5:13 p.m. – The UW campus will be closed except for “essential operations” Thursday as the area prepares for the impending winter storm, according to a website announcement.

No finals will be held on campus Thursday. UW’s website provided a link to other information regarding campus functions during the storm.

Campus buildings are not the only ones enjoying a snow day Thursday. Mayor Paul Soglin has announced in a City of Madison statement that all public buildings across the city will be closed as a result of the storm. 

“The safety of the general public is the most important thing to keep in mind,” Soglin said in the statement. “I am not comfortable with the general public or city employees making their way to and from city offices.” 

City parking garages will offer free parking all Wednesday evening until Thursday at 7 a.m. in an attempt to offer Madison citizens a way to keep their cars out of the way of snow plows. 

The Badger Herald will continue to monitor storm developments as they take place.

-Leah Linscheid

1:58 p.m. – The major winter storm projected to hit the Madison area this evening could have consequences for final exams on Thursday, Provost Paul DeLuca announced in an email today.

In the message addressed to all University of Wisconsin students with final examinations scheduled for Thursday, DeLuca said UW is awaiting a decision from the state’s Department of Administration and Gov. Scott Walker’s office later this afternoon. Walker declared a state of emergency earlier today in anticipation of the storm.

In the event of a cancellation of examinations, DeLuca said instructors will be allowed to make grading decisions at their discretion.

“Instructors have several options to determine final student grades in a course if the campus is directed to close and in-person final examinations cannot take place, including the prerogative to determine a student’s final grade based on work to-date, or offer alternative final evaluations in place of an in-person final examination,” DeLuca said in the email.

Because of the nature of alternative exams, DeLuca urged students to maintain academic integrity in the event of ad hoc take-home evaluations.

The Badger Herald will continue to monitor this story as it develops.

-Ryan Rainey