Due to Hurricane Matthew, the College is closing all campuses at 6 p.m., Tuesday, October 4, following an evacuation order for all South Carolina coastal counties issued by the S.C. Governor’s Office. All classes and College events (including Family Weekend) are cancelled, and the College will be closed until further notice.
The state’s evacuation order begins at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5. Please note that east-bound lanes on several interstates will be reversed in order to accommodate evacuation traffic.
The College encourages all faculty, staff and students to begin evacuating as soon as possible in order to avoid possible traffic delays.
FOR FACULTY AND STAFF
Please follow your individual department/office hurricane plans in securing your offices and work spaces this afternoon. Only essential personnel, as identified by each division, should be on campus on Wednesday, October 5. Executive vice presidents for each division will provide further information by email for faculty and staff.
FOR STUDENTS
All students must make plans to leave campus by 9 a.m., Wednesday, October 5.
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 today by 10 p.m., Tuesday, October 4. You will be signing up for a bus transporting you to the College’s designated emergency location at Clemson, S.C. 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 in TD Arena Wednesday morning.
For those students riding College transportation, please bring your student ID, a pillow, blanket, changes of clothes, towel, prescription medication(s), a small amount of emergency cash, and basic toiletry items. Each student must register at the door of the bus before boarding. Students signed up for bus transport must return on that bus.
PLEASE NOTE: If you filled out the emergency evacuation plan information form on MyCharleston, you will still need to check in with your residence hall front desk if you need a ride.
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 any residence hall front desk by 10 p.m., Tuesday, October 4 in order to secure transportation. You will be signing up for a bus that will transport you to the College’s designated emergency location at Clemson, S.C. 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 in TD Arena Wednesday morning.
For those students riding College transportation, please bring your student ID, a pillow, blanket, changes of clothes, towel, prescription medication(s), a small amount of emergency cash, and basic toiletry items. Each student must register at the door of the bus before boarding. 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).
RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS
Additional information will be provided at a later time about the resumption of classes and the reopening of the College. Our only priority at present is the safe evacuation of all members of our community. Students, faculty and staff should regularly check email and College websites for additional information, including updates on the availability of online class materials.
