How Tennessee Tech shares information during inclement weather
When inclement weather impacts our region, Tennessee Tech works quickly to keep our community safe and informed. Read on to learn how we share information about campus closures or delays:
Where campus closures are announced
When the university makes a decision to delay or cancel classes, announcements are shared on Tech's Facebook page, X (formerly Twitter) account, Instagram story and the homepage of the Tech website. Media in Cookeville, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga are also alerted.
In cases of a closure, messages are additionally sent to the Tech email accounts for all students, faculty and staff. Whenever possible, email messages will also explain the status of individual campus services and facilities (e.g., Dining Services, the Volpe Library, the Marc L. Burnett Student Recreation & Fitness Center, etc.).
Importantly, the university does not use our SMS-based TTUalerts to communicate snow or most other weather-related closures. TTUalerts are reserved for urgent messages that ask students to take immediate action or precaution (e.g., tornado warning, active threat to campus, etc.).
How a decision to delay classes or close campus is made
The decision to close campus or delay classes is taken very seriously. During cases of inclement weather, university administrators are in constant contact with facilities staff, campus police and others.
Once information is gathered, decisions are based on campus conditions, the ability to create safe passage into buildings – starting with each building's ADA-compliant entrances – and information about conditions in Cookeville.
Guidance to students, faculty and staff
If classes are canceled for inclement weather, this will typically close most university offices unless otherwise noted.
Whenever possible, the university will continue operations for certain campus facilities and services on a limited or modified schedule during snow closures, such as Dining Services, The Volpe Library and the Marc L. Burnett Student Recreation & Fitness Center. Other university offices as such as the Bursar’s Office, the Office of Admissions and others may provide remote availability to assist students via phone or email.
Students should refer to their email messages to learn the status of campus services and facilities, and Tech employees should communicate with their supervisors if they have questions.
There may be instances where Cookeville or surrounding areas are impacted by inclement weather, but the university decides that classes can continue on a normal schedule. In these cases, students with concerns about weather conditions or their commute to campus should exercise their best judgment and communicate directly with their instructors.
Additional resources
Verify enrollment in TTUalerts: These messages are not used for snow closures, but are used to share information for tornado warnings, threats to campus and other timely alerts. Current students who have given the university their cell phone numbers are automatically signed up to receive alerts. Faculty, staff, parents, spouses and others interested in receiving alerts can sign up as well.
Emergency preparedness: Review emergency preparedness information for campus courtesy of the Office of Environmental Health & Safety.