The University of West Florida will begin welcoming students and employees back to campus Friday, nearly a week after Hurricane Isaias left fallen trees and widespread debris across its Pensacola campus.
Residence halls will reopen at noon Friday, Oct. 16, and classes will resume Monday, Oct. 19, at both the Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach campuses. Online classes will also resume Monday.
The announcement Wednesday ends several days of uncertainty over when the university could safely reopen. Although campus buildings largely escaped structural damage, crews have spent days clearing roads, parking lots and pedestrian walkways blocked by fallen trees.
In an interview with WUWF Wednesday afternoon, UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. said a weather station at the Darryl Gooden Center on campus recorded winds of 116 mph during the storm.
The university's extensive tree canopy made cleanup especially challenging. Diaz credited facilities workers, campus police, custodial staff and other employees who have worked around the clock to prepare for reopening.
He said the decision to reopen residence halls Friday, rather than immediately resume classes, was intended to give students who evacuated enough time to travel back to Pensacola.
"They don't have to be back here at noon on Friday, but they can start coming into the dorms," Diaz said.
Students will have the weekend to return before regular instruction resumes Monday.
Faculty and staff may also return Friday, although Diaz said supervisors are being asked to accommodate employees still dealing with hurricane damage, power outages or other personal circumstances. Some employees may work remotely as the university prepares to resume operations.
Campus access remains restricted
The reopening does not mean the campus will immediately return to normal.
Debris removal will continue for the foreseeable future, and some parking lots and pedestrian walkways will remain closed. Students and employees may have to take alternate routes to reach buildings.
All traffic entering campus must use the main University Parkway entrance. The east entrance will remain closed to ordinary traffic while crews use that part of campus to stage equipment and debris removal.
People entering campus Friday will be required to show a UWF identification card.
The campus will remain closed to the general public Friday, including its recreational facilities. Tennis and pickleball courts, the Aquatic Center and the Health, Leisure and Sports Facility are scheduled to reopen Monday.
The university's nature trails, however, will remain closed until further notice because of storm damage and fallen trees.
Diaz said crews have prioritized clearing access to residence halls, classrooms and other essential facilities. Restoring the rest of the campus will take considerably longer.
"We have focused in on, number one, making the campus safe," he said.
Dining services will resume regular operations Friday, although other student services will be limited until Monday.
The university also plans to close the temporary insurance assistance center established on campus by the Florida chief financial officer's office. Diaz said the center will move out Friday as university operations resume.
Academic flexibility and student assistance
UWF is also preparing to accommodate students whose lives remain disrupted by the hurricane.
Diaz said faculty are being asked to extend assignment deadlines and provide flexibility for students dealing with damaged homes, power outages, travel difficulties and other circumstances that could interfere with their coursework.
The accommodations apply both to classes already underway and to a new academic term scheduled to begin Monday.
"We're not going to leave anybody behind, but we do want to make sure that we get the assets of the university open and available to our students and to the community," Diaz said.
Students unable to resume coursework because of power outages, internet disruptions or other problems should contact their instructors to arrange accommodations.
The university is also providing counseling and emergency assistance to students affected by the storm.
Students can reach after-hours counseling support at 850-474-2420 by following the telephone prompts to speak with a counselor. Students needing food, basic necessities or other assistance can contact the Dean of Students Office at 850-474-2384.
Diaz said UWF is using resources from its foundation and donations from Walmart to help students and employees facing hardship. The university's Argo Pantry is also part of that effort.
He emphasized that restoring familiar routines can help students recover from the disruption, but said the university would not compromise safety to accelerate reopening.
"We will not skimp on safety for the sake of expediency," Diaz said.
Athletics decisions expected Thursday
The university is still evaluating whether athletic events scheduled for the weekend can proceed.
Diaz said Wednesday that a decision on volleyball matches and Saturday's home football game is expected Thursday morning.
He expressed optimism that the events could go forward but said officials were completing final safety preparations.
The hurricane already forced UWF to postpone its homecoming celebrations and Diaz's presidential inauguration, both originally scheduled for this week. Those events are now expected to take place in the spring.
Historic Pensacola museums offer free admission
While cleanup continues on the main campus, several museums operated by the UWF Historic Trust in downtown Pensacola will reopen Thursday with free admission through Sunday.
Participating sites include the Pensacola Museum of History, Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola Children's Museum, Museum of Commerce, Historic Village and Old Christ Church.
The Barkley House and Dorr House will remain closed.
Diaz said the free admission is intended to give residents an opportunity to get out of their homes and enjoy community attractions as the region recovers from the hurricane.
Some residents have spent nearly a week without electricity, he said, and the university wants to offer a welcome diversion.
"We want to make sure that UWF is connected to the entire community," Diaz said.
