Campus Alerts

January 26, 2026 | 6:47 p.m. | Monday Evening Weather Update

We made excellent progress clearing the sleet and ice today, so this will be the last message regarding the weekend storm. 

For Tuesday: 

•  Faculty may teach in person or by remote learning.  
• Students should monitor communication from faculty about which format will be used for their class.  
• Administrative offices will be open. Staff who are unable to travel to campus due to road conditions or child care challenges should contact their supervisor.
• Dining Services is open normal hours with the exception of Davis Cafe, which will open at 9 a.m., and the Wildcat Den, where operations will be determined tomorrow. 

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January 26, 2026 | 12:52 p.m. | Monday Weather Update

Thank you for your patience and care as this weekend’s storm came through. Our support for each other as a community shone through. 

Please continue to exercise great caution today. The Physical Plant crews have cleared many of the walkways and roads, but there is still work to be done. Our goal is to have walkways cleared so they can dry today, which means cold temperatures won’t create more ice. 

Look up AND down. As the sun warms our buildings, pieces of ice are falling from the roofs, especially on the library-side of Chambers. Please avoid any areas blocked off by tape or cones. Also please remember that tonight’s temperatures will drop to around 12 degrees. 

A reminder from last evening’s message – the format for afternoon classes is at the discretion of faculty, so please monitor communication from professors.  

All dining services will close at 9 p.m. this evening. They will return to regular hours tomorrow with the exception of the Cafe which will open at 9 a.m.  

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January 25, 2026 | 8:14 p.m. | This Weekend's Weather: Sunday Evening Update

Given the ice accumulation in the last few hours and the potential for hazardous conditions in the morning, we are making adjustments to minimize staff, faculty and students traveling in the morning. 

Classes will meet Monday at the discretion of the faculty member as previously determined, but no in-person instruction will be offered before 11:30 a.m. 

Essential personnel will be working on campus. Other staff should work remotely.

This evening, all dining locations will close at 9 p.m. Dining Services will open Monday at 9 a.m. in order to give staff extra time to travel safely to campus. 

Administrative offices will generally be operating remotely, with staff reachable by email and phone. 

Please be especially careful moving about in the morning, as it will take some time for crews to clear the walkways. 

We want to thank our Dining Services and Physical Plant teams who have worked through the weekend to keep campus operating. 

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January 25, 2026 | 1:28 p.m. | This Weekend's Weather: Sunday Update

Here are important things for you to know right now: 

• Be extremely careful when you walk outside. Surfaces are slick, even where they were pre-treated, because there is a layer of ice under a couple of inches of sleet.

• If at all possible, don’t try to drive anywhere. 

• Vail Commons and Davis Cafe are open.

• We will send a message this evening that will provide more information about plans for tomorrow, which we continue developing based on the weather and expert guidance we are receiving throughout the day.

We hope you’re staying warm, and we’re glad to say there were no power outages on campus overnight. We are seeing a lull in the storm at the moment. The storm will strengthen, again, late this afternoon or early evening. There still is significant risk of freezing rain, which forms ice and creates most of the problems. 

Please know that nearly 50 facilities team members are on campus, and the plan is not to scrape away the sleet and ice everywhere – only targeted spots that we can keep up with this evening. If we scrape everything, the freezing rain will hit the exposed brick and asphalt and create another layer of ice. That’s like a Zamboni machine smoothing out a hockey rink. We’re going to leave the thin layer of sleet most places, and we are putting down sand on some of the roads. This way the freezing rain tonight will settle on top of the sleet. You will still need to be very careful if you have to walk anywhere, but that approach creates a surface that’s a little easier to navigate.

What’s on the ground will refreeze overnight, and our teams will dive back into it early in the morning. Please be patient as they do their work.

The Town of Davidson and other nearby jurisdictions are taking the same approach, which is why you shouldn’t try to drive anywhere. 

Looking a little further ahead, please be aware that the low temperature Monday night is forecast for 11 degrees. Please limit your time outside to essential activity. 

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January 24, 2026 | 1:05 p.m. | This Weekend's Weather: Saturday Update

We are watching multiple forecast models, and they are settling around significant precipitation beginning around 10 p.m. this evening, though we could see some earlier. The encouraging news is that the storm is shaping up to be a 24-hour event rather than the much longer forecasts we saw earlier in the week. The precipitation is expected to end late Sunday night. 

It still looks like a sleet and freezing rain event and still poses significant risk. The accumulation on Sunday could bring up to three-quarters of an inch of ice. Power outages remain a risk. Campus has some measure of protection in that the main Duke Energy power line for this area runs through campus, connects directly with our own substation and then to our power lines, which are underground. We’re not impervious but in a stronger position than most. 

A few things to remember: 

• If we lose power, you will receive information about steps to stay safe. 

• Please refer to our previous messages for guidance/caution during the storm. 

• That white-ish film you see on the pathways is anti-icing treatment by our facilities teams. They are working to ensure students are able to get to Vail Commons for meals. 

• Please expect another update by 5 p.m. tomorrow. If events warrant more messages, we will send them accordingly.

• If you are off campus, the ‘Cat Cam provides a 24/7 live look at the plaza in front of the Wall Center. Students, feel free to share this link with your families so that they can see weather conditions on campus.

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January 23, 2026 | 2:01 p.m. | This Weekend's Weather: Friday Update

Forecasts indicate that the winter weather should arrive late Saturday afternoon/evening and continue through early Monday morning. At this point, we are preparing for a significant sleet/freezing rain event. The current forecast models show between one-quarter and three-quarters of an inch of ice. Obviously a larger amount of ice creates more risk, including power outages. 

We have a few short updates:

• Winterfest, scheduled for tomorrow, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28.

• There are no additional changes to campus operations at this time. We will begin making decisions about weekend operations and events over the next two days, and we will notify you of worsening conditions and any closures. 

• Please expect another update by 5 p.m. tomorrow and another at the same time on Sunday. If events warrant more messages, we will send them accordingly.

• If you are off campus, the ‘Cat Cam provides a 24/7 live look at the plaza in front of the Wall Center. Students, feel free to share this link with your families so that they can see weather conditions on campus.

• Staff and faculty, we have taken steps to ensure that Vail Commons is staffed throughout the storm and into next week. We want to be prepared, however, if we unexpectedly need volunteers to help serve. If you would be willing to volunteer, please sign up using the form in the email shared. You will be contacted only if your help is needed.

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January 22, 2026 | 3:56 p.m. | This Weekend's Weather: Thursday Update 

We are continuing to monitor the winter storm that is forecast for much of the Southeast this weekend. 

Right now, forecasts predict sleet and freezing rain for Davidson. Precipitation is expected to start Saturday evening and continue through Sunday and into early Monday morning. Any accumulation will be slow to melt because below-freezing temperatures — as low as the single-digits — are expected to follow the storm system.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Our guidance from Wednesday's message still stands.

• The Women’s Basketball game has moved to noon on Saturday to help the VCU team get home ahead of the weather. We welcome fans at both that game and the Men’s Basketball game at 5 p.m. Saturday. If travel conditions change, we will advise fans in advance of the games.

• There are no other changes to normal campus operations at this time. We will begin making decisions about weekend operations and events over the next two days, and we will notify you of worsening conditions and any closures. 

• In the event of power outages or road closures, Dining Services is planning for Vail Commons to be the primary dining destination for students. The status of the other dining outlets on campus will be communicated accordingly.

• Our Physical Plant team is already working hard to prepare the campus for the weather. Please know that clear roads and sidewalks on campus are an indication of our staff’s effectiveness. They do not mean that roads are clear off campus. Please check conditions before traveling.

• Faculty may teach in-person, remotely, or asynchronously on Monday, or may cancel class. Faculty should make those decisions based on the weather conditions and their ability to travel safely. If there is a college-wide decision to cancel in-person classes, we will communicate that on Sunday. 

• We will continue to provide updates on a daily basis — if not more frequently. Please expect a message by 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday of any changes to campus operations. 

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January 21, 2026 | 4:53 p.m. | This Weekend's Weather: Wednesday Update

You may be aware that severe winter weather is being forecast for Davidson starting Saturday morning and into Sunday, including: rain, sleet, snow, wind and below freezing temperatures that could linger for two or three days. We could receive heavy snow and/or ice accumulation.

There are no changes to normal campus operations at this time. We will begin making decisions about weekend operations and events over the next two days, and we will notify you of worsening conditions and any closures. 

The forecast could change considerably between now and Saturday, but here is what you need to know if things get icy and snowy:

• Keep your mobile devices charged and nearby to receive notices from campus. A fully charged laptop can also be used to charge your mobile device.
• You will receive any urgent information through a SSAFER alert via text and/or email messages. If you want to make sure that your email and phone number are registered on the SSAFER system, please follow the steps on this page.
• The most current information, including any college-wide announcements about classes, will be communicated through email, DavidsonONE and this Alert page.
• Stay aware of weather conditions.
• Avoid travel during severe weather if at all possible.
• Use sidewalks that have been cleared. The facilities team will salt them ahead of the storm and clear them after – tread carefully.
• If the precipitation shifts more to ice, that can bring down branches, trees and power lines. When you walk anywhere, watch above you in addition to below.
• Vail Commons will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can stay on campus and stay fed. (Decisions on operating other dining outlets will be based on weather conditions.) And you will be able to use the facilities for which you currently have access, such as the Union and fitness centers.
• If the campus loses power, many, but not all, residence halls and buildings have backup generators that provide limited power for light and heat. You will receive guidance about any steps you need to take for safety.
• If the power is out and you have medication that requires refrigeration, we will communicate where to take it.

 For staff and faculty – if hazardous conditions do materialize and it becomes unsafe to travel, and if you are able to, please contact your supervisor. If you must travel to campus, please do so with care. If you are unsure if you are required to be on campus during severe weather, please contact your manager today. Here is a link to the inclement weather policy.

Public schools in the area, including Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties, may close on Monday or shift to virtual instruction. We realize this puts a burden on employees and ask that you work with your manager on any difficulties this creates.

Thank you, in advance, to our Facilities and Dining Services teams, who will be working up to and during the storm.

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