Hurricane Ian Updates

As UCF has prepared to re-open, we have been working closely with our community partners and monitoring local conditions.

We have learned that several of our local school districts have conducted assessments and that they will be unable to re-open as planned and will remain closed through Monday, Oct 3.

In response to these additional last-minute closures, and to further support students and employees, UCF now plans to re-open Tuesday, Oct 4. Students who have already returned to campus will have access to dining, recreation and wellness, and other student services.

We will continue to update any changes via the UCF Alert system.

Friday, Sept. 30, Update

UCF will reopen for classes and normal operations on Monday, Oct. 3. We understand the impacts of Hurricane Ian vary across Central Florida, and we are asking for patience and compassion for those who are continuing to feel the effects of the storm.

As we reopen, faculty and supervisors are asked to demonstrate empathy and provide flexibility to students and employees given Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic impact. It is important that employees and supervisors check in with one another as we prepare to reopen.

For Students

• Students with outstanding needs can contact Student Care Services by filling out this form or emailing CareManager@ucf.edu.
• UCF Housing communities remain open and are safe for students to return to.
• Some campus services are already beginning to reopen to provide students access to dinning and recreational facilities over the weekend.

For Faculty

• Classes at UCF remain canceled through Saturday. No homework should be assigned or required to be submitted by UCF faculty during this time.
• Some students may struggle with returning to academics on Monday. Faculty should be understanding of the challenges students may be facing and should be as accommodating as possible.

For Staff

• Supervisors are strongly encouraged to exercise empathy, understanding and flexibility.
• Employees should be clear with their supervisors about the storm’s personal impact and their ability to report to work on Monday.
• Our Employee Assistance Program is available to provide work, life and mental health support for you.

We will continue to provide updates on ucf.edu/hurricane and social media, including information on support mechanisms and tools to provide assistance to our students, faculty and staff members.

Thursday, Sept. 29, Update 2

Classes on Saturday, Oct. 1, are canceled. We know many in our community are feeling the storm’s effects, and we want all of our Knights to be as safe as possible.

The university is reviewing our timeline for resuming critical operations, and we will provide additional updates on Friday, Sept. 30, about our reopening plans.

All academic assignments, including for all classes with online components, are suspended until classes resume.

UCF remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. We will continue to share updated information regularly through UCF Alert, ucf.edu/hurricane and social media.

Thursday, Sept. 29, Update 1

Though Hurricane Ian has been downgraded to a tropical storm, Central Florida continues to feel its impact. UCF’s campuses remain closed.

We know many in our community are feeling the storm’s effects, and we want all of our Knights to be as safe as possible. For those in Central Florida, this means staying indoors and off the roads until the storm has passed. For those who traveled elsewhere to ride out the storm, please do not return to campus until we have communicated it is safe to do so.

We will provide an update Friday, Sept. 30, on our reopening timeline.

UCF remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. We will continue to share updated information regularly through UCF Alert, ucf.edu/hurricane and social media.

Wednesday, Sept. 28 Update

UCF’s campuses are closed as Hurricane Ian moves toward Central Florida.

We care about all of our Knights and want you to be as safe as possible. Now is the time to stay indoors until the storm has passed and the university has assessed the status of campus.

We will provide an update Friday, Sept. 30, on our reopening timeline.

UCF remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. We will continue to share updated information regularly through UCF Alert, ucf.edu/hurricane and social media.

Tuesday, Sept. 27 Update

Current forecasts call for sustained tropical storm force winds to impact the Orlando area from Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning.

Students who can safely return home or to another location to ride out the storm will be more comfortable there and should leave as soon as their classes are finished today.

Campus operations will now be closed from Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Sept. 30. We expect to reopen Saturday, Oct. 1, and we will continue to provide regular updates about reopening.

Family Weekend activities are canceled, and the Office of First Year Experience will be reaching out to registered guests. Saturday’s home football game remains slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, and UCF Athletics will communicate additional information.

Effective at 4 p.m. Wednesday, University Boulevard will be the only entrance to campus and only critical personnel and student on-campus residents will be allowed to enter campus from there. All exits will remain open.

FOR STUDENTS

• UCF Campuses will be closed Wednesday through Friday, and access to all buildings and services will be unavailable.
• Students who will remain in their residence halls should purchase food and supplies today. Grocery shuttles are available from the main and Downtown campuses to nearby Publix stores.
• The University cannot guarantee power and wifi. Access to food, water and police and medical assistance will depend on storm conditions.
• All academic assignments, including for all classes with online components, are suspended beginning Wednesday, Sept. 28, until classes resume.
• UCF is encouraging faculty members to be understanding that students will be putting their personal safety first.

FOR EMPLOYEES

• UCF will now be closed for campus operations on Friday.
• During the campus closure, only essential employees are expected to work. Supervisors are encouraged to ensure all employees have adequate time to prepare their homes and help loved ones prepare for the storm.

For Wednesday through Friday, employees should follow the instructions below for tracking their time. Please refer to the Emergency Closure knowledge article for instructions and graphics related to how to report emergency closure time off in Workday.

Non-exempt and exempt employees:

• Non-exempt/hourly employees (USPS and A&P) must use the Emergency Closing Time Off category to report their time off for days when the university closes operations.
• Non-exempt/hourly OPS/student employees cannot be paid for time not physically worked.
• Exempt/salaried employees (including faculty) do not need to report emergency closure time off. No special time tracking code is required.

Essential workers:

• Non-exempt essential workers (USPS and A&P) must use the FEMA Time Worked (In/Out) category to report time worked during the emergency closure.
• Exempt essential workers must use the Emergency Closing Worked category to track time worked during the emergency closure. UCF uses this category solely for the purposes of FEMA reimbursement for storm-related expenses.
• Non-exempt/hourly OPS/student employees who are required to work during the closure must use the FEMA Time Worked (In/Out) category to report time worked during the emergency closure.

UCF remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. We will continue to share updated information regularly through UCF Alert, ucf.edu/hurricane and social media.

n anticipation of Hurricane Ian’s expected impact on Central Florida, classes are canceled Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30, and the university will close for operations Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29. Operations are expected to resume on Friday, Sept. 30, with classes expected to resume Saturday, Oct. 1. We will continue to provide any updates.

Though uncertainty remains in the latest forecasts, we are making this decision based on the expectation of inclement weather, including possible tropical storm force winds and widespread rain, in Central Florida later this week. All academic assignments, including for all classes with online components, are suspended beginning Wednesday, Sept. 28, until classes resume.

Please take time to get your storm preparations in order and review your personal hurricane safety plans before the onset of severe weather.

UCF Housing will remain open for students in all residential communities, though students who can safely return home may be more comfortable doing so. Due to the storm, comforts such as power, wi-fi, and police and medical assistance may be limited, and dining, study and recreation locations will be closed. Students who need to purchase additional food or supplies can ride grocery shuttles Tuesday from the main and Downtown campuses to nearby Publix stores.

Saturday’s home football game remains slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Most Family Weekend activities scheduled for Friday are canceled, with Saturday and Sunday’s activities expected to be held as planned.

Some essential and critical employees will be activated 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.

UCF’s Emergency Management team remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. We will continue to share updated information regularly through UCF Alert, ucf.edu/hurricane and social media.

Monday, Sept. 26 Update

In anticipation of Hurricane Ian’s expected impact on Central Florida, classes are canceled Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30, and the university will close for operations Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29. Operations are expected to resume on Friday, Sept. 30, with classes expected to resume Saturday, Oct. 1. We will continue to provide any updates.

Though uncertainty remains in the latest forecasts, we are making this decision based on the expectation of inclement weather, including possible tropical storm force winds and widespread rain, in Central Florida later this week. All academic assignments, including for all classes with online components, are suspended beginning Wednesday, Sept. 28, until classes resume.

Please take time to get your storm preparations in order and review your personal hurricane safety plans before the onset of severe weather.

UCF Housing will remain open for students in all residential communities, though students who can safely return home may be more comfortable doing so. Due to the storm, comforts such as power, wi-fi, and police and medical assistance may be limited, and dining, study and recreation locations will be closed. Students who need to purchase additional food or supplies can ride grocery shuttles Tuesday from the main and Downtown campuses to nearby Publix stores.

Saturday’s home football game remains slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Most Family Weekend activities scheduled for Friday are canceled, with Saturday and Sunday’s activities expected to be held as planned.

Some essential and critical employees will be activated 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.

UCF’s Emergency Management team remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. We will continue to share updated information regularly through UCF Alert, ucf.edu/hurricane and social media.

Sunday, Sept. 25 Update

Forecasts for Tropical Storm Ian show significant uncertainty, and it is currently too soon to know whether the storm will pose a direct threat to Central Florida. Campus operations are normal at this time.

UCF’s Emergency Management team remains in active communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. On Monday, Sept. 26, we will assess updated projections and provide more information about university operations for the week ahead, to include decisions about classes, campus operations, UCF Housing and Family Weekend.

The UCF Alert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community informed. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via getrave.com/login/ucf.

More information about how to prepare for a hurricane and UCF’s hurricane protocols are available at ucf.edu/hurricane.

Friday, Sept. 23 Update

UCF is in communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information. On Sunday, Sept. 25, we will assess the latest projections and provide an update about university operations for the week ahead. Decisions about classes, campus operations and UCF Housing would be communicated at that time.

Now is the time for you to consider your personal hurricane plan. In the event of a hurricane forecast to impact Central Florida, UCF Housing residents would be strongly encouraged to relocate off campus. Employees designated as critical may still be required to work in the event of a campus closure.

Everyone should take some time this weekend to prepare a hurricane kit, which should include enough food and water for three days, along with any necessary medications. Hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30.

The UCF Alert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community informed. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via getrave.com/login/ucf.

More information about how to prepare for a hurricane and UCF’s hurricane protocols are available at ucf.edu/hurricane.