In the event of severe winter weather, the following steps will be observed before the University determines whether to close campus.
Physical Plant staff will be on site to treat and monitor campus roads, parking lots and sidewalks to ensure the University is doing what can be done to assure the safety of all students, faculty, and staff.
In the event of a major winter weather event we use several resources to monitor area road conditions. A few of these resources are MoDOT Road Condition Maps, Missouri Highway Patrol, St. Joseph Police Department, City of St. Joseph Streets and Sewers, St. Joseph School District, the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, along with our local news outlets. We gather as much information as possible from these resources to help determine present area road conditions and predicted forecast weather. In many instances travel recommendations will be made across the area through these outlets.
After all the information has been gathered and University staff has evaluated our conditions across campus including estimated time to clear all roads, parking lots, and sidewalks as well as the travel hazards that are likely present for all commuters to our campus, this information is evaluated by University Administration. After careful consideration the President of Missouri Western along with the Vice President of Financial Planning and Administrations will make the final decision of any campus closures.
Missouri Western State University values all students, faculty and staff members and their safety. The University does not take any campus closures lightly and makes every effort to remain open and able to serve our students and community; however, our first priority is always the safety of our campus community, and with that there are circumstances that require the campus to close to allow time to affirm the campus and surrounding area roadways are safe for travel.