Snow Impact this Weekend: Residential Student Move In and More

TLDR: 

• Significant snowstorm expected to impact residential student move-in on Sun., Jan. 7. 
• Residential students should consider moving in on either Mon., Jan. 8 or Tues., Jan 9.  
• For those who can’t move in Mon. or Tues., residence halls will open Sat. at 9 am. 
• Dining services will not resume until Sun., Jan 7. Hours of operation are here. 
• Surface parking lots can be used for brief drop off for students moving into residence halls but will be closed otherwise until Mon., Jan 8 at 6 am. 

Dear WPI Community, 

The National Weather Service has forecast a snowstorm that will bring upwards of 10” to 12” inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday (January 6 and 7, 2024). The storm will impact our residence hall reopening, scheduled to start Sunday, January 7. 

• We strongly encourage students to delay their return until Monday or Tuesday.  
• All residence halls will open Saturday at 9 am to accommodate students unable to delay their move in.  
• All student IDs will be activated as of Saturday at 9 am to allow access.  
• Students may move in Sunday but are encouraged to use extreme caution; roads and sidewalks are expected to be slippery. 
• Students do not need to call or email the Housing and Residential Experience Center with their plans, unless they have a specific issue.  

IMPORTANT: Given this late change in opening plans, dining halls and Campus Center food services will not be open until Sunday as originally scheduled. Students who choose to return to campus on Saturday should be prepared to provide their own meals until Sunday at dinnertime.  

Parking 

• All WPI surface parking lots will close at 9 pm on Friday, January 5 and reopen at 6 am on Monday, January 8.  
• Students returning to residence halls may use the lots for short-term parking while they move in but must then move their cars to the Gateway Garage; gates will open upon approach.  
• Students living off campus (including in Greek houses) may park in the Gateway Garage as well.  
• Vehicles should be removed from the Gateway Garage by 9 pm Monday, January 8. 
• Students are asked not to park in the Park Avenue Garage.  

Please note: The City of Worcester will tow and/or ticket cars left on the street if there is a declared parking ban. The city imposes its own parking restrictions on city streets bordering the campus. Those restrictions are in effect and will be enforced until the city declares the parking ban has ended. All Worcester municipal garages are open and free during the city’s parking ban. Parking fees are imposed once the parking ban lifts. More information is available here. We encourage you to sign up for the city’s parking alerts via this site.  

Throughout the duration of the storm, WPI response personnel will be on campus to support the safety and well-being of our community and our facilities. WPI’s grounds team will work continuously to clear and maintain walkways and surface areas. However, we encourage everyone on the campus to use caution during the storm.  

Should you find yourself in an on-campus emergency situation, please call WPI Campus Police at 508-831-5555. 

Covid  

As you prepare to return to campus, please remember to test for COVID, especially if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who was ill. If you test positive or do not feel well, please delay your return to campus.  

  
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. 

  
Art Heinricher, Dean of Undergraduate Studies 
Terri Camesano, Dean of Graduate Studies 
Philip Clay, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management 
Michael Horan, Executive Vice President/CFO 
Lauren Turner, Senior Vice President, Talent & Inclusion