Utility Outages

University Policy: 
708
Executive Summary: 

Circumstances beyond University control, such as lightning and other inclement weather, may cause partial or total utility outages on the campus. However, where routine maintenance, repairs, or new system connections are planned, an announcement of the scheduled outage will be distributed in advance by the Physical Plant.

Because of circumstances beyond its control, the University may expect occasional partial or total utility outages originating from causes both on and off the campus. While lightning and other inclement weather conditions contribute to many outages, various equipment and distribution system failures account for the greater percentage. Under such unpredictable circumstances, planning for outages is not possible. Where routine maintenance, repairs, or new system connections are planned, schedules will be developed, and "Campus News" announcements, memoranda and/or telephone notifications will be issued by the Physical Plant Department. Where emergency maintenance or repairs are required, only telephone notifications will be provided.

Procedure

  1. Under circumstances allowing for scheduling, the Physical Plant Department, after appropriate coordination and advance consultation, will provide notification by way of the "Campus News" and memoranda if the outage is extensive. Memorandum notification and/or telephone follow-ups will be made should the outage be limited to relatively few buildings. Elevators will be cleared and placed out of service by the Physical Plant Department before the outage is initiated.
  2. Where non-scheduled emergency outages are required in the interest of saving life, protecting University property, or restoration of service in the shortest possible time, the Physical Plant Department will notify key offices of affected buildings by telephone. Elevators will be cleared and placed out of service by the Physical Plant Department before the outage is initiated.
  3. Offices notified, whether by an announcement in the "Campus News," memoranda or telephone, are responsible for further notification of their organizational units until all concerned have been advised, as outlined on the attached chart.

Internal organization notification procedures and responsibilities are to be established by all key offices identified in this Policy and their respective departments, periodically updated, and executed immediately upon notification of an impending outage.

  1. Key offices:
  • Chancellor
  • Provost
  • Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs
  • Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
  • Vice Chancellor for Research and Public Service
  • Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
  • College of Architecture
  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business Administration
  • College of Education and Allied Professions
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Health and Human Services
  • Computing Services
  • Cone Center

Notification Procedures

Type of Outage Extent Notification by Physical Plant Subsequent Notification by others Scheduled More than five buildings "Campus News" and memoranda Key offices to departments; departments to faculty and staff Scheduled Five buildings or less Memoranda/telephone to affected departments Departments to faculty and staff Emergency (Time for notification is limited) More than five buildings Telephone only to key offices Key offices to departments; departments to faculty and staff Emergency  (Time for notification is limited) Five buildings or less Telephone only to affected department offices Departments to faculty and staff Emergency - Immediate outage Undefined When the problem is identified, and repair time can be estimated, telephone calls to affected key offices if outage affects more than five buildings... to departments if outage affects five or less buildings Key offices to departments; departments to faculty and staff

 

Revision History: 
  • Initially approved July 8, 1985
  • Revised December 10, 2002
  • Updated January 31, 2011

Authority: Chancellor

Responsible Office: Business Affairs