Welcome back!
Hurricane Irma has been one of the worst storms that Florida, and the Tampa Bay area in particular, has ever faced. Despite her strength, we have been resilient and are even stronger in the aftermath! I am thankful that I have not received any reports of major harm to any of our students, faculty and staff. Possessions are replaceable, but you are not.
I know this past week and a half has been very challenging for many of us. From securing your homes and/or evacuating before the storm, to losing power, cleaning up debris, and dealing with heavy traffic and gas shortages, it is understandable that many of us have been under a lot of pressure. It’s my hope that our reopening will help re-establish your normal routine, which is comforting.
We are here to support you in your role at SPC. More than 45 of us held conference calls twice a day prior to, and after, the storm. This ensured that decisions were made in the best interest of students and employees. I am proud of the leadership this team has shown. As well as the progress made to start classes on Monday, Sept. 18th. We realize that many of you are still addressing damages from Hurricane Irma and are experiencing various challenges. Please remember SPC employees can receive free counseling and referral services to help you through stressful situations.
Like many of us, our students have also been through some very trying times. They will need your support as they work to be successful in their classes. Please show them flexibility, and I ask that faculty adjust your assignment due dates as necessary to accommodate delays caused by the long closure. I also ask that everyone keep an eye out for SPC students who seem overwhelmed. Remember that you can point them to our student assistance program, which offers counseling and referrals.
Many, many of you put in long hours over the closure to clean campus buildings and grounds, restore internet connectivity, answer calls from students, and much more. I know many faculty members also spent time during the closure working to update their syllabi and helping their students. I am so proud of you all.
Despite all of the challenges we have faced because of Hurricane Irma, the Titan community has come through it even stronger than we were before. I want to thank all of you for your patience and your kindness to one another during this event. At SPC, we are a family, and our perseverance through adversity together only strengthens those bonds. #TITANSTRONG