The decision to cancel classes and/or close the Campus rests with the College President. In the event of hazardous weather conditions or threats to public safety (building safety, catastrophic events, interruption of public services and/or utilities, etc.,), the Vice President of Finance and Administration in consultation with the Vice President of Student and Academic Services  and the Vice President of Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Solutions will make a cancellation/closure recommendation to the President.

In the absence of the Vice President of Finance and Administration, the following administrative decision making responsibility order will be observed:

1. Vice President of Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Solutions
2. Vice President of Student and Academic Services
3. Executive Director of Public Information / Chief of Staff
4. Director of Human Resources

Classes may be cancelled and/or the campus closed as follows:

Before the Beginning of a School Day

If the decision is made to cancel classes and/or close the campus prior to the start of the school day, a decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. and communicated to the media.

During the Day When Classes are in Session

If the decision is made to cancel classes and/or close the campus during the school day, a decision will be made as soon as possible, but no later than 3 p.m., and communicated to the media.

Cancellation/Closing Procedures

1. The Vice President of Finance and Administration will contact the Vice President of Student and Academic Services, the Vice President of Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Solutions, the Executive Director of Public Information/Chief of Staff, and the Director of Human Resources. Each of the staff will contact their individual staff members, as needed.
2. Closing of the campus or canceling classes will include all classes and special events at the Main Campus including Heartland Technical Academy (HTA) classes at the Richland campus, Clinton Center,  Richland Fairview Park Plaza Center, distance learning and other off-campus classes.
3. The decision to cancel classes and/or close the campus will be communicated as follows:
   1. Signs regarding campus closings will be posted at all entrances/exits.
   2. A message will be sent to the Internal (TV) Display System(s).
   3. Voice mail and e-mail announcements will be made.
   4. The outside electronic message board(s) will be updated.
   5. The switchboard, Bookstore, Food Service, Horticulture Lab, Clinton Center, Richland Fairview Park Plaza Center, Continuing and Professional Education (scheduled Shilling events), and individuals scheduled to work later hours will be notified.
   6. The telephone greeting will be updated.
   7. A skeletal crew will be identified to stay, if deemed necessary by VP(s) and hours determined.
   8. Decatur Transit will be notified.
   9. Expected visitors (speakers, committee members, etc.) to the campus will be notified by the appropriate person.
   10. Web page will be updated as required.
   11. The Executive Director of Public Information/Chief of Staff will contact the local media. A decision to not open for classes on a normal school day will be made by 5:30 a.m., if possible. A decision to close during the school day will be made by 3 p.m. to allow for distributing information about evening classes and/or events.
       • Television Stations: WAND, WCIA, WICS, and WICD
       • FM Radio Stations: Y103 (WSOY FM), WDZQ, WEJT, The Party (WYDS), The Fox (WZNX), US 101 (WZUS), WXFM, WDKR, WMKR, WTIM, WRAN
       • AM Radio Stations: WSOY, WDZ, WHOW
   12. If time does not allow for appropriate means of notification as enumerated above, staff and students may be contacted/notified via the College's "CALL-EM-ALL" phone messaging system.
   13. Heartland Technical Academy will notify their system schools and bus services, Decatur Public Transit, and their staff as required. HTA will contact media as required and issue their own closing message.
   14. Director of Outdoor Exposition Center and Special Events will consult with appropriate Vice-Presidents and end users to decide the proper course of action for outdoor or special events.
4. When it becomes necessary to completely vacate the building, the Director of Operations and Technical Services will coordinate the effort in conjunction with the administrative staff.
5. When the campus is closed during a normal school day, staff will be notified of the closing time. Staff who elects to leave the campus prior to the designated closing time must use vacation or compensatory time.

• Campus Closing During a Normal School Day
• Tornado/Storm/Catastrophe Alert During a Normal School Day
• Campus Closing Before the Beginning of a School Day