Ice and Snow in the Forecast; Time to Update Contact Information for Weather Alerts

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Local weather forecasters are predicting a “wintery mix” of ice and snow in Northwest Arkansas on Thursday and Friday. This could mean classes at the University of Arkansas might be delayed or canceled, and that offices either could open late or be closed.

When university officials decide what action to take, the campus community will be notified by text, email and phone messages through the U of A inclement weather alert system. Email notices go to all students, faculty and staff automatically, and voice messages go to all office phones on campus. But to get text messages or recorded calls to your home or mobile phone, students, faculty and staff must sign up for them.

Students can do that by logging into ISIS, going to the “Personal Information” section and choosing “Campus Alert Systems” from the drop-down menu. They can then designate one phone number to receive text messages. It’s recommended that students check their accounts to make sure they’ve put a text number in the system, and that the number is correct and current. Students can also add as many as six phone numbers to receive voice messages – if, for example, a student has more than one phone, or wants other family members to get emergency messages. Phone messages are faster than email, but slower than text. However please remember: most inclement weather messages go out at about 5:30 a.m. It’s a good idea to get permission before adding numbers for a spouse or for parents who don’t live near the campus – so they aren’t surprised by the early morning calls.

Faculty and staff can check and update alert information through their BASIS accounts, using the “My Personal Data” section, and going to “Addresses, etc.” Faculty and staff can authorize up to three phone numbers for an inclement weather text or voice message alert.  

Additional help signing up phones for text or voice mail messages is available at razalert.uark.edu.

The U of A also posts inclement weather messages on its homepage, Facebook page and Twitter account. Messages are also available by calling the University of Arkansas Weather Hotline at 575-7000.

The university’s full inclement weather policy is available as a downloadable PDF document