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Weather and Emergency Alerts

If it becomes necessary to cancel classes or close the University due to severe weather or other emergency, announcements will be made as early as possible. The Big Rapids campus will always be open to students residing on campus no matter how severe the weather. The University will make every effort to provide vital services during severe weather.

How You Will be Notified

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Text Messaging

Sign up to receive official Ferris State University emergency text alerts so you are the first to know about time-sensitive campus safety issues and closings due to weather or other disruptions.

Sign up for text alerts

  • Ferris State University is not responsible for any mobile phone carrier fees which may be charged for text messages
  • All contact information is kept confidential and will not be sold/used for third-party purposes
  • Enrolling/unenrolling may take 24 hours to take effect
  • If you have any issues enrolling/unenrolling, please contact the IT Solution Center at (231) 591-4822

Website

The Ferris State University homepage, Ferris.edu, serves as the primary source of information updates on winter weather class cancellations/closures or other emergencies. This is the best place to check first for the status of whether Ferris is open or closed due to weather conditions.

Off-campus class cancellations or closures are reported on the Ferris Statewide webpage.

Social Media

Weather/emergency alerts are posted on the University's official Facebook and Twitter profiles.

Phone

To find out about the status of classes during winter weather or for other emergency notices, call the University's information hotline at (231) 591-5602. The University also uses a phone fan out system to notify Emergency Response Team members as well as phone trees within colleges/departments/units.

Call Hotline

Media

Ferris will notify mass media outlets. Media will then include our message on their websites and broadcasts.

Other

Other methods of communication may include the following: University-wide Notices (faculty and staff email system), MyFerris State student portal announcement channels, outdoor electronic signs, outdoor broadcast system, instant messaging to classroom computers, an emergency alert system which allows a message to be broadcast on Ferris Cable Channel 7, and direct contact through the posting of notices and safety information throughout the residence halls and academic buildings or other locations on campus (provided circumstances allow this).

Information on RAVE and Alertus

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