THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE FROM ACTING PRESIDENT GERALDINE JONES

Posted on November 9, 2012

To: All students, faculty, staff, alumni and University friends
From: Acting President Geraldine Jones

We were lucky.

While two PASSHE universities in eastern Pennsylvania organized “megashelters” for people affected by Hurricane Sandy, Cal U coped with a storm that brought little more than heavy rain and high winds to our campus and the surrounding region.

As you know, our University cancelled classes from 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29 through 12:30 p.m. Oct. 30, primarily for the sake of commuters who might have encountered fallen limbs or downed power lines as they traveled after dark.

The safety of our students and employees is always uppermost in my mind when severe weather occurs. Last week’s “superstorm” served as a reminder that we all should take prudent steps to prepare for emergencies, including the wintry weather that may be just around the corner.

First, I encourage all students, faculty and staff to register for Cal U Text Alerts, our emergency text messaging service. Registration is free, and text alerts are issued only when classes are canceled or a significant emergency occurs. The text alert system is available to all members of the campus community. To register, visit the Cal U website, www.calu.edu, and look for signup information under “Quick Links.”

Next, know where to look for emergency information. If we need to alter class schedules or issue a safety warning, the news will be posted on the Cal U website. Our campus emergency team will share the latest information on the homepage, so check the News carousel at the bottom of the page, and return regularly for updates.

You also can check Cal U’s mobile website on your smartphone, or watch for news on the University’s official Twitter channel (@CalUofPA) and Facebook page.

School closings are rare, but severe weather occasionally forces the University to adjust class schedules. In those cases, local television and radio stations will be notified about closings or delays.

For a list of those stations, please visit www.calu.edu/news/severe-weather and bookmark the page so you can find it readily. This important webpage also includes telephone numbers for our campus hotline (724-938-4507 or toll-free 800-422-5639) and a link to the “Quick Reference Guide to Emergencies.”

No institution can anticipate every occurrence, but I know that Cal U has given a great deal of thought to our severe weather and emergency response plans. Your safety is our first concern.

Please do your part: Sign up now for emergency text alerts. Bookmark the severe weather webpage. And above all, keep safety in mind and act responsibly if an emergency occurs.

I ask you to keep in mind those families who are still coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And I thank the many staff members who worked to ensure the safety of our campus community during last week’s storm. No matter the weather, you “keep calm and carry on.” I appreciate all your efforts.

Meet Acting President Geraldine M. Jones