Area Colleges Hunker Down for Irene

It’s the calm before the storm, and area colleges are keeping a “weather eye” for signs of Irene’s arrival.

As the storm slowly makes its way up the coast, students in low-lying areas to the south have already been evacuated, and those more inland are being encouraged to complete move-in plans as quickly as possible and make appropriate preparations.

• American University: Students will be able to check-in and move-in 24 hours a day over the weekend. Those unable to arrive this weekend, can check-in and move-in during the week. It is expected that the university will be open on Monday for classes and certain scheduled events.
  


• Catholic University: Returning students were permitted to move-in a day early, and student meal plans began with breakfast on Saturday morning.
  


• Christopher Newport University: All students were told to leave the campus by noon on Friday and were advised that items left behind should be stored off the floor and covered with plastic. The university will assume no responsibility for belongings left in rooms. Residence halls will reopen on Monday at 4 p.m., and classes will resume Tuesday.
  


• College of William & Mary: Students were asked to evacuate. Campus buildings, including residence halls were closed on Friday. The opening convocation and all campus events have been canceled through Monday.
  


• George Mason University: Move-in plans have been adjusted to allow students to check in early, and all students were encouraged to check-in on Friday. All students are encouraged to exercise caution and keep emergency supplies such as first aid kit, medication, flashlight, batteries, water, and non-perishable food for their convenience.
  


• George Washington University: Residence halls were opened on Friday instead of Saturday so students could get settled before the storm begins. Many scheduled events and activities have been canceled including the GW vs. Georgetown volleyball game.
  


• Georgetown University: In anticipation of adverse conditions, the university will allow any student to arrive late and move in after Sunday when the storm is expected to have passed the DC region. Convocation has been postponed until Tuesday. In the meantime, Georgetown has brought in four additional industrial grade generators and will prioritize supplying power so that those on campus may be adequately fed and sheltered.
  


• Johns Hopkins University: Saturday classes will be held as scheduled. All Homewood freshman orientation events will be canceled after 6 pm on Saturday and all day Sunday, including Freshman Convocation.
  


• Loyola University Maryland: First-year students scheduled to arrive this weekend for pre-orientation programs will arrive on Monday. The university will be closed from 12 am to 4 pm on Sunday.
  


• Marymount University: The university is prepared with supplies of bottled water, non-perishable food, and emergency lighting. Students are reminded that candles and open flames of any kind are prohibited in campus buildings.
  


• Norfolk State University: Classes were cancelled on Friday and Saturday, and students living in residence halls were encouraged to leave the area.



• Old Dominion University: The University closed residence halls on Thursday and offered to shuttle students to bus and train stations or to the airport. Staff will assess damage on Monday and decide at that time when to resume classes.



• Regent University: The university will remain closed through Sunday. Further announcements about when the university will re-open will be made after university officials make an assessment on Sunday.



• Salisbury University: Hurricane Irene’s effects are expected to be felt starting Saturday afternoon, and the storm is expected to pass through the area sometime early Sunday. After the storm passes, university officials will assess conditions. Classes have been cancelled for Monday, but the campus is expected to be open.



• St. Mary’s College of Maryland: The first day of classes has been moved from Monday to Tuesday so that returning students can delay move-in until after the storm passes. SMCM is sheltering in place for students who wish to stay, but the waterfront is closed for all activities and the college is closed to visitors except for family members bringing students who have already been approved for move-in on Saturday.



• Towson University: Because the Governor has declared a state of emergency, the University has cancelled its weekend move-in plans and postponed the Welcome to Towson program. First year students scheduled to move-in on Saturday now MUST move in on Monday. Saturday move-in is cancelled. Note that Towson will be sheltering approximately 600 international students who were working in Ocean City and Salisbury for the summer. Red Cross volunteers are on hand to assist.
  


• Univesity of Mary Washington: All UMW classes are canceled for Monday, and classes for the semester will begin on Tuesday. For returning students, residence halls will be open for move-in on Monday.



• University of Maryland—College Park: Students are asked not to arrive after 4:00 on Saturday and until after the storm has passed. Students in a position to go home for the duration of the storm and can travel there safely are asked to consider that as an option for the duration of the severe weather. University officials anticipate regular activities will resume on campus after the storm has passed through on Sunday.



• University of Richmond: All classes and activities at the university are cancelled for Saturday. Normal campus operations will resume at 10:00 on Sunday. Most university transportation options will not operate on Saturday, and major campus facilities will close at 2 pm Saturday afternoon. All School of Continuing Studies classes and activities scheduled for Sunday are canceled as well. Boxed meals will be available for Saturday dinner that can be picked up before 2:00.



• Virginia State University: All classes have been canceled until Monday.