North Seattle Community College closure decisions are determined by conditions on the main campus, surrounding area, arterial streets and Interstate 5. Notice of an interruption in college operations will be distributed promptly to area radio and television stations, posted on the NSCC website, and disseminated to the campus community through the audix voicemail, and email.
The status of NSCC classes offered at Sand Point will be announced by Continuing Education staff and Whitman campus classes will be determined by the closure decision made by the Seattle Public School District and Continuing Education staff.
- Maintaining College Operations
- Employee and Student Safety
- Staffing
- Closure Notice
- Day Classes
- Evening Classes and Events
- Classified Staff
- Academic and Exempt Employees
Maintaining College Operations
It is the intent of North Seattle Community College to maintain operations in order to meet our obligations to:
- Our students, who come here to be educated on schedule
- Our faculty and staff, who need a well run campus to provide education
- The bill-paying public, who expect a high level of performance
Unless the campus is unsafe or utility systems are malfunctioning, we will strive to be open and operational.
Employee and Student Safety
Employees and students must judge for themselves the safety of traveling to the college. We ask all of you to make good decisions. In those rare instances when the college will be closed we will do our best to inform people in as timely a manner as possible. Faculty and staff are expected to notify their dean, director or supervisor of their absence in the event that they are unable to report to work.
The college makes its weather-related schedule determination independent of local school districts. Staff and students are advised not to assume local school district decisions reflect the status of NSCC operations.
Staffing
If the college is open and you are unable to report for work, you have the responsibility to call your supervisor/department. All departments are encouraged to have a back-up staffing plan for those times when the college is open but full staffing is not possible.
Closure Notice
To find current information regarding the status of college operations students and staff are directed to the NSCC website, http://www.northseattle.edu/, or the main switchboard at 206-527-3600.
The college forwards closure information to major Puget Sound radio and television stations through the Public Schools Emergency Communication System (PSECS) on their website at www.schoolreport.org.
College messages for radio and television broadcast are updated during the course of the day. Your best source for current information will always be the NSCC website, or the main switchboard at 206-527-3600.
Local television stations which normally broadcast NSCC closure announcements include:
- KOMO (chs. 4, 38)
- KING (chs. 5, 48)
- KONG (chs. 16, 31)
- KIRO (chs. 7, 39)
- KCPQ (chs. 13, 18)
- KSTW (chs. 11, 36)
You will also find closure announcements on the following AM radio stations serving King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties:
- KCIS 630
- KAPS 660
- KIRO 710
- KIXI 880
- KOMO 1000
- KYCW 1090
- KRKO 1380
- KBRC 1430
Day Classes
If conditions necessitate delay or cancellation of day classes, notification on radio and television stations will begin as soon as conditions on campus can be evaluated. A closure decision is based on conditions at the main campus or a specific off-campus site adversely impacted.
Evening Classes and Events
If conditions necessitate cancellation of evening classes, events, or weekend activities, notice will be given to the appropriate college offices as soon as conditions warrant. Area radio and television will also be notified at that time. However, evening or weekend college closure announcements on radio and television are not broadcast as frequently or completely as morning reports. Use the college website http://www.northseattle.edu or call the campus switchboard at 206-527-3600 for the most up-to-date information.
College closure means that the college will be closed and only specifically notified employees will need to report to work.
Classified Staff
Because of the potential for unsafe conditions, classified staff not required to report should remain off-campus and must use leave as follows:
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When prior notification has not been given, employees released until further notice after reporting to work, will suffer no loss in pay for the first day.
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Employees who are not required to work for the balance of the closure may use accrued vacation leave or personal holiday, accrued compensatory time, or leave without pay. Use of sick leave or make-up time is not allowed.
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Employees required to work during the disruption will receive 1.5 times their regular pay. Overtime worked during the closure will be compensated according to the Classified Staff Collective Bargaining Agreement.
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The leave options listed above, for employees who are not required to work for the balance of the closure, will be made available to employees who are unable to report to work due to severe inclement weather.
Academic and Exempt Employees
Faculty members and exempt staff who meet their contractual obligations when the college is closed will not have their leave balances affected.
If the college is open and you are unable to report for work, you have the responsibility to call in to your supervisor/department. All departments are encouraged to have a back-up staffing plan for those times when the college is open, but full staffing is not possible.
© 2003—2008