Safety First: How MCC Campus Closure Decisions are Made

Safety Comes First

“Our main goal is to keep people safe – students, faculty, staff and visitors,” Beaudin says.

Beaudin and the MCC Facilities staff determine whether conditions are safe in MCC parking lots and on the roads, communicating with the snowplow vendor and paying attention to local weather reports and school closures. When K-12 schools close, that affects MCC students and employees who have children at home. Beaudin also consults with MCC’s Business Affairs Officer who checks Manchester Transit Authority alerts and reviews the situation with MCC Human Resources.

“With students and employees coming to MCC from near and far, we don’t want anyone to feel like they are risking their lives to get to a class or a meeting in dangerous weather,” Beaudin adds.

How Weather Decisions Affect Students

Student Thomas Nguyen says that when he is alerted that campus is closed in bad weather, he doesn’t have to stress about transportation.

Student Naomy Yordan says, “As a mother, when I get a call at 5 AM from my child’s school that there’s a delay or closure, I worry about how I’ll manage getting to class or the choices I’ll need to make.” Adding, “It’s a relief when I get the MCC alert.“

Considering Faculty and Staff

MCC’s Library Director Katie Hamilton appreciates the concern given to employee and student safety. Hamilton has a long commute with her young child in the car.

“While we have excellent ways to support students and faculty remotely, if campus is open, the library needs to be staffed,” she says.

Adding, “It’s reassuring to know that the decision about opening or closing campus is made with care and consideration for all of us.”

How to Stay Informed

The public can learn of any MCC closures or delays on wmur.com. Students are automatically enrolled in an alert system that communicates via school emails, but it is recommended that students and employees update their contact information to ensure they are also getting text messages.