Hazardous weather can occur throughout NMSU at any time of the year. The NMSU Emergency Dispatch Center monitors weather information from the National Weather Service and other sources continually. This gives the NMSU Weather Team the information needed to determine the potential impact to NMSU and make informed decisions. For additional information and general guidance for hazardous weather events, please see the NMSU Hazardous Weather webpage.
New Mexico State University’s system of academic activity, business operations and community services at its campuses, facilities and services throughout the state require certain services and facilities to remain open, notwithstanding inclement weather and other unforeseen events. When weather conditions are such that the safety or security of NMSU students, personnel, visitors, property or operations may be at risk, the affected NMSU campus or facility may initiate the suspension of classes and operations in accordance with ARP 16.09 – University Emergency Closure and ARP 16.10 Emergency Preparedness and Response, to include the location specific protocols listed below.
Decision authority for inclement weather disruption has been delegated to the Vice Chancellor/COO by the Chancellor. Officials at each affected campus will communicate directly with the appropriate emergency personnel in coordination with the Vice Chancellor/COO to make the decisions to suspend classes or operations. All faculty, staff and students should assume NMSU is open and classes are being held unless notified in accordance with this protocol.
The suspension of classes and operations is defined as the temporary discontinuance of classes, normal work activities, academic or support programs and other campus events. During such suspension, commuting students, faculty, staff, visitors and non-essential personnel should not be on campus.
Online Classes and Telework
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Online classes should not be affected by inclement weather suspensions and are expected to maintain the same schedule. If there are extenuating circumstances that inclement weather would also affect online class delivery, consult with Department Head for guidance.
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Employees who telework from home are not affected by inclement weather suspension of operations and are expected to maintain their regular work schedule.
Continuity of Operations Plans and Essential Services
Administrators of services and facilities that provide essential services, such as university police, fire and emergency services, information and technological services, physical resources and housing, will independently develop Continuity of Operations plans to maintain these services. Units with unique activities (e.g. research, animal/plant care) should develop their own continuity of operations plan (COOP). See ARP 16.10 – Emergency Preparedness and Response for additional information.
Employee Leave
When operations are suspended due to inclement weather, regular exempt and non-exempt employees who are scheduled to work during the suspension period shall be placed on leave with pay, while temporary and student employees will receive leave without pay. Temporary and student employees may work to make up lost hours with the concurrence of their supervisor.
Employees affected by inclement weather who cannot come to work, when the university remains open, may request annual leave from their immediate supervisor (See ARP 16.09 – University Emergency Closures). In these instances, employees in non-leave earning positions will be placed on a leave without pay status.
Note: The All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan is in revision. Appendix F (iii) – Hazardous Weather will reflect the updated changes listed below when the revision is complete.
Emergency Weather Plan for NMSU Las Cruces Campus and DACC Las Cruces Campuses
The following protocol applies to the decision to suspend classes and campus operations at NMSU Main Campus and DACC Las Cruces Campuses. The DACC Gadsden, Chaparral and Sunland Park campuses will be given specific guidance by the DACC President.
Definitions
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Weather Team: Vice Chancellor/COO, Police Chief, AVP Facilities & Services or delegate, and the AVP Marketing & Communications.
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CET: Chancellor’s Executive Team
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CART: Central Administration Response Team
Suspension Implementation
Weather Team Action
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The NMSU Police Chief or delegate will notify the Vice Chancellor/COO immediately upon learning of inclement weather with potential for disruption of campus operations and will assess the conditions of the weather in order to share with the Weather Team.
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Weather Team will discuss the following:
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Potential of class and campus operation suspension and timing
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The actions of the city, county, public schools and other local entities.
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Decisions should be made by the following deadlines for class time blocks to avoid minimal disruption to classes and campus operations:
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6:00 AM: Classes from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
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12:00 PM: Classes from 1:30 PM to 10:00 PM
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Communication
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The Vice Chancellor/COO will alert Chancellor’s Executive Team (CET), DACC President, and AVP Marketing & Communications, about potential disruption.
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Review with CET, DACC President and AVP Marketing & Communications when disruption seems likely.
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Review class time blocks for consideration of timing for closing and opening.
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Provost to give advance notice to all-faculty list about potential disruption and offer ability to pivot to on-line.
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This is not a decision, but to ready the faculty.
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If faculty decide to pivot to on-line, for that day only, they may continue with that plan, even if it is decided that a delay or closure is not necessary.
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Faculty should be considerate of disruption to students in their ability to produce work, and make adjustments accordingly.
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Vice Chancellor to give advanced notice to all-staff list about potential disruption and offer ability to use Alternative Work Arrangement (work from home). This is not a decision but to ready the staff.
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When weather is deemed imminent and timing is right, bridge call with Weather Team, hear additional information and make the decision as early as possible in order for faculty, staff and students to plan accordingly.
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Vice Chancellor/COO will alert CET and DACC President of the decision.
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NMSU Police Department and Marketing & Communications will place suspension information on webpages, send out alerts.
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Vice Chancellor/COO will send email to all employees, including information for DACC campuses, with encouragement to telework when possible, noting the essential employees (reference ARP 16.10 for definition and responsibilities of essential personnel) must report to work as normal and information regarding employee leave.
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Departments should develop internal notification process, communication plan and continuity plan for departmental operations. This should include an essential staff person to notify external constituencies (i.e. meeting partners, presenters, lecturers, etc.) of suspension of operations.
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HRS will send email in regard to employee leave prior to the end of pay period with instruction.
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Some buildings will require signage, e.g. Activity Center, Residence Halls, Corbett Center (TAOS Restaurant) for resident student dining.
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After event, debrief process with Weather Team, CET, and CART as needed.
Emergency Notification
To receive text, email or phone alerts of weather-related delays/closures or other non-weather-related emergency alerts, please sign up for NMSU alerts for the Las Cruces Campus.
