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Inclement Weather

Any change in operating status will be available from a recorded message at 276-964-2555, our social media profiles, text/email messages (signup on https://alert.sw.edu), and TV station (WCYB, WJHL, WVVA) weather announcements.

    • Text/email status alert sent to those who are signed up with the Southwest Alert system at https://alert.sw.edu

    • Campus Switchboard at 276-964-2555, and Toll-Free in Service Region 800-822-7822 (recorded message).

    • TV – WCYB, WJHL & WVVA

*Link to appropriate county school site above to determine schedule changes if night classes are held at county high schools. If county schools are closed, there will be no classes at those sites. If the college is open, no matter what the county school situation is, evening classes will be held at the Bluefield Center, Lebanon Center, Southern Gap Transportation and Logistics Center, and the Booth Center.

OPERATING SCHEDULE OPTIONS

Closed: All classes and activities are cancelled, except for “critical functions” identified in the SWCC Continuity of Operations Plan.

  • Designated “essential” employees may be required to report to campus.
  • Any employee NOT requested to be on campus by their supervisor with their respective Vice President and President approval should NOT be on campus once it has been closed or before it reopens.
  • Athletic or community events are cancelled or postponed. Exceptions may be approved by the respective Vice-President, and the President, with the support of the Director of Operations and Chief of Campus Police.

2 Hour Delay: The college opens at 9:45am, and classes begin at 10:00am. Activities and events that begin later in the day or in the evening may be allowed to start as originally scheduled.

  • Employees should remain off campus until the college officially opens.
  • Designated “essential” employees may be required to report to campus.

In addition, a decision may be made to close campus early or cancel night classes if the weather situation worsens during the day. All employees with questions regarding their responsibilities and the operations schedule for the day should seek guidance from their supervisor.

Procedure

On days when inclement weather or other emergencies threaten area highway conditions, SWCC officials maintain close telephone contact with highway maintenance personnel, State Police, 4-County Transit bus drivers, and the College Administration. If, in the judgment of the College administration, conditions justify a decision to close or to operate on a late schedule, an announcement will be posted as soon as possible.

If the decision is made to close the College due to road conditions, where possible, the announcement will specify whether or not all classes – day, night, main campus, off-campus locations, off-campus school locations – are included.

Decisions made by SWCC may not be the same as those made by the county school system in which the student lives.

Students with individual transportation problems related to weather conditions should meet with instructors upon their return to SWCC to make up any work missed if classes were held.

Late Schedule

When the College operates on a late schedule, offices open at 9:45 AM, and classes meet as shown on the grid below beginning at 10:00 AM. On days when classes meet on a late schedule, buses will depart at 5:00 PM (Monday – Thursday).

 MON-WED CLASSES

PeriodREGULAR SCHEDULE LATE SCHEDULE
18:00- 9:1510:00-11:00
29:25-10:4011:10-12:10
310:50-12:0512:20-1:20
412:15-1:301:30-2:30
51:40-2:552:40-3:40
63:05-4:203:50-4:50
7*4:30-5:45*5:00-6:00

TUE-THUR CLASSES

PeriodREGULAR SCHEDULELATE SCHEDULE
18:00-9:1510-00-11:00
29:25 -10:4011:10-12:10
310:50-12:0512:20-1:20
Activity Period12:10-1:051:25 -1:55
4*1:10 -2:25*2:00 -3:00
52:35-3:503:10 – 4:10
64:00-5:154:20 – 5:20

Testing Center

When the College is on a late schedule, testing will begin at 10:00 am. If the College is closed for the day or closes early, please reschedule by contacting the Testing Center at ddl.testing@sw.edu or 276-964-7279.

Classes at high schools across the region

The decision to close or to go on a late schedule is based solely upon the inclement weather schedule decided upon by the individual school system.

Night Classes

The inclement weather schedule for night classes depends upon whether the classes are being held at an off-campus center or at a school location (see above).  If the decision is made to operate day classes on a late schedule, night classes will meet on a regular schedule unless otherwise announced. There is no late schedule for night classes – they will either begin at the regularly scheduled time or, if conditions require, will be canceled. If night classes are canceled only (conditions develop in the afternoon) the notice of night class cancellation will be posted as early in the afternoon as possible.

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All Locations: 2-Hour Delay on Monday, January 22, 2024.