Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Policy statement. As a comprehensive
university with a resident student community, Youngstown state university
(university) must maintain certain essential functions and
services regardless of whether the university, or a portion of the university,
has been closed due to inclement weather or other extraordinary circumstances.
When unscheduled leave is in effect, nonessential employees may elect to work
or take accrued leave or leave without pay. Under unscheduled leave, employees
are not required to provide usual advance notice when they have determined
travel to or remaining on campus may reasonably jeopardize their
safety.
(B) Purpose. To provide
consistent guidelines and procedures for employees and students to follow when
an emergency situation necessitates the declaration of unscheduled
leave.
(C) Scope. This policy
applies to all employees, including student employees and students of the
university, with the exception of employees deemed to be essential
employees.
(D) Definitions.
(1)
"Unscheduled leave" - accrued
leave that nonessential university employees may take in the event of
extreme weather or similar emergency circumstances which prevents them from
reporting to or continuing work as usual. Sick leave
cannot be utilized for unscheduled leave unless the absence meets the
university criteria for use of sick leave.
(2)
"Essential function or
service - a function or service designated as indispensable to the
continued and safe operation of the university. Essential functions and
services include but are not limited to snow removal, public safety,
telecommunications, environmental, student residence, and food services.
Essential functions and services may vary depending on circumstances.
(3)
"Essential employee - an
employee whose presence is required regardless of the existence of an emergency
and whose absence from duty could endanger the safety and/or well-being of the
campus population and/or physical plant.
(E) Parameters.
(1) The use of unscheduled leave is only
available when the president, or his/her designee, has invoked the unscheduled
leave policy.
(2)
Supervisors will
specifically notify essential personnel when they are required to report for
work during a period of unscheduled leave. Notification requiring an employee
to report to work is based on the specific emergency circumstances and the
function or service designated as essential under theses emergency
circumstances.
(3)
Individuals utilizing unscheduled leave do not need to request and have leave
preapproved; however, they are responsible for notifying their supervisor, or
in the case of students, their instructor, when they intend to take leave or be
absent from class.
(4) The type of
leave taken must be consistent with other university policies and/or bargaining
unit agreements. Employees may not use sick leave for an unscheduled leave
absence unless the absence meets the criteria established for sick leave by
their bargaining unit agreement or other board of trustees' policy.
(5) Leave without pay may only be utilized if
the employee has no other appropriate leave time available.
(6) This policy may be invoked for the entire
campus, only certain buildings or areas of campus, for an entire day(s) or
portion of a day(s).
(7) This
policy may be invoked when the university is operating in "classes cancelled"
status.
(F) Procedures.
(1) The president, or his/her designee, has
the authority to invoke this policy. The decision to invoke this policy will be
communicated to the campus community via normal electronic media.
(2) Supervisors will establish reasonable
procedures for nonessential employees to follow to notify their departments if
unscheduled leave is taken.
(3) All
leave taken must be reported and approved on either the bi-weekly time sheet or
the semi-monthly leave report as applicable.
(4) Faculty members seeking to cancel classes
during declared unscheduled leave must follow their department
procedures.
(G) Policy
violation. Employees who fail to adhere to the requirements of this policy
without sufficient justification, will be subject to appropriate disciplinary
action.
(H) Students. Students
should consult course syllabi and the university's e-bulletin for procedures regarding absence from
class.
