Urgent: Georgia College will remain closed Tuesday, January 9

UPDATE: 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, January 9

The automated Front Page daily email announcement delivered at 11 a.m. contained an earlier weather update. The information below is the latest official information from GCSU as of 11:15 a.m.

The GCSU campus will remain closed today due to ongoing severe weather, as well as intermittent power outages on campus and in the downtown Milledgeville area. Regular dining services at the MAX will continue and a variety of lunch options will be delivered to West Campus for service to residents between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Shuttle service will resume later this afternoon to transport students to main campus for regular dinner hours at the MAX. Check the Passio GO app for updated schedules.

Students, faculty and staff should stay at home and shelter in place as the storms continue to pass. Monitor local watches and warnings from the National Weather Service and take precautions. In the event of emergency circumstances or a change in plans requiring immediate action, a GC Alert will be issued

Normal campus operations and classes are expected to resume Wednesday, January 10.

We are grateful to the staff at Sodexo and GC Dining Services, GCSU Public Safety, GCSU Housing, Residential Life, and Student Life staff, and GCSU Facilities personnel working in these challenging circumstances to provide meals and essential services to our students. Thank you!

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 9

GCSU continues to monitor the severe weather affecting the state. Based on the data available from the National Weather Service, we anticipate the worst of the weather system will pass through our area mid-morning in the 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. timeframe.

Based on the latest forecast models, we will resume normal campus operations at 1 p.m., with classes that begin at 1 p.m. or later resuming as normal. We will provide mid-morning updates about lunch services at The MAX when we can determine how long a current Georgia Power outage in the MSU Building may last. Students should check the Passio GO app for updates on shuttle service restoration after the storm moves through the area.

Please continue to use caution and monitor conditions in your area. We encourage all faculty, staff and students to stay off the roads and seek shelter as the storm passes. Only essential staff should come to campus prior to midday if at all possible. Those living off campus should take time to secure outdoor items due to the incoming strong winds. In the event of emergency circumstances or a change in plans requiring immediate action, a GC Alert will be issued.

Original Message: 9:49 p.m. Monday, January 8

The National Weather Service Peachtree City predicts showers and thunderstorms will sweep across the area during the day Tuesday, January 9. Some storms may be strong to severe, particularly south of a Columbus to Eatonton line. Severe thunderstorms that develop will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. 

The GCSU campus will have a delayed opening Tuesday morning, January 9 with normal operations resuming at noon Tuesday. All classes and campus events that begin before noon are cancelled. 

Dining services at The Max will continue as normal. A limited breakfast menu will be delivered to the Pizza Hut area in the West Campus Center and served from 8 to 11 a.m. for West Campus residents. 

Shuttle service will not run until normal operations resume. Students should check the Passio GO app for the most up to date information.

The safety of our students, faculty and staff remains the highest priority as we track the storms. Any further delays or cancellations will be made after an 8 a.m. weather briefing Tuesday morning.

Essential personnel should report to campus as the weather allows and make a prudent judgement as to travel. 

In the event of emergency circumstances requiring immediate action, a GC Alert will be issued. Please go to the GCSU Public Safety website to learn how to ensure that your communications preferences with GC Alert are current.