UNCW to Reopen Monday with Enhanced Security Measures

UNCW will reopen on schedule Monday, Sept. 22 with enhanced security measures in place. We know it has been a difficult week for our campus community, and we want to reassure students, parents, faculty, staff and the community that we have heard your serious concerns, and we are working around the clock to address them.

Enhanced Security Measures

The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff remain our highest priority. In addition to increased presence at the main campus entrances and foot patrols, the police department is expanding its team with additional law enforcement personnel to further strengthen campus coverage and provide enhanced visibility across campus, including the Center for Marine Science. We are grateful for the continued support of Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, who are working closely with us to maintain a secure campus environment. The UNCW Police Department is available 24/7 and is prepared to respond to any concerns.

Campus residence halls remain staffed throughout the weekend with regular on-call support, security staffing and increased campus police rounds.

Classes

Classes will resume as normal on Monday, Sept. 22. Faculty are encouraged to offer students extra understanding and support given the events of the past week.   

Employees

While Condition 1 (reduced operations) will end on Sunday at 11:59 p.m., the university recognizes that recent events may still be affecting our faculty and staff. Supervisors are encouraged to extend flexibility in scheduling and telework as needed through Friday,  Sept. 26.

Investigation Update

The university is collaborating with the State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate an online threat actor responsible for recent disruptions affecting our institution and others. We cannot provide additional details at this time because the investigation is in progress. We are not aware of credible threats.

Incident Response FAQs Website

We published an Incident Response FAQ website to provide additional information and help address common questions. The FAQ information has been confirmed by the University Police Department and other campus offices. This information is what may be shared in alignment with ongoing investigations. This webpage will be updated as more factual information is available and confirmed by UPD and appropriate campus offices.

Resources

For those seeking emotional support or guidance, students are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center, while faculty and staff may access resources through the Employee Assistance Program.

UNCW Communication Updates 

The university plans to send out its next communication from Chancellor Volety at 11 a.m. Sunday unless conditions warrant earlier outreach.

 Please remember:

• Students, faculty and staff should continue to monitor their email and UNCW Alerts for official updates and report anything concerning immediately by calling 911 or contacting UNCW Police at 910.962.2222 or police@uncw.edu. Please do not rely on social media channels as your source for emergency alerts and updates.
  
  
• Parents and the public can receive emergency notifications by downloading the UNCW Mobile app.
  
  
•  If you see or hear any threat to your safety, others’ safety or campus safety (or other concerning email, phone or social media messages), don’t hesitate — immediately forward to the University Police Department (call 911 or 910.962.2222, or forward to police@uncw.edu). Tips can also be submitted using the UNCW Alert Safety app. 
  
  
• False information continues to circulate on social media. However, if the content implies a threat, please share with UPD. Please try to verify the credibility of your source and their information first before you consider sharing with your colleagues, friends or your professional and personal networks.   

The circumstances of the past week are unlike anything we’ve faced before. We appreciate the support and service we have received from our community, especially local law enforcement. We look forward to bringing students, faculty and staff back to campus next week, so that we can begin moving forward together to create a campus community where everyone feels safe, respected and supported.