Sign up for text / email alerts at Laurel Ridge Alert or by texting laurelalert (all one word) to 226787 to receive alerts from Laurel Ridge Community College.
Color Closing or Delay Notices and Announcements
Laurel Ridge issues an alert message when we experience inclement weather or other emergencies, and information about the situation is posted on this page.
A color-coded system is used to communicate any operating status updates to our faculty, staff and students.
In the event of a college-wide or campus-specific closure or delayed opening, the decision will be announced on the home page of the college website, and a text alert will be sent to cell phones that are registered with Laurel Ridge Alert.
- All classes and activities are held as normal.
- Facilities open and close on their normal schedules.
If a delayed opening:
- Buildings, classrooms and offices will open for business at the specified opening time.
- Employees and students may enter buildings beginning one (1) hour ahead of the specified opening time. Access prior to that time is restricted to designated/essential employees who are required to work during emergencies.
- Classes that begin before the specified opening time are canceled.
- Online courses remain accessible.
- All faculty are encouraged to contact students to confirm or clarify class status.
- Employees are not expected to transition to telework for inclement weather that results in a delayed opening.
If an early closure:
- Offices must close and in-person classes must end by the specified closing time.
- All non-designated/non-essential employees and students must leave campus within one (1) hour after the specified closing time. Access after that time is restricted to designated/essential employees who are required to work during emergencies.
- Classes that begin later than 1 hour prior to the closing time are canceled.
- Online courses remain accessible.
- Employees are not expected to transition to telework for inclement weather that results in an early closure.
- The College is closed for the day. All classes, events, and services are canceled.
- No telework, except for designated/essential employees who are required to work during emergencies.
- Faculty should contact students via email or text to confirm class status.
- The College is operating fully remotely. Classes and services will continue online, but buildings are closed (except for designated/essential personnel).
- All non-designated/non-essential full-time employees are expected to telework as directed by their supervisor. Temporary telework agreements are not required for a short-term collegewide closure. Liberal leave is in effect.
- Hourly employees, work-study students, contractors, and teleworkers may be expected to work as directed by their supervisor.
- Teaching faculty should notify students of changes in the class format of scheduled in-person classes. Options include holding classes on Zoom or delivering content/assignments via email or Canvas.
Locked/Closed Campuses
- Late Opening: For delayed openings, employees and students are allowed to enter buildings starting one hour before the designated opening time (e.g., if the College opens at 9:30 a.m., access begins at 8:30 a.m.).
- Early Closure: For early closures, employees and students must leave buildings within one hour after the specified closing time. Buildings will then be locked until the College reopens or as directed.
- Access Restrictions: Only designated/essential employees may remain in or access buildings outside of the one-hour buffer before a delayed opening or after an early closure.
Continuation of Instruction
At the start of every semester, faculty are expected to communicate to students and to their dean their alternative approach to continuing teaching and learning during emergency closures lasting more than a day. Faculty must also provide their Dean with a copy of their syllabi explaining their approach to continuing instruction during emergency closures. Examples of alternative teaching and learning approaches include the utilization of Canvas, video conferences, email, conference calls, special topics research, discussion, etc. Faculty must announce their alternative delivery approach to the class as soon as possible after the College is closed. The alternative delivery approaches specific to the course should be documented in the course syllabi.
Laurel Ridge Alert Notification System
Our College issues an alert message when we experience inclement weather or other emergencies, and information about the situation is posted on this page. Because of limited character length, our messages through the Laurel Ridge Alert system will provide critical and abbreviated information and direct you to visit this page for more details. Emails to employees and social media posts will include additional information, and will refer people to this page.
- Sign up for text / email alerts at Laurel Ridge Alert or by texting laurelalert (all one word) to 226787 to receive alerts from Laurel Ridge Community College.
- Message and data rates may apply. Text messages are sent on an as-needed basis. This service is provided per the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
- To opt-out of Laurel Ridge Alert, you can delete the mobile phone number from your profile at Laurel Ridge Alert or text STOP to 226787 from your registered mobile phone.
- Laurel Ridge does not charge for this service, however, your mobile phone company may charge for text messages. Please refer to your mobile phone’s service plan for more information.
- Visit smart911.com to create your free safety profile.