As temperatures drop and Minnesota winter settles in, Hamline University is sharing important reminders about how campus prepares for severe weather and what students, faculty, and staff can expect during storms. These steps help ensure everyone stays safe, informed, and able to navigate campus throughout the season.
“Every winter storm is a little bit different. It could be a blizzard right now, and it could be 40 degrees by 3 o'clock and everything is melted,” said Hamline University Public Safety Director Illiana Delgado.
Delgado has been with the university for four years and offered insight into what winter readiness looks like behind the scenes.
Parking and snow removal come first
One of the most important things Pipers can do during snowy weather is follow parking instructions. When plows need access to campus parking lots, Public Safety will send a Hamline Alert with directions on where vehicles must be moved. Cars that are not moved may be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense to ensure snow removal can continue.
To help crews clear campus quickly, remember to:
- Park only in designated parking lots
- Keep plow access lanes open
- Move vehicles promptly when alerts go out
- Avoid city streets during St. Paul snow emergencies
Delgado said she sends out notifications since many Hamline students, faculty and staff do not live in St. Paul. When asked where people should park if they normally park on city streets during a snow emergency, Delgado explained that guidance varies depending on the storm. She will often send out a notification directing people to the surface lots, and in some cases, letting everyone know that parking enforcement is temporarily suspended.
“It’s really case-by-case. If there’s room and conditions allow it, they can use the surface lots,” Delgado said. “But if the snowfall is too heavy or there isn’t enough space, I advise them to find another option.”
She also explained that while Public Safety can help with some winter challenges, there are limits to what the team can do. For example, they can coordinate a tow if needed or provide grit and other small supports to help move a vehicle, but they cannot push or dig out cars themselves.
“We assist as best we can,” Delgado said. “I try to tell people we are only human, so we can only do so much. There are a lot of different ways we can help.”
How campus is cleared
Every year, Hamline contracts with a snow-removal company that will begin plowing early in the morning or during the storm if snowfall is heavy. High priority areas are cleared first, including:
- Main campus roads
- Walkways between academic buildings
- ADA routes and accessible entrances
- Residence hall entryways
- Major parking lots
Facilities work side-by-side with the snow-removal team by monitoring conditions, reporting trouble spots, and making sure the most-used paths stay safe and accessible for all.
Around campus, some stairways and pathways are marked with yellow caution tape during the winter, such as the sides of the main stairs of Old Main or the west entrance of Englewood leading into Anderson Center. These areas can accumulate ice and snow, and safety sometimes requires temporarily limiting access.
“We have to mitigate the amount of staff that we have and focus on what we can do well,” Delgado said. “That means closing off certain areas to keep everyone safe.”
At the same time, Public Safety prioritizes ADA-accessible routes.
“We need to make sure that we are clearing our ADA routes for our students who need accessibility,” Delgado said.
These pathways are always a top priority, ensuring students, faculty and staff who rely on them can move safely around campus.
Many people enter Anderson Center through the east entrance facing Sorin Hall, which is always de-iced and treated with grit. Public Safety also conducts walking patrols to monitor conditions.
“My officers are great, they’re out in all the elements. It’s a very collaborative effort,” Delgado said. “Facilities support us too, especially when weather affects students, faculty and staff. Whether it’s icy walkways or helping with things like flat tires or jump-starting cars, we assist with all kinds of weather-related issues.”
Building access, cold-weather and commuters
Winter storms can temporarily limit access to certain building entrances due to drifting snow or ice buildup. When this happens, Public Safety will notify the campus community with updated instructions.
Facilities teams also monitor building temperatures and electrical systems closely. If a building becomes too cold or experiences a power issue, they respond quickly and will coordinate with Public Safety.
Commuters who find themselves on campus during a storm are welcome to stay inside any open academic building, Bush Library, or residence hall lobbies. Public Safety is staffed 24/7 and ready to assist anyone needing help, a warm place to wait, or transportation support.
Staying informed: Hamline Alert
If severe weather affects normal campus operations, updates will be shared through:
- Hamline Alert
- Hamline University
- The Public Safety webpage
Make sure you are signed up for Hamline Alert and that your contact information is current in Workday, including your cell phone number. This is the primary way emergency notifications, closures and weather updates are sent to the campus community.
Winter hazards to watch out for
Public Safety encourages the campus community to take extra caution around:
- Black ice
- Slippery brick surfaces
- Icy building entrances
- Narrowed walkways and roads
- Shortcuts through uncleared areas
Delgado emphasized that someone is always available, 24/7, 365 days a year. Save the main dispatch number in your phone: 651-523-2100.
“Things melt, it gets dark really soon. If there is a slippery spot, we always encourage people to call us. The last thing we need is for someone to hit their head or hurt themselves,” she said.
Even after hours, officers respond immediately to safety concerns, ensuring that any hazards are addressed as quickly as possible.
Key Emergency Contacts:
- Public Safety (24/7): (651) 523-2100
- Facilities Management: (651) 523-2225
- St. Paul Snow Emergency Information for off-campus parkers: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/street-maintenance/snow-emergency
Be informed on all things winter this season:
- Hamline Public Safety webpage : https://www.hamline.edu/about/offices-services/public-safety
- Hamline Facilities for updates (Under Campus Alerts): https://www.hamline.edu/about/offices-services/facilities
- Hamline Alert for emergencies or critical info updates
- National Weather Service for reliable forecasts: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=44.94441000000006&lon=-93.09326999999996
- MN DOT 511 for road conditions https://511mn.org/@-96.66821,46.92432,6?show=metroTrafficMap,roadReports,winterDriving,weatherWarningsAreaEvents,stationsAlert,otherStateInfo
- St. Paul City Snow Emergency page for parking rules: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/public-works/street-maintenance/snow-emergency