UT announced this afternoon that classes for Monday, Jan. 22 are canceled due to continuing inclement winter weather. According to the UT emergency alert sent to students, faculty and staff, the first day of spring semester classes will be Tuesday, Jan. 23.

The university said that campus will still be open for employees, but all classes — both online and in-person — are canceled. The alert said this allows more time and flexibility for students to travel back to campus for the start of the semester.

Residence halls will still open on Friday, Jan. 19 for new and returning residents. Additionally, UT Dining still plans to accommodate on-campus students. You can find dining options, schedules and updates here.

The winter weather began in Knoxville late Sunday night, and within a day, the city saw up to 10 inches of snow in some places. 

With cold temperatures continuing through the week, road conditions in many places in Knoxville have gotten worse or have not improved enough to be safe for travel.

UT has been closed for the entire week and in-person instruction for winter mini-term classes was canceled. The university encouraged professors to hold online classes or offer make-up assignments for the missed days of the mini-term. 

Throughout the week, students on or near campus have spent their time sledding down Ped Walkway and participating in snowball fights, taking advantage of weather rare for East Tennessee.