University of Iowa moves classes online for Friday’s extreme cold

IOWA CITY — With temperatures expected to fall to minus 20 on Friday — and wind chills dipping as low as 35 below zero — the University of Iowa has moved classes online, instructing faculty and staff to teach via Zoom or Teams instead of asking students to show up in person.

“Due to the extreme cold warning issued for our area, the University of Iowa will hold classes virtually on Friday, Jan. 23,” officials announced through a Hawk Alert on Thursday afternoon. “Instructors will hold their classes via Zoom or Teams, or, in rare circumstances, cancel class and cover material at a future date.”

UI offices and services will remain open and employees should report as scheduled — safety permitting — and communicate with a supervisor about specific needs.

“In all cases, we urge faculty, staff, and students to use good judgment and avoid serious risks during extreme weather conditions,” according to the alert, which advised organizers of non-academic events to either cancel or get approval to proceed from UI leadership.

Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa had not canceled or moved classes online Thursday afternoon.

Most of the state — including Iowa City, Ames, and Cedar Falls — is under an extreme cold warning from Thursday evening to noon Friday, with an extreme cold weather advisory persisting into Saturday.

Wind chills as low as minus 35 can cause frost bite on exposed skin in 10 minutes, according to the UI alert, which advised its community members to: limit time outdoors, stay indoors during the coldest periods, dress warmly and check the forecast regularly.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

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