After sending an email to students and faculty on Tuesday that Florida Atlantic would have its decision on the status of campus operations by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, the university left everyone in suspense for an additional 53 minutes.

They announced their decision via email blast and social media at 9:53 a.m. that all campus offices will close by 3 p.m. today and will remain closed through Sunday Oct. 9.

Student Affairs recommends that students living on campus remain in their dorms and apartments because they will not be allowed back on the campus until the hurricane, a Category 3 storm Wednesday afternoon, has passed.

“We believe that students who stay in their dorms will be  the safest,” said associate vice president of student outreach and diversity, Dr. Andrea Guzman Oliver. “We are more concerned about students who leave and try to come back on Thursday or Friday, because of the unsafe road conditions during the storm.”

All non-athletic events are canceled through Sunday Oct.9. The Fall Break from Oct.10-11 will continue on as scheduled and athletics will announce their schedule at a later date, according to an FAU storm alert email.

All residence halls and dorms will remain open for students living on campus unless an evacuation notice is given.

Students living in residence halls and essential personnel such as police officers and grounds workers will be the only ones allowed on campus after 3 p.m. according to Oliver and the Dining Hall, Recreation Center and Student Union will be open as conditions permit.

When  asked about the time frame for when residential students should expect to know whether they will be evacuated or not, housing officials said they would warn students later in the day if needed.  

“No later than 3 p.m. today because they want to do a check in at each dorm and get a headcount,”  a housing employee told a UP reporter. “To see how many students are staying in the dorm or leaving.”

Students living in residence halls and essential personnel such as police officers and grounds workers will be the only ones allowed on campus after 3 p.m.

The UP reached out to FAU’s Department of Emergency Management, but did not receive comment by the time of publication.

According to the Department of Parking and Transportation, the only vehicles allowed on campus after 3 p.m. are ones belonging to residents, police officers and essential personnel and they are allowed to park in the parking garages.

Follow us online at upressonilne.com for more updates during the storm.

Joe Pye is the news editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @Jpeg3189.