Story by Michelle Mason

Dan Joe, an NMSU lifeguard, was still working hard despite many other campuses and schools being delayed or closed due to inclement weather on Dec. 1. (Photo by Michelle Mason)

Winter and December arrived hand in hand on the first day of the month. Temperatures dropped as low as 33 degrees with rain and snow icing over roads and sidewalks. Many campuses closed down due to the icy weather, while NMSU’s main campus remained operating normal business hours.

The NMSU Alamogordo and Dona Ana Community College at Gadsden and Sunland Park campuses were delayed while the Carlsbad campus was closed all day. Las Cruces Public Schools were also delayed for two hours.

Who decides delays or closures

There are many aspects to take into account when deciding whether a campus should remain open or close due to weather conditions, said Benjamin Woods, NMSU senior vice president of planning.

Woods, who makes the decisions of delaying or closing down campus due to inclement weather, explains  these considerations.

“The decisions are based upon what is the situation affecting the majority of our students, faculty and staff,” he said. “We recognize that there may be circumstances where individuals that commute an extended distance can be affected by a weather event outside the Las Cruces area.”

Information from the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Dona Ana County and City of Las Cruces on road closures also influence decisions of campus delays or closures.