Monday evening update on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

Augusta University Community,

As the Augusta community turns its focus to recovering from the storm’s damage, Augusta University continues to address challenges and monitor the evolving situation. The safety of our community remains our top priority, and our thoughts are with all who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

To begin to help address the needs of our community members, the Greenblatt Library will be open starting tomorrow, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Please feel free to get out of the heat, charge your devices and enjoy some community fellowship.

Below are the most current updates affecting our faculty, staff, students and AU community at large. 

Facilities Services

Our Facilities Services team continues to assess the evolving situation. Our Augusta campuses sustained varying levels of damage, which are all being assessed. Outside contractors and volunteers are joining our essential crews to help clear debris. A few buildings have roof damage on our Summerville Campus. On the Forest Hills Campus, Christenberry Fieldhouse sustained heavier damage due to exposure from ongoing construction projects there.  

Information Technology

All critical IT systems are up and running on backup power systems.

Student Safety and Security

Campus residential students who were still on campus as of Sunday morning were relocated to Gordon State College. They arrived safely around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening. Public safety officers continue to patrol all university locations.

We are filled with immense gratitude for our University System of Georgia family for working together to see us through this challenging situation, and to our vending partners such as Sodexo and Horizon, who provided hot meals to our students while they remained on campus. Throughout this time, our resident assistants demonstrated leadership and resilience and we are so thankful for their dedication to keeping our community safe. 

Our Division of Enrollment & Student Affairs remains in contact with students and their families. The Dean of Students’ office is offering updates and information regarding resources.

The Division of Enrollment & Student Affairs is continuing to provide the following resources on campus:

• The Student Center on the Health Sciences Campus is open for limited hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those who need access to power. 
• For counseling, students have been urged to call 833-910-3364, available 24/7, or visit the Jags Live Well website.

For students living off campus, local emergency management resources are being provided through Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties as follows: 

• Augusta, Georgia Fire/EMA
• Columbia County, GA EMA
• Aiken County Department of Emergency Management
• Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

Classroom Instruction

We are planning to reopen campus and resume normal instruction on Oct. 7. To account for lost instructional days, we are currently planning for the following: 

• Oct. 10 – Make-up day for Sept. 30
• Oct. 11 – Make-up day for Oct. 1
• Nov. 27 – Make-up day for Oct. 2
• Dec. 5 – Make-up day for Oct. 3

The academic calendar will be revised to classify each of these days as instructional with dining, transportation and classroom assignments functioning normally.  Faculty will know best how to plan instruction for these four make-up days, and we stand ready to assist.

Counseling

As mentioned above, students have been urged to call 833-910-3364, available 24/7, or visit the Jags Live Well website. Faculty and staff can also access a number of mental health resources which includes coverage through employee health care plans and free options through USG. 

Caring for Our Fellow Team Members

Anyone who is classified as an essential operations employee who can safely reach campus has been instructed to report for duty and to communicate with their supervisor with any questions.

If additional members of the AU community are able to safely report to campus, they can volunteer where needed by signing up here. 

When you sign up to volunteer, you’ll receive detailed information from the primary point of contact for your designated station. Please note that all AU and non-AU employees and students will be required to sign a waiver upon arrival for their volunteer shift.

All updates around Hurricane Helene can be found here.