Is the school closed? Inclement Weather/Emergency School Closing

Body

Information

The decision to delay or close campus is based on several factors. Some such instances in which the college may close include winter weather conditions or power outages, in addition to any other unexpected instances that prevent normal business operations.

Environment

GRCC Police; 616 234 4010 (option 4)

Process

Procedures to Close the College

GRCC Police and Facilities personnel assess campus and road conditions, including additional information from city, county and state resources as needed.
The GRCC Chief of Police (or designee) contacts the College President (or designee) and a decision is made.
If the decision to delay or close is made, the Communications Department is notified and communication procedures are implemented.

When winter weather conditions seem imminent, the above listed areas will decide who the appointed contact people will be, in advance, to avoid confusion and duplication of efforts.

Communicating with Employees/Students

The decision to delay or close GRCC (or specific locations) will be made as early as possible and communicated through standard communication methods — including, but not limited to, the college’s Rave emergency notification system (email, phone and text message), grcc.edu, a recorded phone message on the college's main phone line and local news media outlets. If classes are in session when a decision to close is made. Emergency Phone Alert Systems will be used.
- Any active student, staff, or faculty member of Grand Rapids Community College is automatically enrolled into to the Rave Alert service each semester. Community members, parents, and other stakeholders are also able to subscribe to the Rave Alert service at https://www.getrave.com/login/grcc.
- To stop getting notifications, you may login to https://www.getrave.com/login/grcc and update your contact preferences. If you want to just stop text messaging, simply text the word "STOP" to 226-787 or 67283. You will receive a text notification back stating that you will no longer receive texts from Rave. If you decide later that you would like to receive text notifications again, simply text "START" to 226-787 or 67283. Please note that you will not receive a text confirming text notifications have been re-enabled.
If the college closes, employees need not report to work, with the exception of designated personnel who are necessary to keep the college operational and secure. Those individuals are identified in advance by their supervisors.
If the college does not close in the morning, and winter weather conditions worsen throughout the day, a determination to close for evening activities will occur as soon as possible.
If a particular campus is closed, all activities on that campus are canceled.

Messages

The message "GRCC – Delay" means morning classes and activities are canceled on the downtown Main and DeVos campuses, Lakeshore Campus, Tassell M-TEC and at Regional Sites.
- GRCC Police and Custodial staff are to report as scheduled.
- Faculty and Staff report at 10 a.m.
- Classes that begin 11 a.m. or later will be held as scheduled.
  - Certain academic departments will need additional protocol to handle implications.
The message "GRCC – Closed” means cancellation of all GRCC day and evening classes and activities on the downtown Main and DeVos campuses, Lakeshore Campus, Tassell M-TEC and Regional Sites.
The message "GRCC Closed – DAY Classes" means cancellation of all GRCC day classes and activities on the downtown Main and DeVos campuses, Lakeshore campus, Tassell M-TEC and Regional Sites. The determination to open will be made by 2 p.m. and communication procedures will be implemented.
- Second shift GRCC Police and Custodial staff report as scheduled.
- Library staff report at 5 p.m.
- Classes that begin 6 p.m. or later will be held as scheduled.
Certain academic departments will need additional protocol to handle implications.

Kent County Regional Sites

Closings may occur separately and be announced by location at the following regional sites: Caledonia and Rockford.

Daytime closures: If the school district has canceled daytime operations, but intend on holding their evening activities, then GRCC will hold its classes.
Evening Closures: If evening activities are canceled at sites where GRCC classes are being held, then classes are canceled. This determination is normally made by 3 p.m. (Example: If there are GRCC classes at Grandville High School and Grandville High School cancels all evening activities, then GRCC classes are canceled.) The message will be: GRCC (location) – Classes canceled.

Early/Middle College and Concurrent Enrollment Classes

Early/Middle College programs and Concurrent Enrollment site classes are dependent on the host high school and/or intermediate school district location. If the high school and/or ISD location is delayed or closed due to inclement weather, these programs and classes will not meet.

Ottawa County

The GRCC Lakeshore Campus is not always tied to the Grand Rapids campus for inclement weather closings.

The message "GRCC Ottawa County – Weather Delay" means morning classes and activities are canceled at the GRCC Lakeshore Campus.
Faculty and staff report at 10 a.m.
Classes that begin 11 a.m. or later will be held as scheduled.
The message "GRCC Ottawa County – Closed” means cancellation of all GRCC day and evening classes The message "GRCC Ottawa County – Closed – DAY Classes" means cancellation of all GRCC day classes and activities. Evening classes that begin 6 p.m. or later still could be held as scheduled.

Evening Closures

Evening closures will follow the same process and communications procedures as above, including the following additional steps:

The GRCC Police, Deans and CEBA Building Managers will notify all classes and instructors on each particular campus that the College is closed.
Office personnel will post the notification of College closure in and around their offices.