Emergency Closing Alert
Today is Friday, August 29, 2008.
All three LFCC locations — Fauquier and Middletown Campuses and Luray-Page County Center — are operating on a normal schedule.
In the case of inclement weather — regardless of the emergency closing announcement — all students and employees should use good judgment as to whether or not it is safe to travel.
Revised: May 8, 2008
For the latest emergency closing information, please visit the College’s Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines. These two communication vehicles are updated first in the event of emergency closings. In addition, because LFCC has complete control over these two communication methods, the message is guaranteed to be accurate and up to date. This same guarantee cannot be applied to messages heard on local radio and television stations.
When the College issues a delayed opening or day class cancellation announcement, please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before you are scheduled to arrive on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
Please make sure you refresh LFCC’s Web site upon each visit to ensure that the most up-to-date information is being viewed.
Please note the steps in the emergency closing and delayed opening communication process:
- LFCC's president (or designee) makes the closing decision and contacts the Office of College Advancement to handle communicating the announcement.
- An LFCC Everyone e-mail with the closing announcement is sent.
- LFCC’s Web site is updated to reflect the closing announcement.
- LFCC’s emergency closing announcement telephone lines are updated to reflect the closing announcement.
- The television stations in the area (per the list below) are contacted and asked to announce the closing status of the College. Please note that LFCC cannot control if and when the announcements are made.
- The radio stations in the area (per the list below) are contacted and asked to announce the closing status of the College. Please note that LFCC cannot control if and when the announcements are made.
In the event that a delayed opening changes to a closing announcement on the same day, this change will be communicated at least 1.5 hours before the delayed opening time. The process above will once again be followed. (For example, if the president decides that the College will open at noon instead of 8 a.m. and then decides later to close the College the entire day, the change will be communicated by 10:30 a.m.)
As previously stated, in the case of inclement weather — regardless of the emergency closing announcement — all students and employees should use good judgment as to whether or not it is safe to travel.
LFCC’s philosophy is to try and keep the College open and on a regular schedule. Unless classes are officially cancelled, faculty members are expected to keep their scheduled classes. However, emergency situations and inclement weather can mandate the need for changes. Decisions regarding closings or delays will be made for each location based upon the respective situation. In the case of inclement weather, regardless of the decision, all students and employees should use good judgment as to whether or not it is safe to travel.
In communicating cancellation information to the news media, distinctions will be made between day and evening classes. Day classes run between 7 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. Evening classes run between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. Should conditions warrant a delay in opening, classes that were not affected by the delay will be held at their normally scheduled times once the College opens. For those classes that did not meet due to the delay in opening, faculty will follow the College procedures for make-up of classes as directed by the deans of learning and/or vice president of learning.
LFCC students and employees can receive current information about College schedule changes due to emergency closings in a variety of ways. However, it is important to remember that the most accurate information can be found on LFCC’s Web site or the recorded College telephone message system. Once the closing information is provided to the media, it is out of LFCC’s control as to the complete accuracy of the message.
Unless it is specifically communicated otherwise, if the College is closed, then all three locations – Fauquier and Middletown Campuses and the Luray-Page County Center – are closed. If only one or two of the three locations is closed, the message will communicate this. (For example: LFCC day classes on the Fauquier Campus are cancelled.) Please note that in the event that one of LFCC’s off-site class locations closes (for example: Warren County High School), then the classes that are held there are also cancelled.
LFCC STUDENTS
How to find out closing information
- Call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines for a recorded announcement:
- Fauquier Campus: 540-351-1565
- Middletown Campus: 540-868-7230
- Visit the College’s Web site at http://www.lfcc.edu and view the “Emergency Closing Information” in the scrolling messages section on the homepage (http://www.lfcc.edu/News/Inclement.asp)
- Visit http://www.schoolsout.com for the latest closing information and/or sign-up for e-mail or text message updates available on the Web site
- Listen to the following radio stations:
- WACL-FM / 98 ROCK
- WAZR-FM / KISS FM 93.7
- WBOP-FM 106.3
- WFQX-FM / 99.3 The Fox
- WFTR-AM / AM 1450
- WINC-AM / AM 1400
- WINC-FM / 92.5
- WMXH-FM 105.7
- WRAA-AM 1330
- WSIG-FM / Classic Country 96.9
- WTOP-FM 107.7
- WUSQ-FM / Q102
- WWRE-FM / Real Classic Rock 104.9/105.5
- WZRV-FM / Oldies 95.3
- Watch the following television stations:
- Cable TV Channel 6
- NBC 4 – Washington
- TV3 Winchester
- WAZT-TV, News 10
- WHAG-TV, Channel 25
- WHSV-TV, Channel 3
- WUSA 9 – Washington
Sample announcements and meanings
The following announcements will be provided to the media.
- Message: LFCC is closed.
- Meaning for students: Day and evening classes and all activities scheduled at the three LFCC locations are cancelled. No one is allowed on campus due to liability issues.
- Message: LFCC day classes are cancelled.
- Meaning for students: No day classes will be held. Evening classes will meet as usual, beginning at 4 p.m. OR An announcement regarding evening classes, which meet at and after 4 p.m., will be made by 3 p.m. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
- Message: LFCC day classes will begin at ____ a.m. (a delayed time, no later than noon).
- Meaning for students: Classes will be held on a regular schedule after the delayed opening, which will be no later than noon. Classes beginning at and after ___ a.m. will meet as scheduled. Classes starting earlier than ____ a.m. and continuing through ____ a.m. will begin at ___ a.m. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day. Please note that if a closing takes place on a Tuesday or Thursday, the delayed opening will occur on the half hour, such as 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m., due to the alternative schedule for those days.
- Message: LFCC will close at ____ a.m./p.m.
- Meaning for students: The College will close early at the designated time. Classes for the rest of the day will be cancelled.
- Message: LFCC evening classes are cancelled.
- Meaning for students: No evening classes or activities will be held.
LFCC EMPLOYEES
How to find out closing information
- Call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines for a recorded announcement:
- Fauquier Campus: 540-351-1565
- Middletown Campus: 540-868-7230
- Visit the College’s Web site at http://www.lfcc.edu and view the “Emergency Closing Information” in the scrolling messages section on the homepage (http://www.lfcc.edu/News/Inclement.asp)
- Check your LFCC e-mail account for closing announcements
- Visit http://www.schoolsout.com for the latest closing information and/or sign-up for e-mail or text message updates available on the Web site
Sample announcements and meanings
The following announcements will be available on the recorded telephone system, through e-mail and on the College’s Web site.
- Message: LFCC is closed. Day and evening classes and all activities scheduled at the three LFCC locations are cancelled. Other than essential employees, no one should report to work.
- Meaning for employees: Essential employees are the only individuals required to report to work for the day. Other than essential employees, no one else is allowed on campus due to liability issues.
- Message: LFCC day classes are cancelled. Essential employees report to work. Evening classes beginning at and after 4 p.m. will meet as scheduled. OR An announcement regarding evening classes, which meet at and after 4 p.m., will be made by 3 p.m. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
- Meaning for employees: Essential employees are the only individuals required to report to work for the day. Faculty who teach evening classes are scheduled to report to work as usual based on their evening work schedule.
- Message: LFCC day classes are cancelled. Administrators and staff report to work on time based on their regular work schedules. Evening classes beginning at and after 4 p.m. will meet as scheduled. OR An announcement regarding evening classes, which meet at and after 4 p.m., will be made by 3 p.m. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
- Meaning for employees: Administrators and staff report to work on time based on their regular work schedules. Faculty who teach evening classes are scheduled to report to work as usual based on their evening work schedule.
- Message: LFCC day classes are cancelled. Administrators and staff report to work at _______ a.m. (a delayed time, no later than noon) Evening classes beginning at and after 4 p.m. will meet as scheduled. OR An announcement regarding evening classes, which meet at and after 4 p.m., will be made by 3 p.m. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
- Meaning for employees: Administrators and staff report to work at the designated delayed time, which will be no later than noon. Faculty who teach evening classes are scheduled to report to work as usual based on their evening work schedule.
- Message: LFCC day classes will begin at _______ a.m. Classes beginning at and after ___ a.m. will meet as scheduled. Classes starting earlier than ____ a.m. and continuing through ____ a.m. will begin at ___ a.m. Administrators and staff should report to work at the designated delayed time of ______ a.m. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
- Meaning for employees: The College is operating on a delayed schedule. Administrators and staff report to work at the designated delayed time, which will be no later than noon. Faculty report to work at or after ___ a.m. based on their class schedule. Please note that if a closing takes place on a Tuesday or Thursday, the delayed opening will occur on the half hour, such as 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m., due to the alternative schedule for those days.
- Message: LFCC day classes will begin at _______ a.m. Classes beginning at and after ___ a.m. will meet as scheduled. Administrators and staff report to work on time based on their regular work schedules. Please check the Web site or call the emergency closing announcement telephone lines before leaving home and before your scheduled arrival on campus. This may prevent a wasted trip to campus in the event that the College’s closing status changes in the same day.
- Meaning for employees: Administrators and staff report to work on time based on their regular work schedules. Faculty report to work at or after ___ a.m. based on their class schedule. Students will report at the designated delayed time, which will be no later than noon.
- Message: LFCC will close at ____ a.m./p.m.
- Meaning for employees: The College will close early at the designated time. All employees are free to leave work at the designated closing time.
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Old Dominion University (ODU) cancellations are made independent of LFCC closings, and ODU classes may meet when LFCC classes and events have been cancelled. Information regarding ODU closings can be obtained by listening to WINC radio, visiting http://www.tv3winchester.com or calling ODU’s Middletown Campus location at 540-869-2948 or ODU’s Fauquier Campus location at 540-351-1572.
MOUNTAIN VISTA GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE, MATH & TECHNOLOGY
Fauquier Campus - If Fauquier County Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, Mountain Vista Governor’s School (MVGS) will also be closed, as the MVGS site is located within Fauquier County. If Fauquier County Public Schools has a one-hour delay, MVGS will also be delayed one hour. If Fauquier County Public Schools has a two- or three-hour delay, MVGS will be closed, but students should report to their base schools for their afternoon classes.
Middletown Campus - If Frederick County Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, Mountain Vista will also be closed, as the MVGS site is located within Frederick County. If Frederick County Public Schools has a one-hour delay, MVGS will also be delayed one hour. If Frederick County Public Schools has a two- or three-hour delay, MVGS will be closed, but students should report to their base schools for their afternoon classes.
If a school division is open and MVGS is closed, students will be responsible for Web-based instruction to be completed at the students' home-based schools. If a school division is closed and MVGS is open, students will not be required to attend MVGS. A student may choose to attend MVGS, but the school division will not provide transportation.
In addition, MVGS will send parent and student e-mail messages, leave a message on the MVGS's telephones, post the information on the school’s Web page at http://www.mvgs.k12.va.us and alert the local media as soon as possible.
