Classes Canceled

August 30, 2022

As a result of the significant damage across campus and in the City of Albion, the College will cancel all classes until power is restored, with in-person classes resuming Tuesday, Sept. 6. Consumers Energy is estimating power will be restored to campus sometime Friday morning, but it is only an estimate at this time. The storm of Monday evening was significant and affected areas all along the I-94 corridor including Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Marshall, Jackson and, of course, Albion. More than 340 crews have been deployed to begin repairs and they are moving west to east from the point of impact (Grand Rapids).

We have strongly encouraged all students to leave campus — tonight, if possible — and return by Monday afternoon. Those who cannot go home will be accommodated and staff will be here to support them — Student Development leadership, Community Living, Dining Services, Campus Life, and Campus Safety, among others. Students will be advised that classes will resume in a virtual or hybrid format if power is restored before the target date of Friday. If this occurs, students will be given 12 hours notice before virtual or hybrid classes begin.

Faculty and staff who have critical functions need to report to work. Check with your supervisor if you are not sure whether you need to come to work tomorrow. Your supervisor will also help you understand where your temporary workstation might be located and whether working from home might be the better option.

Faculty should prepare to offer either virtual or hybrid classes once power is restored to campus. We will alert campus when power returns and when classes will begin (which will be no earlier than 12 hours after power resumes). In-person classes will resume on Tuesday, September 6.

A few notes about campus operations:

• Baldwin Dining Hall is open for breakfast from 7-9:30 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5-8 p.m.
• Campus Safety is offering loans of flashlights on a first-come, first-served basis (as well as phone charging availability).
• Baldwin Hall and the Science Atrium have strong wifi signals and a generator-backed power supply for charging devices, and the Ludington Center will be open Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The College will offer charging stations under the tent on the Quad beginning Wednesday, Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Briton Bash, originally scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 4:30-7 p.m.
• Fall student athletes will receive communication from their coaches about scheduled athletic events.
• All other campus events will be postponed.

We appreciate your continued cooperation and willingness to be flexible through this unpredictable situation. We will continue to share updates as we have them. Should you have any questions, please contact Campus Safety at (517) 629-5610.