When forecasts in late January indicated UTD would be hit by a snowstorm, I was initially not too phased: I’ve survived far worse chills. Then I remembered I go to UTD. Suddenly, the fear of days-long blackouts and seemingly constant construction operations felt soul-crushing.
Thankfully, my fears were proven wrong. The last week of January’s freeze, sometimes referred to as Winter Storm Fern, and the subsequent handling of building closures have been a pleasant surprise. It’s rare that we stop to appreciate the beneficial work that administrators commit to on a day-to-day basis, but even as we acknowledge their missteps, it is just as important to affirm the times when they walk in the right direction.
As easy as it might be to think back on this week as just a couple days off class, the stakes were deadly. At least four teenage North Texans died. Our sense of safety is a privilege, and in this case, its preservation on campus should be recognized and rewarded.
Three aspects made UTD’s snow week successful: transparency, contingency and caution. Each ought to become a mainstay in administration’s playbook.
Transparency
UTD’s first main announcement was sent at 9:54 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, announcing that in-person activities would be suspended after 5 p.m. that evening. Whatever your opinion is about the validity of closing campus, the messaging here was crucial: it prepared students for open communication by promising to make “a decision about Monday’s classes and activities … no later than 3 p.m. Sunday.”
This open communication and deliberate transparency is the kind of comforting correspondence students and parents need to inform how they will react to an ongoing situation. Though it may seem minor, promises — like the ones made and kept during the freeze — provide stability during a potentially dangerous and changing set of circumstances.
The most important kind of transparency came in the months following Winter Storm Fern, as UTD explained the extent of its damage through email correspondences and a virtual town hall. On Feb. 16, UTD’s open forum answered questions submitted by individuals in advance and during the call.
Many of the questions were emotionally charged, and I understand why. I know that for many researchers, the damage to their spaces is irreparable, physically and emotionally. But the openness on the part of administrators to admit fault and address the situation in a transparent manner is deeply respectful of their role. This is the sort of communication that must continue in the wake of increasing construction and the resulting disturbances.
Contingency
I do not know what internal meetings were held to deal with Winter Storm Fern, but nevertheless, it is abundantly clear that UTD administration held meetings and planned accordingly.
UTD’s handling of meals during this process demonstrated an immense amount of planning. During the week when most buildings were closed, Dining Hall West’s inclement weather operating schedule allowed students to get food within walking distance two days earlier than when general operations resumed. That didn’t happen because a miracle struck the dining hall building and staff. It happened because of a well-operated contingency plan to keep students fed.
I know UTD’s administrators have contingency plans for other generic circumstances — I’ve taken enough online institutional compliance courses to vouch for the plans on the books — but these plans are not static. They should be flexible enough to account for new and changing circumstances, and when we aren’t in crisis mode, they must be updated with a forward-looking eye.
I am, however, unsure that these plans will be updated using the shared voices of all parties present on campus. With much of faculty governance killed following President Moghe’s entrance to UTD, it is professors’ insight on these crucial issues that will continue to be eroded. Contingency requires consensus.
Caution
During the week of canceled classes, I listened to multiple of my fellow students complain about being unable to return to in-person classes, even as the snow melted. Reasonably, students wanted to get the experience they paid for. Still, students’ safety should come first in a crisis.
On Saturday, Jan. 24, UTD proactively canceled classes set to be held Monday, Jan. 26. This was an easy judgement to make. Students need not endanger their lives travelling to a campus, possibly without power, for a class that could be held online. Still, the fact that UTD recognized and communicated that ahead of time is important and likely prevented a tragedy.
Furthermore, the communication was short and deliberate: “Classes will not be held in person Monday.” For tired and anxious students and staff, there’s not much more that we could have asked for.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we have made it through winter, lest Punxsutawney Phil doubles down this year. Unfortunately, UTD will undoubtedly have more crises in the future. But when it does, it should look back to Winter Storm Fern as a model for how to address them.