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Inclement Weather and Campus Closure Information

On rare occasions, Mid Michigan College may cancel courses, activities, and events due to severe weather conditions. The responsibility for the cancellation of College courses rests with the President, in consultation with members of the Inclement Weather Team. If the President is not available, then the decision rests with the Vice President of Finance & Administration.

As a general rule, the Harrison and Mt. Pleasant Campuses will be open and courses in session except when the most extreme weather conditions exist. It is each person’s responsibility to exercise good judgment in regard to their personal safety.

Inclement Weather Cancellations

Actions

When the weather is not favorable for travel, a few different actions may be taken by College leadership.

  • The College may remain open.
  • The College may cancel courses, activities, and events with services remaining open for business.
  • The College may delay the start of courses and services.
  • The College may cancel courses, activities, events, and services for the day.

Key Points

  • With no on-campus housing, students must travel to attend courses.
  • Weather conditions can vary widely across the College's service area.
  • Travel decisions must be the responsibility of each student after assessing the road conditions in their area, the condition of their vehicle, and their driving skills.
  • The College does not encourage students to take unnecessary risks in order to attend courses.
  • Mid Michigan College does not close as readily as public schools.
  • Dual enrollment courses located in area schools will be canceled if the area school is canceled.
  • We are training many of our students for the workplace. If weather conditions permit them to travel to work, they will also be expected to travel to school.
  • Courses held on-site at business or industry locations shall be canceled only in the event that the business or industry in which the course is located is closed due to weather conditions.
  • Canceling one or two courses because of inclement weather may compromise the overall quality of a course. Students who feel they have been unfairly treated due to weather-related absences should contact their instructor, instructional director, or dean, and then the President, in that order.
  • Students in the Health Sciences programs should be directed to refer to their program-specific attendance policies pertaining to cancellations.

Making the Determination

The process of determining action in response to inclement weather begins before 3am. In choosing an action, Mid Michigan College leadership considers several factors.

  • Can the parking lots be kept plowed for access?
  • Are law enforcement officials requesting that travel be limited?
  • Are local businesses closing?
  • What are current weather conditions and forecasts for the area?

The decision to close the College or cancel courses, activities, and events is communicated via the College's MidAlert! system, website, social media channels, local radio stations, and local television stations by 6am. Evening cancellations are announced by 4pm.

  • If weather conditions worsen to a point that courses are to be canceled during evening hours, security will make every attempt to immediately inform all students and staff that courses are canceled.

Notifications

A few local radio and television stations are notified when Mid issues delays or cancellations. However, the most accurate source of information is the College's website, midmich.edu. This is updated as soon as a decision is made.

  • Stations notified include WWTV 9&10 News, WNEM TV 5, TV 7&4, 95.3 WCFX, 104.9 WQBX, and 98.5 WUPS.
  • The Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District is also immediately notified.

MidAlert!

You may also sign up to receive updates, announcements, and emergency notices from Mid via text message, email, or phone call. It's easy and FREE to sign up (text messaging rates apply). Visit midmich.edu/midalerts to sign up today.

Delays

In the event the College has a delayed start time due to weather conditions, the courses, activities, or events normally held during that time are canceled.

  • For example, if courses, activities, or events are canceled until 10am, and you have an 8:30am-10am course, it would be canceled for that day.
  • If your course does not fit neatly into the College's delayed time announcement, the following policy will be followed.
    • If there is at least 50 minutes (an instructional hour) of course time remaining, the course would meet beginning at the delayed time. For example, if the College cancels courses until 10am and your course runs from 9am-Noon, that course would still meet from 10am-Noon. Only the first hour would be missed.
    • That same course would not meet at all if courses were canceled until 11:30am, since there would be less than 50 minutes (an instructional hour) of course time remaining.

If you have any questions as to whether your course, activity, or event will be meeting on a delayed start day, contact your instructor or activity/event organizer.