University leadership is urging students, faculty and staff to use caution when returning from fall break after a winter storm left about 8 inches of snow across the region. 

Chancellor Charles Lee Isbell Jr., Provost John Coleman and Morgan White, acting associate vice chancellor and executive director of Facilities & Services, sent a Massmail Sunday afternoon, warning of icy conditions.

Crews from F&S, along with city and county teams, have been clearing roads, sidewalks and parking lots since the storm began. Campus routes are mostly passable, but officials warn that icy patches may remain, especially in rural areas outside Champaign County.

The University is asking travelers to check road conditions through the Illinois Department of Transportation and prepare vehicles with gas, properly inflated tires, charged phones and emergency supplies. 

Instructors have also been asked to remain flexible as some students may face delays returning, the press release stated.

F&S deployed around 300 staff members who worked in shifts to clear more than 90 miles of sidewalks, 23 miles of roadways, 16,000 parking spaces and building entrances campus-wide, according to the statement.

The unit is coordinating with the cities of Champaign and Urbana to address overlapping routes. Meteorologists say another period of snow will develop on Monday evening with a few inches possible. Cold temperatures will prevail through Friday with highs in the 20s to lower 30s.

Students, faculty and staff can report areas needing additional snow or ice removal to F&S by logging in here. Questions can be directed to the F&S Service Office at 217-333-0340 or [email protected]. 

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