Important reminders about winter weather and university closures 

The University of Prince Edward Island takes the safety and security of its students, faculty, staff, and the entire campus community very seriously.  

The decision to "close*" UPEI due to weather is not made lightly. However, in weather situations where the potential risk to UPEI’s students and employees as well as property, is high, the University may close, meaning that classes and exams are cancelled, and services are reduced.  

Here is some important information about how we communicate about storm/weather-related closures and things you should keep in mind about parking on campus when UPEI is closed.

How will I know if UPEI is closed?

UPEI uses several channels to communicate about university closures. These include:  

• A message on the home page of upei.ca
• An email via our mass notification system, UPEI SAFE, to all students, faculty, and staff to their upei.ca email account (learn more about UPEI SAFE  and how to download app from the App Store or Google Play to receive texts/push notifications to your mobile device)
• Media outlets (radio, TV, and print news websites) are informed and encouraged to share our status
• A message is placed on the UPEI Campus Closure and Alert Phone Line (902-894-2882)
• A message is placed on the UPEI Campus Screen network (there are screens in several buildings across campus).
• When will I know if UPEI has decided to delay opening or close?

When conditions develop outside of normal operating hours on weekdays, UPEI announcements to open, close, or delay will be normally issued no later than 6:30 am with updates at 10:00 am (re: 12 noon change in status) and/or 2:00 pm (re: 4:00 pm change in status). On Saturday or Sunday, the first announcement will be issued no later than 7:00 am.

If a decision to close the University is made during normal operating hours, it will be announced as soon as possible through the University’s various communications channels as outlined above. 

What about during exams?

The University considers the same factors when determining a closure or delay during the examination period. If there is a closure or delay impacting the exam schedule, revised information will be posted to the online exam schedule as soon as it is available. 

Will the UPEI reopen after a closure announcement is made?

When the conditions that caused the closure improve and no longer pose a danger to the University community or prevent the normal operation of the campus, UPEI may reopen all or parts of the campus. The change in status will be announced as soon as possible through the University’s various communications channels as outlined above.  

Winter Parking Restrictions

From November 1 to March 31, winter restrictions on overnight campus parking are in effect.  

Parking Lot “A” is the only lot where overnight parking is permitted for the winter season. Residents of Andrew Hall and Bernardine Hall may park overnight in the Andrew Hall lot or General Parking Lot B, provided that their vehicles are moved to Lot “A” during storm conditions and until plowing operations have been completed after a storm. 

If vehicles are left in any parking lot other than those specified above during storms or before snow removal is complete, they will be towed at the owner's expense. Facilities Management appreciates your co-operation to ensure parking lots are cleared safely. If you have any questions or concerns regarding winter parking, contact parking@upei.ca 
 
UPEI SAFE is the University’s safety app and mass notification system, which helps UPEI advise the campus community about university/storm closures and emergencies, as well as other safety-related notifications. Download the app now for free!

 

 

If you have questions about UPEI SAFE  or need assistance downloading the app, please contact: 

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment 
hse@upei.ca 
902-566-0901 

For more information, email communications@upei.ca