Given the ongoing emergency resulting from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, ETSU will extend the cancelation of in-person and online classes through Friday, October 4. The exception will be classes for Quillen College of Medicine, which will resume instruction on Thursday, October 3.
We will keep other campus services and facilities operational to the extent possible to provide ongoing support to students, employees, and the community. However, as previously noted, we will give maximum flexibility to students and employees impacted by the storm. Those who are unable to make it to work on campus will not be penalized or required to utilize their annual or sick leave hours.
Classes and all other campus activities will resume on Monday, October 7, according to our usual schedules. Students who cannot attend due to ongoing issues related to the disaster will be allowed to make up work and be provided additional support. More information about returning to normal operations will be provided in the coming days.
Our Dean of Students Office is working closely with those students affected. Students who need assistance should contact them at deanofstudents@etsu.edu or (423) 439-5377.
Employees who need help should contact their supervisors or HR at hr@etsu.edu or (423) 439-4457.
Many of you have asked how you can lend a hand, and there are several ways you can get involved to support our campus and our neighbors.
ETSU's Student Government Association and ETSU Athletics are collecting donations for hygiene kits, flood buckets, clothing, food, and cleaning supplies. Donations can be dropped off on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Student Center, in the Bucky's Food Pantry collection bins located around campus, and at Saturday's football game.
A list of organizations accepting monetary donations is available at etsu.edu/response. There, you can find information about how to give to local relief organizations, such as the Buccaneer Student Crisis Fund, Bucky's Food Pantry, and the Employee Assistance Fund.
Finally, those who would like to volunteer for cleanup efforts are asked to register with ETSU Serves and attend emergency response training, which will be held on campus this week.
While we recognize the desire to roll up our sleeves and jump in, we must work closely with our community partners and TEMA to mobilize ETSU volunteers and provide support. Training will be provided on how to assist in the aftermath of the storms safely, and volunteers will be deployed to areas where they can be of the greatest assistance.
Details on volunteering are available on the ETSU Response page at etsu.edu/response. Please continue monitoring that page, your email, and our social media channels for ongoing updates.
If you have not done so already, please download the ETSU Safe app to receive emergency alerts by visiting etsu.edu/safety. Text ETSU to 237233 to receive emergency text alerts.
We know that the fallout from this tragedy will be ongoing for months and even years. We are working with partners across campus to develop plans to provide ongoing, long-term support to the region and are committed to helping rebuild. Student groups, departments, and other campus organizations organizing relief efforts are encouraged to submit their events to the ETSU calendar to ensure they appear on the ETSU Response page and in emails to campus.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another.
Godspeed,
Brian Noland, President
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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