Weather & Emergency Closures
Weather in Oklahoma can be unpredictable, particularly in the winter. Tulsa Community College makes every effort to keep campuses open and clear of ice, snow, and other impediments. However, there are times when weather, road, and other conditions require us to close or delay operations for the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and guests. This page will help you understand the process we use in announcing campus closures or delayed start times and how TCC leadership makes these decisions.
If you do not see a closure or delayed start notice on the TCC website, social media, or in your tulsacc.edu email, then TCC is open for normal business and class hours, except for previously announced holidays.
General Guidelines
Tulsa Community College will be closed if weather or other emergency situations are determined to threaten the security or safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Information considered by TCC Administration
TCC administration considers the following information when deciding whether to close campuses:
- The severity of anticipated weather to include forecasted accumulation amounts
- Tulsa-area higher education closure status
- TCC does not automatically close if local K-12 school districts close. K-12 students have different safety considerations than adults.
- Status of the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County offices and operations, including the operating status of Tulsa Transit
- Road conditions to and from TCC from within the city and surrounding areas, as well as road conditions on campus
- The condition of campus parking lots and sidewalks
- Assessments by TCC Emergency Management, Police, and Facilities teams of safety on campuses such as potential tree damage, power to buildings, and icy conditions
Assumption of Personal Risk and Responsibility
Whether inclement weather or other conditions exist on or around the TCC campuses, the assumption of risk is a decision each individual must make even if TCC remains open. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are responsible for their own safety and should use their best judgment about traveling to or from campus.
- Students should communicate with their instructor as soon as possible if they decide not to attend class due to inclement weather or other hazardous conditions.
- Faculty are encouraged to accommodate students who are unable to attend class due to inclement weather or other conditions. Students may be unable to reach campus due to unsafe driving conditions outside the Tulsa area.
- The staff has the responsibility to communicate with their supervisor if they deem conditions too unsafe to attempt to report for their shift.
Closing Decision Procedures
Ideally, a determination can be made by 9 p.m. the day prior to a weather event. However, due to the unpredictable nature of Oklahoma weather, assessments will often continue throughout the night. If advance notification is not possible, TCC will provide a public message by 5 a.m. on the morning of a closure via the following platforms:
- TCC Alerts (email and text only at 5 a.m.)
- Notices on the Tulsacc.edu website, Facebook, and Twitter
- Notification to local media outlets of TCC’s status (check your local news for “school closings”)
Note: Please ensure your communications preferences are up to date in TCC Alerts by logging in to MyTCC and clicking on the Safety and Wellness tab, or via our public TCC Alerts webpage.
Early Closings
Deteriorating conditions may prompt evaluation for early closing. The protocol is the same as outlined above. Depending upon the weather a decision to cancel afternoon or evening operations may be made throughout the day and will be communicated using the platforms listed above.