College Suspends All Operations for Sept. 8 Through Sept. 12

By | September 7, 2017

Due to Hurricane Irma, the College is suspending all operations beginning Friday, September 8, through Tuesday, September 12. All classes and College events are cancelled for Friday, September 8, through Tuesday, September 12. Information will be provided at a later time regarding the reopening of campus facilities. Please note: the campus reopening may be delayed based on recovery efforts, and the College will communicate a firm date for reopening as soon as that information is available. Please be patient in this time of uncertainty.

The College encourages all faculty, staff and students to begin evacuating as soon as possible in order to avoid possible traffic delays this weekend.

FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

Please follow your individual department/office hurricane plans in securing your offices and work spaces this afternoon. Also, the Division of Information Technology has provided guidelines for securing computers and protecting data: http://it.cofc.edu/emergency-preparedness/index.php

While classes will not be in session tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday (September 8–12), some staff and faculty will be able to work tomorrow morning to secure campus facilities. However, only essential personnel, as identified by each division, the provost or the president, should be on campus after 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 8. If you have a laptop, please take it with you.

Division heads will provide further information by email for faculty and staff regarding their division work schedules and recovery phase schedules.

FOR STUDENTS

Classes are cancelled September 8–September 12, 2017. 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’s chief academic officer.

Liberty Street Fresh Food Company (one of the College’s main dining areas) will be open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

As previously noted, residence halls will be closed as of 6:00 p.m., Friday, September 8, 2017. Please make your evacuation plans now.

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 STUDENTS: Please take the following with you:

  • 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 and course materials.

The College will continue to provide you updates as more information becomes available.