West Virginia University will remain closed for classes and business Monday, but some student-centered services will resume.

“The safety of our students and employees is paramount,” said Narvel Weese, vice president of administration and finance. “We are in constant contact with emergency preparedness and safety officials and their best advice is that we remain shut down for now.”

The University closed at 3 p.m. Friday following Gov. Joesph Manchin III’s declartion of a state of emergency to deal with a winter storm that eventually dumped up to two feet or more of snow in the area. Most of the roads in Monongalia and many surrounding counties remain covered with snow or ice, and some are blocked by downed tree limbs and power lines, safety officials said.

While classes, including those in the Health Sciences Center, and business offices will remain closed Monday, several services will resume:

The PRT transportation system and Student Recreation Center will operate from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Mountainlair will operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Downtown and Evansdale libraries will be open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Housing operations will go on at usual weekend service levels. (Only emergency maintenance and light custodial services will be offered.)

The usual weekend/holiday dining halls will be open and following weekend/holiday hours (brunch and dinner). The dining areas open for meal plan use will be Summit Cafe, Boreman Bistro and Cafe Evansdale. Quiznos and Burger King may be used by those with meal plans for breakfast and dinner combo meals as usual. Hatfield’s in the Mountainlair will be open for regular hours.

The West Virginia University Child Learning Center will be closed Monday.

All WVU Dental Student Clinics at the WVU School of Dentistry will be closed Monday.

University Health Associates has designated Monday, Feb. 8 as a Severe Weather Day. UHA Clinics at the Physician Office Center in Morgantown and elsewhere are open tomorrow, but officials urge patients to stay home if travel would be hazardous. Please call to cancel and reschedule your appointment if necessary. Clinical UHA employees, including dental employees, are asked to report to work as scheduled. Clinical and non-essential employees who would face travel hazards are asked to use their best judgment regarding personal safety and to contact their supervisors.

The University expects to reopen for businesses and classes at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Weese said.

Monday’s Big East men’s basketball game between second-ranked Villanova and sixth-ranked WVU, set for 7 p.m. at the Coliseum and being televised nationally, will go on as scheduled. Fans are urged to use extreme caution in deciding whether to attend the game and not to take any chances.

Also, a wrestling match between WVU and No. 18/21-ranked Pitt, already rescheduled from Saturday to Tuesday (Feb. 9), was moved to 8 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum.

Even with the closing, those employees in positions considered essential to the functioning of the unit or other institutional services during an inclement weather closure (e.g., for snow removal, facility maintenance, dining services, housing, safety/security, etc.) are expected to report to work. If weather conditions prevent employees from getting to work or getting to work on time, they should notify their supervisor as soon as possible and prior to the start of the shift. Any questions about scheduling issues should be addressed to an employee’s supervisor. If a supervisor has further questions, they should call 304-276-0729.

Students, faculty and staff should monitor local broadcast stations and WVU web sites (www.wvu.edu, wvutoday.wvu.edu, www.mix.wvu.edu) for the latest information.

-WVU-

02/07/10

CONTACT: News and Information Services
304-293-6997