Closing and Evacuation

The primary responsibility of Ithaca College during an epidemic is the safety and well-being of its students. The college recognizes that its healthcare resources will be inadequate to care for a large number of individuals during a severe epidemic, and will make every effort to suspend operations and enable students to return home before widespread illness occurs.

Who decides to close the college?

The president will make the decision to suspend college activities, with advice from the College Emergency Response Team (CERT), the director of Health Services, and local, state and national health authorities. An effort will be made to time the suspension of operations so as to maximize the success of student evacuation.

The College’s decision to suspend operations will be communicated to other area educational institutions, (Cornell University and Tompkins Cortland Community College, e.g.) the Tompkins County Department of Health, Cayuga Medical Center, and other area organizations as required, but will be made independently of any decisions made by those organizations.

Evacuating the college

Students will be required to vacate residence halls and campus apartments, and will be asked to take only necessary belongings with them initially in order to maximize opportunities for students to share transportation. Arrangements for students to retrieve the remainder of their belongings will be made later.

Students whose departures are delayed for reasons beyond their control, such as health-related travel restrictions or actual illness, may be temporarily housed on campus at the college’s discretion, in locations and under circumstances to be determined by the college according to the circumstances of the prevailing public health emergency.

The college will encourage dialogue amongst students and their families to identify ride-sharing and other options for emergency transportation before the need arises, and may investigate and support various approaches to voluntary temporary housing within the IC community.