WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — UNCW has announced classes will likely resume Oct. 1.
In a message to the campus community this afternoon, Chancellor Zito Sartarelli announced that the campus could begin reopening to staff Wednesday.
“Based on the latest information available from local and state authorities, we anticipate that our campus will be open to faculty and staff for a voluntary return as early as Wednesday, Sept. 26; and that classes will resume on October 1. Residence halls may be open as soon as 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, subject to the status of ongoing repairs,” Sartarelli wrote.
Information about damage on campus has been hard to come by. UNCW has sent out several messages, but offered few specifics other than extensive damage to Dobo Hall and issues with the school’s website and e-mail. Last night the university posted 21 photos of damage and work being done on campus.
For days all entrances to campus have been blocked off. This afternoon the school is finally opening the campus to news media to get a look at what’s been going on.
UNCW has said it would give everyone at least 72 hours notice of campus reopening.
“We are providing this tentative timeline as a means to give you as much planning time as possible,” Sartarelli said. “We wish we could provide confirmed dates, but with road conditions changing day by day, it is simply too soon to say. We will send you an update with confirmed dates as soon as we can determine them.”
In his message Sartarelli advised against anyone out of town coming back to Wilmington until state and local authorities say it is safe to do so.
“If authorities have not announced it is safe to travel back to Wilmington with ample time before our anticipated dates for faculty, staff and students to return, we will send you an amended timeline,” he said.