Dear University of Miami Faculty,
I hope this message finds you and your families well as our community continues to monitor the weather forecasts and the track of Hurricane Dorian. In light of the current forecasts and as indicated in prior University storm alert advisories, we are currently planning for classes to resume on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Please continue to monitor the UM Emergency Management Notification: Hurricane Dorian - Situation Reports as the storm remains challenging to predict and some items remain fluid. As we return to normal, please think of our students.
For many of our students, preparing and responding to Hurricane Dorian has been a very anxious and stressful experience. In particular, our first year students were adjusting to only their third week in college, when they were faced with the additional stress of managing and making decisions regarding an uncommon and dramatic weather emergency. Many students made the decision to leave campus and/or the Miami area.
As we ramp up classes for the remainder of this week, I ask that you accommodate those who left campus and may experience some challenges returning to school on time. Be understanding and lenient. Show empathy and compassion. Do not penalize those who may not be able to make it to the initial resumption of classes as we all know the complexity of post-storm travel. ‘Canes care for ‘Canes - and now is a great chance to demonstrate a basic tenet of our campus life.
My sincere thanks for your patience as we all manage the return to normal schedules and operations. Your deans and the Office of Faculty Affairs will be available to provide you additional information (Gables/RSMAS Campus 305-284-1581; facultyaffairs.cg@miami.edu) (Medical Campus 305-243-6551;facultyaffairs@med.miami.edu).
Warm Regards,
Jeffrey L. Duerk, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
