There's no snow day at Rutgers University today.
The state university announced all three of its campuses -- New Brunswick-Piscataway, Newark and Camden -- will operate on a normal schedule Thursday.
Most students are not on campus because of the winter break. But, by staying open, most employees will be required to go to work. Some students could be required to go to winter session courses if their professors do not cancel.
The decision drew some ire from employees, students and parents on social media, who noted most area school districts were closed due to the snow and Gov. Chris Christie declared a State of Emergency for some counties.
Rutgers University is open and operating today: https://t.co/CxiAEKXqOQ
-- Rutgers University (@RutgersU) January 4, 2018
"Rutgers continues to actively monitor the situation. The university is open and meeting its needs to provide patient care, continue research activities and conduct the compressed winter session," said Dory Devlin, a Rutgers spokeswoman.
Caitlin West, a graduate student who works in the student center on College Avenue, said it usually takes her five minutes to commute across the river from the Livingston Campus in Piscataway. On Thursday, it took a half hour.
"They should have closed, point blank. Period. I was definitely shocked. We have student workers that come in too, so I was a little worried about the commute this morning," West said.
An Elizabeth woman working as a temporary secretary at Rutgers' Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick said it took her 90 minutes to get to work. Then, she had to walk to the Cancer Institute because temporary workers are not given parking, she said.
"I think the hospital should be open for emergency purposes, but all (administrative) staff should remain home and safe. They should absolutely stay closed. It's a storm outside, anyone who's smart will stay indoors," said the worker, who asked that her name not be used because she feared losing her temporary job.
Other workers, including students who work in the dining halls and Rutgers information center, said they were not surprised the university remained open. The campus has operated on a normal schedule despite previous storms.
The university was criticized during Hurricane Sandy after some employees were required to come to work during the storm amid confusion over whether the campus would close. Rutgers revamped its emergency procedures after an internal task force studied how the school responded to the storm.
Many of the state's other colleges and universities were either closed or had a delayed opening today. Princeton University is closed. Kean University and Rowan University initially said they would have a delayed opening at noon, but later announced they would be closed all day.
Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.