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Contact - When will a decision be made about the College's operating status?
- How do I find announcements about the College's operating status?
- If the local schools are closed, why isn't the College closed?
- I take a NOVA class at a local school. How do I know when my class is canceled?
- What will happen if I do not attend class because I decide it's too dangerous?
- I came to campus and right after class it started the College closed. Why?
- Whom should I call to find out if the College is open?
- May I bring my child with me to campus when the schools are closed?
- Who is a designated employee?
- Should I telework when the College is in Code Yellow operations?
- What is unscheduled leave?
- What if I work a special shift at the College?
- What is extended closing?
When will a decision be made about the College’s operating status?
Decisions about the College’s operating status will be announced and posted to home page of the College’s website by 5:30 a.m. If no announcement has been made by then, you can expect the College to open on time.
A decision to close will be announced immediately once it has been made and will be communicated with as much notice as changing conditions permit. When the decision is made to close the College at a specific time, all College related activities will stop at the announced time.
How do I find announcements about the College’s operating status?
If the weather is bad and you do not see or hear an announcement, check a second source. Sign up for NOVA Alert, and a text message will be sent to your cell phone when the College is closed. Check the College website for a list of media and other sources of closing information to look to in case of bad weather. All operating status announcements are posted on the College’s website.
If the local schools are closed, why isn’t the College closed?
Unlike public schools, NOVA does not operate a school bus system and uses different criteria to decide that it is appropriate to modify its operating status. NOVA may move to a Code Red or Code Yellow operating status when its own roads, parking lots, the main highways or the roads immediately around the campuses are too dangerous to negotiate safely. Thus, NOVA may remain open when other local schools are closed.
I take a NOVA class at a local school. How do I know when my class is canceled?
If the College is in a Code Red operating status, classes at off-campus locations such as local schools will also be canceled. If the College remains open but the local school is closed, the NOVA class is canceled for that day.
What will happen if I do not attend class because I decide it's too dangerous?
We realize that a general decision for the college cannot account for the individual circumstances of all students, staff and faculty. Use judgment and be prompt in communicating your situation to your instructor or supervisor.
I came to campus and right after class it started the College closed. Why?
The safety of students and employees is the most important consideration. Sometimes College Administrators get information indicating that the College should close at times that do not exactly coincide with the beginning and ending of every class. It is better to cancel the class in this case than to keep the students when conditions are getting dangerous. NOVA’s classes do not all start and stop on a uniform schedule. Any early closing time is likely to interrupt some classes.
Whom should I call to find out if the College is open?
Announcements are always be posted on the home page of NOVA’s website and the College uses several media sources to announce its operating status. These may be found on our website under “Emergency Preparedness: Closing Information.” If you need to call with a question, please call the Call Center at 703.323.3000.
May I bring my child with me to campus when the schools are closed?
No. The College does not have facilities to care for children.
Designated employees are employees who are required to work during an authorized closing because their positions have been designated as essential to NOVA operations during emergencies. All employees may be required to assist the College in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor. An employee’s “non-designated” status may be changed to “designated” if management determines the necessity. If this occurs, employees will be notified of their status as soon as practicable.
Should I telework when the College is in Code Yellow operations?
Non-designated (non-essential) employees who are eligible/approved to telework are expected to work during authorized building closures to ensure continuity of operations.
Non-designated (non-essential) employees who are not eligible/approved to telework are not expected to work during authorized building closures. However, if non-designated (non-essential) employees have no telework agreement but are directed by management to telework during an authorized closing, the supervisor may allow this as long as the employee has the necessary tools that meet system security standards to telework.
The supervisor may authorize non-designated personnel to utilize appropriate leave (e.g., annual, family/personal, etc.) during an inclement weather or emergency event. Non-designated personnel who cannot report for work may request unscheduled leave for the entire scheduled workday. Employees must notify their supervisors of their intent to take unscheduled leave. Salaried employees must account for the time that they are away from routinely scheduled work by using annual leave or compensatory time.
What if I work a special shift at the College?
Supervisors of employees who work special shifts should make clear how closings or delayed openings affect attendance expectations.
Based upon the road conditions in the area, the College will determine and announce when an extended closing has occurred. Faculty are to communicate to students what their back-up-plan is for instruction when the college experiences an extended closure.