In the event it becomes necessary to
close the University because of an emergency or extraordinary
event, such as severe weather, notice of such a closing or a
delayed opening will be available to the University community
through several sources:
- A toll-free number, 1-888-STJ-2499, will carry detailed
information. Please do not call the Office of Public Safety on any
of the St. John’s campuses, as these calls tie up the lines for
safety emergencies.
- The St. John's Web site News
section will carry a written notice with the same information
provided by the 1-800 number given above.
- Area television and radio stations will include St. John’s in
their listing of school closings and delayed openings. These
include WINS 1010 AM and WCBS 880 AM, which make recurring
announcements throughout the day, usually beginning around 5
a.m.
- Text and voice messaging may be employed in case of an
emergency on or around one or more St. John’s campuses.
- Should the decision to close the University occur during the
work/school day, other means of communication may also be used.
These include the Audix phone system, email and the campus digital
signage.
Many have asked how the decision to close the University is
made. During periods of inclement weather, the process to decide
whether to close begins early in the morning. At about 4:30 a.m.,
Denise Vencak, Executive Director of Public Safety and Risk
Management, consults with representatives at each campus to assess
conditions.
That information is communicated to Dr. Julia Upton, Provost,
and Dr. James Pellow, at about 5:00 a.m. Dr. Upton and Dr.
Pellow then consult on the conditions, the forecast and the various
academic activities that are scheduled on our campuses for the day.
A decision is reached, typically, between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m.
(although winter storms are rarely typical!) If the University is
closing, that decision is forwarded to Dominic Scianna, Director of
Media Relations, for public dissemination in local media, on www.stjohns.edu, and 1-888-STJ-2499.
If the emergency or event occurs during business hours, Dr.
Upton and Dr. Pellow consult with their division leaders, Deans and
Vice Presidents, and decide on the best time to close based on
class schedules, exams and other scheduled University
functions.
Questions, please contact:
Todd Heilman
Executive Director-Customer Relationship Mgmt
Customer Service Center
(718) 990-5061