Weather Advisory

Monitoring Tropical Storm Milton

Saint Leo University is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Milton and working with local, state, and federal authorities. The Hurricane Operations Team is meeting Sunday evening to determine next steps for the University and will issue an update as soon possible.

Currently, all University locations are operating business as usual.

Please monitor the Saint Leo University website and email for updates.

Saint Leo University issues closures due to Tropical Storm Milton

Saint Leo University has made the decision to close the following locations for students from Monday, October 7 – Thursday, October 10, in response to Tropical Storm Milton:
 

• University Campus
• Tampa Education Center
• Center for Adult Learning

This means classes offered at these locations are canceled, and students should not report to these locations. Students at the Key West Education Center should look to the base for closure information. All other university locations are currently operating business as usual, but should continue to monitor the website for updates.

All employees at these locations need to report to work on Monday, October 7, to prepare their areas for the storm. After Monday, only essential personnel will be permitted at these locations from Tuesday, October 8 – Thursday, October 10.

Instructions for University Campus Residential Students
University Campus residence students are encouraged to go home or stay with friends if they are safely able to do so. Students who plan to leave campus during the storm should use the Student Storm Tracker to update their information. The username is your Saint Leo email address, and the password is the same as your current portal password.

University Campus residential students who choose to remain on campus during the storm will be assigned to shelter in one of the three shelter buildings on campus, beginning the afternoon of Tuesday, October 8. The shelters are hurricane rated but provide limited amenities. Students will be sleeping on the floor, so leaving campus if possible is highly encouraged. The Dining Hall will remain open for service until then. Afterward, meals will be provided in the shelters.

Please note, University Campus commuter students are not permitted to shelter on campus during the storm.

Information for Employees
Non-essential personnel who work at University Campus, the Tampa Education Center, and the Center for Adult Learning should not report to work at these locations from October 8 - 10. These absence days should be marked as a “University Closure” in Workday. Employees who are designated as essential personnel should speak with their supervisors for more information.

Course Flexibility
If possible, course information will be posted online in D2L or sent by email for students at these locations. The university recognizes that this may be a challenging time for students and families as they prepare for the storm. Please know that flexibility will be provided and consideration for course assignments and deadlines will be taken into account for students living in areas affected by the storm. Students who are facing issues in attending classes or completing assignments should contact their instructors.

Check for Additional Updates
The university will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Milton in partnership with appropriate agencies through the week. Information about reopening will be provided following the storm on the Saint Leo University website and the Everbridge app (Apple App or Google Play), which is the university’s emergency notification system.

Saint Leo University extends closure due to Hurricane Milton

Saint Leo University has made the decision to extend its closure from now through Friday, October 11, in response to forecast changes for Hurricane Milton. Closures are extended for the following locations:

• University Campus
• Tampa Education Center
• Center for Adult Learning

This means classes offered at these locations are canceled, and students and employees should not report to these locations. Students at the Key West Education Center should look to the base for closure information. All other university locations are currently operating business as usual, but should continue to monitor the website for updates.

Only essential personnel will be permitted at these locations through Friday, October 11 and until the University announces the all clear. University Campus is not a designated shelter for faculty, staff, or the public. Please do not come to campus until the all clear is announced.

Instructions for University Campus Residential Students

University Campus residence students are encouraged to go home or stay with friends if they are safely able to do so. Students who plan to leave campus before  the storm should use the Student Storm Tracker to update their information. The username is your Saint Leo email address, and the password is the same as your current portal password.

University Campus residential students who choose to remain on campus during the storm will be assigned to shelter in one of the three shelter buildings on campus, beginning the morning of Wednesday, October 9. The shelters are hurricane rated but provide limited amenities. Students will be sleeping on the floor, so leaving campus, if possible, is highly encouraged. The Dining Hall will remain open for service through Tuesday dinner. Afterward, meals will be provided in the shelters.

Please note, University Campus commuter students are not permitted to shelter on campus during the storm.

Information for Employees

Non-essential personnel who work at University Campus, the Tampa Education Center, and the Center for Adult Learning should not report to work at these locations from October 8 - 11. These absence days should be marked as a “University Closure” in Workday. Employees who are designated as essential personnel should speak with their supervisors for more information.

Course Flexibility

If possible, course information will be posted online in D2L or sent by email for students at these locations. The university recognizes that this may be a challenging time for students and families as they prepare for the storm. Please know that flexibility will be provided and consideration for course assignments and deadlines will be taken into account for students living in areas affected by the storm. Students who are facing issues in attending classes or completing assignments should contact their instructors.

Check for Additional Updates

The university will continue to monitor Hurricane Milton in partnership with appropriate agencies through the week. Information about reopening will be provided following the storm on the Saint Leo University website and the Everbridge app (Apple App or Google Play), which is the university’s emergency notification system.

Saint Leo University issues status updates following Hurricane Milton

Saint Leo University is sharing new updates on the operating status of several locations following Hurricane Milton and the assessment of campus facilities:

University Campus Students
Students who sheltered on campus during the storm are safe and a significant majority have returned to their residence halls. Facilities Management team members and expert companies are now working to clean up a significant amount of debris, assess damage, and restore the Marmion-Snyder residence halls, Villa, Wellness Center, and several other facilities. Because of the work needed, University Campus students will have online classes and/or assignments from Monday, October 14 through Friday, October 18, if their faculty are able to access electricity and the internet.

The University is encouraging residential students who are able to stay at home or with friends and family to remain there. However, residential students who do not have a place to stay and need to return to campus may do so starting Saturday, October 12. Only the Student Community Center, including the Dining Hall, and residence halls will be open through October 18 while the campus grounds are being cleared. Students who live in the Marmion-Snyder residence halls and the Villa should contact residence.life@saintleo.edu during business hours and before returning to campus to find out their temporary room assignment or shelter location. 

University Campus Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff will work from home Monday, October 14 through Friday, October 18, and are not permitted on campus during this timeframe and until the all-clear is announced by the University. Essential personnel should contact their supervisors to learn more about their specific work schedules. Faculty and staff who are facing hardships after the storm and not able to work online should notify their supervisors. Accommodations may be arranged to work on campus. Supervisors should email Heidi D’Ambrosio about employees who need to come to campus. Please provide the employee’s name, work date, time of campus visit, and location of office. 

Tampa Education Center and Center for Adult Learning
Classes at the Tampa Education Center and Center for Adult Learning will move to online through Friday, October 18. The University is still assessing these facilities and will send a communication when in-person classes will resume. Students facing hardships after the storm should notify their instructors. Instructors facing hardships should notify their supervisors.

Working Together after the Storm
The University recognizes this is a difficult and challenging time for students and families as they recover from the storm. It is also a difficult time for Saint Leo University faculty and staff.

Please know that flexibility will be provided and consideration for course assignments and deadlines will be considered for students living in areas affected by the storm. Students who are facing issues in attending classes or completing assignments should contact their instructors.

Students should also understand that many faculty were also affected by the hurricane. Students should be flexible as the university works to ensure their courses are covered. Faculty and staff facing hardships following the hurricane should notify their supervisors.