UPDATE

While the snow and sleet have moved out of the area, we are dealing with the aftermath of the winter storm. Crews across campus have made significant progress clearing roads, parking lots, and walkways, and we are beginning a gradual return to normal campus operations. We expect to fully resume normal operations by Tuesday at 7 a.m., with a few temporary modifications intended to give our staff colleagues the time and space needed to continue clearing snow and ice on campus.

Academic and Work Operations

In-person classes will resume on Tuesday, though individual faculty members will make decisions about their classes based on their circumstances. We ask faculty to communicate any schedule changes directly with their students as needed.

Staff members in areas such as Dining, Environmental Services, Public Safety, and other areas that provide essential services should report to work this evening or tomorrow morning as scheduled. Supervisors will be in direct contact with those individuals and can answer any questions you have. 

Campus Conditions, Parking, and Remote Work

We expect some melting and refreezing to happen throughout the day today. Crews will continue clearing snow and ice from campus, but please use caution as you move around campus today and throughout the week, as slick spots will remain. 

Parking on campus will remain limited on Tuesday due to large snow piles and challenges caused by vehicles that were not removed before the storm. Given these constraints, staff members who can work remotely should continue to do so on Tuesday, if at all possible. This will help reduce the number of vehicles on campus and give crews additional time and space to safely clear parking areas. Staff with scheduling questions should coordinate directly with their supervisors.

If your work requires you to come to campus, please consider carpooling or using public transportation. Anyone driving to campus should avoid parking in either the Ben West Lot or the Field House Lot. These lots have the most snow to remove, and having vehicles parked there makes that work much more challenging. If you have to drive to campus, please use one of the following parking lots:

• Whittier Lot (front and back sections)
• Water Tower Lot
• 101 S. Chester Road Lot

Transportation and Facilities Hours

The Garnet Shuttle will resume service at 4 p.m. today (Monday) until 10 p.m. tonight and will resume regular hours starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The Tri-Co Van is not expected to resume until Tuesday; please check the Tri-Co Van for updated information.

The Swarthmore Dash remains the best source for current hours for offices, dining locations, and athletic facilities.

Ongoing Impacts

Even as we return to normal operations, there may be lingering disruptions across the region. We appreciate everyone’s understanding, flexibility, and cooperation as conditions continue to improve.

Thank You to Our Campus Teams

We extend our sincere thanks to the teams from Public Safety, Grounds, Facilities, Environmental Services, Dining, and everyone else who worked throughout the storm to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community. Their sustained efforts to clear snow and ice, keep essential services running, and support students on campus have been extraordinary.

Thank you again for your patience and care for one another.

=============================================

January 23, 2026 1:30 p.m

We are closely monitoring the forecast for a significant winter storm, which is expected to begin early Sunday morning, and continue into Monday. Current predictions call for heavy snowfall with possible sleet and freezing rain, very cold temperatures, and breezy conditions that may lead to ongoing icy conditions on and around campus. In the interest of the health and safety of the campus community, including our staff members who will be working to clear campus roads and walkways, the campus will move to dramatically reduced operations effective Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10 p.m.

• Severe winter storm expected beginning early Sunday and continuing into Monday, with snow, ice, winds, and frigid temperatures.
• Campus will move to dramatically reduced operations starting Saturday, Jan. 24, at 10 p.m.
• All Sunday campus events are canceled; faculty, staff, and visitor parking lots close Saturday at 10 p.m. and must be cleared.
• Essential services will remain available, though some operations may be disrupted; shuttle service is expected to be suspended during the storm.
• Classes on Sunday and Monday will be remote or canceled/postponed. Staff not performing essential services should plan to work remotely if possible, with administrative pay for those unable to do so.
• Snowy, icy conditions are likely to persist into the week. Limit your time outdoors and use caution as you move around campus.

More Details

Essential Services & Access to Campus

In addition to our Facilities and Grounds crews working to clear the campus of snow and ice, we will maintain certain essential services throughout the weekend, such as Public Safety, limited EVS services, and Dining. Please be aware that weather conditions may disrupt some of these operations throughout the storm and even in its immediate aftermath. 

All campus events scheduled for Sunday have been canceled. Faculty, staff, and visitor parking lots will close on Saturday at 10 p.m. If you’re parked in one of these lots, please move your vehicle by Saturday night to ensure our workers can safely clear the area. Vehicles left in a lot designated for faculty, staff, and/or visitors may be towed. (Please note that the College is not responsible for damage to vehicles that remain parked in these locations after Saturday at 10 p.m.)

The libraries will also be closed on Sunday and possibly Monday, depending on the severity of the storm. Please check the website for updated hours. 

Classes & On-Campus Work

All Sunday and Monday classes should either be held remotely or, if that’s not possible, cancelled/rescheduled. We appreciate the burden this places on faculty and students, but we expect the conditions on Monday, both on campus and throughout the region, to remain unsafe. Faculty members with questions should contact the Provost’s Office at provost@swarthmore.edu. 

If you are a staff member who typically works on a hybrid basis, please bring your laptops and other necessary work materials home today (Friday) and be prepared to work remotely on Monday. Staff who do not normally work remotely should check with their supervisors about their ability to do so. If you are a staff member who cannot work remotely but you’re not part of the team providing the essential services described above, and you are scheduled to work on Monday, please do not come to campus. You will receive administrative pay. If you have questions about pay during periods of reduced operations like this, please contact payroll at payroll@swarthmore.edu.  

Shuttle Services

We anticipate suspending campus shuttle services on Saturday at midnight during the heaviest parts of the storm. Our goal is to resume some shuttle services by Monday at 2 p.m., though doing so will depend on the conditions at the time. Students with emergency transportation needs should contact Public Safety at 610-328-8333.  

The TriCo Shuttle will suspend service from Swarthmore after 10:30 p.m. Saturday night through at least Monday afternoon. Check the TriCo Transit Network App or the TriCo Van website for updated schedule information. 

Student Support & General Health and Safety

The expected combination of snow, ice, wind, and frigid temperatures poses numerous health and safety challenges. Severe weather events like this often strain emergency services across the region, so first responders may be slower to respond. As such, we urge you to exercise caution and good judgment during the storm and refrain from participating in activities that could increase your risk of getting injured. 

When the temperature is below 15 degrees, you should limit your time outside to no more than 30 minutes at a time. We plan to keep the Lamb-Miller Field House, Matchbox, and Ware Pool open so students can get some physical activity without being outside for long periods. Visit the Dash for all up-to-date building hours.  

Crews will work throughout the storm to make the grounds as safe as possible. However, given the snowy, windy, freezing conditions, we expect snow and ice to remain an issue on campus walkways and roads throughout the day on Monday and into the week. Please use caution as you move about campus.

Students needing after-hours, non-health-related support may contact Public Safety at 610-328-8333 (emergency) or 610-328-8281 (non-emergency). Students who need mental or physical health consultations can contact CAPS on call at 610-328-7768 or the Student Health’s Team Nurse On Call at 610-328-8548. Students also have 24/7 access to non-emergency mental health support through Timely Care. 

Finding Updates

For continued updates on the College’s operations, please check your work email, visit swarthmore.edu, or call the College’s weather and emergency hotline at 610-328-8228. We will continue to update information as conditions change. Environmental Services staff should call their department hotline for role-specific guidance.

We also encourage you to download the SwatSafe app, which the College uses to send weather and emergency notifications directly to your phone.

Thank you all for planning ahead and for your flexibility as we prepare for the coming weather. Your understanding and cooperation will help us navigate this storm as effectively and safely as possible.