For the most up-to-date information, follow @UCF and @UCFPolice on Twitter. You can also check this article for more details.

General Questions | For Students | For Faculty and Staff

General Questions

How long will UCF be closed?

UCF closed Friday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. and will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 5. The campus will reopen on Friday, Sept. 6.

Essential university employees may be required to work while the university is closed. Please discuss your schedule with your supervisor.

Did UCF sustain any major damage from the storm?

No. We are grateful UCF was spared from major impact. There was no reported power loss and only minimal debris, which is being cleaned up today. Facilities team members are inspecting campus buildings to prepare for reopening on Friday.

Now that the storm has passed, is there anything I can do to help?

UCF encourages you to remember that Knights Pantry is available to take donations of any extra, unneeded hurricane supplies. Knights Pantry relies on the support of the UCF community to provide food, toiletries, and clothing to students in need. The Pantry is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Donations can be made around the clock at any of the donation bins spread across campus.

More about the Pantry as well as a list of items in high demand can be found here.

Does the closure apply to all UCF locations?

Yes, the closure affects all UCF campuses and locations, including UCF Downtown, the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and all UCF Connect regional campuses. All online courses are also canceled. Following the lead of the main campus, all UCF Connect locations will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 5. Some regional campuses may remain closed until their partner institutions resume operations.

Daytona State College/UCF Daytona: All campuses closed at noon Friday and will remain closed until further notice.

Eastern Florida State College will be closed through this week, with plans to reopen on Monday, Sept. 9. UCF Cocoa and UCF Palm Bay will remain closed as long as Eastern Florida State College does.

Lake-Sumter State College/ UCF Leesburg and UCF South Lake: All campuses close at 5 p.m. Saturday and remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 5.

Seminole State College/ UCF Altamonte and UCF Sanford/Lake Mary: All campuses will be closed for all operations, classes (including online classes) and activities from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, until further notice.

Valencia College: All Valencia College campuses are closed through Thursday, Sept. 5, and will reopen Friday, Sept. 6.

Will all campus events be canceled?

Yes. All campus events from 5 p.m. Friday through Thursday, Sept. 5 are canceled, including Pegasus Palooza events and Theatre UCF performances.

How do I sign up to receive UCF Alerts?

All students, faculty and staff members are automatically enrolled to receive UCF Alert text and email messages.

To update contact information, log in to your myUCF account. Click on Student or Employee Self Service on the left-hand side. Under Personal Information, click on UCF Alert. Fill in the required information and click save.

UCF students and employees also may add secondary email accounts, such as for a parent or partner.

Where can my loved ones and I find the latest information about UCF’s status?

UCF will continue to post updates here, on UCF’s website and through the UCF and UCF Police Department social media accounts, primarily Facebook (UCF and UCFPD) and Twitter (@UCF and @UCFPolice).

When will campus reopen?

UCF will reopen Friday, Sept. 6. Continue to check your email and UCF’s social media accounts for additional updates.

What dining options are open on campus?

Several dining options have reopened on campus.

Open at Knights Plaza are Dunkin’, Burger U, Subway, Domino’s, Gringos Locos and Jimmy John’s. Knightro’s will open on Thursday at 11 a.m. and Pop Parlour will open on Friday.

In the John T. Washington Center, Foxtail in Barnes & Noble will open Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m and Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Domino’s will open Thursday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Chick-fil-A will open at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

At the Student Union, Smoothie King will open at 11 a.m. on Thursday and at 7 a.m. on Friday. Also opening on Friday are Cafe Bustelo (8 a.m.), Qdoba (10 a.m.), Panda Express (10:30 a.m.), Huey Magoos (10:30 a.m.) and Knightstop (9 a.m.).

Additionally, Smoothie King at the Recreation and Wellness Center opens at 7 a.m. Friday, ’63 South opens at 11 a.m. Friday, and the Barnes & Noble Cafe at Knights Plaza opens at 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

What goes into making a decision to shut down campus?

Although closing campus disrupts classes, research and normal university operations, safety is the absolute priority.

Timing for campus closures is designed to give our community time to prepare before a storm’s forecasted impact and evacuate if they choose.

What if my parking permit expired on Saturday?

Due to the campus closures, we have temporarily extended the parking decal renewal deadline.

How seriously should I take Hurricane Dorian?

Hurricanes are large storms that produce fast winds and heavy rain. There are five types of hurricanes based on wind speed.

Hurricanes can produce heavy flooding and lead to power outages and other hazardous damage. The dangerous wind speeds also make it unsafe for first responders to be on the roads during the height of the storm.

That’s why it’s critical that you have a plan for a safe location to ride-out the storm that includes stocking up on any supplies necessary to sustain you for 72 hours, should the storm’s impact prevent regular businesses and services from immediate reopening once the storm passes.

For Students

Will academic assignment due dates during the campus closure be enforced?

No. The closure means that academic assignments, including those for online classes, are suspended until the university reopens. In addition, UCF has encouraged faculty to be flexible with students who heeded early warnings and chose to evacuate. Students should not be impacted academically for putting their personal safety first.

Students with specific questions about due dates should reach out to their faculty members.

Can I return to my room on campus if I’ve already evacuated?

Students can return to their on-campus residencies at any time, but we encourage them to err on the side of caution when it comes to their personal safety.

Will police and medical personnel be available during the storm?

For emergency help, call 911.

Will counseling and health services be available?

Yes, Counseling and Psychological Services’ 24/7 crisis line can be reached at 407-823-2811.

Student Health Services will not offer services Saturday through Thursday. Students with non-urgent health concerns may call the 24-Hour Nurse Line (855-870-3647).

Are financial aid disbursement, tuition deadlines or housing payments affected?

Deadlines for tuition and fee payments and for housing payments have been extended to Friday, Sept. 13. Students who wish to enroll in a tuition payment plan have until Friday, Sept. 13, to do so. UCF is making every effort to keep financial aid disbursement on schedule.

For Faculty and Staff

Will I be required to work during the closure?

Some essential and critical employees will be required to work after the university closes operations. Employees should speak with their supervisor concerning essential operations. Supervisors are encouraged to ensure employees who may need to work during the storm have adequate time to prepare their homes and help loved ones prepare for the storm.

Does the closure impact UCF researchers who have ongoing projects on UCF’s campuses?

Yes. All experiments that cannot be easily terminated or will need to be monitored during the storm should be postponed immediately and ongoing experiments involving biological materials, radioactive agents and hazardous chemicals should be suspended Friday until the storm has passed and the university is no longer at a state of emergency. Personnel are prohibited from staying in their laboratory to ride out the storm.

If I notice a maintenance issue with my office, lab or classroom how can I get it fixed? 

Work orders can be submitted here. Please note that facilities staffing is limited until campus reopens on Friday, but all work orders will be addressed as quickly as possible.

Will counseling and health services be available for employees?

Employees who are having concerns or anxiety related to the weather or who are in emotional crisis can contact UCF’s Employee Assistance Program, HealthAdvocate, for assistance. Eligible employees and their dependents can receive free, confidential assistance anytime 24/7 by calling 877-240-6863.