Winter Weather Update: February 23, 2026

Dear colleagues, 

Following the earlier message from the University and in light of the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency due to extreme weather conditions, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) will move to fully remote operations tomorrow, Monday, February 23.

No Harvard College or FAS-based Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) classes will be held in person. Faculty should instead plan to either teach remotely, reschedule their class, or make alternative arrangements to cover course material. Faculty should communicate directly with students regarding their plans and expectations. Graduate students should check in with their respective programs regarding closures and schedules. Course heads should guide instructional support staff, including TFs, TAs, and CAs on expectations for sections and labs. For information about the Division of Continuing Education (DCE), please visit their website.

All non-essential employees should not report to campus and should work remotely if they can do so effectively. If their work cannot be performed remotely, they may take an excused absence pursuant to the Inclement Weather Policy.  FAS staff members who need to significantly alter their schedules due to conditions in their local area or due to other personal circumstances (such as dependent care needs) should be in contact with their supervisors. In such circumstances, staff members who are unable to work remotely should enter personal or vacation time in PeopleSoft. Additional guidance can be found on the FAS HR website.

Essential employees should report to work as scheduled unless their supervisor or department leadership instructs otherwise. Essential personnel who find themselves in a specific circumstance that would make travel unsafe must contact their supervisor as soon as possible to obtain approval to be absent. 

Additional details and specific guidance are outlined below. 

  • Residential dining services will proceed as normal.
  • The Student Center at Harvard Griffin GSAS will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a limited dining menu.
  • Please monitor the Harvard Library and the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture websites for updates about hours and closures.  
  • Please be advised that the City of Cambridge parking ban began at 9:00 a.m. earlier today. Harvard garages are open to the local community for parking. Shuttle service will be adjusted during the storm and may be suspended during periods when snow accumulation eclipses 1–2 inches per hour or winds exceed 30–40 mph. Please refer to the live shuttle tracker for estimated arrival times and use caution when navigating snowy conditions.  

The safety of our students, faculty, researchers, and staff remains our top priority. Please continue to monitor harvard.edu/emergency for updates. 

Thank you for your flexibility, and please stay safe and warm. 

Sincerely,

Mary Ann Bradley  

Interim Dean for Administration and Finance 

Faculty of Arts and Sciences 

See also: