Update from the Eastern Web site: Classes are being held as scheduled on campus. Individuals should use their discretion in deciding whether they can safely commute to work or classes. For more information, including off-campus sites, please go here.

As the snow began to fall Monday evening, questions arose as to whether classes would be held today.

Coles County was under a winter weather advisory until 6 a.m. today, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Cameron Craig, a professor in the geology and geography department, said Monday that, at the time, two low-pressure cells were approaching the Midwest and would converge over southern Illinois. At the time, it was expected that 5 to 7 inches of snow would fall today.

“Unlike the last storm event we had last week, this winter storm will be all snow and no ice or freezing rain,” Craig said. “This is due simply to the fact that the region has had persistent cold temperatures and snow pack since the last storm.”

Craig said the main problem with this evolving system would be the significant snowfall and the increasing wind – approximately 40 mph by Wednesday – that will cause snow to blow and create drifts across roads in flat terrain.

University protocol for cancellations

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said Eastern has an established “inclement weather” protocol for cases like this. This protocol designates that President Perry would make the decision to cancel classes. If the president is away, this responsibility falls to Lord as provost.

Lord said if a storm comes in during the evening or overnight, the watch commander for the University Police Department would call Perry before 4 a.m. to determine the severity of the weather conditions. An announcement would then be made prior to morning class times for those students who travel to campus.

Lt. Phil Lang, a watch commander at the UPD, said the commander on duty at the time of the storm receives updates via a dispatch service on weather and road conditions of the area.

The UPD has a written protocol for severe winter weather, which says that if there are 4 inches or more of accumulated snow, or if there are hazardous, icy road conditions, the UPD is to contact university administrators. The administrators would then make the judgment call over whether or not to cancel classes.

“In general, we do not cancel classes too often because we have so many students in residence in Charleston, either on campus or proximate to campus,” Lord said. “Leaving them with nothing to do is something we try to avoid.”

Lord said that AlertEIU, Eastern’s emergency text messaging service, would not be used in case of severe weather cancellations.

Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, said AlertEIU, one component of the University’s Emergency Notification System, is used to inform the campus community of an imminent threat, such as an active shooter situation, an armed robbery with unknown subject(s) at large, and the like, and is not designed for inclement weather notifications.

“AlertEIU is the most serious warning to the campus community which may instruct students, faculty, and staff to take additional actions in response to for on-going, imminent safety threats,” Nadler said.

Students will be notified of any cancellations through a variety of ways, including e-mail, radio and television broadcasts, the Eastern Web site, phone trees and the university’s information phone number.

“Whether classes are canceled or not, we are clear that those who must drive to campus are to use their best judgment as to whether to make the trip,” Lord said.

Keeping campus clear

Gary Reed, director of Facilities Planning and Management, said his department’s first concern is the safety of students, faculty and staff during severe weather situations.

Reed said the grounds superintendent, Justin Perry, watches the forecast and determines when to call in the snow response crew. Plans are then made to start plowing sidewalks and university parking lots and roads by the time classes begin.

To make travel on campus safer during severe winter weather, the department lays salt and sand over icy areas.

“We do use salt, but not all the time,” Reed said. “For slip resistance, sand is kinder to the concrete and the plants adjacent to the walkways than salts. However, salts are used if the conditions warrant them, such as when there is ice or hard packed snow that will not move.”

The operating budget for facilities planning and management includes a small amount above base wages for general overtime work relating to emergencies.

“This small allowance is how we pay for labor to cover unusual events, including weather,” Reed said.

Weather condition updates and class cancellations can be found here.

Sarah Jean Bresnahan can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].