Dear student,
Further to yesterday’s message regarding Storm Babet and the extension of the red and weather warnings, we have decided to close our Old Aberdeen and Foresterhill campuses tomorrow (Friday 20 October) as your safety is our priority.
Essential on-campus services will still be delivered such as student support at Hillhead, but we are asking students and staff to stay at home.
Here is the position for tomorrow:
- MyAberdeen should have updates on cancelled classes and whether there will be online provision but check with your School if you have any queries or concerns
- We have had to close Sir Duncan Rice Library and the MacRobert building today due to high winds causing safety issues with the automatic doors. Both are expected to reopen at normal times on Saturday if weather permits
- Student Advice & Support, Infohub and the Careers & Employability Service have had to close in-person services today, and will remain closed tomorrow, but their services are still available remotely between 9am and 5pm. Please feel free to get in touch with the teams via email.
- The shuttle bus between Foresterhill and Old Aberdeen will not be running
- Hillhead Student Village will be open and operating as usual, facilities within headspace will be open and residents are welcome to access the building
- Hilllhead reception will be open and anyone experiencing any difficulties should contact the reception in person or on Tel: 01224 274000
- All catering outlets will be closed. Catered residents at Hillhead will be provided with meal boxes for dinner, breakfast and lunch together with snacks. These will be available for collection from Hillhead reception later this afternoon
- The ground floor of the Students' Union Building (SUB) at Old Aberdeen will be open as warm space for students, but the rest of the building will be closed
- Aberdeen Sports Village is closing today at 5pm and expected to reopen tomorrow at noon. All services, bookings, classes and aquatic lessons will be cancelled during that time
- Security will remain on site providing services as normal
- The University Mailroom, Cruickshank Botanic Garden and Rocking Horse Nursery will be closed
- There will still be swipe access to most buildings although some areas may be closed for safety reasons and local signs will be in place to advise
The Met Office has issued the following weather warnings with exceptional rainfall expected to cause severe flooding and disruption in Aberdeenshire and Angus.
The red warning runs from 6pm tonight until noon on Friday. Amber and yellow warnings for rain and wind are in place across most of Scotland and other parts of the UK. On Friday morning, the warning extends down the east of England to the south coast.
Just a reminder you can get advice from Transport Scotland, our own Winter Preparedness website and Ready Scotland, along with other local sources including Police Scotland and Traffic Scotland.
Scotrail is urging passengers to check for cancellations and delays although rail services in areas covered by the red weather warning have already been cancelled.
Best wishes and please stay safe
Tracey
Tracey Slaven
University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer