Blacksburg campus offices to open at 11 a.m. on May 15

From: University Operations

Virginia Tech's spring University Commencement ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 15, in Lane Stadium. The influx of graduates and their families arriving creates traffic congestion on the southern end of campus and along major arterial roadways.

Due to the impacts to campus and to minimize congestion, university offices in Blacksburg will operate under a modified operations schedule from 6 a.m. - 11 a.m. on May 15. Certain offices must be open for commencement or for operational reasons. Thus, supervisors should use judgment and staff appropriately. Employees should refer to the guidance below on recording time worked, which is summarized from Policy 4305: Authorized Closings Leave and Compensation Policy.

Employees are cautioned that traffic is typically heavy before and after the commencement events along Southgate Drive, Beamer Way, and Washington Street. Coliseum Lot (Lot 1), located adjacent to Cassell Coliseum, and the Stadium Lot (Lot 2), located adjacent to the South End Zone at Lane Stadium, will also be closed or restricted. Employees should adjust travel and parking plans accordingly.

Employee guidance for recording time worked:

• Designated emergency personnel who work during the modified operations schedule will receive authorized closing leave for their time worked.
• Employees who are not involved with commencement are urged not to travel to campus before the 11 a.m. opening. Employees who are able to work remotely, in a hybrid manner, or whose offices are located outside Blacksburg are expected to work their normal schedule at their alternate work site or regular work site.
• Employees with the ability to work remotely but who are scheduled to be onsite on May 15 should work remotely until the end of the modified operations period then report to their onsite location. Please discuss work arrangements for that day with your supervisor.
• Employees unable or unauthorized to work remotely who are not designated to work onsite are eligible for authorized closing leave during the modified operations period and should report to their onsite work location at 11 a.m.

For more information, visit the Commencement website.