Despite some of the coldest temperatures of the year and various cancellations around the state, the University of Minnesota held many classes during the week of Jan. 20.
Both Minneapolis Public Schools and St. Paul Public Schools were among those who canceled classes Jan. 21 amidst wind chills 30-40 degrees below zero. Many University students questioned the decision to hold classes.
The University weather and air quality index thresholds state the campus may reduce operations if the forecast predicts air temperatures or sustained wind chill at or below -35ºF for more than three consecutive hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
University Assistant Vice President for Health, Safety and Risk Management Katharine Bonneson said the University decided to maintain operations at their normal level because temperatures did not meet this threshold.
Bonneson said the big difference between K-12 students and University students is that the student population is not made up of minors. Additionally, unlike the University, K-12 schools are reliant on bus transportation.
The thresholds come from the National Weather Service, according to Bonneson.
The decision to cancel classes also involves further considerations, Bonneson said. For example, if there were predictions of snow or high winds, the University may have made a different decision.
“If metro transit or other areas would have said, ‘Hey, we’re concerned about buses running,’ we probably would have maybe erred on a more cautious side,” Bonneson said. “But none of those other factors were at play. I think the school K through top 12 closing was the biggest thing we saw that day.”
Bonneson said individual departments could cancel classes at their own discretion, but any University-wide cancellations would have come from Provost Rachel Croson.
Fourth-year student Kevin Doan, who commutes from Shakopee, said he expected classes to be canceled Jan. 21.
“I think it should be like a whole University-wide policy where, if it’s like a very cold day, maybe professors will go on Zoom,” Doan said. ”Not only would that be helpful for commuters, but that would also help students.”
First-year student Danny Sibri Guiracocha said canceling classes University-wide would delay the speed of the curriculum.
“The whole schedule is set a day off because of a cancellation, so it’s much better if it’s on Zoom,” Sibri Guiracocha said.
Bonneson said a lot of preparation goes into making decisions like these and there is rarely a right or wrong call. Closing areas of University services is hard on those who need the money to work at the University.
“We hope that we get it right, and if we don’t, we hope that people feel comfortable communicating whatever their decision is personally,” Bonneson said. “If they decide not to come to class, and they communicate early and often with their faculty, that would be my message.”
