The following message was sent to the campus community on Thursday, Sept. 7:
Due to Hurricane Irma, the College is cancelling all classes and College events beginning Friday, September 8. Information regarding when classes will resume will be provided at a later date.
FOR STUDENTS
Students must make plans to leave campus by 6:00 p.m., Friday, September 8. For those students planning to leave Friday, after 6:00 p.m., please go to the Stern Student Center if you need to wait for your ride. For those students needing College-provided transportation/shelter, see below for more instructions. Residence life staff will follow up with more details regarding shelter and transportation logistics for those students.
For students living in on-campus housing, if you do not have transportation with a friend or family member and do not have an evacuation location, please check in to your residence hall’s front desk or fill out the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Needs Form (which is in addition to the MyCharleston form) by 10 a.m., Friday, September 8. A follow-up message regarding residence hall departures/closures will come from President Glenn McConnell and Executive Vice President of Student Affairs Alicia Caudill.
PLEASE NOTE: Only fill out the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Needs Form if you need College-provided transportation and shelter. You will be signing up for a bus transporting you to the College’s designated emergency location. Note: students on these buses will not be choosing a destination. And students will not be allowed to leave that location until the College organizes the return trip to Charleston. Students needing transportation will assemble Saturday morning at Stern Student Center. Those who indicated a transportation/shelter need will receive a communication on specific time for when they will need to arrive at the Stern Student Center for pick-up on Saturday.
IMPORTANT: For those students riding College-provided transportation, please bring the following:
• your student ID
• a pillow
• blanket
• changes of clothes
• towel
• prescription medication(s)
• a small amount of emergency cash
• basic toiletry items
• laptops/computers
• textbooks
• course materials.
Students signed up for bus transport must return on that bus.
For students living off campus, if you do not have transportation with a friend or family member and do not have an evacuation location, please check in to a residence hall’s front desk or fill out the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Needs Form (which is in addition to the MyCharleston form) by 10 a.m., Friday, September 8.
PLEASE NOTE: Only fill out the Hurricane Irma Evacuation Needs Form if you need College-provided transportation and shelter. You will be signing up for a bus transporting you to the College’s designated emergency location. Note: students on these buses will not be choosing a destination. And students will not be allowed to leave that location until the College organizes the return trip to Charleston. Students needing transportation will assemble Saturday morning at Stern Student Center. Those who indicated a transportation/shelter need will receive a communication on specific time for when they will need to arrive at the Stern Student Center for pick-up on Saturday.
IMPORTANT: For those students riding College-provided transportation, please bring the following:
• your student ID
• a pillow
• blanket
• changes of clothes
• towel
• prescription medication(s)
• a small amount of emergency cash
• basic toiletry items
• laptops/computers
• textbooks
• course materials.
Students signed up for bus transport must return on that bus.
For any student-related questions, please call the Division of Student Affairs at 843.953.5522 or refer to http://emergency.cofc.edu/studentpreparedness/.
For updates, please monitor your College of Charleston email and the College’s emergency website (emergency.cofc.edu).
FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
As a state institution, the College must follow state protocols in any closure scenario. College officials will have more information this afternoon regarding any changes to work schedules and the College’s operations moving forward.
In the meantime, starting this afternoon, please follow your individual department/office hurricane plans in securing your offices and work spaces. The Division of Information Technology has provided guidelines for data protection/computer here: http://it.cofc.edu/emergency-preparedness/index.php.
RESUMPTION OF CLASSES
Additional information will be provided at a later time about the resumption of classes. Our only priority at present is the safe evacuation of our students.
Depending on the duration and the severity of the storm, faculty and students may receive instructions about resuming instructional activities online. Such instructions would be provided only after ample time has been provided for a safe evacuation. Information on classroom instruction will come from Provost Brian McGee.
The College will continue to provide you updates as more information becomes available.
