As a research school, many support services at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health continue both during holiday periods and during periods of official closure. From time to time, weather conditions are sufficiently extreme or hazardous such that normal administrative and/or academic operations are suspended, and only essential support services are provided.
In the event of severely inclement weather, decisions related to the suspension of normal operations—including delayed starts, early releases, office closings, and cancellation of classes—will be made by the Dean’s Office in consultation with the University Crisis Management Team (CMT) and the HSPH Local Emergency Management Team (LEMT).
Any changes to the school’s schedules will be communicated in the following ways:
- A school-wide alert will be posted on the school’s homepage.
- A school-wide email message from the Communications Office or Operations Office will communicate any decisions related to the suspension of normal operations – including delayed starts, early releases, cancellation of classes, or suspension of normal operations.
- The school’s 24-hour news line, (617) 432-NEWS (617-432-6397), will be updated with any University response to severe weather. School information will also be communicated to local TV stations WCVB (Ch.5), WHDH (Ch.7) and New England Cable News (NECN).
- A MessageMe text message alert will be sent to all HSPH students, faculty and staff when decisions are made regarding delayed starts, early releases, or the suspension of normal operations.
The inclement weather website provides detailed information regarding the school’s policy.
