USF update on Hurricane Milton

USF update on Hurricane Milton

The university has provided a list of FAQs regarding Hurricane Milton here. If our list of FAQs does not address your question, a call center will be open from
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, and can be reached by calling 855-699-2710.

Updated Monday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. –

The University of South Florida continues to monitor Hurricane Milton.  The safety
of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm and
the possible impacts to the Tampa Bay region.  We urge students, faculty and staff
to plan carefully, follow local weather reports, and monitor updates from county and
state emergency management officials.

Based on the latest weather information, all classes are canceled, and all campuses
will remain closed through at least Thursday, Oct. 10.

As of now, we anticipate holding classes asynchronously on Friday, Oct. 11, which
means students will not have to meet on Friday and will instead receive an assignment
from their instructor that does not have to be completed on Friday.  No in-person
classes will be held on Friday.

As of now, we anticipate resuming remote USF business operations on Friday, Oct. 11,
with only essential and critical employees working on campus. In that case, only USF
employees who are 1) classified as essential personnel, 2) identified by their supervisors
as critical to campus operations, or 3) working in a facility that will be open on
Friday would report to work in person, in consultation with their supervisors. If
normal business operations can resume, employees who do not fall into these categories
would work remotely on Friday. Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure of
your status. Supervisors are strongly encouraged to offer flexibility for those who
may need additional time.  This may include adjusting work schedules to ensure employees
have the necessary time to focus on their safety.

A final determination about class schedules, campus reopening and remote business
operations on Friday, Oct. 11, will be made once more information is available. 

USF will close the residence halls on the Tampa campus at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct.
8.  Students who live on the Tampa campus are encouraged to leave the area if they
have options to do so safely.
Students who live on the Tampa campus and need a safe place to stay will be transported
to Jennings Middle School on Tuesday morning.  Jennings Middle School, located at
9325 Governors Run Dr., Seffner, FL 33584, serves as an approved Hillsborough County
shelter during a hurricane. 

Residence halls in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee closed at noon today.  Students
from those two campuses who need a safe place to stay were transported to the Tampa
campus, and they will also be transported to Jennings Middle School with the Tampa
campus students.  All students who go to the shelter will remain there until it is
safe to return.  

Residential students will receive more detailed information separately about exact
times and locations for evacuations.

The university continues to update the list of FAQs found here. If the FAQs do not address your question, a call center is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
on Monday, Oct. 7, and can be reached by calling 855-699-2710.

USF leadership will continue to monitor the storm and provide additional updates as
needed. Any significant updates regarding changes to normal business operations will
be shared via usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email. 


Updated Monday, Oct. 7 at 9 a.m.

The University of South Florida continues to monitor Hurricane Milton.  The safety
of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm and
the possible impacts to the Tampa Bay region.   
 
Based on the latest weather information, USF has made the following decisions:

  • On Monday, Oct. 7, no in-person classes will be held, and all campuses will be closed. Classes will only be delivered asynchronously, which means students will not have to meet on Monday and they will receive an assignment
    from their instructor that does not have to be completed on Monday or while the university
    is closed.  Students and faculty will receive more detailed information separately.
     Faculty are asked to be patient, understanding and flexible with their students under
    the circumstances.  
  • On Monday, Oct. 7, normal USF business operations will continue remotely. Only USF employees who are 1) classified as essential personnel, 2) identified by
    their supervisors as critical to campus operations, or 3) working in a facility that
    will remain open on Monday should report to work in person, in consultation with their
    supervisors. Employees who do not fall into these categories should work remotely
    on Monday.  Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure of your status.  Supervisors
    are strongly encouraged to offer flexibility for those who may need additional time
    to prepare their families, homes and personal belongings ahead of the storm. This
    may include adjusting work schedules to ensure employees have the necessary time to
    focus on their safety.
  • On Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Wednesday, Oct. 9, all classes are canceled and all campuses
    will be closed.
    No asynchronous course delivery will occur for classes scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday.
     Only USF employees who are 1) classified as essential personnel or 2) identified
    by their supervisors as critical to campus operations should report to work, come
    to campus or work remotely on Tuesday and Wednesday. Non-essential personnel or those
    not deemed critical to campus operations by their supervisor are not expected to work
    on Tuesday or Wednesday.  

A decision about resuming classes, reopening campuses and returning to normal business
operations for Thursday, Oct. 10, will be made at a later time.
  

As soon as campuses close, academic and research buildings will move to emergency
mode to allow response teams to prepare for impending weather. Once buildings move
to emergency mode, only emergency personnel will be permitted to enter until campuses
re-open.

Students who live on any USF campus are encouraged to leave the area if they have
options to do so safely.

  • Residence halls on the Tampa remain open as of now. However, depending on the path
    and intensity of the storm, the Tampa campus may need to evacuate, and the residence
    halls would have to close.  If that happens, students remaining on campus would be
    transported to approved county shelters until it is safe to return.
  • Residence halls in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee will be closing by noon on
    Monday. St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee students who need a safe place to stay
    will be transported to the Tampa campus. If the Tampa campus is required to evacuate,
    students remaining on campus would be transported to approved county shelters until
    it is safe to return.  

Residential students will receive more specific information about evacuation plans
separately.

USF Health clinical facilities will be open on Monday, Oct. 7. Decisions about Tuesday, Oct. 8, and Wednesday, Oct. 9 will be announced later. USF
Health patients may call 813-821-8038 to reschedule their appointments. 

We urge students, faculty and staff to plan carefully, follow local weather reports
and monitor updates from county and state emergency management officials. The USF Hurricane Guide also serves as a valuable resource for the university community.   

USF leadership will continue to monitor the storm and provide additional updates as
needed. Any significant updates regarding changes to normal business operations will
be shared via usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email. 

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