Tampa Bay college campuses start to reopen amid storm damage

Tampa Bay college campuses started to reopen Monday after Hurricane Milton surged through the region last week. But not all colleges and facilities were fully back up and running.

Here’s how the local college landscape looks this week.

University of South Florida

The University of South Florida opened its Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses Monday and will reopen its St. Petersburg campus on Tuesday.

As of Monday, the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center, Yuengling Center and other athletics facilities, including the Crosswinds Wesley Foundation and some portions of the Campus Recreation Center, remained closed because of no power.

Mote Marine Labs also remained closed.

On Tuesday, the Science and Technology Building, the Port Building and other buildings in St. Petersburg still impacted from Hurricane Helene will also remain closed. The Pelican Hall residence hall will also remain closed.

The university said faculty may choose to deliver classes in-person or online, and that faculty “have been urged to be patient and give students affected by Hurricane Milton, or who left the Tampa Bay region, flexibility to complete assignments.”

USF said they planned to fully reopen in-person classes and normal business operations by Oct. 21. The university rescheduled Homecoming Week for Nov. 4-9, and its on-campus football stadium groundbreaking ceremony for Nov. 8.

University of Tampa

The University of Tampa re-opened its campus Sunday and classes resumed Monday, though power had not been restored to every building.

The university also sent an email to students saying that because eight days have already been missed as a result of hurricanes, the university has created a Saturday and Sunday schedule until December, though faculty may choose alternate routes. The number of instructional days is a requirement by the school’s accrediting body, the email said.

A change.org petition with more than 1,200 signatures tried to urge the university to allow students to come to class by Zoom until power is restored to surrounding areas.

A message sent to students from the university president said “you can count on faculty members to be flexible given your varied individual circumstances” and asked students for patience and kindness as faculty had been impacted, too.

St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College will resume virtual classes on Wednesday, but the campuses will remain closed through Saturday. Students are asked to remain off-campus while the college restores services, and specific questions should be directed to professors.

Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College will be closed through at least Tuesday. The college said it will continue to monitor conditions and communicate a reopening date.

Eckerd College

The College planned to resume classes virtually by Wednesday through at least Friday.