Students and their families always hope for a smooth transition to the college setting, as they work hard to make friends, engage with professors, and get involved on campus. Unfortunately life can add some challenges - like the hurricanes and weather disasters that struck many areas of the Southeast this fall.
Sadly, even after the stress of the actual event, the catastrophic damage and disruption can continue for quite some time. With disrupted communication from lack of power and downed cell towers, to major flooding, many interstate road closures, and other challenges, colleges grapple with the best ways to protect and support their students and staff. Some communities were without power, and residents faced significant challenges finding food, water, and shelter, as well as dealing with ongoing mudslides and bridge outages.
This mental toll on students and parents likely upended many of the smooth transitions new students were making to their campuses and it’s important to recognize the unique challenges they face. Thankfully many colleges prioritized making counseling services readily available and moved quickly to make alternate plans for classes and activities to continue.
Some colleges were immediately closed for a period of time and others quickly moved to online classes. For example, Appalachian State University, Warren Wilson College, and Western Carolina University all took a break from classes and just resumed them this week. UNC Asheville relocated students, took a “hurricane break” and will move forward with online classes starting next week. Lees McRae College evacuated all students, moved classes online and is working with other colleges to relocate several of their sports teams for the fall season. (Five teams have moved to Ferrum College in VA and three other teams are at Queens University in Charlotte, along with some international students.) Numerous other colleges in South Carolina and Florida (like Furman University in Greenville, SC) were closed for several days due to hurricane and tornado activity but have reopened.
Reading various college’s websites, I found it heartening to see how many people and campus organizations were stepping up to help those affected - from offering their services of support for nearby students who couldn’t return to their closed campuses (Wake Forest University) to supporting their local communities (Warren Wilson College) to students raising donation money and manpower to help local communities in need (High Point University) to Appalachian State’s work in turning the convocation center into a Red Cross emergency shelter, providing hot meals and supplies to any locals in need.
Many colleges have worked hard to keep students safe and have clear communications with concerned parents. These steps can be important signs of a planful organization that prioritizes students and comes up with flexible solutions to unexpected difficulties. Kudos to all of the colleges and universities that have been working hard to help students and their families pivot during such unpredictable and stressful times.
When evaluating their top choices for colleges and universities, students and their families take into account a wide range of factors, from class sizes and reputation to sports spirit, scholarship money, and crime rates. Another factor that could be important to consider is the college’s natural disaster preparedness and communication systems in place for times like these. At Confident College Planning we help families through the college admissions process in order to find the best match for each student. Contact me at nancy@confidentcollegeplanning.com, I’d be happy to help!
Photo credits: I visited App State before their beautiful campus was damaged by Hurricane Helena. Located in the Appalachian Mountain town of Boone, NC, they serve approximately 21,000 students in over 150 degree programs. They are known for their Mountaineer sports teams which draw over 30,000 spectators of students, parents, alumni, and North Carolinians from all around the state.
I also previously visited Western Carolina University (pictured) and while their campus has been largely saved from damage, the surrounding towns, roads, and Jackson county have been devastated. This NC Promise university serves approximately 12,000 students in 115 degree programs at a low cost tuition rate that is funded by North Carolina state.
App State
Western Carolina University
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