For information about on-campus services which may be affected by the current situation, please visit the links below. Information may change frequently, so please check these links often.
The university is currently operating on a modified schedule but see information below for details on the campus' operations for Monday, Jan. 26 and Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Email to Faculty/Staff/Students sent Monday, Jan. 26
Inclement Weather Update - 01/27/26
Campus Community:
Winthrop’s Emergency Management Team continues to watch winter storm predictions and consult with local, county, and state agencies.
Although the forecast shows minimal to no snow accumulation for our area, there is still a concern for dangerous road conditions on Tuesday due to a significant drop in temperature Monday night.
Due to this and out of an abundance of caution, Winthrop University has made the decision to open on a delay, opening at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27. All classes and activities scheduled to start before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27 are cancelled. All classes and activities scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. and after will continue as normal.
As noted previously, the greatest chance of impacts to Winthrop University include slick conditions, ice, power outages, downed trees or tree limbs, etc. Our facilities support staff continues de-icing the campus and will also be distributing de-icer at all residence hall entrances and other high-traffic areas. However, students, faculty, and staff should use caution while traversing the campus during this time. If you encounter ice on paved surfaces or walkways on campus, please complete a facilities work request so additional de-icer can be spread on problem areas.
At this time, we do not expect any changes to operations of Dining Services, West Center, and the DiGiorgio Campus Center, unless the campus loses power. If staffing becomes an issue, Dining Services may close Markley's, but the Eagle Eatery will remain open. Any updates to the operation of the above areas can be located by visiting Winthrop University’s Emergency Management website, www.winthrop.edu/emergency/.
Our facilities support staff and Winthrop University Police Department employees are deemed essential to manage the needs of the university and are required to report to work on campus at their normally scheduled times. Supervisors will notify other employees who may also be required to report to work on campus at their normally scheduled times.
Students:
For students who may be traveling to Winthrop from areas with more serious impact than what is expected here, please reach out to your faculty members directly.
Faculty:
Faculty members should be mindful that students may be traveling to Winthrop from more seriously impacted areas. If a faculty member is unable to travel to Winthrop for in-person classes, they should notify their department chair and students as soon as possible with the alternative delivery mode or assignment.
Staff:
Since offices will open at 12:30 p.m., a staff member who misses all or part of the regular workday is allowed at the discretion of the department head, to:
In accordance with the State of South Carolina protocols for weather related closings, if conditions result in York County Government delaying the opening of governmental offices, staff members are required to work remotely to the extent as possible during that delay time. If, however, the staff member is unable to work remotely then the staff member who misses all or part of the regular workday is allowed at the discretion of the department head, to:
Please be mindful of the very cold temperatures expected all this week and use caution when traveling in general but especially as this storm moves through South Carolina.
Additional information will be provided via WU Alert and the emergency website, www.winthrop.edu/emergency/, as necessary.
Sincerely,
Winthrop University Emergency Management Team
Email to Faculty/Staff/Students sent Friday, Jan. 23
Inclement Weather Update - 01/26/26
Campus Community:
Winthrop’s Emergency Management Team continues to watch winter storm predictions and consult with local, county, and state agencies.
A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect for much of upstate South Carolina, including York County. York County will see precipitation beginning Saturday afternoon, likely as sleet. Any snow that falls will probably be for less than an hour at the onset. Sleet is likely to accumulate an inch or two before a change to freezing rain. Due to low temperatures occurring throughout the nights, residual water will refreeze, likely creating a damaging ice buildup on roadways across York County. This will lead to potentially dangerous road conditions in the area.
Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our commuting and working students as well as faculty and staff members, Winthrop University will close the campus and shift to remote learning for Monday, January 26. As such, all in-person activities scheduled for Monday, January 26, are cancelled.
A decision about Winthrop University’s operation for Tuesday, January 27, will be announced by the afternoon of Monday, January 26.
As noted previously, the greatest chance of impacts to Winthrop University include slick conditions, ice, power outages, downed trees or tree limbs, etc. Facilities support staff has started preparing the campus and de-icer will be distributed at all residence hall entrances and other high-traffic areas. However, students, faculty, and staff should use caution while traversing the campus during this time. If you encounter ice on paved surfaces or walkways on campus, please complete a facilities work request so additional de-icer can be spread on problem areas.
At this time, we do not expect any changes to operations of Dining Services, West Center, and the DiGiorgio Campus Center, unless the campus loses power. If staffing becomes an issue, Dining Services may close Markley's, but the Eagle Eatery will remain open. Any updates to the operation of the above areas can be located by visiting Winthrop Univeristy’s Emergency Management website, www.winthrop.edu/emergency/.
Please be mindful of the very cold temperatures expected all this weekend and use caution when traveling in general but especially as this storm moves through South Carolina.
Students:
Please look to your faculty members for instructions on remote learning.
Faculty:
Since Winthrop University is moving to remote learning, faculty members are authorized to work remotely. Please notify your students as soon as possible regarding how class time will be delivered or made up, and consult your supervisor with any questions or for additional guidance.
Staff:
Since the campus will be closed, a staff member who misses all or part of the regular workday due to hazardous weather/emergency conditions may be allowed at the discretion of the department head, to:
In accordance with the State of South Carolina protocols for weather related closings, if conditions result in York County Government closing governmental offices, staff members are required to work remotely to the extent as possible. If, however, the staff member is unable to work remotely then the staff member who misses all or part of the regular workday is allowed at the discretion of the department head, to:
Please refer to the Telecommuting or Remote Employment Policy for additional information.
Our facilities support staff and Winthrop University Police Department employees are deemed essential to manage the needs of the university and are required to report to work on campus. Supervisors will notify other employees who may also be required to report to work on campus. We ask these and any employees who report to work during this period to stay alert to weather and road conditions, exercise extreme caution when driving to and from campus, and to stay in close contact with supervisors if traveling to work will not be possible or will result in late arrival. If you are required to work, either as an essential worker or in your role associated with campus operations, please follow the direction of your supervisor.
Please refer to the Hazardous Weather/Emergency Leave Policy for additional information.
Due to the above mentioned factors, individuals should plan ahead and take any materials or technology with them when they leave campus on Friday that they may need to work remotely on Monday, if applicable. This will allow individuals to be prepared for the possible outcomes, since a decision by York County Government in closing their offices is usually not made until the day of.
Additional information will be provided via WU Alert and the emergency website, www.winthrop.edu/emergency/, as necessary.
Sincerely,
Winthrop University Emergency Management Team
Any member of the Winthrop community (students, faculty, and staff) should sign up for WU Alert to receive text and voicemail messages with incident notifications and/or the status of any closings or delays.
While communications staff members notify all of the major local and Charlotte area media outlets of this information as well, your best and most timely source of information is WU Alert. You can expect a short WU Alert via text for most incidents, with detailed follow-up information typically coming through a voice-recorded message sent to your phone. Information also is posted on Winthrop’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter).
You may check your university e-mail or the university website for information related to incidents and closings/delays as well. Should you not have access to e-mail, the web, or other information, call the Campus Alert Line at 803/323-2222. Please do NOT call the Winthrop University Police Department for closing information, as this will tie up phone lines that may be needed for an emergency.
These are the website links you will see on the Winthrop homepage when detailed information is provided:
If a weather incident requires cancelling classes or other events on a weekend, see the policy for that scenario.
Members of the Winthrop community always should use their discretion in judging the safety of traveling to the university during periods of inclement weather. Check the Hazardous Weather/Emergency Leave Policy for details to help faculty and staff determine how inclement weather affects the work schedule.
Register your cell or landline phone number today for emergency notification