Letter from Chancellor Robinson – Hurricane Florence

Dear Ram Family,

As the last pieces of Hurricane Florence – now a tropical depression – leave the area, we are grateful that Winston-Salem State University has escaped this deadly storm relatively unscathed. While we have had some minor localized flooding and some downed tree limbs, our campus has fared remarkably well. Unfortunately, many others in the state have not been as lucky.

In eastern regions of North Carolina, Hurricane Florence dealt a difficult blow. Many members of our campus community have friends, family, and loved ones who are facing significant flooding, power outages, and storm damage. We recognize that not all students may be able to return to campus when classes resume tomorrow. We are asking our faculty to work with students to navigate missed classes, late assignments, and rescheduled exams. We also encourage students who need additional mental health support as they transition back to campus to call the Student Wellness Center at 336-750-3301 or the Dean of Students at 336-750-3356. We likewise ask supervisors to be flexible with employees who experienced storm damage or who may wish to help family and friends in more heavily impacted areas of the state. Please contact Human Resources with any questions about leave and benefits.

Many UNC System schools—in particular UNC Wilmington and UNC Pembroke—sustained significant damage to their campuses. We are offering our full support to our colleagues as they work to resume normal operations. Several WSSU staff members will be traveling to Wilmington this week to assist with recovery. We are awaiting guidance from UNC System regarding coordinated relief efforts and will make you aware of any opportunities to support victims of the storm.

Finally, I want to thank the entire campus community for being flexible and cooperative during the last five days. University Police and Public Safety, Facilities, Dining Services, University Recreation, Student Wellness, Housing and Residential Life, Emergency Management, and many other campus service providers demonstrated their commitment to keeping our students safe, fed, healthy, and productive throughout this weather event. We appreciate their dedication to the Ram Family.

Sincerely,

Elwood L. Robinson, Ph.D.