Tertiary schools back in session after Melissa

Despite a threat from disgruntled students at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, to stage a sit in, the St Andrew-located institution resumed classes on Monday.

Like other tertiary institutions and schools islandwide, classes were suspended ahead of last Tuesday’s passage of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

Campus Registrar Dr Donovan Stanberry told The Gleaner yesterday that the administration made the decision to resume classes as all utilities on the campus were intact.

“We were very clear in the communication with our administrative staff, lecturers, and students, and we indicated that although we are going to reopen all facilities, we were mindful that some students may not be able to engage due to Melissa’s impact and personal circumstances,” Stanberry said.

“We made provision, and this was communicated that our lecturers will facilitate by recording classes, lecture notes or PowerPoint presentations, and uploading them on our learning management system. Alternatively, we have said to the students, if you are not able to engage you can communicate your needs to us. We are trying to be as empathetic as possible, and we will not disenfranchise any of our students.”

The campus registrar noted that adjustments had been made to exam sessions and that students had been assured that “if you are not up to it mentally, you can defer without penalty”.

He added: “Significantly, we have also made concessions to affected students for a 50 per cent discount on outstanding tuition fees for semester one, and for the other 50 per cent they will have up to May to pay. There are criteria to be eligible, and we are communicating that to our students via our website.”

Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope in Westmoreland and devastated sections of that parish as well as sections of St Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny, St James, and St Ann, with other parishes across the island sustaining some level of damage.

The UWI has one of the largest student bodies with a considerable number residing on the campus in dormitory halls.

All dorms of residence are open, with many students seeing out the storm there, and students who left the campus ahead of the hurricane have been returning.

Stanberry said that the UWI is also welcoming students from the affected parishes who can safely make their way to Mona.

Last weekend, the UWI students journeyed to the Western Jamaica Campus in Montego Bay delivering food, water, and toiletries to affected students.

All graduation ceremonies that were scheduled for later this month have been postponed and new dates are to be decided by today.

The UWI said it would make arrangements for students who are unable to connect for the rest of this semester to re-engage in January 2026.

UTECH STILL OUT

Meanwhile, the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), situated at Papine in St Andrew, has not yet resumed classes.

Percival Roberts, president of the UTech Guild of Students, confirmed to The Gleaner yesterday that “the UTech administration has continued the suspension in light of the traumatic experiences faced by students alongside the fact that we can’t reach our students in the west”.

At the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), face-to-face classes will be resumed today.

In a meeting with student leaders on Monday, the CMU’s administration said sessions would be recorded for students who are unable to attend in person.

Mid-semester assessments will take the form of course work or other assignments, eliminating a physical examination, while final exams have been postponed from December to January.

The CMU is also offering a 10 per cent discount on tuition fees and has extended the deadline to complete financial obligations to December, and a decision is to be made regarding the graduation ceremony originally scheduled for November.

In a statement yesterday evening, in response to queries from The Gleaner, the Manchester-based Northern Caribbean University (NCU) said it would reopen for classes on November 10.

The NCU said it was mindful that many students are struggling to come to terms with the loss and damage caused by the hurricane and was including measures to support students who are unable to report for face-to-face instruction due to hurricane damage or loss of utilities.

The university urged those students to make contact with their faculty, chair, or dean as soon as possible to discuss options for learning, including flexible assessments for this semester.

Faculty members will post course content and materials on the institution’s online learning platform for students to access at their own pace while the university said it would also be flexible with assignment submissions and other class activities.

Students who are unable to make contact this semester will be engaged in semester two, which starts in January of 2026.

karen.madden@gleanerjm.com