Inclement Weather Policy

Winter in the mountains often brings bad weather which causes schedule changes for UVA Wise.  When bad weather strikes, the College may operate on a snow schedule or may cancel classes.  On those days when classes are cancelled, the College will be officially closed and only essential personnel will report for work. In the event of closure, all classes and scheduled events will be cancelled.  Information about schedule changes will be available from a variety of sources.

  • Text/Email Alerts - UVA Wise Emergency Alerts have now moved to the UVA Rave system. Students and employees will automatically receive an email alert. Students and employees who have registered their mobile number with the College during orientation or onboarding will receive a text alert. Update your alert information. Anyone who wishes to receive UVA alerts via text may opt-in by texting “Wise” to 226787 and this will remain active for 365 days.
  • UVA Wise Web Page - Schedule changes will be posted on the UVA Wise website in a banner announcement at the top of the page.
  • UVA Wise Social Media - Schedule changes will be posted on the UVA Wise Facebook and Instagram pages.
  • Radio - Local radio stations WAXM, WIFX, WTFM, WQUT, WSWV, and WXBQ will announce schedule changes.
  • Television - Local television stations WCYB, WJHL, WYMT and WVVA will announce schedule changes.

Snow Schedule

The UVA Wise snow schedule has been adjusted to align with local school and other agency closings. A snow delay will now result in a two-hour, rather than 90-minute delay. 

The approved snow schedule for classes is as follows.

Monday/Wednesday/Friday Classes

  • Block I: 8:00-8:50 (Regular Schedule). 10:00-10:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block II: 9:00-9:50 (Regular Schedule). 11:00-11:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block III: 10:00-10:50 (Regular Schedule). 12:00-12:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block IV: 11:00-11:50 (Regular Schedule). 1:00-1:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block V: 12:00-12:50 (Regular Schedule). 2:00-2:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Conv: 1:00-1:50 (Regular Schedule). Canceled (Snow Schedule)
  • Block VI: 2:00-2:50 (Regular Schedule). 3:00-3:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block VII: 3:00-3:50 (Regular Schedule). 4:00-4:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block VIII: 4:00-4:50 (Regular Schedule). 5:00-5:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block IX: 5:00-5:50 (Regular Schedule). Canceled (Snow Schedule) *
  • Block X: 6:00-7:15 (Regular Schedule, M, W). 6:00-7:00 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XI. 7:30-8:45 (Regular Schedule, M, W). 7:00-8:00 (Snow Schedule)

    *Courses that begin at 5 p.m. and meet outside the block scheduling time periods (i.e. Monday, 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.) will be on a delay but will begin at the next scheduled block (6 p.m.)

Tuesday/Thursday Classes

  • Block XII. 8:00-9:15 (Regular Schedule). 10:00-11:00 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XIII. 9:30-10:45 (Regular Schedule). 11:10 -12:10 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XIV. 11:00-12:15 (Regular Schedule). 12:20-1:20 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XV. 12:30-1:45 (Regular Schedule). 1:30-2:30 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XVI. 2:00-3:15 (Regular Schedule). 2:40-3:40 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XVII. 3:20-4:35 (Regular Schedule). 3:50-4:50 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XVIII. 4:40-5:55 (Regular Schedule). 5:00-6:00 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XIX. 6:00-7:15 (Regular Schedule). 6:00-7:00 (Snow Schedule)
  • Block XX. 7:30-8:45 (Regular Schedule). 7:00-8:00 (Snow Schedule)

Final Exam Schedule in Snow Delay

In the event of a schedule delay due to snow, the exam schedule will be advanced as indicated below.

  • 8:00-10:30 (Regular Exam Time). 10:00-12:00 (Snow Schedule)
  • 11:00-1:30 (Regular Exam Time). 12:30-2:30 (Snow Schedule)
  • 2:00-4:30 (Regular Exam Time). 3:00-5:00 (Snow Schedule)
  • Exams for evening classes scheduled at 5:00 will begin at 6:00.
  • Exams for evening classes scheduled at 6:00 will begin at 6:00.

Weather Policies

  • If classes are on a snow schedule on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, then the convocation period is canceled.
  • Tuesday and Thursday classes on a snow schedule are only 60 minutes in length.
  • Student safety is of the utmost importance. When the college is operating on a delayed schedule or during any other severe weather conditions such as flooding, commuter students who live outside the Town of Wise corporation limits should use their best judgment about whether it is safe to drive from their homes. These students should not be penalized for missing classes, and they should be extended the same opportunity to make up work as they would be in the case of a delayed schedule due to snow. Commuter students also should use their best judgment on whether to leave the College early on days when inclement weather strikes during the school day.
  • Commuter students who live outside the Town of Wise corporation limits who are unable to attend class because of inclement weather are allowed to make up missed academic work. Contact with the professor should occur immediately upon return to class. Residence Hall students and students living within the Town of Wise corporation limits are expected to attend classes when the College is operating on a snow schedule and will not be granted excused absences.

Make-Up Options

  • Instructors may incorporate the missed course content missed on that day into other classes throughout the semester.
  • Instructors hold class at a time acceptable to all class members other than the regularly scheduled time. The Office of the Registrar can help facilitate this if needed.
  • With adequate preparation and notification, instructors may hold class on a scheduled designated makeup day or evening that is not normally used for classes. This can be on Saturdays, Sundays or evenings.
  • Instructors may prepare the lecture asynchronously and allow the students to review the lecture in a reasonable amount of time.
  • Instructors may provide students with alternate assignments that can be completed through electronic or digital means.
  • Instructors may provide course content as a synchronous or asynchronous option via Canvas recordings or a similar option.  Some students may not have access to Wi-Fi in a power outage due to lack of internet, living situation, and must not be penalized for missing class.