WMU News

WMU News
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400

How to find out if WMU is closed

Contact: Tonya Durlach
February 8, 2018
Picture of a yellow triangle with a red outline, a red exclamation point and the word alert in red.
Click this logo in GoWMU to register your phone number in the WMU Alert system.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—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 four ways:

  • Go to wmich.edu
    Closing announcements will be posted on the WMU home page and additional information will be posted in WMU News as it becomes available. Refresh webpages to see the most recent version.
  • Call (269) 387-1001
    Closing announcements will be available on the emergency information line.
  • Check radio and TV
    Area radio and television stations are notified as soon as a decision is made to close the University.
  • WMU Alert
    Subscribers to the WMU Alert system will receive notification of a closure via phone call, text message or both, depending on the delivery options chosen at sign-up. In addition, all students and faculty and staff members will receive an email notice.

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

When the University's campuses in Kalamazoo close, the WMU-Battle Creek regional location as well as the College of Aviation in Battle Creek also close. The status of the University's six other regional locations will vary due to conditions in their individual areas.

To learn about regional location closures, visit the Extended University Programs webpage at wmich.edu/extended.

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 and 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.
  • 2013, Jan. 31—Snow and icy conditions closed WMU.
  • 2014, Jan. 6-7—Significant snowfall and severely cold temperatures prompted many Michigan colleges to close. The closure delayed the start of spring semester.
  • 2014, Jan. 27—WMU closed due to cold weather and blowing snow.
  • 2014, Nov. 18—Heavy snowfall closed WMU.
  • 2015, Feb. 2—A widespread snowstorm closed WMU and many others schools around the state.
  • 2016, Feb. 25—A heavy snowfall closed WMU for the day.

To review the WMU Closure Policy, visit wmich.edu/policies/closure-policy.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.