How Utah State Communicates About Winter Weather, Campus Safety

Winter in Utah often brings snow, ice and changing road conditions. When storms affect classes or campus operations, Utah State University uses several tools to share timely, accurate information with students and employees.

How Winter Weather Decisions Are Made

University leaders monitor forecasts, road conditions and campus access, and coordinate with public safety, facilities and statewide campus leaders to understand local impacts. Depending on the severity and timing of a storm, USU may:

• Keep campuses open and remind students and employees to allow extra travel time.
• Cancel classes or services for a partial day.
• Close one or more locations when travel or on-campus conditions create access or safety concerns.

Because each storm develops differently, the timing of decisions will vary. USU works to share information as early as practical once a decision is made.

Where To Find Weather Updates

When winter weather affects classes or operations, USU may use one or more of the following communication tools:

• Aggie Alerts for severe weather that creates an immediate safety concern or results in a significant change to campus operations, such as a closure or delayed start.
• USU email to students and employees with details about schedules, services and expectations.
• The emergency website (emergency.usu.edu) for current campus status, Aggie Alerts and additional instructions.

If you see information about campus status on unofficial social media accounts, always confirm it by checking your USU email, the emergency website or the main usu.edu homepage.

What Aggie Alerts Are and When They Are Used

Aggie Alerts are USU’s primary notification system. They provide critical safety information when there is a significant emergency, ongoing threat, serious weather event or other safety concern on or near campus. Alerts are sent by authorized public safety officials and typically arrive by text message and email.

In some situations, such as rapidly changing weather or an active threat, the first alert may be brief so essential safety information can reach the campus community quickly. Follow-up messages provide more detail and continue until the situation is resolved.

Examples of situations when the university may send an Aggie Alert include:

• A major winter storm that creates dangerous travel or on-campus conditions.
• An ongoing threat such as an armed aggressor or confirmed gas leak.
• Certain serious crimes that pose a continued risk to the campus community.

Not every snowstorm will trigger an Aggie Alert. Many winter days will be managed through normal campus operations and regular communication channels.

What You Can Do Now

Prepare now for winter weather and other emergencies by:

• Checking your Aggie Alert contact information. USU students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive Aggie Alerts but can add or update mobile numbers by signing in at myid.usu.edu.
• Those who wish to receive USU Aggie Alerts but are not faculty, staff or students can do so by texting usucommunity to 333111.
• Planning ahead for winter travel. Allow extra time to get to campus, wear appropriate footwear and use extra caution in parking lots and on sidewalks.

For more information about Aggie Alerts and emergency preparedness at USU, visit emergency.usu.edu.