UM Today

Chancellor

Delay of Spring Semester Due to Extreme Winter Weather

Start of spring semester delayed until Thursday, Jan. 25. Students strongly advised to delay return to Oxford until Jan. 23 at the earliest.

Dear students, 

As Oxford continues to experience the effects of extreme winter weather including hazardous driving conditions, please read this entire message with an update on campus operations. The decisions outlined below are designed to protect the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. 

The university’s Oxford and regional campuses will remain closed for the rest of this week. 

  • University operations and all activities are cancelled for Thursday, Jan. 18 and Friday, Jan. 19 unless otherwise noted. 
  • Severe winter weather and extreme cold temperatures in Oxford and the surrounding region have created hazardous roads and walkways that are now covered in a layer of ice. 
  • Rebel Market will be open Thursday and Friday for limited operations from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. for those students who are already on campus. Check Ole Miss Dining for future updates.

The university will delay the start of the spring semester until Thursday, Jan. 25. We strongly advise all students to delay your return to Oxford and campus until Tuesday, Jan. 23 at the earliest. 

  • This means that classes will not meet Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of next week, and will begin meeting at their regularly scheduled times on Thursday, Jan. 25.
  • The delayed start applies to all modes of class delivery — in person, hybrid, and online.  
  • Hazardous conditions and extreme temperatures continue with the current forecast predicting temperatures to remain below freezing until Sunday. University facilities crews need sustained above-freezing temperatures and space to operate in order to effectively clear a layer of ice covering roads, parking lots, and sidewalks on campus. 

While the weather conditions continue to present significant challenges, I am confident in our decisions to uphold the safety of our campus community which is always our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in getting another successful spring semester underway at the University of Mississippi.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce

Chancellor