College Operations during Inclement Weather/Significant Event

The college will be open for normal business unless the weather situation has a serious impact on the normal transportation systems in the region.  

During inclement weather situations, the following procedures and notifications will be used. It is the college president/CEO’s responsibility (or that of the acting president) to determine the college’s operating status during inclement weather. The college will adhere to one of the following declarations:

1. Open, but operating on a two-hour delay. A two-hour delay means:
   • On-campus in-person classes scheduled earlier than 10 a.m. will not meet.
   • On-campus in-person classes scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. or later will be held as scheduled.
   • All other class formats will meet as scheduled.
   • On-campus services will be provided remotely prior to 10 a.m.
   •  Offices at all campuses will open at 10 a.m.
2. Closed for all day activities. This means:
   • Students, faculty, and staff will transition to remote work and learn for the specified time period or day.
3. Closed for all day and evening activities. This means:
   • Students, faculty, and staff will transition to remote work and learn for the specified time period or day.
4. Closed for all evening activities (in those cases when inclement weather begins during the day). This means:
   • Students, faculty, and staff will transition to remote work and learn for the specified time period or day.
5. Open on a normal operating schedule (No announcement will be made.)

All Gateway courses have remote learning capabilities through Blackboard. If the college campuses or off-campus sites are closed due to inclement weather or other significant events, students should expect communication from their instructor on remote instruction opportunities. Students should monitor Blackboard and their KCTCS email for this information.

All locations and campuses of the college will operate according to the announced schedule. Gateway classes offered at off-campus sites will follow the inclement weather procedures of the organization where the class is located.

If you are a high school student taking classes at Gateway: there may be times when Gateway remains open when your high school location is delayed or closed. We take the safety of our students seriously and always want students/parents to use their best judgment before deciding to drive to class. Students should always communicate with their instructor if unable to attend class.

Once a decision is made, the external media (TV and radio) will be informed as early as possible in the day or, if possible, the preceding night. Announcements will be made on all major TV and radio stations in the Tri-State area and placed on the college website and Facebook page.

Additionally, a Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP) message will be sent to all Gateway employees and students, by phone message, text, and to KCTCS email accounts. Please find out more about SNAP and your contact methods here: https://kctcs.edu/about/safety-security/snap/index.aspx.

If there is inclement weather and no announcement is made, one should assume that the college is open for normal operating hours. Please note that the college does not announce that it is operating on normal scheduled hours.

Employees and students are asked to arrive on campus no earlier than 30 minutes prior to the opening of the college. For example, if the college is on a two-hour delay and will open at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., employees and students should not arrive before 9:30 a.m. so that the college crews can clear the snow. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

A final word of caution: in any inclement weather situation, it is up to the individual employee or student as to whether conditions permit safe travel. It is impossible to accurately assess the road and weather conditions across the Tri-State area, Greater Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky regions. Some areas may experience severe weather conditions while other areas are less affected. The ultimate decision on travel rests with the individual. However, if you are not able to come to work or attend classes when the college is open, it is your responsibility to notify your supervisor (or instructor) of the absence in a timely manner. Please consult your course syllabus or KCTCS Policies and Procedures for more information.