Closing/Delay Opening Policy for Cancellation or Postponement of Classes
Villanova University intends to maintain its regularly scheduled classes and final examination periods, avoiding school closings whenever possible. A delayed opening is preferable to closing for an entire day. In deciding whether to close or delay opening, several factors are considered: the character of the storm or other emergency event (onset time, intensity, and duration); the condition of travel routes to the University; the condition of campus roads and walkways; and the safety of University community members.
Policy
Closures:
If a decision is made to fully close the university, the following guidance applies for classes:
- All undergraduate in-person classes are cancelled for the day and not converted to a remote offering.
- In-person graduate and law classes are cancelled but may be offered remotely at the discretion of the professor.
- Online graduate classes continue as scheduled.
- Unless students are notified otherwise by their college, courses that meet fully online, or already have a previously scheduled online course meeting for the day of inclement weather, will continue as planned.
For weather-related closures, the timing of a closure announcement typically will be communicated between 5 and 6 a.m. on the day of the closure.
Delayed Openings or Late Day Cancellations:
If there is a good chance that conditions will be acceptable by mid-morning, the opening of school will be delayed. In such delayed opening circumstances, the first in-person class will be cancelled on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the school day will begin with the second regularly scheduled class at 10:00 A.M. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the first two in-person classes will be cancelled, and the school day will begin with the third regularly scheduled class at 10:40 a.m.; for the Charles Widger School of Law (CWSL), the day will begin at 10:15 a.m.
Occasionally, classes in the late afternoon and evening are cancelled when bad weather conditions or other unscheduled disruptions develop during the day. Graduate and Law classes may be offered remotely at the discretion of the instructor.
Travel Issues Due To Weather:
Because students and faculty come from various locations and distances, some of which may be more seriously affected by adverse weather than others, students must, as always, exercise their judgment on whether it is safe to drive to the University.
- If a student decides it is not safe to attend class, then they must inform their faculty in advance of the class, and the student’s absence will be excused.
- If a faculty member believes it unsafe or untenable, they may convert the class to an online structure, but must contact students at least two hours before the class start time if they choose to do so and must inform their Department Chair/Program Director.
Final Exams:
During final examination week, a delayed opening means that the first exam of the day is cancelled. It will be rescheduled in an appropriate manner. If weather conditions make it impossible for a student to come to campus for an exam, they should contact the professor in advance of the scheduled exam to explain the situation and to schedule a make-up examination. At the CWSL, students should contact the registrar.
Syllabus Updates:
Instructors should make it clear to students if assignment due dates will be changed based on a school delay or closure.
Additional Notes:
- The Fitzpatrick College of Nursing has a special procedure for the closing of its clinical practicum courses; the procedure may be obtained from the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. All other Nursing courses are subject to the standard University schedule, above.
- For information concerning the Executive MBA Program, contact the EMBA office directly or visit the EMBA website.
- For information concerning courses offered on weekends and at off-site locations by the College of Professional Studies (CPS), visit the “CPS Inclement Weather Policies.”
- Classes and workshops on Friday evening and Saturday, offered by the Villanova School of Business, the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, will be held as scheduled unless the instructor has notified the students otherwise.
- Library hours of operation will be posted on their website.
- Please also review the Human Resources “Emergency Closure Policy.”
Procedure
The announcement concerning closing or delayed opening normally is made via VU Weather Alert, University email and the University website.
In the case of an announced delayed opening, if the situation should worsen and if a subsequent decision is made to cancel classes and close the University, a closing announcement normally would be made by 8:30 a.m. Villanova faculty, staff and students are therefore advised to recheck the announcements until 8:30 a.m., before departing for school.
Evening class closure announcements will be made in the same manner, normally before 2 p.m.
Recommended by Academic Policy Committee, November 15, 2021.
Updated by Council of Deans November 17, 2021.
Approved by Provost, November 17, 2021.
Approved by President, November 18, 2021
Technical Corrections; February 16, 2026.