Campus closures and emergencies
Occasionally, we may need to close one or more of our campuses due to hazardous weather or safety concerns. If you are on campus, please familiarize yourself with posted evacuation routes in each building. If you notice a fire or if you or someone else is seriously injured, call 911.
Procedures for closing NIC campuses
Before a decision is made to close campuses due to snow/severe weather or other emergency conditions, NIC’s director of facilities or their designate will source information from local weather stations, the RCMP, BC Transit and other road information.
Information will be presented to NIC’s respective vice presidents of Academic, Finance and College Services and Students and Community Engagement, who will decide whether to closes campus(es).
Once a decision has been reached, NIC’s director of community and public affairs will be notified and will communicate the decision via a message on myNIC and the college’s homepage and phone systems.
The decision to close campuses will also be communicated to primary media outlets in the region. Examples include:
- CBC Radio - Victoria
- Radio EAGLE 97.3 FM - Comox Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni
- Radio THE PEAK 93.3 FM- Port Alberni
- Radio 98.9 JET FM - Comox Valley
- Radio 2DAY 99.7 - Campbell River
- Radio Coast 1240 AM - Port Hardy
- Radio Longbeach Radio – CHMZ 90.1 Tofino, CIMM 99.5 Ucluelet
If a weather event occurs overnight, closure decisions will be made by 6:30 am and communicated shortly after. If campuses are open in the morning but weather conditions deteriorate throughout the day, a decision to close campus(es) for the evening will be made prior to 2 pm using the same procedures.
My campus has been closed. Is my class cancelled?
In the event of a college-wide closure, all classes – including in-person, blended and digital programming – are cancelled.
If an individual campus is closed, in-person, blended and digital classes are also cancelled for the day. This includes classes or activities at regional facilities, such as our satellite campus at St. Joe’s in the Comox Valley or the Tebo Vocational Centre in Port Alberni.
Important: While a campus may remain open, weather can vary significantly within a region. Students are expected to make their own decisions to about commuting to campus based on their local decisions. Students who choose not to attend classes should contact their instructors.
If you have questions, contact your local Student Services or email facilities@nic.bc.ca.
First aid
All campuses have a designated, certified first aid attendant on campus daily. If you require first aid, head to Student Services.
Staying safe on campus
If you notice something suspicious or if you are worried about your personal safety, notify Student Services immediately or, if you are on campus outside regular office hours, notify one of our uniformed security personnel. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Please review our safety and wellness resources for more in-depth information on resources for students.
