University of South Florida

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USF Hurricane Idalia update

Updated Thursday, Aug. 31 at 12:45 p.m. –

The University of South Florida continues to monitor the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority. 

Based on our latest assessment of the campus and improved conditions in Pinellas County, the USF St. Petersburg campus will reopen on Friday, Sept. 1, and classes will resume on Friday, Sept. 1. 

USF Sarasota-Manatee classes held at Mote Marine Laboratory will also resume on Friday, Sept. 1. 

Residence halls on the St. Petersburg campus will reopen at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31. Updates will be communicated directly with residential students as soon as possible.  

Students who left the region, or who have difficulty traveling to campus due to storm-related issues, and won’t be able to return in time for Friday’s classes in St. Petersburg should notify their instructors as soon as possible. Employees who left the region, or who have difficulty traveling to campus due to storm-related issues, and won’t be able to return by Friday should notify supervisors as soon as possible. Faculty members and supervisors are asked to be patient and understanding with their students and staff during these unique circumstances.  Students, faculty and staff are urged to use caution when traveling back to campus.

More information is available through a list of FAQs available here

USF does not intend to provide any further updates on Hurricane Idalia. However, should something significant change with the university’s operating status it will be shared via usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email.  


Updated Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m. –

The University of South Florida continues to monitor Hurricane Idalia.  The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm and any impacts to the Tampa Bay region.   

Based on the latest weather information and initial assessments of our facilities, USF has made the following decisions: 

  • The USF Tampa campus (including USF Health downtown) will reopen on Thursday, Aug. 31. Normal class schedules and business operations will resume on Thursday, Aug. 31. Employees should report to work at the time their shift normally starts. 
  • The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus will reopen on Thursday, Aug. 31. Normal class schedules and business operations will resume on Thursday, Aug. 31. Employees should report to work at the time their shift normally starts.  Please note that classes at Mote Marine Laboratory are canceled on Thursday, Aug. 31. 
  • The USF St. Petersburg campus will remain closed on Thursday, Aug. 31. All classes, including online classes, are canceled at USF St. Petersburg on Thursday, Aug. 31. We expect the USF St. Petersburg campus to reopen and resume classes on Friday, Sept. 1, however a final decision will be announced on Thursday.   

For USF St. Petersburg employees, only those who are 1) classified as essential personnel or 2) identified by their supervisors as critical to campus operations should report to work, come to campus or work remotely while campus is closed on Thursday. Non-essential staff or those not deemed critical to campus operations by their supervisor are not expected to work, remotely or otherwise, while campus is closed. Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure of your status.  

Residence halls on the Tampa campus are open.  Residence halls on the St. Petersburg campus remain closed, pending a thorough assessment by USF staff and evacuation orders being lifted in Pinellas County. Updates will be communicated directly with residential students as soon as possible. 

Students who left the region, or who have difficulty traveling to campus due to storm-related issues, and won’t be able to return in time for Thursday’s classes on the Tampa or Sarasota-Manatee campuses should notify their instructors as soon as possible. Employees who left the region, or who have difficulty traveling to campus due to flooding issues caused by the storm, and won’t be able to return by Thursday should notify supervisors as soon as possible. Faculty members and supervisors are asked to be patient and understanding with their students and staff during these unique circumstances.  Students, faculty and staff are urged to use caution when traveling back to campus. 

USF Health will resume normal clinical operations on Thursday, Aug. 31. Patients with questions may call the USF Health appointments hotline at 813-821-8038. 

More information is available through a list of FAQs available here. The FAQs will continue to be updated as needed. 

Any additional significant changes to the university’s operating status because of Hurricane Idalia will be updated via usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email.  


Updated Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. –

USF continues to monitor Hurricane Idalia. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm and any impacts to the Tampa Bay region.   

All classes are canceled and all USF campuses remain closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.  A decision on reopening campuses and resuming classes on Thursday, Aug. 31 will be announced later this afternoon after the hurricane passes through the Tampa Bay region, USF staff are able to assess the conditions on each campus and the university evaluates any ongoing evacuation orders from local governmental agencies.  

Only USF employees who are classified as essential personnel and/or those identified by their supervisors as critical to campus operations should report to campus while buildings are closed. Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure of your status.

An updated list of FAQs is available here.

Updated information will be shared this afternoon via www.usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email. 


Updated Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 8 a.m. –

The University of South Florida continues to monitor Hurricane Idalia.  The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm and the possible impacts to the Tampa Bay region.  

All classes are canceled on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30. All USF campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30. As of now we expect to resume classes, reopen campuses and return to normal business operations on Thursday, Aug. 31. A final decision on the operating status for Aug. 31 will be announced on Aug. 30. 

Only USF employees who are 1) classified as essential personnel or 2) identified by their supervisors as critical to campus operations should report to work, come to campus or work remotely while campuses are closed. Non-essential staff or those not deemed critical to campus operations by their supervisor are not expected to work, remotely or otherwise, while campuses are closed. Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure of your status. Please do not return to campus until notified that it is safe to do so.  

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, academic and research buildings will move to emergency mode to allow emergency teams to prepare for impending weather. Once buildings move to emergency mode, only emergency personnel will be permitted to enter until campuses re-open.  

Residence halls on the Tampa campus remain open at this time. Residence halls in St. Petersburg were closed at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29. USF St. Petersburg students without a place to stay were transported to the Tampa campus. If the Tampa campus is required to evacuate, students remaining on campus would be transported to approved county shelters until it is safe to return. 

USF Health clinical facilities will be open on Tuesday, Aug. 29, through the end of the work day and will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30.  As of now, USF Health is scheduled to resume normal clinical operations on Thursday, Aug. 31. USF Health patients may also call the USF Health appointments hotline at 813-821-8038 to reschedule appointments.

More information is available through a list of FAQs available here.  Please note that this is an initial list that will continue to be updated throughout the duration of the storm.

The USF Call Center will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, and noon-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30.  The call center can be reached by calling 855-699-2710. 

We urge students, faculty and staff to plan carefully, follow local weather reports, and monitor updates from county and state emergency management officials. The USF Hurricane Guide also serves as a valuable resource for the university community.  

USF leadership will continue to monitor the storm and provide updates. Any significant updates regarding changes to normal business operations will be shared via www.usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email.


Updated Sunday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. –

The University of South Florida is monitoring Tropical Storm Idalia and the possibility of any impacts to the Tampa Bay region. The safety of students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm.  

At this time, classes and normal business operations will continue as scheduled. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to review their personal hurricane plans and monitor local weather reports.  

The USF Hurricane Guide also serves as a valuable resource for the university community.  

Any significant updates regarding changes to classes or normal business operations will be shared via usf.edu, USF’s official social media channels, MyUSF and email.

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