Winter Weather Reminders

As we begin another semester, we wanted to share information about ISU’s winter weather protocols. 

Please also take a few minutes to ensure your personal contact information for ISU Alerts  is up to date to ensure you receive emergency alerts from the University.

Idaho State University strives to keep our spaces open. The University may delay and/or cancel classes to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, and campus community members or when closure is necessitated by other extenuating circumstances. While safety is always one of our highest priorities, ISU has to frequently balance many competing priorities when making decisions to either delay classes or close campus. Decisions to delay or cancel classes may be different from those of local school districts due to weather impacts/conditions on campus and organizational needs.

Our Emergency Management website is a great resource for winter safety tips, campus closure information, and frequently asked questions to help staff, faculty, and students better understand the recommendations and processes associated with inclement weather at ISU. 

There are many ways to be prepared for a winter storm:

• Use technology to monitor winter threats. The local weather service is a great option to identify conditions before you travel, and use Idaho 511 to get alerts and look at the road reports. Going online or downloading the app allows you to view road conditions and identify alternative routes for travel.
• When traveling, ensure vehicles have plenty of fuel and other fluids. Give yourself extra time to travel. Winter storms can cause delays, so be sure to have a supply kit with water, non-perishable snacks, and blankets in case emergency conditions leave you stranded. 
• Keep your cell phone nearby and charged, making sure you have an emergency contact identified with ISU and/or in your phone.
• Use caution when walking around campus and wear proper footwear. Remember, sidewalks and stairways may be slick. Vehicles take longer to stop on slick roads, so be aware of your surroundings, even when walking in designated crosswalks.
• When entering a parking lot, if a plow is working, park in an area that has already been cleared and give equipment space to work. 

The Public Safety Dispatch Center is open 24/7 and on all holidays to assist the Bengal community. You can email pubsafe@isu.edu, call (208) 282-2515, or download the Rave Guardian App to communicate with us.