College Resumes Classes and Operations Monday, Sept. 9

The College’s emergency management team has been working today to complete its assessments of campus facilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. The College is also coordinating recovery plans with state and county government partners as well as the S.C. Governor’s office, which has lifted its evacuation order on Friday (September 6, 2019).

Fortunately, campus fared well during the storm, which allows the College to move into its recovery phases. At this time, the College plans to have classes resume on Monday, September 9, 2019.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Affiliated programs housed at the College’s North Campus will be on their normal operating schedule as of Saturday, September 7, 2019.

FOR STUDENTS

SUNDAY – AFTER 2:00 p.m. (September 8, 2019): Residential students may return to campus and check into their residence halls. For those students who arrive before the 2:00 p.m. opening of residence halls, they may wait at the Stern Student Center starting at 10:00 a.m. as well as the Addlestone Library starting at 10:00 a.m. (the Addlestone Library will be on its normal operating schedule at that time).

Liberty Fresh Food Company (the main dining facility on campus) will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

MONDAY (September 9, 2018): Classes resume and the College returns to its normal operating schedule. The Provost’s Office will make an announcement about the academic calendar adjustments and make-up days.

IMPORTANT: The College prioritizes the safety of its campus members. Please use your best judgment in returning to campus this week. Per the president’s and provost’s direction, faculty and campus managers are to be flexible regarding attendance for those traveling from areas where there are adverse conditions or for those who have difficulties in transportation (flight/train reservations). Please contact your professors if you have any problems in returning to campus.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

FRIDAY (SEPTEMBER 6, 2019) – PHASE ONE: the College is initiating Phase One of its recovery plan – the first phase (made up of “Team One”) will include only Facilities Management’s Damage Assessment Team, public safety team, the emergency management director and various members of the senior leadership team.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL FACULTY AND STAFF: Unless faculty and staff members are contacted by their division head regarding PHASE TWO, they are not required to report to campus until Monday at their regular time. Campus offices will fully re-open on Monday as part of PHASE FOUR.

SATURDAY (September 7, 2018) – PHASE TWO: Based on Friday’s facilities assessments, the College will initiate Phase Two on Saturday. Division heads will communicate with their areas to establish the make-up of Team Two.

Members of Team Two may include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following:

Academic leadership – deans, chairs and registrar

IT management

Insurance services

Procurement

Facilities Management shops

Grounds Crew

Financial services

Residential Life staff (full-time, live-on-campus staff)

PLEASE NOTE: These personnel may or may not be needed on Saturday, depending on the directions of the relevant supervisor. Certain faculty and staff may need to check their offices, laboratories and/or workspaces in order to ensure those environments are ready for a normal operating schedule on Monday. For those faculty and staff needing early access (before Monday), please work with your supervisor/department chair/division head to enter those spaces after 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (September 7, 2019). If faculty and staff have issues gaining access to their buildings/spaces, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 843.953.5609. If faculty and staff see or have any problems once in their spaces, please contact the dispatch number for Facilities Management at 843.953.5550.

SUNDAY (September 8, 2019) PHASE THREE: In coordination with supervisors and division heads, all student support staff, full food service, residence life staff, full RA staff, custodians, maintenance techs, etc. will return to campus at 1 p.m., with the residence halls reopening at 2:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: As noted earlier, certain faculty and staff may need to check their offices, laboratories and/or workspaces in order to ensure those environments are ready for a normal operating schedule on Monday. Please work with your supervisor/department leader/division head to enter those spaces on Sunday. If faculty and staff have issues gaining access to their buildings/spaces, please contact the Department of Public Safety at 843.953.5609. If faculty and staff see or have any problems once in their spaces, please contact the dispatch number for Facilities Management at 843.953.5550.

MONDAY (September 9, 2019) PHASE FOUR: All faculty and staff members will report to work as normally scheduled for Monday. Classes resume, and the College is fully back on its normal operating schedule.

IMPORTANT: The College prioritizes the safety of its campus members. Please use your best judgment in returning to campus. Per the president’s and provost’s direction, faculty and campus managers are to be flexible regarding attendance for those traveling from areas where there are adverse conditions or for those who have difficulties in transportation (flight/train reservations). Please contact your direct supervisor if you have any problems in returning to campus.

Please continue to monitor local media outlets as well as your College of Charleston email and the College’s emergency website (emergency.cofc.edu).