Recovery Phase Update - Recovery Winding Down - 10/7/24, 4:37 p.m.
While our thoughts are still with others in the region working through rescue, recovery and clean up from Helene, the leadership team and I appreciate your patience and understanding as our campus has worked to return to normal operations. The challenging recovery process required some difficult decision making, so I thank you all for the grace and flexibility you have extended.
Academics — We will be back to a regular class schedule on Wednesday. A reminder of the virtual make-up classes is below for your planning purposes. Remember that your faculty members are your first point of contact if you have issues with classes or assignments.
Thomson — Residents have received the all clear to return to their hall rooms starting today at 5 p.m. Cleaning crews have worked through rooms, but should residents encounter any problems, submit a normal work request, and facilities will address those requests in a timely manner.
Eagle Eatery — We expect Dining Services to return to Thomson for regular meal service and offering regular hours by Wednesday breakfast. Due to restocking, there may still be limited meal options available. In addition to serving out of Richardson Ballroom tomorrow (Tuesday), Dining Services will have Chick-Fil-A open from 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Virtual make-up classes — These are the virtual learning make-up days for all full-term courses that were cancelled last week:
Friday, October 11 (Make-up day for Monday, September 30)
Saturday, October 12 (Make-up for Tuesday, October 1)
Monday, October 14 (Make-up for Wednesday, October 2)
Saturday, October 26 (Make-up for Friday, October 4)
Tuesday, December 3 (Make-up for Thursday, October 3)
Thank you again for your patience as we have prioritized recovery efforts for the good of the entire campus community since the hurricane and during its aftermath. Kudos to the emergency management team and colleagues across campus who have been part of these efforts.
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
I am writing with a brief update on where we are with our continuing efforts to resume normal operations following Hurricane Helene.
Monday, October 7, 2024, and Tuesday, October 8, will be virtual learning days. If students have questions about assignments or other concerns, please reach out to faculty members.
As of 6:30 p.m. today, we have not been able to re-establish all systems in Thomson Hall. As a result, Thomson residents will not be able to return on Sunday, October 6, as hoped. Once we have more information on the completion of repairs, we will update residents. If Thomson residents need to return to campus in order to have electricity, WiFi, etc., please contact russellj@winthrop.edu to be assigned an emergency housing location.
Campus is currently open to all other resident students. Dining Services will continue to operate out of Richardson Ballroom until power is restored and operations out of Thomson can be resumed.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these challenges.
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
We continue to keep top of mind all of those effected by what is now on record as the third deadliest U.S. mainland storm, as well as all of those mobilized in ways big and small to help in response to Helene and its aftermath. Here are the latest updates for our campus:
Thomson Hall
The Thomson transformer arrived as scheduled, and installation began yesterday. System checks and some additional repairs were needed, and we hope to finalize those on Saturday. Cleaning crews are working their way through all rooms so residents have fewer problems upon their arrival back after more than a week away. We hope to allow Thomson residents to return to campus by Sunday afternoon, but this decision is pending all systems returning to normal. Residence Life will provide an additional update to Thomson residents by Saturday afternoon to confirm when they can return to campus.
Dining Services
Dining Services will continue to operate out of Richardson Ballroom for students with meal plans through Monday lunch. Dinner on Monday will tentatively be held in the Eagle Eatery. The opening of other dining locations will be announced as quickly as possible once the eatery is fully operational.
Residence Halls
All other campus residence halls besides Thomson are currently open. We expect many students to choose to return to campus in the afternoon and evening on Sunday.
Classes
Due to continuing efforts over the weekend to return to fully normal operations, Monday, October 7, 2024, will be a virtual learning day. An update on Tuesday classes will be sent on Saturday, October 5. If students have questions about assignments or other concerns, please reach out to faculty members.
As mentioned previously by the Provost, virtual learning make-up days for all full-term courses cancelled this week have been identified:
Friday, October 11 (Make-up day for Monday, September 30)
Saturday, October 12 (Make-up for Tuesday, October 1)
Monday, October 14 (Make-up for Wednesday, October 2)
Saturday, October 26 (Make-up for Friday, October 4)
Tuesday, December 3 (Make-up for Thursday, October 3)
Faculty will communicate their virtual learning make-up plans for these dates to students by 5pm today.
Mental health check
While the Dean of Students Office is designated to support students who are in continued
crisis mode because of storm-related circumstances, we know that events like this
can be challenging for everyone to process, so we encourage students to reach out
to Counseling Services, if needed, for further support. Additionally, if you are
looking for more religious or spiritual support, please contact the Winthrop Cooperative
Campus Ministries (WCCM) at wccm@winthrop.edu.
Faculty and staff may contact the Employee Assistance Program for assistance. In addition to individual counseling, the EAP website offers online resources associated with grief and loss. To view all of the online resources, click on the "Mygroup.com" from the HR website. Log in using: Username: winthrop303 and Password: guest
Ways to Help
We know many in our campus community are contributing to relief efforts both on campus
and in the community. Kudos to you for your kindness and generosity. Please be reminded
that Winthrop has a Student Emergency & Assistance Fund to help students who are faced
with financial difficulties. Information on the fund is available from the Dean of
Students Office. For those who may want to contribute, go to Winthrop's giving page
and choose Student Emergency & Assistance Fund from the dropdown menu.
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
As recovery efforts continue across the Southeast, our thoughts are with everyone dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath. The health, safety and security of our friends and neighbors in the affected areas is top of mind.
I am writing today to share information regarding on-campus recovery efforts and recent decision-making. Before I answer some questions that you may have, I first want to acknowledge the Emergency Management Team and our colleagues across the divisions because some have been working almost non-stop since even before the storm. They are in the difficult position of making recommendations that are in the best interest of the entire university community, and I appreciate their efforts and guidance.
Why are we not just pivoting to remote like we did for Covid?
A large area of our state is still without power, and connectivity in those areas and others remains spotty. Just yesterday Governor McMaster announced that the state's request for an Expedited Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to provide federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts was approved. We have identified approximately 580 Winthrop students who are from areas highly impacted by the storm and its aftermath. We have reached out to those students to provide support and resources, but in some cases, we don't even know if our messages are reaching them. Likewise, we do not know if virtual learning would be possible for them and all of our other students wherever they are this week. We also have colleagues with ties to the areas hardest hit by the storm who don't know the status of family members, are participating in humanitarian efforts, etc. We care about all of those dealing with this unprecedented situation.
If faculty and staff are working and students can come back to campus, why are we cancelling?
In addition to the above, we currently have a large residence hall (housing approximately 300 students) and our primary dining facility still without power. It is imperative to get Thomson back online as quickly as possible, and I am pleased to report that we are making progress on that front. A transformer is being shipped from northern Pennsylvania today and will arrive tomorrow. By Thursday, we hope to begin installation. Our goal is to have power restored in the coming days, and I plan to send an update on this aspect of our recovery on Friday, October 4.
What if I have plans for fall break?
Missed classes must be made up, per our accrediting body, and with limited days available in the academic calendar, fall break—in essence, a long weekend—was a better choice than impacting Thanksgiving or pushing the semester farther into December. Academic Affairs is finalizing the alternate schedule, with more to be announced by the Provost, but we will be holding virtual learning days on five designated days before final exams. Classes will be made up virtually in a synchronous format (or asynchronously as an alternative if necessary).
Faculty also are being encouraged to be understanding and flexible wherever possible. If students have previously scheduled trips that will prevent them from participating in a synchronous class during designated make-up days, they should communicate with faculty members and provide verification of flights booked/travel arrangements.
I hope this additional insight helps you understand the recommendations and actions taken to date. Again, expect more from the Provost today and an update on Thomson from me on Friday. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
Dear Winthrop Families,
The difficult decision was made today to cancel Family Day 2024 on Saturday, Oct. 5, due to the impact that Hurricane Helene has had on campus and throughout the state. We are exploring potential options to reschedule and will share that information as soon as possible. In the meantime, we are working on fully refunding the cost incurred by anyone who registered and paid for Family Day. This may take a few days, but the refund is coming. Please stay tuned for more information.
If you have questions, please send them to FamilyprogramsGA@winthrop.edu. Again, refunds may take a few days, but they are on the way. Our thoughts are with our students and families that have been dealing with the impacts of Hurricane Helene and its aftermath.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
Sincerely,
New Student and Family Programs
Campus Community:
Thank you for your patience as Winthrop continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene.
As indicated above, some important decisions to guide the coming days were made today by Winthrop University.
Academics — Classes are cancelled for the remainder of the week, and Fall Break, scheduled for Oct. 11-14, is cancelled. An alternative schedule for making up missed classes is pending and may include all or part of the Oct. 11-14 time period.
Residence Halls — Residence halls except Thomson Hall will reopen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to those students who are in need of housing, unable to stay in their family homes, or who must return to Rock Hill.
Thomson Hall remains without power, and Thomson residents will receive a separate communication from Residence Life about their options.
Dining Services — Markley's will continue to be the campus dining service location through Tuesday, Oct. 1. Sodexo will pivot to Richardson Ballroom as the campus dining service location on Wednesday, Oct. 2. During this remote service operation, dining services will only be able to provide service to students with a meal plan. Other dining venues will remain closed until further notice.
Offices — The campus will remain open moving forward and operate on a normal schedule. Faculty and staff who may still be experiencing power outages or are not able to travel to campus due to road conditions should stay in contact with their supervisor regarding their ability to return to work.
West Center/DiGiorgio Campus Center/Dacus Library — All have resumed normal operations.
Our campus partners have been working tirelessly during the recovery phase, and we are thankful for their efforts. Work continues, and we again encourage caution as you make your way around campus.
Further updates will be provided on or before Friday, Oct. 4.
Sincerely,
Winthrop University Emergency Management Team
Our campus partners have been working tirelessly during the recovery phase, and we are thankful to report that Duke Power has restored electrical power to campus today.
However, during the power startup to campus, Facilities Management identified an issue with a transformer in Thomson. This issue has left the residence hall and the dining service location within it without power. This issue will require us to repair the transformer before we can allow certain students living on campus to return to their residence halls. As such, certain residence halls (East Thomson, West Thomson, Lee Wicker, Phelps, Margaret Nance, and Roddey Apartments) will remain closed for Sunday, September 29; Monday, September 30; and Tuesday, October 1. Further information about the reopening of those residence halls will be sent at a later date.
While the Winthrop University campus will reopen to all employees on Monday, September 30, Winthrop University is canceling classes for Monday, September 30, and Tuesday, October 1.
Although classes are cancelled through Tuesday, October 1, we expect to return to normal operations on Monday, September 30, and employees will return to their regular on-campus work schedule. Faculty and staff who may still be experiencing power outages or are not able to travel to campus due to road conditions should stay in contact with their supervisor regarding their ability to return to work.
Dining Services will continue to operate out of the Courtyard for today only and will serve food until 7 p.m. specifically for those residential students currently on or near campus. Starting tomorrow, Monday, September 30, Dining Services will serve meals out of Markley’s, with brunch starting at 10:30 a.m. Other Dining Services locations on campus will remain closed until further notice. The reopening of those locations and any other Dining Services changes will be noted in future communications from Dining Services. The West Center and the DiGiorgio Campus Center will remain closed for today, but will resume normal operations and hours on Monday, September 30.
As we return to campus, please understand that our campus partners still are completing work, such as removing fallen trees and limbs, repairing structures, etc. This work will be ongoing and completed as soon as possible. Please continue to exercise caution as you make your way around campus.
Additional information will be provided via WU Alert and the emergency website as it becomes available.
Winthrop University’s Emergency Management Team remains in regular contact with local, county, and state agencies.
Sincerely,
Winthrop University Emergency Management Team
We have confirmed that the fire safety systems will continue to work through the morning. While there will not be power (no lights, no A/C, and not hot water), students who were unable to evacuate the residence halls this afternoon will be able to stay in their current room until tomorrow morning. As a reminder, candles are not allowed, so students should utilize flashlights if they are still in the main campus residence halls (Margaret Nance, Roddey, Phelps, Lee Wicker, and Thompson).
The residence halls will close on September 28, 2024 at 1:30pm. Students who have notified residence life that they need emergency shelter will be relocated to the Coliseum for shelter through the remainder of the weekend or until power is restored. Campus Police will have a presence at the Coliseum and Residence Life staff will also be available. A shuttle will be provided between 11:30am – 1:30pm leaving from the end of Scholars Walk (near Byrnes Auditorium). Students should bring bedding, towels, clothing, toiletries, medications, and any other essentials with them. We will have mattresses available, hot showers, electricity/Wi-Fi and food will be delivered to the Coliseum for those staying there. Students staying in the emergency shelter should plan to be at the coliseum until power is restored. Shuttles will not be provided continuously. Students staying at the Coliseum are encouraged to get brunch before going to the Coliseum as the first meal provided there will be dinner. If you have not yet contacted your RA and still need emergency shelter, please email Jarad Russell at russellj@winthrop.edu by 11am on 9/28/2024.
Dining services will be serving meals for residential students from Courtyard until power is restored. Brunch will be provided from 10:30am – 12:30pm and dinner from 5pm – 6:30pm.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate these unexpected circumstances and stay safe!
Jarad Russell, Ed.D
Assistant Dean and Director of Residence Life
Residents, as you were just notified, we anticipate the power will be out through the weekend and classes will be remote on Monday. Due to the power outage on campus, we will need to close Margaret Nance, Roddey, Phelps, Lee Wicker, and Thomson Residence Halls by this evening due to a lack of fire suppression systems, A/C, and hot water. We are working to identify the emergency shelter area for campus and the availability of cots from emergency services. Students will need to vacate Margaret Nance, Roddey, Phelps, Lee Wicker and Thomson Residence Halls by 7pm this evening.
Housing options during this emergency:
All residents of Margaret Nance, Roddey, Phelps, Lee Wicker and Thomson Residence Halls MUST communicate with their RAs their housing plans by 5pm TODAY so that we can plan accordingly.
Amber Slack, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students
Campus Community:
As reported today, Hurricane Helene has impacted a very large area as well as the Winthrop campus. Campus and the surrounding areas are still experiencing a loss of power and unsafe conditions on roadways, with numerous downed trees and power lines reported. Although the storm has passed us, we must now look to the recovery phase of this event. Currently most all of the campus is without electrical power. Duke Power, which supplies Winthrop University with power, has advised us that they do not expect the power to be repaired until possibly Sunday.
As such, the Winthrop University campus will remain closed to all non-essential employees on Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29. This closure will also extend to any activities that were planned, such as student meetings or activities. Students living on campus should be on the lookout for an email providing you with further information.
The DiGiorgio Campus Center and West Center remain closed. For today, Dining Services will continue to operate out of the Eagle Eatery in Thomson Hall for students living on campus. Updates on Dining Services will be sent out at a later time. For those on campus, please exercise caution as you make your way around campus.
Please note, Winthrop University employees should not attempt to travel to campus, unless they are deemed essential workers and are needed to manage the needs of the university during this emergency situation. Facilities Management and Winthrop University Police employees are deemed essential to manage the needs of the university during this emergency situation and are required to report to work on campus.
Finally, due to the uncertainty of when power will be restored to campus and in order for faculty and students to prepare, all classes on Monday, September 30 will be virtual. Employees are asked to monitor their email regarding returning work on campus on Monday.
Additional information will be provided via WU Alert and the emergency website as it becomes available.
Winthrop University’s Emergency Management Team remains in regular contact with local, county, and state agencies.
Sincerely,
Winthrop University Emergency Management Team
WU Alert - Friday, 9/27/24: With the loss of electrical power and damage on campus, Winthrop University will close and classes will be canceled for Friday, September 27. Please exercise caution as you make your way around campus, and preferably stay indoors until storm impacts have subsided. Dining Services will operate from the Eagle Eatery only and may need to adjust hours. Thank you for your patience as we work to bring the campus back to normal operating conditions.
Campus Community:
As reported yesterday, Hurricane Helene is currently tracking west of York County, and we expect the storm will have the most impact to our area and the Winthrop campus today and Friday, September 27. Expected impacts will be wet, windy conditions. Rains could be heavy in some areas and localized flooding is a possibility. Concerns for the campus include power outages, downed trees or tree limbs, flooding, and roof leaks.
Due to the rainfall amount and wind speed predicted during the early part of the day on Friday, Winthrop will pivot to remote work and remote classes for Friday, September 27. Faculty are instructed to hold scheduled classes but in a virtual environment.
The DiGiorgio Campus Center and West Center will remain open for regularly scheduled hours unless the campus loses power. Dining Services plans to operate in all locations and for regularly scheduled hours. If staffing becomes an issue, Markley's may close, but the Eagle Eatery will remain open. Dacus Library will be closed.
Offices must continue to function and employees who have the capability to do so are expected to work remotely according to the “Emergency or Temporary Telecommuting Approval” section of the Telecommuting or Remote Employment Policy. Remember, employees must have Winthrop-assigned equipment to work from home and they must have work assigned that can be performed remotely.
Winthrop strongly recommends that employees not attempt to travel to campus during the early portion of the day and until the storm passes unless their position has been deemed to be essential to manage the needs of the university during this emergency situation.
Options for employees who are not able to work from home:
Options for office management:
Facilities Management and Winthrop University Police employees are deemed essential to manage the needs of the university during this emergency situation and are required to report to work on campus. Supervisors will notify other employees who may also be required to report to work on campus. We ask these and any employees who report to work on Friday to stay alert to the weather and road conditions, exercise extreme caution when driving to and from campus, and to stay in close contact with supervisors if traveling to work will not be possible or will result in late arrival.
If conditions worsen resulting in the York County Government determining the need to close governmental offices, Winthrop offices would close, and classes would be cancelled. Additional information will be provided via WU Alert and the emergency website in the event this occurs.
Winthrop University’s Emergency Management Team remains in regular contact with local, county, and state agencies. Thank you for your interest in and preparation for this storm.
Sincerely,
Winthrop University Emergency Management Team
Any member of the Winthrop community (students, faculty, and staff) should sign up for WU Alert to receive text and voicemail messages with incident notifications and/or the status of any closings or delays.
While communications staff members notify all of the major local and Charlotte area media outlets of this information as well, your best and most timely source of information is WU Alert. You can expect a short WU Alert via text for most incidents, with detailed follow-up information typically coming through a voice-recorded message sent to your phone. Information also is posted on Winthrop’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter).
You may check your university e-mail or the university website for information related to incidents and closings/delays as well. Should you not have access to e-mail, the web, or other information, call the Campus Alert Line at 803/323-2222. Please do NOT call the Winthrop University Police Department for closing information, as this will tie up phone lines that may be needed for an emergency.
These are the website links you will see on the Winthrop homepage when detailed information is provided:
If a weather incident requires cancelling classes or other events on a weekend, see the policy for that scenario.
Members of the Winthrop community always should use their discretion in judging the safety of traveling to the university during periods of inclement weather. Check the Hazardous Weather/Emergency Leave Policy for details to help faculty and staff determine how inclement weather affects the work schedule.
Register your cell or landline phone number today for emergency notification