UW-Madison prepares for major snowstorm

As the University of Wisconsin–Madison enters the last days of final exams, the campus is preparing for a major snowstorm forecast to arrive on Thursday evening and linger into Friday morning, bringing with it up to a foot of snow.

This storm has the potential to change the schedule of final exams. According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow and widespread blowing snow are expected.  The snow is expected to continue through about noon Friday.

The university expects Thursday evening final exams to be held as scheduled. Students who are unable to get to their exams due to the weather are urged to contact their instructor prior to exam time.

If it is necessary to cancel all or part of Friday exams due to the storm, that announcement will be made by 5 a.m. Friday on the university’s home page, and provided to local television and radio stations.

In the event that all or part of Friday’s exam schedule is cancelled, makeup times will be scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21. A revised exam schedule would be posted on the university’s web site.

Importantly, students are warned that the final exam schedule posted on the MyUW portal will not reflect those changes.

Students with exam conflicts or other conflicts due to exam rescheduling should contact their instructor before their exam time to make alternative arrangements to complete course requirements. Instructors are being asked to be flexible in dealing with student requests.

A Snow Action Day has been called for Friday. Motorists are encouraged to park in cleared parking areas, where possible. The top levels of parking ramps will be closed and commuters are encouraged to ride the bus to campus, if possible. Snow Action Days allow crews to clear snow more effectively by prioritizing streets, parking areas and sidewalks.

Please note, a Snow Action Day is an advisory and a call to action, and does not mean that classes are cancelled or the university has been closed. Any changes to campus operations will be announced on TV, radio, the news page and university home page. Other cancellations will be posted as available.

University employees are advised to use their own discretion regarding their health and safety and that of their family members, but they are required to use accrued holiday, vacation or compensation time to cover any absences. Supervisors are advised to be flexible in their approval of employee-requested leave in inclement weather situations.

Separately, City of Madison officials are urging citizens to prepare for a Snow Emergency Declaration for Friday night through 7 a.m. Sunday, affecting alternate side parking regulations. For more information, visit the City of Madison Web site.