC "closes" due to weather or other emergencies?

Please note: This article was updated at noon Feb. 1, 2022. We apologize for any confusion.

The following points apply and further define communications in case MCC needs to cancel classes or close due to hazardous weather conditions or another emergency circumstance. The points apply for the remainder of the 2021-2022 academic year (i.e., through August 31, 2022).

When MCC “physically closes” in response to an emergency, including hazardous weather conditions:

Face-to-face and remote classes are canceled; online classes proceed on schedule. This includes MCC Corporate College/Economic and Workforce Development Center, and the Finger Lakes Workforce Development Center (FWD Center).
- Accommodating individual online students who may face barriers related to the closing (e.g., an online student faces WiFi or power issue due to weather) will be made at the discretion of individual faculty members.
All virtual and in-person events and meetings at the Applied Technologies Center, Brighton Campus, Downtown Campus, and MCC career-technical sites for that day are canceled.
The Public Safety Training Facility remains open at the discretion of Dean Michael Karnes.
The Guon Child Care Center may also remain open at the discretion of the MCC Association.
Monroe County’s COVID-19 vaccination site at the Downtown Campus as well as the New York State Community Testing site and MCC’s COVID-19 Pooled Testing Center on the Brighton Campus are closed.
Changes in RTS bus schedules may impact students and employees.

Employee scenarios:

1. Essential employees* must report to work as scheduled.

Civil Service personnel who are deemed essential employees will be compensated under the provisions of College policy. Please check with your supervisor or your bargaining unit contract if you have any questions.

* An essential employee is defined as anyone whose job functions are essential to the effective operation of the College, or who must be physically present to perform their job, or who is involved in the existing emergency response. Such designation may be changed at any time in the sole discretion of MCC’s president. The College president is responsible for final determinations as to which functions or employees are essential based on how the crisis is developing or present on campus.

2. Individual employees who are able to remotely perform their job but face barriers working remotely related to the closure (e.g., employee faces child care issue due to K-12 school closure, employee faces WiFi or power issue due to weather, etc.) should communicate with their individual supervisors.

3. Employees who are directed not to report to in-person work and who are unable to remotely perform their job are not expected to work remotely (e.g., are granted a snow day).

4. Employees who are directed not to report to in-person work and who are able to remotely perform their job may be asked by their supervisor to perform their duties remotely.

5. Previously approved time-off (e.g., sick, vacation or personal day) will still apply despite MCC buildings being closed (i.e., you do not receive a snow day if you were already scheduled to be off on a day the College physically closes).

If individual employees have questions, please consult with your supervisor, Human Resources, or your bargaining unit representative. We encourage employees and their supervisors to have early conversations on the different scenarios that may apply to their department/office.

A notification will be sent via the MCC Alert system to your MCC email, posted on the MCC website (www.monroecc.edu) and shared via MCC social media channels. Based on your preferences and contact information maintained within the MCC Alert system, text and phone call notifications may also be sent to your phone(s). Because most weather-related closings occur during early morning hours, phone call notifications are only made after 6:00 a.m. (Update your preferences online.)

Thank you for your cooperation. Please send feedback and questions to PresidentsOffice@monroecc.edu.

Sample MCC Alert messages are included below for your reference:

TEXT: MCC ALERT: MCC is closed today due to weather. In-person classes, events/activities & pooled testing & vax clinic are canceled. MCC will reopen on tomorrow.

EMAIL:
Subject: MCC Closed Today

MCC ALERT: MCC is closed today from 6:00 am to midnight, due to weather conditions. In-person classes, events, activities, and the MCC COVID-19 pooled testing session and vaccination clinic at the Downtown Campus are canceled.

Courses delivered remotely or through Open SUNY will continue as usual and are not impacted by the closure.

MCC will reopen on tomorrow at 6:00 a.m.

MEDIA: Most media outlets use automated notification systems and limit messages to a few specific details; therefore, “MCC Closed” or “MCC Classes Canceled” reflect the points reflected previously in this article.

Rosanna Yule
Government and Community Relations
02/01/2022