Despite experiencing about two inches of snowfall early Thursday morning, Mississippi State University remained open and most classes continued as planned.
Bill Kibler, vice president of Student Affairs, said MSU considered information from weather experts on campus and in Oktibbeha County before making the decision to remain open.
“What we had was a circumstance that up till 7 Thursday morning showed no hazardous areas in this area, and even meteorologists were surprised when snow was heavier than predicted,” Kibler said.
Kibler said by 8 a.m., the weather conditions were more severe and administrators decided to accommodate students and faculty who could not drive to campus safely, however classes were not canceled.
“We already had a lot of students on campus, so we didn’t want to say, ‘OK, get in your vehicles and drive home now,’ since the conditions were not favorable at that point,” he said. “But if a person was not safe to drive here, we certainly (didn’t) want them to come to campus.”
MSU issued a Maroon Alert via email at 8:26 a.m. Thursday, which stated, “We are asking students and employees who live in areas where conditions do not allow them to reach campus safely to not attempt to drive to campus.  Accommodations will be made for employees and students who are not able to make it campus this morning because of weather conditions in their area. Please stay tuned to emergency.msstate.edufor further updates.”
Sid Salter, director of University Relations, said students will have an opportunity to make up lost class time, tests, quizzes and other assignments. He said the instructor and the student may come to an agreement as to how missed material can be accounted for.
“This is standard practice under such conditions,” Salter said. “Academic Operating Policy 12.09 Class Attendance and Reporting Absences gives a guide to the procedures when unavoidable class absences occur.”
On Thursday morning, Kibler said the Office of the Provost was already working to find solutions for each individual need for accommodation.
Students who live in residence halls on campus were expected to attend class as scheduled, Salter said.
 ”There is always a measure of uncertainty in striking a balance between the paramount concern for student, faculty and staff safety and the need to keep classes in session and observe the university’s complex academic calendar,” Salter said. “We relied on the best and most current predictions on the weather in the evening hours Wednesday before making the decision to keep the university open.”
Ryan Hoke, a senior professional meteorology major, said Starkville was expected to receive two to four inches of snow according to the National Weather Service.
The amount of snow varied throughout Starkville, but Hoke said the western side received more than the eastern side.
Campus received about two inches, he said.
Hoke said road conditions were not ideal Thursday morning.
“There were pictures on Facebook of road conditions deteriorating as the snow came down,” he said. “It came down so hard at points that it covered roads with snow, along with some ice and slush.”
Emily Cain, MSU Department of Communication instructor, said she teaches afternoon classes, so she thought it was safe to proceed with her classes.
“I do understand the conditions were seen as a little unsafe in the morning, but they were clearly OK by the afternoon,” she said. “I followed the university’s guidelines when deciding about my own classes. Since the roads were safe by the time my classes began at two o’clock and 3:30, I decided it was fine to go ahead.”
Salter said there was one report of an accident on campus in the Garner Hall parking lot, but it was only a fender-bender and did not appear to be weather-related.