Students, Faculty and Staff:
Like many of our fellow state and federal agencies, Lander University officials closely monitored Hurricane Helene as it made landfall. Yet, none of us could have anticipated just how disruptive this storm would be to our campus, our community or our state. The safety of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our number one priority, and whether you are at home or on campus, I pray that you and your family are safe and sound.
I know that most of us are still without electricity. Public utilities and first responders are working tirelessly throughout our region to clear our roads from debris and restore power, and we should keep them in our thoughts as they serve our communities during these trying times.
Our campus has also experienced downed trees and a loss of electricity, but fortunately, we are not aware of any significant structural damage. Lander's safety, maintenance and grounds crews have been hard at work clearing the campus of trees and debris, and our housing, dining and student services teams are making sure our residential students are safe and cared for this weekend.
As you are able, please continue to monitor your Lander emails for important updates regarding campus operations. We are staying in close contact with local and state officials as we look toward next week, although it is still too early to know what impacts there may be to our operations for Monday and beyond. Restoration of power will certainly be an important factor. We will keep you updated as we move through the weekend. We realize that times like these create a lot of uncertainty, but we appreciate your patience as we navigate a safe - and hopefully quick - return to normal operations.
I have always been impressed by the resilience of our Lander University family. No matter the situation, we regularly turn to one another for help, support and encouragement. I know that this situation is no different. Please know that Jessie and I are thinking of you all, and I am looking forward to brighter, sunnier days, when we are all safely back on campus together.
Sincerely,
Richard Cosentino,
President