The University of Minnesota rarely has snow days, but this week’s extremely cold weather forced class cancellations twice.

Monday classes and Tuesday morning classes were canceled, while the University remained open for all other business both days.

This is likely the first time in at least a decade the institution closed because of cold temperatures, according to University spokesman Chuck Tombarge. The last time classes were canceled was for a snowstorm in February 2011.

Vice President of University Services Pamela Wheelock and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Karen Hanson made the final decision to cancel classes, and other administrators inside and outside the University were included in the discussion, Tombarge said.

University policy calls for closure when there’s a “serious risk to the health, safety or security of the University community.“

Although students didn’t have to face the negative temperatures, University employees were required to come to work both days.

In an email to students, faculty and staff, University President Eric Kaler said the University understood some employees’ need to take the day off due to the weather.