Safety Information

Closures Due to Weather

How do we handle snow and weather closures?

The decision to cancel any or all MSC activities is made only by the director or designee. On snow days, MSC announces any potential closures by 6 a.m. for morning classes, by 11:00 a.m. for afternoon classes and by 4 p.m. for evening classes.

Information Distribution

How do I find out about closures or emergencies? MSC uses several methods of communications to notify staff and faculty of emergencies or closures including:

1. Recorded Phone Message: A message will be put on the main phone number for the college, 745-9774 (select option #1) with information on the current status of campus closure or any cancelled classes.
2. Phone Tree: In the event the campus is closed a phone tree has been established to contact department supervisors and faculty. Supervisors will contact staff in their respective departments. Only those adjunct faculty who are scheduled to teach on that day will be notified.
3. Radio/Television: MSC Director’s Office notifies all major broadcast outlets of closures as rapidly as possible. Faculty and staff and students should be aware that not all outlets have 24-hour phone numbers, and that MSC cannot control the content of broadcasts. We make every attempt to notify broadcast outlets by 6 a.m. for morning classes, by 11 a.m. for afternoon classes and by 4 p.m. for evening classes. Tune your radio to KMBQ 99.7.

What if MSC is open and I can’t get to my class or get to work?
There may be times when conditions in an individual neighborhood prevent faculty from meeting their classes. If this happens, notify your students. Then notify the MSC Academic Affairs Office at 745-9754. Faculty should Keep a class roster at home and/or set up a phone tree for each class. It is the responsibility of the faculty member to notify students if individual classes are canceled when the college remains open. Staff members should notify their supervisor.

What if students can’t make it to class? Faculty should remember that conditions can vary dramatically around the Valley during major snowfalls. We make every effort to keep MSC open and operating in our northern environment, but we recognize that there may be times when students, like faculty, face local conditions that make travel impractical. Students should contact their instructor if they are unable to attend class.

Safety & Emergency Procedures

What do I do if a medical emergency or injury or other emergency occurs in or near my class or office? For serious medical emergencies call 911 to report the nature and location of the emergency. Follow the instructions given by emergency responders. Then contact MSC Safety Personnel at 745-9789, or 789 from a campus phone.

What are my responsibilities as a faculty/staff member? Faculty members are expected to remain with their classes and direct their classes as instructed by the Campus Response Team, Physical Plant or emergency personnel. In case of a building evacuation, keep the class together and go to the designated area for their building usually the parking lots. Each semester, Emergency Information and evacuation instructions are provided to the faculty. Staff members should remain at their duty stations or evacuate to the appropriate facility.