The Ohio State University has officially canceled all Monday in-person classes on its Columbus campus due to a forecasted winter storm, with the National Weather Service projecting significant snowfall and difficult driving conditions for today. A statement obtained by ABC6 recommends that "instructors to host virtual synchronous classes where feasible" and notes that in-person classes are expected to resume quickly on Tuesday. Additionally, essential personnel must report to work as usual despite the cancellation.
Ohio State provides online updates regarding open campus operations, including the Wexner Medical Center and various clinical services. Their emergency management webpage offers further details on the impact the inclement weather may have on transportation and parking. Staff who can work remotely are encouraged to do so, as suggested in the guidance from Ohio State's Office of Academic Affairs.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, this kind of closure is uncommon for the university, as it has closed its doors due to weather conditions only 20 times since 1978. Detailed in a recent "City of Ohio State" podcast interview, director Robert Armstrong remarked on the complexity of making closure decisions, saying, "The decision is never black and white." Variables such as the timing of the storm and its impact on the ability of the grounds crew to handle the snowfall add to the layers of consideration before calling off in-person classes.
The regional campuses of Ohio State, which span areas like Lima, Mansfield, and Marion, have different criteria due to their unique geography and the logistical issues it presents with snowy conditions. For Columbus-area colleges similar to Ohio State, such as Capital University and Franklin University, the decisions to close campuses also revolve around local snow emergency levels and other schools' closure decisions, according to WBNS. Meanwhile, Ohio Wesleyan University cancels classes only if a Level 3 Snow Emergency is declared in Delaware County.
The closure represents a rare pause in the university's bustling academic schedule. It gives students a momentary respite from their physical classrooms, albeit with a nudge towards the virtual world, to maintain educational continuity as the snow blankets the campus in winter's grip.
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