Campus Alert Archive
Penn

Normal operations suspended the next day for inclement weather

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PAwinter stormadvisoryhigh confidence
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Penn issued a UPennAlert at 4:49 p.m. February 22 suspending normal operations for Monday, February 23 because of inclement weather, and said instructors could teach online without staff support.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
University of Pennsylvania
Private R1 · PA
All Penn cases →
~28,000 studentsUPennAlert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Penn says it will use UPennAlert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim2665 chars
Normal University operations are suspended for Monday, February 23, 2026, due to inclement weather. When University normal operations are suspended, employees are generally not expected to work unless they are designated essential. Instructors may choose to teach their course online tomorrow, synchronously or asynchronously, rather than rescheduling due to inclement weather. Instructors would need to inform students in their courses of their instructional plans, while allowing their students flexibility in case they are unable to participate remotely. Instructors choosing to teach must also be able to hold the class online without assistance from staff (since non-essential staff are not required to work). Thus, if staff support is needed, the instructor will be unable to teach their course virtually. Essential University staff for critical campus operations and life sustaining operations and all Health System physicians and staff are required to report to work at their regularly scheduled start time. Participants in academic clinical programs may also be expected to report, please confirm with your program administrator. Please exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus. If possible, utilize public transit if available. Please consult with your supervisor should you have any questions. With the prior approval of the Executive Vice President and Provost and advance notification to employees, fully online academic programs, executive format programs, and/or programs that operate from a different geographic location may follow different closing decisions. Check with your program administrator should you have any questions. For details, review the policy Suspension of Normal Operations (upenn.edu) University Resources: - Public Safety: All Public Safety resources remain available. - Penn Transit Services: Please monitor www.upenn.edu/PennTransit as well as the PennTransit Mobile app for service modifications. - Penn Parking: Patrons should visit www.upenn.edu/parking for up-to-date information during any weather emergency. - Student Health & Counseling: Visit the Wellness website for hours of operation: https://wellness.upenn.edu/student-health-and-counseling - Penn Mail: Penn Mail Services will be open. Any changes to operations will be posted at www.upenn.edu/mail. - Penn Dining: Visit the Penn Dining website for current information: https://dining.business-services.upenn.edu/ - Penn Libraries System: Visit the Penn Libraries website for hours and availability: https://www.library.upenn.edu - Penn Campus Recreation: Visit the recreation website for facility hours here: https://recreation.upenn.edu/
Verify this quote
UPennAlert archive: February 22 winter operations suspensionpublicsafety.upenn.edufind archived copies
Official UPennAlert archive 2026-09-21. sha256 ed47be8651f39ae18d2896e30f4683b5bd551609f66aeae8b86c1fd5e6df05fe. Dual-blind: archive-package open_page complete body plus r.jina.ai of the same URL recovering the same posted alert. curl/web_fetch Cloudflare challenge. Body is the posted alert text below the Date of Alert line. 'This alert is no longer active' chrome was not captured.
Distinct incident from 2026-01-25-university-of-pennsylvania-winter-operations-suspension and 2026-01-26-university-of-pennsylvania-winter-operations-suspension: February 23 close vs January 26/27 closes.
Distinct incident from 2021-09-01-university-of-pennsylvania-hurricane-ida-flooding: different date and winter operations suspension vs Ida flooding.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, SuperGrok Heavy 4.5 (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Normal University operations are suspended for Monday, February 23, 2026, due to inclement weather. When University normal operations are suspended, employees are generally not expected to work unless they are designated essential. Instructors may choose to teach their course online tomorrow, synchronously or asynchronously, rather than rescheduling due to inclement weather. Instructors would need to inform students in their courses of their instructional plans, while allowing their students flexibility in case they are unable to participate remotely. Instructors choosing to teach must also be able to hold the class online without assistance from staff (since non-essential staff are not required to work). Thus, if staff support is needed, the instructor will be unable to teach their course virtually. Essential University staff for critical campus operations and life sustaining operations and all Health System physicians and staff are required to report to work at their regularly scheduled start time. Participants in academic clinical programs may also be expected to report, please confirm with your program administrator. Please exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus. If possible, utilize public transit if available. Please consult with your supervisor should you have any questions. With the prior approval of the Executive Vice President and Provost and advance notification to employees, fully online academic programs, executive format programs, and/or programs that operate from a different geographic location may follow different closing decisions. Check with your program administrator should you have any questions. For details, review the policy Suspension of Normal Operations (upenn.edu) University Resources: - Public Safety: All Public Safety resources remain available. - Penn Transit Services: Please monitor www.upenn.edu/PennTransit as well as the PennTransit Mobile app for service modifications. - Penn Parking: Patrons should visit www.upenn.edu/parking for up-to-date information during any weather emergency. - Student Health & Counseling: Visit the Wellness website for hours of operation: https://wellness.upenn.edu/student-health-and-counseling - Penn Mail: Penn Mail Services will be open. Any changes to operations will be posted at www.upenn.edu/mail. - Penn Dining: Visit the Penn Dining website for current information: https://dining.business-services.upenn.edu/ - Penn Libraries System: Visit the Penn Libraries website for hours and availability: https://www.library.upenn.edu - Penn Campus Recreation: Visit the recreation website for facility hours here: https://recreation.upenn.edu/

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the University names itself and Penn units such as Public Safety plus upenn.edu identify the issuer.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: The message names the University and Penn units such as Public Safety and Penn Transit, plus upenn.edu, identifying the issuer.
    2. present: The University names itself throughout, and University Resources cite Public Safety and upenn.edu, identifying the issuer.
    3. present: Penn branding and upenn.edu plus repeated "University" naming identify the issuing institution.
    4. present: The text names "University" operations and Penn units such as Public Safety and upenn.edu, identifying the institution.
    5. present: The text names University operations, Public Safety, and Penn units with upenn.edu, identifying the institution as the source.
    6. present: The text names the University and Public Safety and points to upenn.edu, identifying the issuing institution.
    7. present: The University names itself and cites Penn units such as Public Safety and upenn.edu, identifying the issuing campus.
    8. present: The text names the University and repeated Penn units with upenn.edu, which identifies the issuing institution.
    9. present: The text names "University" operations and Penn branded units plus upenn.edu, which identify the issuing institution.
    10. present: The text names "University" operations and Penn services such as Public Safety and upenn.edu, identifying the institution.
    11. present: The message names the University and Penn units such as Public Safety, plus upenn.edu, so the issuing institution is identified.
    12. present: The message names University operations, Penn units, and upenn.edu, identifying the University as the source.
    13. present: Penn branding appears via upenn.edu links and named units such as Public Safety, Penn Transit, and the University itself.
    14. present: The message identifies the institution as University and brands Penn units and upenn.edu throughout.
    15. present: Penn-branded units, upenn.edu links, and references to "University" operations identify the issuing institution.
    16. present: The text names the University and Penn units such as Public Safety, Penn Transit, and upenn.edu, identifying the issuer.
    17. present: The text names University operations and Penn units such as Public Safety and Penn Transit, plus upenn.edu, identifying the institution.
    18. present: The text names the University, Penn offices, and upenn.edu, which identifies the issuing institution.
    19. present: The text names University operations and Penn units such as Public Safety, Penn Transit, and upenn.edu, identifying the institution.
    20. present: The University names itself as the actor, and Penn-branded units plus upenn.edu identify the issuing campus.
    21. present: The text names the University and Penn units such as Penn Transit, Penn Dining, and upenn.edu, identifying the issuing school.
    22. present: The text names the University and brands Penn services plus upenn.edu, identifying the issuing institution.
    23. present: The University names itself and lists Public Safety plus Penn branded units and upenn.edu, identifying the issuer.
    24. present: The text names the University plus Penn units and upenn.edu, which identify the issuing institution.
    25. present: The text names the University and Penn units such as Public Safety and Penn Transit, plus upenn.edu links, identifying the issuer.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the cause is named as inclement weather and later a weather emergency, a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It states the cause as "inclement weather", a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    2. present: The suspension is due to inclement weather, which names a weather hazard rather than a generic emergency or incident.
    3. present: The cause is named as "inclement weather" and later a "weather emergency", a weather hazard not a generic incident.
    4. present: It states the cause as "inclement weather" and later a "weather emergency", a named weather threat.
    5. present: It attributes the suspension to "inclement weather", a named weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    6. present: It states operations are suspended "due to inclement weather", naming a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    7. present: The text names "inclement weather" (and later "weather emergency") as the specific threat, not a generic incident.
    8. present: It names the threat as "inclement weather" and later a "weather emergency", a specific weather hazard.
    9. present: It states operations are suspended "due to inclement weather", naming a specific weather threat.
    10. present: It says normal operations are suspended "due to inclement weather" and later cites a "weather emergency", naming the threat.
    11. present: It names "inclement weather" (and later "weather emergency") as the specific threat behind the suspension.
    12. present: It states the threat as inclement weather, a specific weather hazard rather than a generic incident.
    13. present: The text names the cause as "inclement weather" and later "weather emergency", a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    14. present: It names inclement weather as the specific reason operations are suspended.
    15. present: The text names "inclement weather" as the cause, a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    16. present: It cites "inclement weather" as the cause of the closure, a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    17. present: It attributes the closure to inclement weather and later mentions a weather emergency, naming a weather threat.
    18. present: It specifies the cause as "inclement weather", a named weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    19. present: It states the cause as inclement weather and later a weather emergency, naming a weather hazard rather than a generic incident.
    20. present: The closing is due to "inclement weather" and a "weather emergency", a named weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    21. present: It states the cause as "inclement weather", a specific weather threat rather than a vague incident.
    22. present: It states the cause as "inclement weather", a specific weather threat rather than a generic incident.
    23. present: It names "inclement weather" as the specific threat, not a generic incident or emergency alone.
    24. present: It names the threat as "inclement weather" and later a "weather emergency", not a generic incident.
    25. present: It specifies the threat as inclement weather, later calling it a weather emergency, not a generic incident.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree phrases such as traveling to campus and critical campus operations locate the closure on campus.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It refers to traveling to "campus" and to University and Penn campus operations and services.
    2. present: Recipients are told about traveling to campus and critical campus operations, which supplies a campus location.
    3. present: It directs people about "traveling to campus" and refers to campus operations, locating the event on campus.
    4. present: It refers to travel "to campus" and University or Health System worksites as the place affected.
    5. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to campus services, placing the event on campus.
    6. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to "critical campus operations", which locates the situation on campus.
    7. present: It refers to "campus" and "traveling to campus", which locates the alert on the university campus.
    8. present: It refers to "campus" and "traveling to campus", locating the closure at the university campus.
    9. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to "critical campus operations", which locate the event on campus.
    10. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to "critical campus operations", which locates the situation on campus.
    11. present: It locates the situation by referring to travel "to campus" and to "critical campus operations".
    12. present: It locates the closure by referring to campus operations and traveling to campus.
    13. present: It refers to traveling to campus and to campus operations, which locates the closure on campus.
    14. present: It locates the closure in campus operations and travel to campus.
    15. present: It refers to "traveling to campus" and "campus operations", placing the event on campus.
    16. present: It locates the disruption on "campus" through phrases such as traveling to campus and critical campus operations.
    17. present: It refers to traveling to campus and to critical campus operations, locating the situation on campus.
    18. present: It locates the closing by telling people about traveling "to campus" and campus operations.
    19. present: It refers to campus in phrases such as traveling to campus and critical campus operations.
    20. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to "critical campus operations", locating the event on campus.
    21. present: It locates the closure by referring to traveling "to campus" and to campus operations.
    22. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to campus operations, which names the place affected.
    23. present: It refers to traveling to "campus" and to campus operations, which locates the event.
    24. present: It refers to traveling "to campus" and to campus operations, so the place is campus.
    25. present: It refers to traveling to campus and to critical campus operations, naming where the closure applies.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree recipients are told to exercise caution, take their time traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor transit updates.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It tells people to "exercise caution" and take their time traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor service updates.
    2. present: It instructs people to exercise caution, take their time traveling to campus, and utilize public transit if possible.
    3. present: It tells recipients to "exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus" and to use public transit if possible.
    4. present: It tells people to "exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus" and to use public transit if possible.
    5. present: It tells people to "exercise caution" and "take your time in traveling", and to use public transit if possible.
    6. present: It tells recipients to "exercise caution" and "take your time" traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor transit updates.
    7. present: Recipients are told to "exercise caution", take time traveling, use public transit if possible, and "monitor" transit updates.
    8. present: It tells people to "exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus" and to use public transit if possible.
    9. present: It tells recipients to "exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus" and to use public transit if possible.
    10. present: Recipients are told to "exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus" and to use public transit if possible.
    11. present: It instructs people to "exercise caution" and "take your time" traveling, and to "utilize public transit if available".
    12. present: It tells people to use caution traveling to campus, take public transit if possible, and monitor Penn Transit updates.
    13. present: Recipients are told to exercise caution, take their time traveling to campus, use public transit if possible, and monitor transit updates.
    14. present: It tells people to exercise caution traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor Penn Transit for changes.
    15. present: Recipients are told to "exercise caution", take their time traveling, and "utilize public transit if available".
    16. present: Recipients are told to exercise caution, take their time traveling to campus, and use public transit if possible.
    17. present: Recipients are told to exercise caution, take time traveling to campus, and use public transit if possible.
    18. present: Readers are told to "exercise caution", take their time traveling, and use public transit if possible.
    19. present: It tells people to exercise caution, take their time traveling to campus, use public transit if possible, and monitor listed services.
    20. present: It tells people to "exercise caution and take your time in traveling to campus" and to use public transit if possible.
    21. present: It tells recipients to exercise caution, take their time traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor transit updates.
    22. present: It tells people to "exercise caution and take your time" traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor transit updates.
    23. present: It tells people to exercise caution while traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor transit updates.
    24. present: It tells recipients to "exercise caution", take time traveling to campus, and use public transit if possible.
    25. present: It tells people to exercise caution and take their time traveling, use public transit if possible, and monitor Penn Transit updates.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree the suspension is dated Monday, February 23, 2026, with additional timing from tomorrow and scheduled start times.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It gives the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and refers to "tomorrow" and scheduled start times.
    2. present: It specifies Monday, February 23, 2026, and mentions teaching online tomorrow, both time references.
    3. present: The suspension is dated "Monday, February 23, 2026" and instructors are told about teaching "tomorrow".
    4. present: It gives the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" plus "tomorrow" and regularly scheduled start times.
    5. present: It gives the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and refers to "tomorrow".
    6. present: It gives the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and says instructors may teach online "tomorrow".
    7. present: It gives a calendar date, "Monday, February 23, 2026", plus "tomorrow" for instructional plans.
    8. present: It dates the suspension as "Monday, February 23, 2026" and refers to teaching "tomorrow".
    9. present: It gives the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and later refers to "tomorrow".
    10. present: The suspension is dated "Monday, February 23, 2026", and instructors are given plans for "tomorrow".
    11. present: It gives a calendar date, "Monday, February 23, 2026", and also refers to "tomorrow".
    12. present: It dates the suspension to Monday, February 23, 2026, and refers to teaching online tomorrow.
    13. present: The suspension is dated Monday, February 23, 2026, and instructors are told they may teach online "tomorrow".
    14. present: It specifies Monday, February 23, 2026 and refers to teaching tomorrow.
    15. present: It states the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and also refers to "tomorrow".
    16. present: It states the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and refers to instructional plans "tomorrow."
    17. present: It gives the date Monday, February 23, 2026, and also refers to tomorrow and regularly scheduled start times.
    18. present: The suspension is dated "Monday, February 23, 2026" and also called "tomorrow".
    19. present: It gives the date Monday, February 23, 2026, and refers to teaching tomorrow.
    20. present: It states the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and refers to instructional plans for "tomorrow".
    21. present: It gives the date Monday, February 23, 2026, and also refers to "tomorrow".
    22. present: It dates the suspension as "Monday, February 23, 2026" and also refers to "tomorrow".
    23. present: It gives the date Monday, February 23, 2026, and also refers to "tomorrow" for instruction plans.
    24. present: It gives the date "Monday, February 23, 2026" and also refers to "tomorrow".
    25. present: It gives the date Monday, February 23, 2026, and refers to tomorrow for optional online classes.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find no stated harm or severity of the weather to people or property, only that operations are suspended.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, only that operations are suspended.
    2. absent: No consequence or severity is stated, such as dangerous travel, injury, or life-threatening conditions from the weather.
    3. absent: A closure of normal operations is an institutional response, not a statement of harm, injury, or weather severity.
    4. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury, danger, or damage.
    5. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury or dangerous conditions.
    6. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, only that normal operations are suspended.
    7. absent: No consequence or severity is stated for the weather, such as dangerous conditions or risk of injury.
    8. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, only that normal operations are suspended.
    9. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, only that normal operations are suspended.
    10. absent: Nothing states what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury, damage, or danger.
    11. absent: It does not state what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury, dangerous conditions, or damage.
    12. absent: It does not state what the weather could do to people or property, only that operations are suspended.
    13. absent: Nothing states what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury, dangerous conditions, or damage.
    14. absent: No consequence or severity of the weather is stated, only that operations are suspended.
    15. absent: No consequence or severity of the weather is given, such as injury risk or dangerous conditions.
    16. absent: Nothing states what the weather could do or how severe it is, such as dangerous travel or risk of injury.
    17. absent: Closing operations is administrative, and the text never states injury, danger, or other harm from the weather.
    18. absent: Nothing states what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury or dangerous conditions.
    19. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury, damage, or dangerous conditions.
    20. absent: Operations being suspended and a caution to travelers do not state what the weather could do to people or property.
    21. absent: It never says what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury, danger, or damage.
    22. absent: It does not say what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury or dangerous conditions.
    23. absent: It does not state what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury or dangerous conditions.
    24. absent: It does not state what the weather could do to people or property, such as injury or dangerous conditions.
    25. absent: It does not state what the weather could do to people or property, such as dangerous conditions or injury risk.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Penn posts UPennAlert products on the upa-archive. Date of Alert on the page: February 22, 2026 4:49 pm.
Analysis

Key Findings

UPennAlert suspended normal operations for Monday, February 23, 2026, and added instructor-online guidance not present on the January siblings.
Outcome
Monday February 23 operations suspended. Distinct from the January 25 and January 26 winter-suspension siblings.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    UPennAlert archive: February 22 winter operations suspension
    publicsafety.upenn.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Pennsylvania: Normal operations suspended the next day for inclement weather." Incident of February 22, 2026. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-pennsylvania-winter-operations-suspension-2026-02-22/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
private-r1pennsylvaniapennwinter-stormupennalertivy
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion