There are situations, including inclement winter weather, that will necessitate either a delay, a closing, or an early dismissal at Penn State Altoona. Because many of our students live on or within walking distance of the campus, we typically remain open unless the campus cannot be cleared or the main roads are impassable.

All employees and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety. Students, faculty, and staff should use their own best judgment when considering traveling to campus or the need to leave early during times of inclement weather. Faculty and staff also should review Human Resources Guideline 10: "Handling Weather Day Absences" for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled.

Campus Closure Information

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PSU Alert Logo

Sign up now to get Penn State Altoona emergency and campus closure notices on your mobile device.

PSUAlert is Penn State's emergency notification system for students, faculty, and staff. The system alerts members of Penn State's campus communities of emergencies, campus closings, and other urgent information. Using this portal, students, faculty, and staff can choose to receive PSUAlert messages via text, voice, and email. The PSUAlert website also allows community members who cannot enroll in the PSUAlert notification system to view a list of current and prior alerts by campus.

The system will never be used to send advertising or spam messages.

Subscribe to PSUAlert now

Amtran presents Rider Alert

Amtran’s website includes a Rider Alert feature that enables students to sign up to be instantly alerted by email or mobile phone if there is a problem or a change to their bus routes.

"Our service is very important to Penn State Altoona students," says Eric Wolf, Amtran General Manager. "They rely on us to be dependable so that they can get to class on time. So, if there is a road construction delay or a planned change to their route, they want to know about it. Our Rider Alert System enables us to stay in touch with them and keep them updated on the bus routes they use."

"The customers can change their Rider Alert preferences or unsubscribe at any time," Wolf explains. "They are in control."

To sign up for Amtran's "Rider Alert" service, visit the Amtran Web site.

In-Person Classes

  • In the event of a Campus Closure or Early Dismissal: In-person classes are canceled during the designated closure time. Instructors may offer content asynchronously (such as recording a lecture for students to watch at another time or asking students to complete a reading or other self-directed learning activity). Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these classes may not meet remote synchronously.
  • In the event of a Two-Hour Delay: In-person classes scheduled to begin before 10:00 a.m. will be held at a later time according to the compressed schedule. Per current University Faculty Senate policy, these classes may not meet remote synchronously.

Remote Synchronous Classes

  • In the event of a Campus Closure or Early Dismissal: Classes already scheduled as remote synchronous may continue to be taught remote synchronously if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Alternatively, classes may be canceled or offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.
  • In the event of a Two-Hour Delay: Classes already scheduled as remote synchronous may continue to be taught remote synchronously if the faculty member wishes and is safely able to do so. Classes will be held at a later time, according to the compressed schedule. Alternatively, classes may be canceled or offered asynchronously. Instructors should communicate directly with their students regarding their plans for their classes during the impacted period.

Penn State Altoona will utilize a compressed class schedule whenever a decision has been made to modify our regular schedule. In the case of a delayed opening for the campus, we utilize a two-hour delay schedule, wherein students and faculty will follow a shortened version of their normal daily schedule.

For classes that are longer than the listed standard 50- and 75-minute classes, students should follow the compressed schedule for the class start time closest to their actual class start time.

Labs

It is within the discretion of the faculty member to determine if the lab will be held pursuant to the two-hour delay schedule or if it will be canceled. Students should check with their individual faculty members or the course syllabus.

Compressed Schedules

Classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Standard 50-minute Classes Compressed 35-minute Classes
8:00–8:50 a.m. 10:00–10:35 a.m.
9:05–9:55 a.m. 10:50–11:25 a.m.
10:10–11:00 a.m. 11:40 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
11:15 a.m.–12:05 p.m. 12:30–1:05 p.m.
12:20–1:10 p.m. 1:20–1:55 p.m.
1:25–2:15 p.m. 2:10–2:45 p.m.
2:30–3:20 p.m. 3:00–3:35 p.m.
3:35–4:25 p.m. 3:50–4:25 p.m.
  • Classes beginning after 4:25 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will meet at their regularly scheduled times.
  • If you have a course that meets at a time that is not reflected in the standard schedule above, please refer to your syllabus or consult with the course instructor for the appropriate class meeting time.
Classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Standard Class Time Compressed Class Time
8:00–8:50 a.m. 10:00–10:35 a.m.
9:05–10:20 a.m. 10:50–11:45 a.m.
10:35–11:50 a.m. Noon–12:55 p.m.
12:05 p.m.–1:20 p.m. 1:10–2:05 p.m.
1:35–2:50 p.m. 2:20–3:15 p.m.
3:05–4:20 p.m. 3:30–4:25 p.m.
  • Classes beginning after 4:20 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays will meet at their regularly scheduled times.
  • If you have a course that meets at a time that is not reflected in the standard schedule above, please refer to your syllabus or consult with the course instructor for the appropriate class meeting time.

At times, Penn State Altoona students, faculty, and staff who are already on campus may be dismissed early from their normal day-to-day business and classes due to approaching severe weather. The need to dismiss early may allow our commuting community to leave before roads become inaccessible.

To facilitate an orderly dismissal, the college will announce the dismissal as early as possible via PSUAlert and other official platforms. Every attempt will be made to plan for the dismissal to take place at a time that works within the common course schedule. In the event that this is not possible, faculty should plan to hold or cancel classes at their own discretion.

All employees and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety. Students, faculty, and staff should use their own best judgment when considering traveling to campus or the need to leave early during times of inclement weather. Faculty and staff also should review Human Resources Guideline 10: "Handling Weather Day Absences" for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled.

In addition to the Penn State Altoona website, closing, delay, and early dismissal information will be available on the following radio and television stations:

Television Stations

Altoona Radio Stations

During closings, delays, and early dismissals, Port-Sky Café will remain open for normal operating hours. Coasters, Common Grounds, and the Office of Housing and Food Services will close during campus closures, delays, and early dismissals.

Adler Athletic Complex

The Adler Athletic Complex will close during campus closures, delays, and early dismissals.

Slep Student Center

The Slep Information Desk will close in the evenings during campus closures.

Student Organization Events

When there are campus closings, all student organization in-person events are automatically canceled. Student organizations are permitted to hold virtual events during closures.

The Office of Student Leadership and Involvement will cancel campus work orders for events, but Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) will be responsible for addressing other cancellations, including catering or guests to campus. RSOs will also be responsible for communicating to members if and when events will be rescheduled.

Employees who perform “essential” services

Employees who are required to report to campus for work and have been previously identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should report to campus as directed. During such events, employees who are required to report to campus for work are eligible for Campus Closure Compensatory Time, subject to guideline provisions. Employees should clarify their status as essential or nonessential with their supervisor before inclement weather strikes.

All other employees

  • In the event of a campus closure: Employees who have not been identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should not report to work until the resumption of normal campus operations and are eligible for Campus Closure Pay per university policy.
  • In the event of a two-hour delay: Employees who have not been identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should not report to work until 10:00 a.m. and may be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for the portion of their shift prior to 10:00 a.m., subject to guideline requirements.
  • In the event of an early dismissal: Employees who have not been identified as performing duties essential to maintaining operations should leave campus at the indicated dismissal time and may be eligible for Campus Closure Pay for remaining portion of their shift, subject to guideline requirements.

All employees should review the “official closedowns” section of the University’s Handling Weather Day Absences policy for specific information on how time missed for weather situations is handled.

Employees who have questions about a campus closure should contact their unit’s Human Resources consultant.