Occidental College continues to closely monitor Tropical Storm Hilary as it moves through Southern California.
The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the Los Angeles area due to the storm, with heavy rain, wind gusts of up to 30 mph, and possible flash floods in low-lying areas forecast for late Sunday and parts of Monday.
The Occidental campus remains open, with preparations underway for the heaviest periods of the storm. New-student move-in, Orientation and most other College events that are scheduled to begin on Monday are proceeding at this time, with some changes in place to keep our community as safe and dry as possible.
We encourage students and families to take their time and be safe traveling to and from campus. Accommodations will be made for students and families who experience travel delays due to the storm and are unable to get to campus in time for required move-in or Orientation events.
Families who are experiencing travel delays are asked to contact the Student Affairs team at deanofstudents@oxy.edu to let us know when they can safely arrive, even if it is a day or two later than expected.
Please also be aware of the following updates and guidance for new student arrival:
- LA Engage events scheduled for this weekend have been postponed. Trip leaders will continue to communicate directly with students in those programs about changes.
- Please dress appropriately for rain and wind while on campus. Bring umbrellas and wear shoes with good grip, as the ground could be slippery.
- Students moving into the residence halls should bring plastic tarps or bags to keep items dry as they are transported into rooms.
- Several new-student events have been moved indoors. New Student Check-In has been relocated to the Johnson Student Center—Rose Hill Lobby. Students will check in on the first floor to receive their room information, ID Card and new student welcome bags. Family Orientation Check-In will be on the second floor of the Johnson Student Center—Branca Patio.
- The Welcome to Oxy! celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 21 will take place in the Rush Gymnasium.
- Additional changes to Orientation events are possible. The New Student Orientation website and the New Family Orientation website will be kept up-to-date with the latest event schedules and locations.
- Families who arrive next week outside of normal business hours should call the resident advisor on duty at their residence hall. Those phone numbers will be posted at the residence hall entrances.
Please continue to check your email and monitor the oxy.edu website for the latest updates.