Blizzard forces canceling of evening classes tonight, day and evening classes Tuesday
Due to weather forecasts calling for blizzard conditions, WPI is canceling evening classes and scheduled activities beginning at 5 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, and all day and evening classes and activities on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Gov. Charlie Baker has declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth, and issued a statewide travel ban that goes into effect at midnight tonight, effective until further notice. We will continue to monitor the storm and will update the community on Tuesday evening regarding campus operations and parking considerations for Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.
Throughout the duration of the storm, essential personnel will be on campus to ensure the safety and well-being of the campus and our community; given the severity of this storm, employees should check again with their supervisors to determine their status.
The campus will remain open during the storm. Here are the hours for specific buildings:
Monday Night, Jan. 26:
• Rubin Campus Center: Building will close at 10 p.m.
• Sports and Recreation Center: Building will close at 10 p.m.
• Gordon Library: Building will close at 7 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 27:
• Rubin Campus Center: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Sports and Recreation Center: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Gordon Library: ClosedAll other campus buildings will be accessible through card access only.
Dining hours will be modified as follows:
Monday, Jan. 26: All dining facilities will close at 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27:
• Morgan Dining: Brunch 10:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.; Dinner 5 – 8 p.m.
• Dunkin Donuts: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Campus Center Food Court: 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
(NOTE: All other dining facilities will be closed.)
PARKING
Because of the anticipated severity of this particular storm, and in order to assist our snow team with the formidable job of campus upkeep during the storm, the following parking modifications are in effect:
All surface lots will close at 10 p.m. tonight, Jan. 26; any vehicles remaining in the lots will be ticketed and towed.
Park Avenue and Gateway garages will be open for essential personnel and student parking. (NOTE: The Gateway Garage will be open for students living in East Hall, Founders Hall, Faraday Hall, and those living off-campus.) People who park in the garages should aim for the center and avoid parking around the perimeter, where snow drifts and ice occur.
The Dean Street garage will continue its normal operations for validated parkers. Vehicles should not be parked on the top level.
NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL TO STAY HOME
We encourage all students, faculty and staff to employ caution during the storm and ask all non-essential personnel to stay home and off the roads. Emergency management experts are encouraging people to: stay indoors during the storm, be alert to changing weather conditions, avoid travel except in extreme emergencies, listen to weather radio or weather reports for emergency information, and those with medical conditions should make certain they have enough medications to get through the storm.
Everyone is also urged to exercise caution in their path of travel during the storm; remember that the shortest distance is not always the safest. Wear proper footwear and, whenever possible, avoid stairs and ramps.
Should you find yourself in an on-campus emergency situation, please call WPI Campus Police at 508-831-5555.
