How to find out if WMU is closed

Contact: Cheryl Roland
Photo of WMU is open sign.

Always assume WMU is open

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University will immediately announce closings due to severe weather or emergency conditions. Assume the University is open and will continue normal operation unless notified in one of three ways.

1. Go to www.wmich.edu

Closing announcements will be posted immediately on the WMU home page and additional information will be posted in WMU News as it becomes available. Refresh Web pages to see the most-recent version.

2. Call (269) 387-1001

Closing announcements will be available on the emergency information line.

3. Check radio and TV

Area radio and television stations are notified as soon as a decision is made to close WMU.

WMU Alert will not be used to announce weather closings. The University's emergency telephone alert system is reserved for situations of extreme, imminent danger. Closing announcements are not made by email or posted in Facebook. A secondary notice will be posted as a GoWMU Campus Announcement, but only after the primary notification has been made via the WMU home page, emergency information line and public media.

Assume WMU is open

In the absence of notification via one of the methods listed, all normal operations will continue as scheduled. University closings due to severe weather or other conditions are rare.

Regional locations

Closure of the main campus always includes the Parkview Campus, College of Aviation and WMU-Battle Creek. Other regional locations may be open or closed and regional-location closings will not be posted on the main University Web pages or emergency information line.

Regional locations in Benton Harbor, Lansing, Muskegon and Traverse City will mirror the decision of their partner community college. Decisions about closing the two locations in Grand Rapids and WMU-Metro Detroit will be made separately from the decision to close the main campus. Visit the location's website or call its office to determine if the facility is open or closed.

Weather-related WMU closings since 1999

1999, Jan. 4-5--Heavy snowfall delayed the start of spring semester.

2000, Nov. 21-22--Thanksgiving recess began Tuesday because of snow.

2006, Dec. 1--An ice storm downed trees, caused power outages.

2007, Feb. 5--Extreme cold and snow closed many Michigan colleges.

2008, Feb. 1--WMU closed due to snow.

2009, Dec. 10--Blizzard conditions closed WMU.

2011, Feb. 2--Blizzard conditions closed WMU.

University Policy for Closures