Michigan winter driving is unpredictable, and Oakland University commuters say late class cancellations can make conditions more dangerous. Most students travel from surrounding communities, so the timing of weather-related decisions can determine whether they stay off hazardous roads or are already on them. Even a short delay in announcements can turn an otherwise manageable commute into a risky journey.

On Jan. 14, Oakland University canceled evening classes effective at 5 p.m., after some students had already traveled to campus. One student said they drove nearly two hours through heavy snow to attend a 3:30 p.m. class before receiving an OU Alert.

The alert read, “Due to adverse weather conditions, OU has canceled evening classes effective at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14.”

Bianca Miller, a nutrition major, said she commutes from Royal Oak, a drive that typically takes about 30 minutes. On days with uncertain weather, Miller said she checks university communications before deciding whether to travel. She also monitors the local news for additional updates.

“When I first get up, I always definitely check my OU email, and I know they also send text messages,” Miller said. “Secondary to that, I’ll also check the news.”

Miller said a cancellation alert was sent after she had already attended two classes. By the time the message arrived, she said she had already completed her second class and was preparing to leave campus.

“They sent the alert basically saying that evening classes were canceled, and by that time I was already done with my second class,” she said.

She described road conditions as dangerous and said walking across campus felt unsafe.

“It was a very late alert that they sent,” Miller said. “It was definitely a huge inconvenience.”

Staff members who commute to campus said late notifications can also be frustrating. Stacey Clayton, an assistant curator technician and housekeeper at Meadow Brook Hall, said afternoon cancellations often come after commuters have already arrived.

“By the time the notification came, I had already arrived,” Clayton said. “I live in Rochester, and it made me think about commuters from other districts. My husband used to drive two hours.”

Faculty members said weather-related decisions can be difficult because forecasts change rapidly. Sociology professor George Sanders said Jan. 14 demonstrated how unpredictable conditions can be.

“According to the weather forecast, we were predicted to get one to two inches of snow, which, in the minds of many Michiganders, is trivial,” Sanders said. “So the predictions were incorrect.”

Sanders said meteorology relies on probability, meaning uncertainty is unavoidable.

“It was unfortunate, but since meteorology relies on models that are probabilistic, there’s always a possibility for error,” Sanders said.

Criminal justice professor Lori Burrington said Jan. 14 was one of the most difficult days of the semester. Burrington said her class met from 3:30 p.m. to 5:17 p.m., placing students on the roads as the storm intensified.

“My drive was harrowing, and many students had the same experience or simply didn’t make it in,” Burrington said.

Once evening classes were canceled, Burrington said she dismissed students early, which created additional challenges as students traveled home in the same conditions.

“Ideally, maybe something could have been done a little earlier, but it was an extraordinary situation,” Burrington said.

Students said weather-related closures also reveal inconsistencies in how classes proceed. Tasia Little, a senior majoring in criminal justice and art, said the lack of standardized procedures creates confusion.

“There are no set rules for whether classes go online, get canceled or have work assigned,” Little said. “It’s up to each professor, which makes it difficult for students with multiple classes, and even for faculty.”

Sanders said late cancellations can disrupt course planning, particularly for classes that meet once or twice a week. He said instructors often carefully sequence course material throughout the semester.

“Most professors I know put a great deal of thought into how the class materials unfold over the course of the semester,” Sanders said.

Losing class time can require instructors to reorganize assignments and deadlines.

“Any changes to the schedule usually result in a great deal of reshuffling, which can be a lot of work,” Sanders said.

Burrington said instructors now have more flexibility during weather disruptions, including shifting some activities online. She said that flexibility has been helpful.

“Yes, we do have some flexibility, which is very appreciated,” Burrington said.

Burrington added that the university has become more aware of commuter safety in recent years.

“I think in the last several years, our administration has been better attuned to the fact that we have a lot of commuters who shouldn’t put their lives at risk coming to campus on days with adverse weather events,” she said.

Sanders said safety should remain the top priority.

“I also care deeply for the safety and well-being of my students and colleagues, and that should be, and I think it is, the foremost priority,” Sanders said. “I’m glad I’m not in the position of having to navigate the complexities required to make a decision on whether or not to close campus or cancel classes.”

For commuters like Miller, earlier alerts would help students make safer decisions before traveling.

“Please give us a message early or something to notify us so we can have time to plan,” Miller said.