While we are eager to welcome everyone back home to the University of Illinois campus after the holiday break, we want to make sure everyone returns safely following this weekend’s winter storms. We received a total accumulation of about eight inches of snow and Facilities & Services (F&S), the cities, and county crews have been working to clear the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots since the start of the storm. Current reports indicate that roads and sidewalks are as clear as can be expected following such a winter storm, and there may still be small patches of ice, snow, and water around campus. Conditions outside of Champaign County, especially in more rural areas, might not be as clear. 

Please, take all necessary precautions when returning to campus. Before you leave check all resources for conditions (Illinois Department of Transportation tracks current road conditions: https://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/WinterConditions/). Also ensure you have a full tank of gas, your tires are properly inflated, your phone is fully charged, and you have blankets and water in the car. Please drive safely, even if that means taking a bit longer to arrive.  

The Office of the Provost asks that instructors be aware that students may face travel issues returning to campus. 

Snow and Ice Management Operations 

F&S teams mobilized over the weekend to manage snow and ice removal across the campus. With a dedicated team of 300 members—including building service personnel, drivers, grounds workers, operating engineers, and support staff—F&S will began clearing operations ahead of the storm and continued working in shifts around the clock to ensure campus accessibility. 

F&S is responsible for clearing over 90 miles of sidewalks, 23 miles of roadways, 16,000 parking spaces, and entrances to more than 200 university buildings. This extensive task requires careful coordination to maintain safe pathways for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Additionally, F&S works closely with municipal partners in Champaign and Urbana to address areas where jurisdictional responsibilities overlap, ensuring that both city and campus roadways are cleared in a timely manner. 

Snow and Ice Reporting Tool 

If you encounter areas that need attention, please report them via this form: https://go.fs.illinois.edu/SnowIceRemovalRequest. You’ll be asked to provide the location, type of issue, and your contact information for follow-up, if needed. This tool is intended for use after storm events, allowing crews to prioritize areas that need repeated clearing. 

For questions or concerns about snow removal, please contact the F&S Service Office fsserviceoffice@illinois.edu, 217-333-0340. 

Travel safely and welcome back home. 

Sincerely,

Charles L. Isbell, Jr. 
Chancellor 

John Coleman 
Provost 

Morgan B. White 
Acting Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities & Services