Severe weather response
The safety and well-being of Concordia's community members are top priorities.
When severe weather is on the way, university officials work to evaluate the potential impact on the Concordia community and responds as follows:
If there is a chance that the university campuses may close the next day, Concordia sends out an email to all its members advising the community of the weather conditions and asking them to consult Concordia.ca the next morning, before coming to campus. This email is generally sent out by 4:00 p.m.
Concordia will decide whether or not to close the university campuses by 6:00 a.m. the following morning. This decision will be posted on Concordia.ca. That information appears at the top of the webpage, within a yellow banner. Those who have followed the recommendation of subscribing to the Rave Guardian mobile app would also receive the information as a notification.
By 6:00 a.m. on the day after a weather-related campus closure, the university updates Concordia.ca with confirmation that normal operations have resumed or continues to be closed, as appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know whether the university campuses are open or closed?
If there is a chance that the university campuses may close the next day, Concordia sends out an email to all its members advising the community of the weather conditions and asking them to consult Concordia.ca the next morning, before coming to campus. Concordia’s Emergency Operations Centre will decide whether or not to close the university campuses by 6:00 a.m. the following morning. This decision will be posted on Concordia.ca and will appear at the top of the webpage, within a yellow banner. It will be also be broadcasted on the Rave Guardian app and an email will be sent out from emergency.alerts@concordia.ca
What factors are taken into consideration in the university’s decision to open or to close the campuses?
Concordia’s Emergency Operations Centre takes a number of variables into consideration when deciding whether a university campus closure is warranted:
- Warnings issued by Environment Canada, including hazard-specific information such as predicted levels of snowfall, precipitation, freezing rain, and/or wind
- Advisories issued by Transport Quebec to avoid non-essential travel on roads
- Potential risks to safety on campus, e.g., is there adequate heating/ventilation and lighting; have emergency exits been cleared from snow and ice?
- Any other hazards known at that time
What services are affected when the university campuses close?
When the university campuses close, all in-person activities, exams, labs and classes, including evening classes, are cancelled. All services, including day cares, Health Services, Le Gym, PERFORM Gym, Vanier and Webster Libraries, and Grey Nuns Reading Room are closed. In addition, all cafeterias -- with the exception of the cafeterias in the Grey Nuns Building (SGW), Hingston Hall (Loyola) and the Campus Centre (Loyola) -- are closed. All events scheduled to take place on that day are cancelled, including events at the Stinger’s Dome. All in-person classes and activities, including labs, are cancelled. Unless already scheduled, faculty may not choose to switch to remote delivery.
Who is expected to come to work when the university campus is closed?
Staff and faculty are not expected to report to work when the university campuses are is closed but are asked to work remotely, if possible. However, all required Facilities Management operational personnel/all trade employees as well as all Campus Safety and Prevention Services personnel must come to work.
What if an exam is scheduled during a university campus closure?
Students who have questions about their classes, labs, activities or exams – including online exams or classes – that were to be held on the day during which the university campuses are closed should speak directly to their professor.
What if I have borrowed a book or a laptop from the library and it’s due on the day of a university campus closure?
All library materials (including equipment such as laptops and tablets) that were due the day of a closure will be due on the day the university campuses reopens.
What should employees who are parents of school-aged children do if the schools are closed but the university remains open?
As long as the university is open, staff and faculty are expected to report to work. As in any other circumstance that prevents an employee from coming to work, the affected employee should speak directly to their manager to make arrangements.
