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HOUGHTON -- It's a rarity to see a university cancel classes.

Michigan Tech prides itself on its winter weather preparedness, but in the midst of Tuesday's blizzard, administrators at Tech made a decision they haven't made in years: shut down the school.

Provost Max Seel said the decision to close is not an easy one, and it starts in the early hours of the morning during meetings with school officials and the road commission.

"Even if US-41 and 28 would be passable, the side roads and everything will not be, and it will take the road commission the whole day to clean up," said Seel. "Their advice was against even a late opening."

Cars are stuck in their parking spots and snow drifts are upwards of three and four feet high, but this is nothing Michigan Tech hasn't seen before. So the question on everybody's mind is: what makes this blizzard any different?

Pete Pelissero, university grounds manager, said crews have been working long hours to make campus safe for students and faculty.

"The university did shut down just for safety purposes so we could get staff and students off campus, so we could get the lots cleaned up and be prepared for today for the career fair," said Pelissero.

Seel said the closing was convenient for students because it allowed them to focus on their interviews.

"In the past, they have complained when there were interviews, they had to go to class, or it was difficult," Seel explained. "They felt it would be easier if there wouldn't be classes, so I don't feel bad if we are closed today for classes. They all can fully concentrate on their interviews."

Regardless of the decision, Seel explained it is impossible to please everyone.

"You never do it right," Seel said. "If we don't close, then you get emails, 'Why didn't you close today?' and if you close, 'Well, why did you close today?' You have to make a decision, and we do the best possible decision, I think, we can."