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                        JeffNEWS, December 13, 1994
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Jefferson Is Prepared . . . New Weather Emergency Policy in Place
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Last winter's extraordinary weather conditions presented seemingly 
endless challenges for the University, its faculty, employees and students.

"Despite these difficulties, the exceptional cooperation of all 
Jeffersonians enabled us to maintain essential operations," said John P. 
Sullivan, associate vice president for human resources.

"At the same time, that experience indicated the advisability of 
reviewing the University's weather emergency policy to ensure that it meets 
the needs of the institution and the understandable concerns of our 
personnel," Mr. Sullivan said.

As a result of that review process, several changes have been approved 
by the president and senior officers, including the following:

   o Declaration of a weather emergency will now be made on a 
     Universitywide basis, rather than on a division-by-division basis.

   o The distinction between "designated" and "nondesignated" personnel 
     will be maintained, but the policy of classifying all Health Services 
     Division staff as designated personnel will be discontinued. Faculty and 
     employees in all divisions will be "designated" by their department heads 
     according to appropriate criteria.

Designated personnel are required to report in the event of a declared 
weather emergency; nondesignated personnel, while expected to make every 
effort to report as scheduled, may use a vacation or personal day if 
transportation or other weather-related problems result in lost time during 
a weather emergency.

   o Absences of designated personnel during weather emergencies continue 
     to be without pay, but will no longer be charged to an employee's lost-
     time rate under the attendance policy. 

   o A toll-free University hotline, 1-800-858-8806, will provide complete 
     Weather Emergency information including a menu-routing option with
     specific details for each division.

   o Developing weather, highway or transit conditions will be monitored 
     throughout the workday by the human resources department, and this 
     information is available to any member of the Jefferson community by 
     calling 8062.

   o The revised policy is also applicable to students, who can obtain 
     class schedule information from the hotline. The decision regarding 
     cancellation of classes will be made by the dean of each academic
     division. Scheduled classes will be held for MD and PhD students
     regardless of weather conditions. All third- and fourth-year medical
     students are expected to report for their scheduled clinical assignments.

Anyone with questions about the policy may contact the office of 
employee relations at 7758.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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