UWI, UTech transition to online classes ahead of Tropical Storm Melissa

 

As Jamaica prepares for the arrival of Tropical Storm Melissa, two of the nation's leading universities are taking precautionary measures to safeguard students and staff. 

 

Registrar at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Dr. Donovan Stanberry, noted that as of 2 p.m. on Thursday, classes were moved online. 

 

He added that Jamaican students residing on halls of residence are advised to return home. 

 

Dr. Stanberry also stated that the university's emergency response system has been activated.

 

"As you know, we have about nearly 5,000 students in our halls of residence. So we have asked those who are Jamaicans to make their way home. Of course, if there's a Jamaican who feels threatened in so doing, if they live very far, then we can make provisions for them to stay. We have activated all our emergency response services, so we're battening down, putting up shutters, making sure our utilities are intact," he said. 

 

Meanwhile, Vice President at the University of Technology (UTech), Professor Garfield Young, said transportation is being provided for students living on halls who wish to return home. 

 

UTech has also transitioned to online learning. 

 

"We met on Tuesday and made an assessment of the possible impact the storm could have on our campus and on our constituents. And we made a decision that effective Wednesday, October 22, we migrated all our classes to online and we authorised to work from home. We indicated to the students, students who live on the halls of residence - significantly less than those at UWI Mona - that they may remain on the campus or return as conditions allow," he noted.

 

They were speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines.