The National Weather Service is forecasting a variety of potentially hazardous weather beginning during the overnight hours on Thursday, Jan. 11, and continuing through the subsequent week that Arkansas Tech University is monitoring in regard to the beginning of the spring 2024 semester.
Severe weather, snow and dangerously cold temperatures are all possibilities in the days to come.
Classes at ATU are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 16. If inclement weather makes it necessary for Arkansas Tech to adjust that plan, updates will be communicated through ATU Alert text messages, www.arkansastechnews.com, OneTech announcements, ATU social media presences and media outlets.
The ATU Department of Residence Life is communicating directly with students who will live on campus in spring 2024 and providing them with options regarding their check-in date due to uncertain travel conditions in the days leading up to the beginning of the semester.
“Residence life has messaged residents about winter weather preparedness, encouraging students to review the weather forecast and iDriveArkansas.com for road conditions and offering options to arrive early,” said Dr. Delton Gordon, ATU associate dean for residence life. “We have also made them aware if it is not safe to travel, they can arrive later in the week.”
The ATU Department of Campus Life has postponed its spring 2024 transfer student orientation that was scheduled for Friday, Jan. 12.
“We are working to deliver this orientation is various methods over the first two weeks of classes at a variety of times,” said Kevin Solomon, ATU dean of student engagement. “This is in development, and we will be communicating directly to these students by Tuesday, Jan. 16, about the schedule.”
The ATU Office of Facilities Management is working to prepare ATU facilities for sub-freezing temperatures that are forecast to remain in place from Sunday, Jan. 14, until the afternoon hours on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
ATU faculty, staff and students have been asked to follow these procedures:
*Ensure thermostats are switched to the heating mode in all offices, classrooms and other spaces.
*Ensure office doors are closed.
*Ensure office, classroom and other windows are tightly shut.
*Ensure any HVAC equipment remain in the “on” or “running” position.
The ATU Office of Business Services has worked with food service provider Chartwells to ensure that Chambers Cafeteria will have an adequate supply of food in the event that winter weather affects deliveries in the days to come.
