Chancellor Charles Lee Isbell Jr. and Provost John Coleman encouraged professors to move Monday’s classes online due to weather conditions, but stopped short of canceling all in-person meetings or closing the University, according to a Massmail the administrators sent to the campus community early Sunday evening.
The decision comes amid the anticipation of drops in temperatures overnight and the National Weather Service placing Champaign under an extreme cold warning from midnight Sunday until noon Monday. The warning also includes other parts of central and eastern Illinois.
The NWS reports the high temperature for Monday is 7 degrees Fahrenheit with a low of -6 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind chill temperatures are expected to range between -13 and -23 degrees Fahrenheit.
The University, according to the Massmail, wanted to share expectations regarding classes and work arrangements on Monday.
“Classes will be in session, and the university will not be closed; however, we encourage instructors to move classes online where possible and in consultation with their department heads, chairs, or deans,” the email wrote. “Additionally, we encourage employees to work remotely to the extent possible with supervisor approval.”
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A separate Massmail will be sent before 7:45 a.m. Monday, should the situation change, according to the notice from Isbell Jr. and Coleman.
In addition, the Grainger Engineering Library stated in an Instagram post it would close Sunday at midnight and reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, remaining closed all day Monday.
On Wednesday, the University sent a separate Massmail alerting students to prepare for dangerously cold temperatures that were predicted for Friday and continued into the weekend. However, classes remained as scheduled Friday with no encouragement for remote classes.
A major winter storm struck much of the United States over the weekend, leaving over 6 inches of snow in the Champaign-Urbana area. The area observed single-digit temperatures over the weekend, though they are expected to rise into the teens as the week progresses.
The status of previously scheduled events is left to the discretion of the sponsoring organizations or venues on whether to cancel or postpone. The email also set out a list of expectations for students, faculty and employees.
Normal operations are expected to resume Tuesday, according to the email.
“Significant winter weather remains in the forecast for the rest of the week, and you should continue to check your email and university channels frequently for additional updates,” the email wrote.
The Daily Illini will monitor the situation and provide updates if and when new information is available.
