How you can help
Updated Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 12:15 p.m. –
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses reopened on Monday, Oct. 14. Mote Marine Labs
remain closed.
The St. Petersburg campus reopened on Tuesday, Oct. 15, except for the Science and
Technology Building (STG), the Port Building and several facilities still impacted
from Hurricane Helene that remain closed.
This entire week on all campuses some services may be limited, and some facilities
may have reduced hours.
Beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and continuing this entire week, classes scheduled
for the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will resume. However,
to provide students and faculty with maximum flexibility and options, faculty may
choose to deliver classes in a variety of modalities: in-person, online synchronous,
and/or asynchronous. Regardless of modality, faculty should communicate with their
students and give those affected by Hurricane Milton the flexibility to complete assignments.
Given the widespread impacts of this storm please be patient if you experience communication
delays from students or instructors.
Students who are still trying to travel back to the region or are still experiencing
a power outage or other storm-related issues, should notify their instructors as soon
as possible to let them know if your personal circumstances prevent your participation
in your class this week. Please note: In some cases, faculty members have been without
power and may be slower than normal to respond. If your situation is not addressed,
please use the General Student Concerns form and the Dean of Students will route your concerns accordingly. Students facing
academic, financial, and/or mental health challenges due to Hurricane Milton should
visit the Dean of Students website to view hurricane recovery resources. This includes information about academic support,
financial aid, housing, food, mental health resources and much more.
Normal USF business operations have resumed on all campuses using a hybrid approach
to provide employees with maximum flexibility. USF employees who can work remotely
have the option to do so, if their job allows for it, in consultation with their supervisors.
Supervisors are strongly encouraged to offer flexibility for those who may need additional
time, including for those who are still without power. This may include adjusting
work schedules to ensure employees have the necessary time to focus on their safety.
Employees should reach out to their department leaders with any needs they may have. Resources that may assist faculty and staff in recovery are available here.
USF anticipates fully reopening in-person classes and normal business operations in person on Monday, Oct. 21.
All USF Health clinics are now open, with the exception of USF Health Cardiology – Armenia. USF Health patients may call (813) 821-8038 or utilize MyChart to reschedule appointments.
FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS:
Once in-person classes resume, what if I can’t make it back in time or still don’t power?
Students who are still trying to travel back to the region or are still experiencing a power outage or other storm-related issues, should notify their instructors as soon as possible to let them know if your personal circumstances prevent your participation in your class this week. We continue to urge our faculty and supervisors to be flexible, patient and understanding with any member of the university community who has been impacted. Please note: In some cases, faculty members have been without power and may be slower than normal to respond. If your situation is not addressed, please use the General Student Concerns form and the Dean of Students will route your concerns accordingly.
What about scheduled exams and assignments?
Beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and continuing this entire week, classes scheduled for the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will resume. However, to provide students and faculty with maximum flexibility and options, faculty may choose to deliver classes in a variety of modalities: in-person, online synchronous, and/or asynchronous. Regardless of modality, faculty should communicate with their students and give those affected by Hurricane Milton the flexibility to complete assignments. Given the widespread impacts of this storm please be patient if you experience communication delays from students or instructors.
Are events on campus canceled?
In light of ongoing recovery efforts, USF will reschedule Homecoming Week activities and the on-campus stadium groundbreaking ceremony that were planned for this week. Homecoming will now be held Nov. 4-9, and the on-campus stadium groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8. More details on which Homecoming events will be held next month will be announced soon. By rescheduling to November, it will allow USF to celebrate these important events at a more appropriate time, and give our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends an opportunity to focus on their more immediate needs following the hurricanes.
For all other events, please check with the event organizer regarding updates.
Are residence halls open?
As of Tuesday, Oct. 15 all residence halls on all campuses are open, except for Pelican Hall (RHO) on the St. Petersburg campus, which remains closed. Residential students in RHO are receiving additional information separately.
Are USF dining halls open?
Several dining facilities have reopened on all campuses, except for Pelican Hall (RHO) on the St. Petersburg campus, which remains closed. The latest information regarding hours of operation can be found here.
Is the library open?
The USF Library on the Tampa campus will be open Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Hours may expand throughout the week.
Is the Bull Runner operational?
Service for the Bull Runner has resumed.
Is the Feed-a-Bull food pantry open?
The Feed-a-Bull food pantry has resumed its regular hours of operation.
What student health and wellness services are available?
Tampa campus:
- Counseling Center: Normal business hours have resumed. Students can call 813-974-2831 to schedule an appointment. After hours students can call 813.974.2831 or use online TimelyCare Talk Now feature if experiencing psychological stress when the office is closed.
- Center for Student Well-Being-SWELL: Normal business hours have resumed.
- Center for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention: Normal business hours have resumed. Any staff member or student needing crime victim services can contact the Victim Services Hotline at 813-974-5757 during the university closure.
- Student Health and Wellness Center:
- Psychiatry: Normal business hours have resumed. Call 813-974-2331 to reschedule a cancelled appointment. Students can contact our afterhours line by calling 813-974-2331 for medical guidance. For a psychological emergency, please call 813-974-2831 or use the online TimelyCare Talk Now feature.
- General Medicine/Urgent Care/Sexual Health/Immunizations and CAMLS: Normal business hours have resumed. Students can call 813.974.2331 to schedule an appointment or reschedule a cancelled appointment. Students can contact the afterhours line by calling 813-974-2331 for medical guidance.
- Bulls Country Pharmacy: Normal business hours have resumed.
- Laboratory Services, Nursing and Immunization and Health Insurance Compliance: Normal business hours have resumed.
USF Sarasota-Manatee and St. Petersburg Campuses:
- Normal business hours have resumed. Students can call 813-974-2331 to schedule an appointment or reschedule a cancelled appointment. Students can contact the afterhours line by calling 813-974-2331 for medical guidance during the closure.
I am a student and had unexpected expenses directly related to the impact of Hurricanes Helene and/or Milton. Is there financial assistance available?
Students may be eligible for one-time funding up to $1,500 to assist you with unexpected expenses related to the hurricane(s). Examples are:
- Displaced temporarily due to damage to your housing requiring you to seek other housing due to the storm or evacuation;
- Loss of transportation, or additional transportation expenses to evacuate;
- Additional expenses for food because of loss due to the power outages;
- Loss of personal or miscellaneous items due to flooding or storm damage;
- Loss of school supplies or personal computer for classes;
- Other storm-related expenses.
Students facing academic, financial, and/or mental health challenges due to Hurricane Milton should visit the Dean of Students website to view additional hurricane recovery resources. This includes information about academic support, financial aid, housing, food, mental health resources and much more. If the resources listed do not address your concern, you can submit the General Student Concerns form and the Dean of Students will route your concerns accordingly.
FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
International students and parents may send questions to the USF International Student Support Team by contacting newinternational@usf.edu.
Questions regarding immigration status may be sent to internationalservices@usf.edu.
FOR FACULTY AND STAFF:
Can I teach my classes remotely?
Beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and continuing this entire week, classes scheduled for the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses will resume. However, to provide students and faculty with maximum flexibility and options, faculty may choose to deliver classes in a variety of modalities: in-person, online synchronous, and/or asynchronous. Regardless of modality, faculty should communicate with their students and give those affected by Hurricane Milton the flexibility to complete assignments. Given the widespread impacts of this storm please be patient if you experience communication delays from students or instructors.
Do I need to make up class time?
At this time, we do not know if additional instructional time will be required. However, you will need to adjust your semester plans to meet the primary Student Learning Outcomes for your course within the remaining semester. The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning offers suggestions for supporting learning following such a disruption.
When can faculty members and graduate students return to their labs?
Faculty members and graduate students are encouraged to return to their labs.
What happens if USF is open but I can’t come to work because I have to stay home with my children whose school is closed?
The university understands that circumstances like a school closing may impact your ability to come to work during a storm situation. Although the university monitors school closings, we cannot guarantee that USF will close its business operations, even if other schools close. For extenuating circumstances such as these, you may request to use your annual leave to cover your absence.
Normal USF business operations have resumed on all campuses using a hybrid approach to provide employees with maximum flexibility. USF employees who can work remotely have the option to do so, if their job allows for it, in consultation with their supervisors. Supervisors are strongly encouraged to offer flexibility for those who may need additional time, including for those who are still without power. This may include adjusting work schedules to ensure employees have the necessary time to focus on their safety.
How can I support USF students impacted by the hurricanes?
Charitable contributions are being accepted through the USF Support Fund. More information can be found here.
The following guidelines will determine if you are paid for an emergency closure:
- Exempt employees are not eligible to earn special compensatory leave during the closure.
- Special compensatory leave is provided to staff employees required to perform essential duties for hours worked outside of their regular work schedule to prepare for or respond to a declared university emergency, as determined by the SVP, Chief Administration Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer or designee.
- Employees who are not required to work during an emergency closure are granted administrative leave in an amount equal to the number of hours scheduled to work during the closure or in an amount necessary to bring them up to their normal hours for the work week.
- Salaried Temporary employees will receive their regular pay.
- Employees who are on a previously-approved leave of absence that began prior to the administrative closure day, shall not have the leave of absence changed for such administrative closure time. However, if an employee has not started their leave prior to the announcement of the closure, the employee can cancel their leave request for the day(s) the university is closed. Administrative leave for closures shall not apply during a leave of absence (i.e.: Sick leave, Annual Leave, Medical Leave of Absence, FMLA, Parental Leave, Leave without Pay, etc.). University-wide exceptions to this may be approved by the SVP, Chief Administration Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer based upon business needs.
- Hourly Temporary employees will not receive administrative leave during an emergency closure, but if the workload
permits it, a supervisor may adjust an employee’s schedule during the affected pay
period to allow the employee to work additional hours in the work week.
When should I return to work, and what time should I arrive?
Please check www.usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF or email for updates on how long the university will be closed. On the day the university reopens, you should report to work at the time you would normally start your shift. If the university opens later than the start of your scheduled start time, you should report to work as soon as the university reopens.
If I am an exempt employee and I worked during the closure, am I eligible to earn special compensatory leave?
No. Administration, Faculty, and Staff Exempt employees are expected to work the number of hours necessary to accomplish their assigned responsibilities.
I work a four-day work week, 10 hours each day. How many hours of administrative leave do I get for an emergency closing, eight hours or 10 hours?
You may be eligible to receive up to 10 hours of administrative leave, which is equal to the number of hours in your regular workday, not to exceed your normal hours in a workweek.
I am designated to be on-call. Will I continue to receive on-call pay during the closing?
Yes, unless your supervisor advised you in writing prior to the emergency closure
that you were not on-call during the closure.
When I am on-call during an emergency closing, which rate do I receive?
If the closure is on a regular workday, then your on-call rate is the one for the workday. However, if the closure is on the weekend, your on-call rate would be the one specified for the weekend.
What additional resources are available for employees?
Below are some links to Hurricane guides and resources that may be helpful.
- Hurricane Guide (English)
- Hurricane Guide (Spanish)
- Florida Disaster Guidance
- FEMA Hurricane Milton Resource
- Search for Help by Zip Code
- Government Hurricane Info
- Employee Assistance Program Crisis Resources
- Employee Assistance Program Natural Disaster Guide (Updated with state-by-state resources for 2024)
- USF Federal Credit Union
- Employee Hardship Assistance Program for USF employees
- These guides have relevant information, like helping your children recover from the emotional impact of the storm and dealing with finances in the aftermath. They can also help with any needs for food, shelter and clothing.
- The Employee Assistance Program can be reached at 1-800-327-7451, and continues to provide free counseling services and connections to local resources to help you cope with the feelings of fear, sadness, anger and hopelessness related to these kinds of natural disasters.
Additional information for employees can be found here.
In addition, GasBuddy.com can be an additional resource for those having difficulty locating gas in the Tampa Bay area.
FOR PATIENTS:
I have an appointment at the Morsani Health Center, can you help me?
All USF Health clinics are now open, with the exception of USF Health Cardiology – Armenia. USF Health patients may call (813) 821-8038 or utilize MyChart to reschedule appointments.