CARBONDALE – Due to the conditions caused by an Ameren power outage affecting campus, Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be closed Friday, April 14. This is an administrative closure. All classes (face to face, hybrid and online) will be canceled and will not be delivered remotely.
According to a post on the university’s Facebook page Friday morning, residence halls, including residential dining services, and the Department of Public Safety will remain open and staff should report as normal. If the power outage prevents Lentz Dining Hall from opening in the west campus residential life area, students should go to Trueblood Dining Hall in the east campus residential life area. Trueblood Dining Hall will operate normal hours.
All other campus buildings and offices will be closed except for a limited number of events previously scheduled, including:
* New Student Orientation will be held as scheduled at Shryock Auditorium.
* The Men of Color Campus to Career Conference will be held as scheduled but the location will be moved to Grinnell Hall, which is part of the east campus residential life area.
* Athletics events will be held as scheduled.
* Student Center evening events, including the SIH Gala, will be held pending the resolution of the power outage.
Essential personnel, as determined by the vice chancellors or chancellor, should report to work as normal. Employees in the Facilities and Energy Management division will be notified by their supervisors who is considered an essential employee for the day. No other employee should report to work during the closure unless they are part of the campus employees required for the events or services previously listed. Employees who have questions should consult their supervisors.
University officials have been in close contact with Ameren throughout the evening to monitor the situation. Unfortunately, the damage to the substations that caused the power outage was substantial.
At this time, the university anticipates normal operating conditions will be in effect again beginning on Saturday, April 15. The university will continue to work closely with Ameren to provide updates on campus operations.