UWI Mona tells students to leave halls as Melissa nears

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, has ordered Jamaican students living in halls to leave immediately, as the institution pivots to full online operations amid the approach of Tropical Storm Melissa.

The university said it has also shifted all classes online.

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica issued a Hurricane Watch for the island on Thursday.

Effective 2 p.m. Thursday, the campus management instructed Jamaican students living in residence halls to vacate the premises, while regional and international students will be allowed to remain.

In a memorandum to the campus community, Registrar Donovan Stanberry said the move follows an assessment of weather risks posed by the approaching tropical storm.

"Given that physical operations on the campus will be suspended, we are asking our Jamaican students on our halls of residence to immediately begin vacating the halls," he said.

Staff will work remotely during the shutdown, except for essential personnel assigned to safeguard the campus. The advisory will remain in effect through the weekend, pending further updates.

The University of Technology (UTech) switched to online classes on Wednesday.

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