We recognize the challenges that hurricanes and other severe storms may pose to students and their families, and we stand ready to do our part to help students to either continue their enrollment or to take a successful pause until they are ready to return.
Resources are available on campus for any student struggling with added stress, insufficient food or an inability to complete classes due to hardship. See the following FAQs on hurricane support.
SF's operational hours below are subject to change due to Hurricane Dorian. More info: sfcollege.edu/alerts
I need food. Where should I go?
The Santa Fe College food pantry is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in Building H, room 104 when the college is open for business. Canned goods are available for students in need. If you need food when the SF food pantry is not open, please call 2-1-1 for other food resources in the area.
Where can I get a shower?
Students needing showers because of power outages may access the showers in the gym. The gym will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Friday when the college is open. Please bring your own towels, soap, shampoo and toiletries as they will not be provided.
Where can I charge-up my electronic devices on campus?
Mobile charging stations with USB plug-ins and power receptacles will be available for students in the common areas of Buildings A, B, E, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, V, W and Y when the college is open. The charging stations have different adapters that will work with most phones and tablets. While the stations are provided for your convenience, please do not leave your phones and tablets unattended.
I need transportation. Is the bus available?
Visit RTS at go-rts.com.
Would you direct me to community resources that are available to assist me now that the storm has passed?
General help may be available by dialing 2-1-1. With 2-1-1, the United Way connects residents to critical health and social service resources. Resources include help with a household bill, food, and/or counseling for suicide prevention. The 2-1-1 help line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You may also visit Navigate Resources to search for services by zip code.
Where can I get help with anxiety, depression or other issues?
Students needing emotional support can visit the SF Counseling Center in R-227 or call 352-395-5508. The Counseling Center provides short-term, solution-focused counseling to SF students free of charge, as well as crisis intervention, outreach and consultation.
The Counseling Center’s regular hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday when the college is open. After hours, you may reach out to the Alachua County Crisis Center at 352-264-6789. The Crisis Line is a 24-hour telephone crisis intervention and counseling service offered by trained volunteers under the supervision of the Crisis Center Staff. Phone counselors are always available to listen to problems and participate in finding a solution.
I want to unwind from stress. What does the College offer?
The SF Gym and Fitness Center’s regular hours are Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m when the college is open. Get back on track with your regular workout. Or visit the Rec Room in S-165. The Rec Room offers billiards, a lounge area, a large screen television, table tennis, cards, board games, video games, Wii console, Playstation 2 and Xbox 360
Are you sure that the campus is safe enough for me to return?
The college will re-open only after a complete assessment of damage and a total restoration of services by our Facilities crew is done. Your personal safety is also important. Remember we have a police department open 24/7 in Building T on the Northwest Campus. We also have law enforcement who will respond to all SF locations in any emergency.
When should I expect my financial aid refund?
As always, getting much needed funds to eligible students is our highest priority.
I missed a quiz/test/assignment or was unable to attend a class because of a hurricane. What should I do?
Students who are unable to attend classes because of the after-effects of hurricanes should inform each instructor and ask for options to make up class work, assignments, quizzes and exams.
I am thinking about withdrawing from my classes this semester because of hurricanes. What do you suggest?
Students considering withdrawal should contact their academic advisor to discuss options and impact. You may locate your academic advisor by logging in to eSantaFe and clicking on the degree audit. In some cases, withdrawing from classes can cause you to lose financial aid. Financial aid students should review information at Satisfactory Academic Progress here.
I will not be able to complete this semester because of hurricanes. What should I do?
If you have been impacted by hurricanes to the point of missing a significant amount of classes or class work, you can file a petition for a Drop with Refund in the Records Office located on the Northwest Campus, Building R-112. If approved, you will be dropped from the class(es) without penalty and issued a refund. You can view petition information, instructions, and download the form here. Please note that dropping or withdrawing from classes can cause you to lose financial aid, or in some cases require you to pay back financial aid to the federal government. Contact assistant registrar Brittney Frisina at 352-395-5445 for more information.
Will dropping or withdrawing from my courses because of hurricanes impact my eligibility to receive financial aid?
When you drop or withdraw from classes, in some cases it can cause you to lose financial aid, or require you to pay back financial aid to the federal government. Financial aid students should review information at Satisfactory Academic Progress here. You may also contact the Financial Aid office by emailing financial.aid@sfcollege.edu, calling 352-395-5480 or coming in to R-122 to discuss how a withdrawal may require an appeal for a student to continue getting financial aid. All students receiving federal financial aid are expected to meet satisfactory academic progress standards (SAP). Students who aren’t meeting SAP requirements may appeal to the college. If the appeal is for hurricane-related hardships you must provide documentation which shows that the inability to maintain satisfactory academic progress was due to the hurricane. Financial Aid Appeals process instructions are available here.
I am an international student. Will dropping or withdrawing from classes this semester impact my immigration status as an international student?
Yes. Please contact Mike Laffey in the Office of International Education at 352-395-5504 or michael.laffey@sfcollege.edu if you are an international student with concerns about the impact of withdrawing from or dropping classes due to hurricanes.
I am a Veteran. Will dropping or withdrawing from classes this semester impact my educational benefits?
Yes. Please contact Sandra Torres-Pintos in the Veterans and Military Success Services office at 352-395-5505 or sandra.torres-pintos@sfcollege.edu if you are a student veteran using GI Bill benefits and have concerns about the impact of withdrawing or dropping classes due to hurricanes.
My heart goes out to those that have been devastated by hurricanes. How can I help?
Students who are interested in volunteering should contact Sarah Blanc in the Office of Civic Engagement. She can be reached at sarah.blanc@sfcollege.edu or 352-381-3660.
I am experiencing some concerns that are not addressed elsewhere on this sheet and I would like to talk with someone. What support is available for me at SF?
Students needing support with college issues may visit the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in R-211 or call 352-395-5648.