As the true devastation of Hurricane Matthew is becoming evident, Wayne Community College’s priority is its people.
“Our central concern is the condition of the college’s students, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Thomas A. Walker Jr., the college’s president. “We are reaching out to them to see how they have fared through this storm and how we can help them move forward.”
“Wayne Community College weathered the storm structurally very well,” Dr. Walker said. “Maintenance and grounds crews have made certain that our facilities are ready, but we made the decision not to resume operations until it was feasible from a human standpoint.”
The college is set to reopen for students on Thursday, Oct. 20. It will return to full operations on a normal schedule that day and Friday, Oct. 21 but will be closed Saturday, Oct. 22.
Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 will be an optional work days for employees.
Dr. Walker also said that the college will actively assist the county’s emergency management officials and leadership with disaster recovery processes.
“Wayne Community College has many resources that we are eager to make available to agencies that are aiding our county,” Dr. Walker said. Numerous college-affiliated individuals are volunteering in governmental and nonprofit efforts, he noted.
“This college is an integral component of Wayne County,” Dr. Walker said. “We have a role to play in the recovery of not only our own employees and students, but also the community beyond our campus.”