CON Cancellation of Classes or Clinical Experiences

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Faculty Policies

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING
Cancellation of Classes or Clinical Experiences	Subsection: 4.2.6
Section 4.0 - Faculty Policies	Originating Date: September 1971
Responsible Reviewing Agency: Executive Council	Revised: January 1993 Revised: March 1999 Revised: March 2001 Revised: February 2008 Reviewed: March 2015 Revised: March 2018

1. UNMC, as a health sciences center, has a number of activities that must be kept operational regardless of the weather conditions. These include activities that directly and indirectly support patient care at the hospital and clinics, as well as many research and educational functions. Because so many employees must report, regardless of the weather, the determination has been made for the entire campus to be considered open and operational, even when other University of Nebraska campuses and area businesses may be closed. (UNMC Inclement Weather Policy, retrieved January 17, 2018 from https://wiki.unmc.edu/index.php/Employee_Leave#Inclement_Weather).
2. Divisions on other University of Nebraska campuses (i.e., Lincoln, Kearney) will comply with the directions of the Chancellors of those campuses regarding weather related closing. Divisions located on community college campuses (i.e., Norfolk, Scottsbluff), will follow the directions of the community college leaders for weather related closings.
   
   There may be times when a decision must be made by individual faculty about classes or clinical experiences when there is no official cancellation. In this event, College of Nursing faculty members must make a judgment regarding having class or clinical experience at this time. In making decisions about class and clinical, faculty should consider that maintaining safety of all is a priority.
   
   1. In the event that faculty make the decision to cancel class or clinical, they are responsible for notifying their students, the clinical area involved, if appropriate, and the appropriate Program Director, Assistant or Associate Dean, CON Student Services, and the Dean’s office.
   2. The faculty members are responsible for arranging make-up of classes or clinical experience.
3. There may be times when a decision must be made by individual faculty about classes or clinical experiences when there is no official cancellation. In this event, College of Nursing faculty members must make a judgment regarding the wisdom of having class or clinical experience at this time. In making decisions about class and clinical, faculty should consider that maintaining safety of all is a priority.

Procedure for Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and Northern Divisions:

In the event of an official closing of the campus by the Chancellor:

1. Notification of closing of campus classes will be given over all major radio and TV stations.
2. Faculty, staff and students will be informed at orientation that notification of official campus closing by the respective Chancellors will be broadcast over all major radio and TV stations.

Cancellation of College of Nursing Classes or Clinical Experiences

1. There may be times when due to rapid weather changes or other circumstances, a decision must be made by faculty about classes or clinical experiences when there is no official campus closing. In this event, College of Nursing faculty members must make a professional judgment regarding the wisdom of having class or clinical experiences at this time. If possible, they should consult with the appropriate Program Director, Assistant Dean, or the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in making the decision. Faculty members who decide to cancel classes or clinical experiences are responsible for notifying their students, the clinical area involved, Student Services office, the College of Nursing Dean’s Office, and arranging make-up of classes or clinical experience.
2. If students arrive at the clinical area and faculty are not present, and the clinical experience has been cancelled, the students should leave and the clinical experience will be made up.
3. If faculty and students arrive in a clinical area before an official cancellation, faculty use their judgment in determining whether the clinical experience will continue.
4. If a class is delivered across campuses, class will be suspended for all campuses if the campus of origin is closed or has suspended classes.

Procedure for West Nebraska Division:

In the event of a severe weather or other emergency in this division, the Assistant Dean or the Assistant Dean's designee will officially suspend classes and clinical experiences. When the decision has been made to officially suspend classes and/or clinical experiences, the Assistant Dean or designee will notify the course coordinators who will notify the faculty. Faculty will contact the clinical agencies and students. The Assistant Dean, West Nebraska Division will notify the local broadcast media and the Dean’s Office.