Full-day weather-related class cancellations at KU: 11 in last 40 years

Posted by Matt Erickson February 19, 2013 at 4:16 p.m.

Full-day weather-related class cancellations at KU: 11 in last 40 years

With forecasts calling for 6-plus inches of snow coming our way Wednesday night and Thursday, I'm going to venture a guess: You're wondering about the possibility of a class cancellation at KU.

Well, here's some background for you, courtesy of KU's public affairs office.

KU canceled classes for a full day because of the weather 11 times since 1972. The most recent two of those were two years ago, when classes were canceled on Feb. 1 and 2, 2011, after 8 inches of snow fell on Lawrence.

A number of other times, classes were canceled for just part of the day, or campus was closed when classes weren't in session. One cancellation wasn't because of winter weather — it was the day after a microburst caused $6 million in damage on campus in March 2006.

The decision whether to cancel classes falls on the chancellor or provost, who are to consider road conditions, especially with concern to whether campus buses can make it up and down the hills, as well as forecasts. They must make that decision by 5:30 a.m. of the day in question, according to policy. If classes are canceled, KU will inform area news media sometime after 5:45 a.m., and it will announce a closing via its 864-SNOW weather line after 6 a.m. A notice will also go up at ku.edu.

If classes aren't canceled, there will be no announcement. So if it's after 6 a.m. and there's no word, classes are on. (Though classes can be canceled during the day.)

Whether you're hoping for a day off or for things to continue, may your hopes come true. Yes, that's a contradiction, but we're not into taking stances here.

If campus is closed, that will leave you loads of time to stay home and send in your KU news tips as you sip hot cocoa! Go ahead and add merickson@ljworld.com to your address book now.