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The following message was shared with OHIO students, faculty and staff on the Athens Campus on Thursday, January 9.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a mix of wintery weather and frigid temperatures that is anticipated to impact Athens County and the surrounding region over the next 24-72 hours. As OHIO students, faculty and staff plan their return to campus, we encourage you to 1) be safe and 2) remain aware of how adverse weather conditions – at both your departure and destination locations â€“ could potentially impact scheduled travel plans.

Remember: Spring Semester classes do not officially begin until Monday, Jan. 13. Individuals are encouraged to take necessary precautions, including considering a delayed return to campus if needed, if they are faced with adverse travel conditions in the coming days.

OHIO employees who do not feel it is safe to travel to campus should follow normal call-off procedures or contact their supervisor.

If you are already on campus:

• Crews with Facilities Management are on standby to clear campus parking lots, paths and walkways; however, the potential for icy or slick spots could remain.
• Housing and Residence Life staff have been monitoring individual room temperatures to ensure all residence hall heating units are functioning properly for Spring Move-In and the start of the semester; students are encouraged to connect with their hall staff if they have heating concerns.
• Those with concerns about other campus facilities are encouraged to contact OHIO’s Facilities Management team at 740-593-2911.
• Learn more about available campus dining locations and hours of operation at ohio.edu/food.
• If you are uncertain about the status of an upcoming campus or community event, please contact the event organizer(s) directly. 

If you choose to travel to campus in the coming days:

• Plan your travel ahead of time and monitor all weather conditions.
• Be very cautious on roadways, sidewalks and other surfaces.
• Keep all vehicle windows and mirrors free of snow, ice and salt spray to maximize visibility.
• Slow down when approaching a snowplow or other snow removal equipment.
• Students returning to the Residence Halls who opt to arrive to campus after Sunday, January 12, are encouraged to reach out to housing@ohio.edu so they can help make the necessary check-in or check-out arrangements.

The University will continue to monitor the forecasted weather conditions in the coming days. In the event adverse winter weather were to strongly impact University operations, either in the coming days or at any point in the semester, we will notify all students, faculty and staff through a combination of OHIO Alerts, text and email.