Severe Weather Information
Change to Campus Operations for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026
Due to forecasted weather conditions, NIU will move to virtual operations from 4 to 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
Classes
Face-to-face classes scheduled before 10 a.m. should move to an online modality or cancel only if necessary.
- Faculty are responsible for notifying students of their decision via Blackboard/email.
- Faculty are asked to be flexible with attendance for students affected by weather conditions.
- Regular online classes will continue to meet as scheduled.
- Faculty always have the option to move an individual class session online.
Services and Offices
All services and offices will operate virtually until 10 a.m.
- Employees designated as essential service personnel, and who have been authorized and advised to report for duty on campus, are expected to do so.
- Employees who are not designated as essential service personnel should work remotely during the virtual operation time period. For details on working while the university is operating virtually, see the Human Resource Services website.
- Supervisors should be flexible and accommodate reasonable requests from students and employees affected by this operational change or the weather conditions.
During winter months, all students, faculty and staff are urged to use caution and personal judgment in their travels to and from campus and to dress appropriately for protection from cold temperatures and wind chills.
This page will be updated as necessary to provide the latest information in the event of a change in the university's operational status.
University Operations During Severe Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can develop, especially in winter months, that require the university to consider the status of operations. Factors considered include the impact of the weather forecast and maintenance of necessary services for our on-campus student population.
The decision to declare an emergency change to virtual campus operations (including classes moving to a virtual format) is a consultative process involving several administrative areas responsible for the safety and operations of the university. The provost finalizes decisions about class modality adjustments and presidential authorization is required for an emergency change to virtual campus operations or closure of the university.
- University Operations in Response to Severe Weather Conditions
- Change or Closure of University Operations Pay and Benefit Policy
- Essential Service Protocols
- Severe Weather Closure
Weather Notices
Changes in operational status will be posted on this page, which provides detailed information in the event of a change in operational status at any of the university’s campus locations.
Faculty are responsible for communicating with their students about the status of their classes.
Employees will be notified via their official NIU email address in the event of a change to virtual services, delayed start times, and/or weather emergency closures at the DeKalb, Naperville or Rockford campus locations.
Status of Specific Buildings/Services During Virtual Operations
The following are the normal operating hours of several campus units or services during situations when the campus is virtually open Please note that circumstances may require modifications to these hours.
| Campus Operation | Status |
|---|---|
| Athletics events | Check NIUHuskies.com |
| Campus events information | Check the NIU calendar for updates and contact |
| Buses | Operating on break service |
| Campus Rec Center | Closed |
| Elburn Shuttle | Operating on break service |
| Founders Memorial Library | Closed |
| Holmes Student Center | Closed |
| Residential Dining Services | Check Campus Dining Services |
| Retail and Catering Operations | Closed |
| Safe Walk | Huskie Patrol Safe Walk not operating. Safe walk feature in the NIU Safe App available 24/7. |
Winter Weather Advisories, Watches and Warnings
Check for current National Weather Service Winter Weather Watches, Warnings or Advisories for your location:
- NIU's Main Campus
(DeKalb County) - NIU-Naperville
(DuPage County) - NIU-Rockford
(Winnebago County)