Updated 8/30, 1:30 pm

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) including Public Safety, Facilities, and Residence Life teams are pleased to confirm that, barring any unforeseen complications, campus will reopen as planned tomorrow, Thursday, August 31, 2023 and all classes will resume.

We are extremely thankful that the Main Campus, Museum Campus, and Englewood Art Center experienced minimal damage, no major flooding, and no power loss. As we prepare to resume normal business operations and classes tomorrow, please review the additional information below. 

Main Campus

While offices remain closed until tomorrow, the Main Campus is accessible for returning students. Thank you to the offices of Public Safety, Facilities, Student and Residence Life, Institutional Technology, and all others who have made this possible. Thank you to all students, whether you remained on campus or sheltered elsewhere, for following safety protocols and precautions.

Cunniffe Commons will resume normal dining services tomorrow (8/31). Dinner this evening (8/30) will be served from 5-6:30 pm. The Fitness Center and Mail Services will reopen tomorrow (8/31). 

Classes

All classes will resume tomorrow, Thursday, August 31. If you left campus to shelter elsewhere, please make sure you are able to return in time to resume your regular class schedule tomorrow and Friday. At this time, there is no plan to utilize any of the hurricane days for lost class time that would impact the academic calendar. Faculty will work diligently to realize the published learning goals for each class. For academic questions or concerns, please contact VPAA@ringling.edu.

Offices: Main Campus and the Ringling College Museum Campus

Administrative offices of the Main Campus and Museum Campus will reopen for normal business tomorrow, Thursday, August 31. All staff who are able should plan on returning to work tomorrow. The Museum Campus will reopen to the public on Friday, September 1. If any staff members have been affected by the storm, please communicate with your supervisors to discuss flexible work arrangements (which may include remote work, flexible scheduling, or extended emergency time off). For questions, please call Human Resources at 941-359-7619.

We thank the entire Ringling College community again for their help and cooperation during this time. We are grateful, and our hearts and thoughts are with all those severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia.

Update: 8/30/23, 10 am

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to closely monitor Hurricane Idalia. 

Hurricane Idalia made landfall early this morning (Wednesday, August 30) as a Category 3 storm on Florida’s Big Bend coast near Keaton Beach. Sarasota and Manatee counties are likely to continue to experience adverse weather conditions throughout the day. 

Public Safety and Facilities teams will be assessing the campus today. Currently no flooding, major damage, or power outages have been reported on campus. This includes the Main Campus, Museum Campus, and Englewood Art Center. 

High tide (at 12:16 pm) is still a concern for housing and buildings near the Bayou this afternoon. Public Safety and Residence Life will be coordinating any necessary movement of students in Family Housing and the Cove, due to potential flooding. 

We encourage students, faculty, and staff not to travel and to limit movement around campus at this time due to continued adverse weather and potential flooding. Cunniffe Commons will remain open for dining services. Please limit any travel unless it is an emergency as streets could be flooded. 

The ERT will meet this afternoon to assess the situation and confirm plans for campus reopening tomorrow, Thursday, August 31.

Update: 8/29/23, 3 pm

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to closely monitor Hurricane Idalia. 

Hurricane Idalia remains a Category 1 storm and continues to accelerate northward through the Gulf of Mexico. It is forecast to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida early tomorrow morning as a potential Category 3 storm.

The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. We plan to resume classes and normal business operations on Thursday, August 31 unless there is substantial damage to the campus or the surrounding area, or if there is power loss on campus.

Weather conditions will continue to worsen this evening through tomorrow morning. Please plan to stay indoors and shelter in place through the duration of the storm. 

As a reminder, please take the following weather precautions: 

• Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
• Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
• Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates

Please continue to monitor your emails and the Ringling website for updated messaging. The ERT team will be meeting tomorrow morning to assess the situation with further communications to follow. 

For more information about Hurricane Idalia, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911. 

Stay safe, informed, and connected with the following resources: 

Sarasota County Government Updates
Alert Sarasota County
City of Sarasota Facebook
Sarasota County Government Facebook
Sarasota Police Department Facebook
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
Florida Division of Emergency Management

Update: 8/29/23, 10 am

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to monitor Idalia, which was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane last night.

Hurricane Idalia is accelerating northward this morning, heading into the Gulf of Mexico. Weather conditions are expected to worsen this evening and overnight.

The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. The ERT will send an updated campus communication this afternoon.

Classes have been canceled and campus offices are closed today, August 29 and tomorrow, August 30. We plan to resume classes and normal business operations on Thursday, August 31 unless there is substantial damage to the campus or the surrounding area, or if there is power loss on campus.

Students

All classes (in-person and remote) are canceled as of today, Tuesday, August 29 and will remain canceled through tomorrow, Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

We plan to resume all classes on Thursday, August 31.

At this time, the College is NOT issuing a mandatory evacuation of campus. Students who wish to stay in their campus housing may do so. However, if you choose to leave campus and shelter elsewhere, please plan to arrive at your location by this afternoon. Be prepared to return for classes on Thursday and Friday.

If you are in Level A campus housing and choose to evacuate, shuttles will depart from the parking lot of US41/DR MLK JR Way beginning at 9 am this morning and running until 12 noon. Return transportation will be provided following the storm, when the shelters close.

For Food Service today and Wednesday, brunch and dinner service will be supplied, weather permitting. Brunch will be from 11 am-1 pm and dinner will be from 5-6:30 pm. If power goes out, Cunniffe Commons will be able to provide cold food service for all meal plan students who remain on campus. Brickman Cafe and the Market will be closed.

Campus Labs are now closed. Cloud resources such as Canvas, Google Services, and access to the internet will remain available.

Mail Services will also be closed today and Wednesday.

Faculty and Staff

Campus offices are closed today, August 29 and tomorrow, August 30. We plan to resume classes and normal business operations on Thursday, August 31 unless there is substantial damage to the campus or the surrounding area, or if there is power loss on campus.

Essential personnel and other staff may need to remain on campus. Please be sure to check with your department supervisor to determine your work schedule over the next two days.

Cloud resources such as Canvas, Google Services, and access to the internet will remain available. If you are leaving campus today, please follow the instructions from IT to prepare your technology resources.

Sarasota Art Museum and Englewood Art Center

Sarasota Art Museum and the Museum Campus are closed to the public today, Tuesday, August 29 through Wednesday, August 30. Depending on weather conditions, these locations will plan to reopen on Thursday, August 31.

Englewood Art Center is currently closed to the public for the month of August and will reopen on Saturday, September 2.

Weather Precautions

Heavy rainfall and high winds could start to occur as early as this afternoon, with conditions worsening after 8 pm and overnight. The following weather precautions are recommended:

• Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
• If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
• Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
• When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
• Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
• Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
• Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs

We will continue to monitor the situation and the storm’s trajectory. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please continue to monitor your emails and the Ringling website for updated messaging.

For more information about Hurricane Idalia, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

Update: 8/28/23, 7 pm

Evacuation for Students Living in Level A Campus Residences

Since our 2:30 pm update, out of an abundance of caution Sarasota County has called for an evacuation of Level A on the Sarasota County Evacuation Zone Map and for any individuals living in a manufactured home. 

The majority of the Ringling College Campus is not located in Level A; however, some campus housing as indicated below is in this zone.

Campus housing residences that are located in Level A are: 

• Bridge Hall
• Keating Hall 
• Bayou Village Apartments
• Family Housing
• The Cove
• 2340 Old Bradenton Rd. 

Should you choose to evacuate to a local shelter, Ringling College will organize transportation via shuttle to the closest public shelter which is at Booker High School, 3201 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota, FL 34234. Shuttles will depart from the parking lot of US41/DR MLK JR Way beginning at 9 am and running until 12 noon tomorrow. Return transportation will be provided following the storm, when the shelters close.

If you choose to go to a local shelter, they open at 8 am Tuesday, August 29. Further information on local county shelters can be found here.

The campus will continue to remain open for those residents who choose to stay here. If you are in Level A, please consider going to an alternative location off campus with a relative or friend. If you remain on campus, you might consider staying with a friend in another residence hall that is not on this list. If you choose to move your car, available parking outside of Level A includes Lots 11, 12, and 13 (near the Business Office and Book Store), and Lot 20 (shell lot north of Cunniffe Commons). 

Students are permitted to remain in their housing even if it is within Level A, but please know that they are doing so at their own risk.

If students have further questions about evacuating, please contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@ringling.edu. 

Please continue to monitor your emails and the Ringling website for updated messaging.

Update: 8/28/23, 2:30 pm

Out of an abundance of caution and due to the uncertain trajectory of the storm at this time, the decision has been made to cancel classes and close campus offices on Tuesday, August 29, and Wednesday, August 30.

We plan to resume classes and normal business operations on Thursday, August 31 unless there is substantial damage to the campus or the surrounding area.

Students 

All classes (in-person and remote) will be canceled as of Tuesday, August 29 and will remain canceled through Wednesday, August 30.  We plan to resume all classes on Thursday, August 31. 

At this time, the College is NOT issuing a mandatory evacuation of campus. Students who wish to stay in their campus housing may do so. However, if you choose to leave campus and shelter elsewhere, please plan to arrive at your location before tomorrow afternoon. Be prepared to return for classes on Thursday and Friday.  

Residential students will receive a separate communication from the Office of Residence Life with information about on-campus housing.

For Food Service on Tuesday and Wednesday, brunch and dinner service will be supplied, weather permitting. Brunch will be from 11 am-1 pm, and dinner will be from 5-6:30 pm. If the power goes out, Cunniffe Commons will be able to provide cold food service for all meal plan students who remain on campus. Brickman Cafe and the Market will be closed.

Be sure to pick-up any prescriptions from Health Services by the end of the day today. 

Technology resources will be available until 6:15 pm today, Monday, August 28. This includes access to Academic Computer Labs, Apollo, and campus resources such as your network homespace, course shares, and Perforce. Cloud resources such as Canvas, Google Services, and access to the internet will remain available. Starting at 6:15 pm, Institutional Technology will begin shutting down the campus data center to protect resources contained within it. Internet access will be maintained unless the campus experiences an extended power outage. You can use Google Drive to store any files you may want to work on during this shutdown.

All campus labs will be closed by 7 pm today, Monday, August 28.

Mail Services will also be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Faculty and Staff 

Campus offices will also be closed on Tuesday, August 29, and Wednesday, August 30. This afternoon before you depart campus, please be sure to shut down and secure your workspaces. Further details will be forthcoming from IT.

Essential personnel and other staff may need to remain on campus. Please be sure to check with your department supervisor to determine your work schedule over the next two days.

Technology resources will be available until 6:15 pm this evening (Monday 8/28). This includes access to Academic Computer Labs, Apollo, and campus resources such as your network homespace, course shares, and Perforce. Cloud resources such as Canvas, Google Services, and access to the internet will remain available. Starting at 6:15 pm, Institutional Technology will begin shutting down the campus data center to protect resources contained within it. A separate announcement will be sent out with instructions on how to prepare your technology resources before you leave campus.

Sarasota Art Museum and Englewood Art Center 

Sarasota Art Museum and the Museum Campus will be closed to the public Tuesday, August 29 through Wednesday, August 30. Depending on weather conditions, these locations plan to reopen on Thursday, August 31. 

Englewood Art Center is currently closed to the public for the month of August and will reopen on Saturday, September 2. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and the storm’s trajectory. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends. Please continue to monitor your emails and the Ringling College website for updated messaging.

Update: 8/28/23, 10 am

The Emergency Response Team (ERT) met first thing this morning to review campus plans. 

Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to upgrade to a hurricane as it makes its way north through the Gulf of Mexico. Landfall is currently expected late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning between the Big Bend area of Florida and Tampa Bay, north of Sarasota. Our area should expect heavy rain, flooding, and an increased tornado threat. 

The ERT will meet again this afternoon to assess the situation and provide further information about classes and possible campus closures. 

Students, faculty, and staff: This is the time to review your personal and/or department’s plans, check your supplies, keep your vehicles topped off with fuel, and be sure you have a plan in case we need to evacuate. Review the College’s Hurricane Preparation Plan.

Please monitor your emails for updated communications and consider preparations you should make in the event the storm strengthens and/or shifts direction.

Update: 8/27/23, 8 pm

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) is monitoring Tropical Storm Idalia, currently located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. The ERT meets tomorrow morning, Monday, Aug. 28, and will send a campus update by noon.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are watching the tropical storm, which is expected to track north through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. On the forecast track, the center will move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Monday and Tuesday, and approach the northeast Gulf coast late Tuesday. Storm surge, hurricane, and tropical storm watches have been issued for the Gulf coast of Florida, including Sarasota.

 

Update: 8/25/23, 3 pm

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) is monitoring the Tropical System currently located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. 

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are watching the disturbance near Central America, which is expected to track north this weekend through the Caribbean Sea toward the Gulf of Mexico.

It is likely that our area could experience tropical storm force winds and rain around Wednesday of next week, if the storm strengthens as it moves into the Gulf this weekend.

If weather conditions worsen, the following precautions are recommended: 

• Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
• If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
• Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
• When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
• Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
• Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
• Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs    

Students, faculty, and staff: This is the time to review your personal and/or department’s plans, check your supplies, and keep your vehicles topped off with fuel.

We will continue to monitor the situation and if the storm’s trajectory changes in a way that might impact our campus, we will notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please monitor your emails for updated communications and consider preparations you should make in the event the storm strengthens.

For more information about this Tropical System, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website.

Please report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.