Our Mission
As the weather gets colder, snow and ice will begin to affect the University of Iowa campus. Landscape Service's goal is to remove snow and ice from traveled surfaces in order to provide safe pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Accumulations of snow and ice will be removed as expeditiously as practical during and after storms within the parameters dictated by weather conditions, available manpower, equipment resources and budget constraints.
Snow Removal Map
East Side Snow Priority Routes
Report an Access Issue
Snow or ice preventing access to a building or another part of campus?
For all non-police emergencies, call 319-335-5071. For all other requests, use the FM@YourService portal:
Reporting snow and ice removal-related access issues
Call 319-335-5071 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be directed to the FM@YourService desk or the Department of Public Safety.
Building Coordinators have information and access to FM and can help resolve any snow and ice issue relating to their building. Find a list of Building Coordinators here.
Requests for service are processed through the FM@YourService portal. The portal is connected to other offices on campus (Parking and Transportation, Department of Public Safely, etc.) so that requests can be channeled in an efficient way to the correct offices.
Normal Working Hours: Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Snow and ice treatment will be initiated by Landscape Services. Early weekday calls should be started by 2:30 a.m. with the intention to have personnel on site by 4:00 a.m. Personnel will return to sites along their routes as necessary later in the day.
Outside Working Hours: Nights and Weekends
Snow and ice treatment will be initiated by the UI Department of Public Safety. Weekend call-ins will be initiated to have personnel on site by 7:00 a.m.
Holidays: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Snow and ice at entrances to be removed the day following the holiday.
It is our policy to respond to all snow and ice occurrences.
Building and Landscape Service is responsible for the winter maintenance of all building entrances, steps, sidewalks, loading docks, Oakdale parking lots, service drives and institutional roads.
Streets and service drives will be plowed and treated with a sand / salt mix as needed. Sidewalks will be plowed and / or broomed and treated with sand / salt or ice-melt mixture. Building entrances and Steps will be shoveled and treated with a minimal amount of ice melt mixture. Sand is not to be used near building entrances.
Snow Removal Equipment
Landscape Services deploys an arsenal of tools in its battle against the snow and ice: two front-end loaders on services drives and parking lots; nine skid loaders and four converted mowers (Polar Trac machines) on sidewalks; and six pickup trucks and two large snow plows on the streets, loading docks, and parking lots.
Electric snow melt systems have been installed beneath some building entrances, steps, and ADA ramps to help prevent slip hazards. These systems are located at the Dental Science Building, Main Library, Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building, Medical Education Research Facility, Visual Arts Building, Field House, Pappajohn Business Building, Lindquist Center, and the Engineering Annex.
Sand / Salt Mixture
In 2010, Landscape Services began using an environmentally friendly mixture of salt infused with beet juice on pavement near building entrances and stairways. The product performs about 30 percent better than rock salt alone, reducing the number of applications and quantity needed. In addition to being effective against snow and ice, it also helps to reduce corrosion of concrete and damage to vegetation.
UI Extreme Weather Policy
Whenever possible, the University of Iowa continues to function during inclement weather and follows its Extreme Weather Protocol. However, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to use good judgment and avoid serious risks in traveling to campus or in attending classes. Notifications will go out if classes are canceled. For more details, see the UI Policy Manual.