Hurricane Ian Forces Florida Colleges To Close

• Ian made landfall on Florida's southwest coast Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane.
• Colleges and universities heeded warnings that Ian would be a dangerous storm.
• In addition to closing campuses and moving classes online, some schools are providing aid to students with no place to go.

As Hurricane Ian raked Florida's west coast Wednesday morning, most of the colleges and universities in its path had already canceled classes, closed campuses, and rescheduled events.

For days, forecasters and Florida officials have warned that Ian will be a dangerous storm with life-threatening storm surge and flooding and fierce winds. The state's higher ed community heeded those warnings, not only closing campuses and moving classes online, but also evacuating students and providing aid to those with no place to go.

The University of Tampa (UT) shuttered residence halls entirely on Monday. Further inland, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is keeping their dorms open for students who are unable to get home, though it said it can't guarantee power or wifi during the storm.

Schools outside of Ian's forcasted path also made moves to protect students and their communities.

In Tallahassee, Florida State University (FSU) canceled classes for the remainder of the week, but will continue to provide campus services such as dining for students who have decided to stay on campus.

"Before traveling, students are encouraged to discuss plans with family and friends. DO NOTtravel into the path of the storm," FSU said in a statement Wednesday morning.

Bethune-Cookman University, located in Daytona Beach on Florida's east coast, issued a mandatory campus evacuation on Monday and pivoted to temporary remote learning.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 30 public colleges and universities were closed for part of or the remainder of this week, according to the Miami Herald.

These Public Colleges and Universities Are Closed For Hurricane Ian

Florida College System Closures

• Broward College closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Wednesday, Sept. 28.
• College of Central Florida will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29.
• College of the Florida Keys closed Tuesday, Sept. 27.
• Daytona State College will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29.
• Eastern Florida State College will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Florida Gateway College will be closed Thursday, Sept. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 2.
• Florida State College at Jacksonville will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Florida Southwestern State College closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 29.
• Gulf Coast State College (Gulf and Franklin Locations) will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29.
• Hillsborough Community College closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Sunday, Oct. 2.
• Indian River State College closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 29.
• Lake-Sumter State College will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Miami Dade College closed at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Wednesday, Sept. 28.
• Pasco-Hernando State College closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Polk State College closed at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 29.
• Seminole State College closed at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Sunday, Oct. 2.
• South Florida State College closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 29.
• St. Petersburg College closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Sunday, Oct. 2.
• State College of Florida closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Valencia College will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.

Florida State University Closures

• Florida A&M University closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Florida Atlantic University will cancel all classes, including online classes, for Wednesday, Sept. 28. All classes that started at or after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 were canceled.
• Florida Gulf Coast University closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Florida International University closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed Wednesday, Sept. 28.
• Florida Polytechnic University closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 30.
• Florida State University (Tallahassee and Panama City Locations) closed Tuesday, Sept. 27, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 30.
• New College of Florida canceled all classes Monday, Sept. 26, through Friday, Sept. 30.
• University of Central Florida will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.
• University of Florida will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.
• University of North Florida will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Saturday, Oct. 1.
• University of South Florida canceled classes Monday, Sept. 26, through Thursday, Sept. 29. Campuses closed Tuesday, Sept. 27.