Closing Information

If the College is closed, a text alert will be sent to cell phones registered on NOVA Alert, a notice will be posted on the home page of the College’s website, and a message will appear on our cable television station (channel 19, 25, 37 or 59 – check your local listing). Individuals may also call the College Call Center at 703.323.3000, or in Prince William County 703.330.3770. Do not call individual offices. The home page of the College’s website will always have the most reliable and up-to-date information about weather closures.

If inclement weather forces the cancellation of classes or requires a delay in the opening of the College, announcements will be made on the following local radio and TV stations.

AM RADIO	FM RADIO	TELEVISION STATIONS
WMAL 630	WAMU 88.5	WRC Channel 4
WTOP 820	WFLS 93.3	WTTG Channel 5
WFLS 1350	WASH 97.1	WJLA Channel 7
	WITH 99.5	WUSA Channel 9
	WTOP 103.5	NOVA-TV Channel 19, 25, 37 or 59 (check the local cable listing for your area)
	WRQX 107.3

This is how to interpret closing announcements you hear on the media:

Northern Virginia Community College is closed. - The College will be closed until classes begin on the following morning. When this announcement is made, it means no day or evening classes will be held.

Northern Virginia Community College will open X hour(s) late. - The College’s official opening time is 8 a.m. Delay example, a two-hour delay means that the College will open at 10 a.m. Classes that begin at 10 a.m. or later will be held as usual. College employees should arrive at the College by 10 a.m. Supervisors of employees who work special shifts should make clear how delayed openings affect attendance expectations. To avoid confusion, we try to provide the actual time of opening.

Morning classes at Northern Virginia Community College are canceled. - The College will be closed until noon. The College will open at noon and classes beginning at noon or later will be held as usual. College employees should arrive at the College by noon.

Day classes at Northern Virginia Community College are canceled. - Day classes are those classes that begin before 4:30 p.m. Classes that begin at 4:30 p.m. or later will be held as usual. Employees whose normal work schedules extend beyond 6 p.m. should report to work by 4:30 p.m.

Evening classes at Northern Virginia Community College are canceled. - Evening classes are those classes that begin at 4:30 p.m. or later. The College will close at 4:30 p.m. and no further classes will be held until the next morning.

Please note that in all cases of delayed openings, classes that would have started prior to an opening time and continued at least 45 minutes after the opening time will go on at the opening time. For example, in the case of a two hour delay, a three-hour class that normally begins at 9:30 a.m. and continues to 12:30 p.m. would start at 10 a.m. and continue as usual until 12:30 p.m.

If weather conditions cause the College to close, all NOVA campuses and off-campus locations will also be closed.

The College makes its closing announcements as quickly as possible. During the workday, please do not call to ask whether the College will be closing. If the decision is to close, everyone will be notified. Responding to telephone calls prevents staff from receiving information from police and weather services and often slows down the closing decision.