This page is being updated as information becomes available.
Student support and Bahamian relief efforts
Updated September 4, 2:30 p.m.
As we consider how fortunate we are that Hurricane Dorian did not have a direct impact on our immediate area, we must also remember that this storm has devastated the Bahamas and is currently moving north along the Eastern United States.
This fall, Florida Poly has 11 students studying with us from the Bahamas. These students are very active on campus, and contribute daily to Florida Poly. Our Bahamian students are Presidential Ambassadors, leaders of clubs, and very valuable student workers.
The Florida Poly CARE and International Student Affairs teams have reached out to each student from the Bahamas. Faculty members and supervisors are asked to be sensitive to the needs of the Bahamian students during this difficult time.
Florida Poly is working on a coordinated effort to support the Bahamas. We will be working directly with our Bahamian students to understand how we can actively support the Bahamas relief effort in the most effective way. Additional information on how you can support the Bahamas will be shared with the Florida Poly community in the next several days.
Please keep the Bahamas and all of those impacted by this hurricane, particularly those who are current students and alumni, in your thoughts as we prepare to reopen Florida Polytechnic University tomorrow, Thursday, September 5. If you are a student and you need any support relating to the storm or to support your academic success, please reach out to Florida Poly CARE Services at care@floridapoly.edu.
Thank you for your support of our Florida Poly community.
Phoenix Dining Updated Hours
Updated September 3, 11 a.m.
Phoenix Dining will be open Tuesday, Sept. 3 for one meal from 4-5 p.m. and regular dining hall hours will resume on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Regular hours for Einstein Bros Bagels and Mosaic will resume on Thursday, Sept. 5, and Tu Taco will resume on Sunday, Sept. 8. Updated hours can be found on the Phoenix Dining website.
Classes will resume Thursday, Sept. 5
Updated September 2, 7 p.m.
Campus will remain closed Wednesday, Sept. 4. Classes and all University operations will resume Thursday, Sept. 5.
As we reopen campus, we want to emphasize that safety is always the number one priority. We urge students who face unsafe travel conditions, or who may be assisting family members impacted by the hurricane, not to come to campus. Those students are encouraged to email success@floridapoly.edu for help with any missed classes or academic work. We will work with you.
The University administration will continue to monitor the situation and will provide the necessary updates by email, Facebook and Twitter. All messages will also be posted on the University website: floridapoly.edu.
Hurricane Dorian Update
Updated September 1, 1:52 p.m.
Our emergency management team continues to watch carefully Hurricane Dorian. Given the latest expected track, there may be a less direct impact to our area. However, we remain vigilant as hurricanes are not fully predictable and forecasts can change quickly. Campus and University operations will be closed through Tuesday. We will provide further updates as the storm continues to approach Florida.
We urge all students, faculty, and staff to continue monitoring your University email for all official messages. The updates will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you and stay safe.
On-campus Resident Activities
Updated August 30, 3:30 p.m.
Below is a list of weekend activities for on-campus residents who are staying through Hurricane Dorian.
Saturday, August 31
SDC open 12-5 p.m.
Shopping Shuttle: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (get your supplies!) – Shuttle Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 1
SDC open 12-5 p.m.
Event: Video Game and Pizza
Time: Begins at 6:30 p.m. Pizza served at 6:30 p.m. (first come, first served and when
it’s gone…it’s gone)
Location: Common Area of Phase 1 and Phase 2
Join us for video games and pizza (assuming that local pizza places are still open…)
Monday, Sept. 2
Event: Get Out at the SDC
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: SDC
Come to the SDC to workout, play laser tag, participate in a board game and/or play
cards. Snacks will be available!
Event: Game Night in the Res Hall
Time: Begins at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Common Area of Phase 1 and Phase 2
Bring your favorite board games and hang out with other Hurricane-bound Phoenixes.
Of course, there will be ping pong and pool to play.
Hurricane Dorian Update
Updated August 30, 1 p.m.
We continue to closely monitor Hurricane Dorian as it moves toward Florida. As was communicated yesterday, campus will remain closed through Tuesday. The impact Dorian could have on our area is still unknown. We will send another update Sunday afternoon with any information on further closures and changes to University operations.
Students, faculty, and staff should pay close attention to your @floridapoly.edu email as it is the University’s official way of communication. University messages and announcements will also be posted on Floridapoly.edu and on Facebook and Twitter.
We urge you to use this time to prepare and make sure you and your family are ready.
Thank you and stay safe.
Phoenix Dining: Adjusted Hours of Operation
Updated August 30, 12:15 p.m.
Dining has adjusted its hours at all retail locations. Please visit their website for the most up to date schedule. For additional contact Phoenix Dining Senior Director Jennifer Dignin.
Shuttle schedule changes
Updated August 30, 11:40 a.m.
The Phoenix Shuttle schedule has been updated for the next few days in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. The schedule is available on the website. For more information contact Parking and Transportation Services at 863-874-8433.
Closing Sept. 2
Updated August 29, 4 p.m
We have been closely watching Hurricane Dorian and due to its expected impact on our area, the University will be closed on Tuesday, September 3, and possibly longer. (Please note, the University is already scheduled to be closed Monday, September 2, for Labor Day). We will continue to notify our campus community via your @Floridapoly.edu email and will post announcements on our website as well as on Facebook and Twitter. It is critical that students, faculty, and staff monitor these channels for important hurricane-related announcements.
University operations will remain as scheduled on Friday, August 30.
We will continue to track the storm, its trajectory, and any potential impact it may have to campus. We will make decisions about when to reopen once it is has been determined that it is safe to do so.
We encourage students, faculty, and staff to take all necessary precautions at this time to ensure your safety.
We urge students who live on campus to stay at a safe off-campus location. There is still plenty of time before the storm is set to make landfall to ensure safe travel to an off-campus location. We will have limited services and only emergency/safety and essential personnel on campus.
For residential students, you will receive an email directly from RISE with further details regarding residence hall operations during the storm.
Please note, Florida Poly does not serve as a public shelter. Polk County has not yet announced what shelters will be open, but we will communicate that as soon we know. For the most up to date shelter information, please visit the Polk County Emergency Management website.
Students living off-campus will not have access to campus during the closure and may not stay in the residence halls. Only those who are registered residents are permitted to stay on campus.
As you know, these storms constantly change and can have a severe impact. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is always our number one concern. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to try to keep you, our students, faculty and staff safe during this storm.
Hurricane Dorian Update
Updated August 29, 10 a.m
We are closely monitoring Hurricane Dorian as it continues to move towards Florida. For our students, faculty, and staff, make sure you sign up and/or update your Florida Poly Alerts contact information to receive important emergency alerts. The University will provide hurricane-related updates through your @floridapoly.edu email as the main point of contact and will also post updates on our website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter).
At this time, University operations remain as scheduled. We will be providing another update later today.
The possible impact of Dorian to our area is still unknown, but it should be more predictable in the next couple of days. We know this may be the first time some members of the Florida Poly community experience hurricane preparation. For tips and local information, visit Polk County’s disaster preparedness website.
For the most up-to-date information regarding the hurricane and storm preparation, pay close attention to the National Hurricane Center, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Polk Emergency Operations Center and local media outlets.
We encourage you to take this time to prepare and make sure you and your family are ready.
Tropical Storm Dorian Update
Updated Tuesday, August 27, 3 p.m.
We are continuously monitoring Tropical Storm Dorian. At this time, it looks like there will not be a significant impact on our area; however, that is always subject to change. Remember the official communication to all students, faculty, and staff is your @floridapoly.edu email. Please monitor your email closely for any important updates regarding campus and the storm. We will also post any updates or messages on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you and stay safe.