Dear Campus Community,
Due to the latest timing of the winter weather forecast, the College of Charleston campus will close at 2 p.m. today, January 21, two hours earlier than announced yesterday, and will be closed all day tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22. Classes scheduled for 2 p.m. and later Tuesday (today) and all day on Wednesday (tomorrow), January 22, will move to e-learning. Faculty will update students regarding instructional plans for individual classes. For general information about online learning during a campus closure, please refer to emergency.cofc.edu.
College staff will receive guidance from their division heads and supervisors regarding work hours/modes and campus operations for Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. Essential College operations will be maintained to keep campus safe and secure. Where possible, employees will work remotely, and campus support operations will be conducted remotely Tuesday afternoon (today) and Wednesday (tomorrow).
Addlestone Library will close today at 4 p.m., but to meet the needs of our campus community and maintain academic continuity, the library will continue to offer virtual services until 8 p.m. this evening. The library’s virtual services will resume Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and continue until campus reopens.
By no later than Wednesday afternoon, the College’s Emergency Management Team will update the campus community regarding class and work schedules/modes for Thursday, January 23.
Residence halls will remain open, and dining and necessary support services will continue to be provided. Everyone is encouraged to avoid vehicular travel unless an emergency exists. Please use caution when traveling on foot outdoors.
Campus Dining Hours
Tuesday, January 21
- Liberty St. Food Hall and The Market are open until 7 p.m.
- All other locations continue with regular hours until 4 p.m.
Wednesday, January 22
- Liberty St. Food Hall: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- The Market: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Students can use multiple meal taps at The Market for items to stock up. Please visit Campus Services’ Dining Updates section for further updates to dining hours.
The goal is to provide access to Campus Recreation facilities as much as possible. Please refer to their website for updates on open hours and locations.
The Forecast
The National Weather Service is forecasting dangerous wind chills of 14 degrees beginning tonight and continuing until Thursday morning. Rain will begin this afternoon in Charleston, changing to a sleet/snow mix this evening. Snow is forecasted to accumulate into Wednesday morning, with approximately 2-3 inches expected.
Cold Weather Tips
If you go outdoors:
- Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat and mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
- Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
- If traveling in a vehicle, consider taking a blanket, extra coat and boots in the event your vehicle becomes disabled.
- Make certain cell phone batteries are fully charged.
- Watch for patches of ice when walking and driving. Remember, bridges have a tendency to freeze before roadways.
On campus:
- Report leaking or ruptured pipes and other building issues on campus to Facilities Management using the Facilities Work Orders tile in MyPortal.
- For campus emergencies, contact College of Charleston Public Safety Department by calling 911. For non-emergencies, contact Public Safety at 843.953.5609.
If you live off campus:
- Ensure doors and windows are closed to prevent cold air from entering buildings and reaching water lines.
- Keep thermostats at a reasonable temperature and avoid any setting below 60 degrees.
- Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
- Protect water pipes by allowing faucets to drip slowly.
- Bring pets inside.
Additional tips on preparing for and staying safe during periods of extreme cold can be found on the National Weather Service website.
Sincerely,
CofC Emergency Management Team