POLICY 06:15:00

HOLIDAY, ADMINISTRATIVE AND EMERGENCY CLOSINGS

The purpose of this policy is to establish the criteria and process regarding holiday observance at Pellissippi State Community College as governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

This policy is consistent with Tennessee Board of Regents Policy 5:01:01:10 and 5:01:01:11.

1. Holidays
   1. Observed Holidays
      1. Pellissippi State, under the governance of the Tennessee Board of Regents, will observe a maximum of eight holidays per year and six additional administrative closing days as specified in TBR Policy 5:01:01:11. The following days shall be designated as official holidays:
         1. New Year’s Day
         2. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
         3. Memorial Day
         4. Juneteenth
         5. Independence Day
         6. Labor Day
         7. Thanksgiving Day
         8. Christmas Day
      2. When a recognized holiday falls on Saturday, the Friday preceding the holiday shall be substituted. This includes New Year’s Day and can result in December 31st of the previous calendar year being substituted.
      3. When a recognized Holiday falls on Sunday, the Monday following the holiday shall be substituted.
      4. Where work schedules or duties make it necessary for an employee to work on a holiday, a corresponding amount of time off shall be granted.
      5. The College shall hold an observance for Veterans’ Day on or near the day recognized as a national day of observance.
         1. Students, faculty, and staff who are veterans shall be afforded the opportunity to participate in the campus observances without adverse action or absence.
         2. Employees who are veterans shall be permitted to use annual leave to observe Veterans’ Day, or if they do not have sufficient annual leave, to observe Veterans’ Day as an unpaid holiday. The veteran employee must provide at least one month’s notice. The College may deny a request for time off if the veterans employee’s absence, either alone or in combination with other veteran employee absences, will negatively impact public safety or cause significant operational disruption.
   2. Holiday Eligibility
      1. All regular full-time and regular part-time employees in an active pay status will qualify for holiday pay for the days listed above. Regular part-time employees receive the holiday benefit on a pro rata basis.
      2. The following provisions apply:
         1. Employees who are in an active pay status on the work days immediately preceding and following a holiday will receive payment for the holiday.
         2. Any holiday falling within a period of an employee’s sick, annual, or other leave with pay shall be considered holiday leave and recorded as such.
   3. Holiday ExceptionsAny exceptions to this policy shall be submitted to the College president and the Chancellor for approval.
2. Administrative Closing Days
   1. In addition to the eight holidays granted in TBR Policy 5:01:01:10, six administrative closing days shall be designated as time off from work with pay for regular full-time and part-time employees.
   2. Certain days, such as the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and those during the week of Christmas when classes are not in session, may be designated as days of administrative closing each year by the president, with the approval of the Chancellor.
3. Emergency Closings
   1. Color Alert System Implementation:
      1. Green Alert: Normal operations at all campuses
         1. All campuses are operating normally.
         2. Regular schedules for all employees and students.
      2. Yellow Alert: Caution – Potential for closures or delays
         1. Employees and students should monitor official college communications.
         2. Prepare for possible transition to remote work/learning.
      3. Orange Alert: Partial closure – some campuses are closed or operating on modified schedules.
         1. Specific campus status will be clearly communicated.
         2. Remote/work learning is in effect for closed campuses.
         3. Essential workers report as directed for affected campuses.
      4. Red Alert: Full closure – All campuses affected
         1. All campuses are closed.
         2. Remote work/learning is in effect for all capable employees and students.
         3. Only designated essential personnel report to campuses.
   2. Communication Protocol: The alert level and specific campus statuses will be communicated through official college channels, including email, text alerts, and the college website. Messages will clearly state which campuses are affected and any specific instructions for each location.
   3. Essential Workers are defined as employees whose roles are critical for maintaining core operations, ensuring campus safety, and supporting student needs during emergencies or closures. During Orange and Red alerts, essential workers may be required to report to their respective campuses as directed by college leadership.
      1. Essential workers typically include, but are not limited to:
         1. Facilities management personnel responsible for securing and maintaining campus buildings and infrastructure.
         2. Student-facing staff who provide crucial services to students, even during closures.
         3. Teaching faculty, particularly those whose courses cannot easily transition to remote learning.
         4. Staff members required to work during declared times of closing, as determined by the college president (e.g., IT support/HelpDesk, campus police, emergency response team, communications teams, payroll and human resources, etc.).
   4. Remote Employees: All employees with remote work capabilities/college-issued equipment are expected to continue work during emergency closings (Orange and Red alerts), regardless of the alert level and their campus location.
   5. Contract employees are not expected to work during emergency closings unless explicitly authorized by Information Technology to use personal equipment. This information will be communicated to the employees by the respective supervisor.
   6. Decision-Making Process
      1. The president of the College is the only Pellissippi State employee with the authority to close the College. The president’s decision regarding inclement weather closing applies to all locations and teaching sites. Other emergency situations may be campus specific.
      2. Payroll and Human Resources departments should be consulted regarding all emergency close decisions to ensure proper handling of employee compensation and leave.
      3. The alert level will be communicated through official channels spearheaded by Marketing & Communications (including but not limited to email, texts, alerts, the college website, etc.).
   7. Leave and Compensation
      1. Employees previously approved for leave during an emergency closing will be charged the appropriate leave.
      2. For partial closings or delayed openings, leave will be charged only for the hours the college is officially open.
      3. Essential workers required to work during closings will be granted corresponding time off at a later date.
      4. Faculty on academic contracts will not be required to meet campus hours or to take leave when classes are cancelled due to inclement weather.

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Approved: Executive Council, October 12, 1992
Approved: Executive Council, April 12, 1993
Editorial changes, April 23, 1993
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, February 1, 2000
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, October 22, 2001
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, February 11, 2002
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Staff, March 26, 2007
Approved: President Allen G. Edwards, March 26, 2007
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, June 25, 2012
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., June 25, 2012
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, March 31, 2014
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., March 31, 2014
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, September 9, 2019
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., September 9, 2019
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, March 27, 2023
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., March 27, 2023
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, November 27, 2023
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., November 27, 2023
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., November 25, 2024