Stay informed. UNC Asheville will continue to update Bulldog Alert and circulate updates via email and social media. Call our Helene hotline at 828-251-6600, or email helene@unca.edu with your questions and needs.

On this page:

Helene faq UNC Asheville Disaster Relief Fund Chancellor’s Updates Relief Resources in the news

As we continue to recover from the devastating effects of Helene, our focus remains on the comfort and care of our entire campus community as we endeavor to regain a sense of normalcy. Essential personnel are working tirelessly on campus and along with city, county, and System Office partners to ensure the safety of our University and manage the hundreds of details to keep us running as efficiently and effectively as possible.

This page is dedicated to UNC Asheville’s recovery efforts and will serve as a resource for our campus community and Bulldog allies. It will be updated as new information becomes available. 

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Stay strong, stay in contact, and know how grateful we are to the many of you volunteering to help our community during this difficult and challenging time.

FAQs & Hotline

Please review the frequently asked questions (FAQs), which will be updated regularly, to find the information you need. If you can’t find your answer here, a hotline has been established and a support team member is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to help. To contact the call center, please call 828-251-6600.

You may also email helene@unca.edu with your questions and needs.

Status of Campus and Asheville Community

Asheville and neighboring communities have been significantly affected by Helene. Buncombe County and surrounding areas are working to rebuild infrastructure as quickly as possible to bring our vibrant Blue Ridge Mountain home back to a state of normalcy. While there is much to be done, the citizens of Asheville, along with the support of state and federal agencies and nonprofit entities, are working tirelessly to ensure a speedy recovery.

Efforts have been ongoing to contact all members of the University community, led by staff in student affairs, human resources, the student success team, as well as the deans and provost, with additional input from faculty who have been in touch with their students. We hope to soon account for the 3,846 total students, faculty, and staff that are part of the UNC Asheville community.

No, the campus has not experienced any severe damage. All of our buildings, including residence halls, are structurally sound and experienced minimal damage. While the current utilities infrastructure issues are beyond our control, we are working to restore campus as quickly as possible.

Academics

Instruction and coursework will resume online starting October 28 and will remain online for the remainder of the Fall 2024 semester. 

In our commitment to being an innovative campus, online instruction will provide students with choices: they may stay where they are to complete their online semester, or they may return to campus once the University has drinkable water and the campus is a safe and healthy place to live. We continue to finalize plans to provide online instruction so that we can ensure you have the necessary support to succeed and will send updates as information becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this new normal.

Academic advising will start as early as October 28. If you are unable to connect with your faculty advisor prior to your registration date, please connect with the Office of Advising.  

Class registration for the Spring 2025 term will start on November 18, based on students earned hours. 

11/21 – Registration begins for Freshman (0-29 earned hours)

11/18 – Registration begins for Seniors (90+ earned hours)

11/19 – Registration begins for Juniors (60-89 earned hours)

11/20 – Registration begins for Sophomore (30-59 earned hours)

Yes. We are extending the withdrawal deadline to December 20. This will allow students to view their final grades prior to selecting the option to withdraw. Withdrawals taken post-Helene will not count toward your withdrawal limit. Complete the withdrawal form.

Courses will be graded using standard letter grades but students will have the opportunity to view their final grade before selecting the withdrawal option. Grades will be due on December 17 and the withdrawal deadline will be extended to December 20.

The deadline for faculty to submit the final grade for a Spring or Summer 2024 incomplete has been extended to December 2. Students should connect with the instructor for their course-specific deadline.

Students can expect to experience all that a UNC Asheville education offers beginning Fall 2025. We’re grateful that our campus has been spared significant structural damage from Helene.

Here is the revised final exam schedule. Please consult with your instructor if you have any questions or concerns about the revised final exam date and time for a specific course.

Campus

The following schedule has been established to allow for students to come to campus to pick up essential belongings. Only dorms associated with the listed dates and times will be available to access. Vehicles may be picked up during any of the times noted. Please have your RockyCard and room key when you arrive. All entrances to campus will be accessible, but you will need to show your RockyCard to the officer stationed at each entrance to gain access. More information is available via email and Bulldog Alert.

  • Tuesday, October 15 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
    • Ponder and Ridges
  • Wednesday, October 16 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
    • The Woods and Founders
      • Access via Founders Drive
  • Thursday, October 17 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
    • The Village, Governors, and Mills
      • Access The Village/Governors Hall via Field Drive
      • Access Mills Hall via Founders Drive

Yes. The dorms are locked and secured. University Police remain on campus to ensure the safety and security of the campus environment.

Students may pick up their vehicle during any of the designated dates and times when belongings are available for collection (see above). It’s not mandatory for you to pick up your vehicle prior to your return to UNC Asheville. It will be safe on campus until the time you decide you would like to retrieve it.

At this time, we cannot offer temporary or emergency housing on campus due to ongoing recovery efforts and life safety concerns, including the lack of running water.

Contact Residence Life at UNC Asheville (reslife@unca.edu) if you are a current UNC Asheville residential student with a housing need outside the Asheville area. Please do not attempt to contact other UNC universities and request housing on their campuses. 

All students should have received their September pay. We are working on guidance moving forward as we operate during Condition 3 with limited staffing.

The Board of Elections approved moving UNC Asheville’s early voting site to the Health & Counseling Center at 118 W.T. Weaver Blvd. The site will be open from Thursday, October 17 to Friday, November 1 (including weekends) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Campus Facilities

UNC Asheville remains in Condition 3 and will remain closed until at least October 21. We have suspended all traditional University operations. Only essential employees will be permitted on campus. Students with care needs may contact care@unca.edu to connect with UNCA care team staff.

Highsmith Student Union is closed until at least October 21.

Brown Hall is closed until at least October 21.

The Health & Counseling Center is currently closed. Students can access our health and mental health professionals from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday by emailing immune@unca.edu.

Mental health support for students who cannot access on-campus services is available through the East Carolina University Center for Counseling and Student Development at 252-328-6661, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, October 11. Please identify yourself as a UNC Asheville student when you call. If you need to speak with someone after 5 p.m. or on the weekends, please call 855-603-9151.

For students in need of health services, there are several UNC system Student Health Centers that are providing care. For a list of UNC institutions and their locations, please visit https://www.northcarolina.edu/institutions/.


For questions or assistance in scheduling an appointment, please contact Dr. Bethany Meighen at bdmeighen@northcarolina.edu or 304-389-0632.

Finance

We will do everything we can to provide academic continuity and to complete the semester. No decision has been made about the availability of student refunds. As the situation progresses, more information on this topic will be made available to impacted students.

Giving and Ways To Get Involved

We have heard from many members of our extended UNC Asheville community who are eager to support our campus. Your messages of solidarity and generous offers of assistance are greatly appreciated. A UNC Asheville disaster relief fund has been established as we continue to assess our needs and recovery efforts. Your contributions will support the entire campus community. To give, visit: https://bit.ly/UNCAshevilleDisasterRelief.

UNC Asheville Bulldogs are known for their community engagement and for using the critical thinking and communication skills they’ve honed through their education. Student Government Association (SGA) President Liv Barefoot, a political science major and human rights studies minor from Raleigh, has compiled the following organizations for the campus community to come together and help with Helene relief efforts.

Remember, the top priority is for you to stay safe. Please take care and exercise caution with more strenuous volunteer efforts.

Hearts With Hands

  • When: Various volunteer shifts (below)
  • Where: 850 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778 — Accessible only from exit 55
  • Info: Hearts with Hands (Swannanoa/Asheville): Local volunteers are needed to prepare meals, sort donations, distribute donations, and more! Please park in a parking space at our front parking lot and walk over to our gated entrance. 
  • Sign up at: heartswithhands.org/volunteer 

World Central Kitchen at Bears BBQ

  • When: 12–6 p.m. every day 
  • Where: Bears BBQ & Smokehouse at 135 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, NC
  • Info: To volunteer, you must be registered through the WCK volunteer hub. Please ensure you can commit to both the time and location of the volunteer shift. 
  • Send questions to: VOLUNTEER@WCK.ORG
  • Create WCK Account here: https://wck.org/volunteer

The Civic Center

  • When: 9 a.m.–9 p.m. every day
  • Where: 87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC — Just come to the bay door on Hiawassee Street in Downtown Asheville and let security know you’re here to volunteer!
  • Info: The Civic Center desperately needs volunteers for unloading and sorting supplies! 

Henderson County

  • When: 8 a.m–7 p.m. every day
  • Where: various locations (below)
  • Info: Henderson County is recruiting for help at Mills River Town Hall, Etowah Elementary, East Henderson High, and North Henderson High. 20-30 volunteers are needed daily to help distribute resources and serve a hot meal at noon.
  • Call 828-771-6670 if interested

Community Cleanup Effort

  • When: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. every day
  • Where: Riverview Station at the River Arts District
  • Info: Please come help to save the artist community of Asheville! This flood has been catastrophic and devastating for so many of us, and we really appreciate any effort you can make to help us recover. We will be shoveling out mud, dragging out furniture and contents, ripping out drywall and debris. Please bring friends, neighbors, your church group, and any able-bodied person with you.

ABCCM Warehouse

  • When: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. every day
  • Where: To volunteer, please come to 1845 Brevard Road, Arden, NC
  • Info: We have trucks coming to our warehouse daily and we need volunteers to come help unload these trucks, sort the donations, and assist with the distribution of these needed supplies.

Non-WNC Donation Sites

Alternatively, look up donation drives near you if you want to contribute supplies—watch local news stations and check UNC System campus communications for places near you! 

International Students

At this time, we advise against making plans to return to your home country. We are actively preparing for academic continuity and we are working to resume instruction by October 28. Efforts are underway to ensure minimal disruption to your academic progress, and we will continue to provide updates as more details become available.

Contact Residence Life at UNC Asheville (reslife@unca.edu) if you are a current UNC Asheville residential student with a housing need.

For Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff will be allowed to return to campus once we have drinkable water, and details regarding that decision will be communicated as soon as we have more guidance.

To allow essential workers to continue clearing trees and perform other tasks to get our university back to working order, access to campus has been restricted and card access to buildings has been disabled. A schedule for faculty and staff to retrieve essential office items was established for October 8–9. We are currently working on additional dates and times for faculty and staff to access their offices. Please check back shortly for updated information.

The UNC Asheville Faculty and Staff Assistance Program services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are two ways to access these benefits:

  • Call 833-515-0768. You’ll speak to a counseling professional who will listen to your concerns and can guide you to the appropriate services you require.

A Banner Activity Code has been created to track all costs associated with Helene. Any storm-related expenses should be recorded to activity code HRHL24 so that we can maintain a record of potentially reimbursable expenses. The Finance department is requesting faculty and staff take an approach of “better safe than sorry” and apply the code to any possible charges relating to this event. This includes travel-related matters as well as all purchasing and accounts payable activities.

Helene recovery updates are currently ongoing

UNC Asheville Disaster Relief Fund

A UNC Asheville disaster relief fund has been established as we continue to assess our needs and recover efforts. Your contributions will support the entire campus community

Give Now

Chancellor’s Updates

Chancellor's updates

Dear Campus Community, 

We will be hosting a virtual State of the University briefing on Thursday, October 10, at 4:30 p.m. During this briefing, the Chancellor will provide an update on the University’s operations and ongoing recovery efforts. The Zoom connection information can be found at the end of this email.

Next week, we will be hosting virtual Town Halls for different University constituent groups. Additional invitations and Zoom connection information will be forthcoming… 

Read the Full Update

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As the UNC Asheville community continues to recover from the devastating effects of Helene, we are focused on the comfort and care of our entire campus community while also restoring campus to a sense of normality. Essential personnel continue to work tirelessly on campus to ensure the safety of our beautiful University, and with the city, county, and the System Office to button up the hundreds of details to keep us running as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

We have been working diligently to make contact with all faculty, staff, and students. If you have not been in touch with anyone from the University, please reply to this email so we may ensure everyone is safe and accounted for. There are several of you we have not heard from as of today, so please let us know your status at your convenience….

Read the Full Update

Dear students, faculty, staff, and extended UNC Asheville community,

It is hard to believe that just one week ago we were emerging from shelter and witnessing the magnitude of the storm we had just experienced and the unimaginable devastation it had wrought.

But we emerged, and in true Bulldog fashion threw ourselves into the tasks of ensuring that our students were safe and clearing access to the campus for emergency vehicles and services.

Immediately, our emergency operations teams began the challenging work of providing safety, food, water, medical and mental health services, and comfort to our students. We enlisted the assistance of our local, state, federal, and UNC System partners to access the resources necessary to ensure the needs of our students were met. These collaborations were integral to our ability to provide and care for our students…

Read the Full Update

Dear students, faculty, staff, and extended UNC Asheville community,

As we begin to recover and move forward from the impact of Tropical Storm Helene, we at UNC Asheville, along with the entire UNC School System, stand in solidarity with the people of Western North Carolina. We are heartened by the way our community has come together since the storm’s arrival Friday morning.

While the campus sustained minimal structural damage, UNC Asheville has been without electricity, running water, and internet since Friday. 

Communication with our campus and the broader community has been extremely limited due to impaired communications infrastructure, but slowly, we are gradually regaining our ability to connect.

From the very beginning, student safety and well-being have been our primary concern. Prior to the storm, we had over 1600 residential students on campus. Through a coordinated dorm-to-dorm and room-to-room effort led by Student Affairs, we confirmed approximately 1300 students remained on campus when the storm hit. Students who remained housed in the residence halls were provided daily with drinking water, three meals, and support services.

Throughout the last few days, we’ve worked diligently to ensure we knew where every student was on campus and to meet their needs. We’ve assisted all students residing on campus with finding safe relocation options, including identifying safe travel routes, providing students in need of gasoline for their cars, and relocating a very small number of students to another UNC System institution.

Within 72 hours of Tropical Storm Helene, all on-campus UNC Asheville students were safely relocated.

Although our Bulldogs do not currently have access to campus, clinical and mental health services remain available through all UNC institutions. More information on these services has been communicated through Bulldog Alert emails and push notifications.

We want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported us. Our staff, many of whom are dealing with the storm’s impact on their own homes and communities, have shown tireless dedication. We also thank our UNC System colleagues, the system office, sister institutions, first responders, and state and federal officials for their tireless efforts.

UNC Asheville remains in Condition 3 and will remain closed until at least October 14. We have suspended all traditional University operations, and only essential employees will be permitted on campus. 

However, we are not done for the semester. Academic continuity planning has begun and we will have more information very soon as our assessments continue. Classes will not resume until at least October 28.

We have heard from many members of our extended UNC Asheville community who are eager to support our campus. Your messages of solidarity and generous offers of assistance are greatly appreciated. As we continue to assess our needs and recovery efforts, a UNC Asheville disaster relief fund has been established. Your contributions will support the entire campus community. To give, visit: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/52762/donations/new

Bulldogs, you are resilient and we look forward to when we can welcome you home.

Sincerely,

Kimberly van Noort, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Relief Resources

Three Ways to Apply for Disaster Assistance:

North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Helene website: ncdps.gov/Helene 

FEMA disaster website for North Carolina: fema.gov/disaster/4827 

IMPORTANT: Document your damages. Photograph the damages and items you have to throw away. More information about how to apply.

Stay informed. UNC Asheville will continue to update Bulldog Alert and circulate updates via email and social media.

FEMA Guidance

In The News

UNC Asheville continues to capture attention across the country and around the world with recent news highlighting the University’s resilience. Follow our progress with the latest articles featuring UNC Asheville’s contributions and updates as we navigate Helene’s recovery efforts.

Food trucks from East Carolina University prove help to UNCA
Chancellor van Noort stands with food truck staff from East Carolina University, who came to UNCA after Hurricane Helene to help provide meals to students and staff. (Photo courtesy of UNC System)

Utilities Problems Prompted UNC Asheville Campus Closure

Erin Gretzinger, The Assembly | October 3, 2024

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, UNC-Asheville announced on Tuesday afternoon that it would close its campus through October 14 and not resume classes for at least two more weeks after that.

Several other colleges in the region have closed campuses due to the destruction in Western North Carolina. But UNC-Asheville has remained without power or water since the storm hit on Friday… READ FULL STORY

UNC Asheville Students hand out supplies to those impacted by Helene . Photo Credit: UNC Asheville

Western NC universities, staff and students’ homes damaged by Helene, UNC president says

Sarah Krueger, WRAL News | October 11, 2024

Classes will soon resume at some of the UNC System campuses in western North Carolina, but communities still face a long road to recovery from Hurricane Helene.

UNC System president Peter Hans said, most importantly, there was no loss of life for anyone in the UNC System community.

He also spoke about the extent of the physical damage and the resiliency that’s helping the universities to build back.

“They’re still assessing all of that and how much it will cost,” Hans said…. READ THE FULL STORY

Flood damage at Appalachian State
Appalachian State University was one of several campuses in Western North Carolina to sustain damages from Hurricane Helene. CHASE REYNOLDS

Dean’s List: How you can help Western NC colleges recover from Helene’s damage

Korie Dean, News & Observer | October 8, 2024

It’s been almost two weeks since Hurricane Helene left much of Western North Carolina devastated and destroyed. Many of the region’s colleges and universities sustained damages and experienced other impacts, too… READ THE FULL STORY

Aftermath of Helene
Floodwaters cover major routes in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene passed through the state. Credit: NCDOT

N.C. universities rally to provide mental health support for students after Helene

Emily Vespa, North Carolina Health News | October 7, 2024

While Helene tore through Boone, 20-year-old Mya McClarty braved the heavy downpour to get back to her apartment for her cat, Matcha. Floodwaters forced her to watch from higher ground as the muddy water swirled around her first floor apartment…READ FULL STORY

Student provides water bottles to Helene victims
A former Albemarle County Public Schools student is doing his part in helping provide relief to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. (WVIR)

Former Albemarle student helps with Helene recovery

Jacob Phillips, WVIR, Charlottesville, VA | October 7, 2024

A former Albemarle County Public Schools student is doing his part in helping provide relief to those impacted by Hurricane Helene.

20-year-old Nate Sullivan is a student at UNC Asheville. He says something inside him told him to step-up and help in whatever way he could.

Now he is one of the many putting their own safety at risk to ensure others get what they need… READ THE FULL STORY

Florence resident looks iu
A Florence native has spent the last two years making Asheville, North Carolina, her home. (Screenshot taken from WAFF)

Florence native shares her special reason for collecting supplies for Helene victims

Aria Pons, WAFF, Huntsville, AL | October 4, 2024

A Florence native has spent the last two years making Asheville, North Carolina, her home.

The path of devastation from Hurricane Helene stretches from the Gulf Coast, all the way through Virginia.

Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee are two of the hardest hit areas… READ THE FULL STORY

North Carolina Colleges Extend Campus Closures

Jessica Blake, Inside Higher Ed | October 3, 2024

The University of North Carolina at Asheville canceled classes through the rest of this month as a result of damage caused by Hurricane Helene, The News & Observer reported… READ THE FULL STORY

Flooding in Tuckasegee River
Flooding from the Tuckasegee River caused water to rise under Western Carolina University student Aubrie Ruscetti’s off-campus house. (Photo courtesy of Cora Haste)

The Semester is Not Done

Erin Gretzinger, The Assembly | October 2, 2024

Alondra Barrera-Hernandez hadn’t been too worried about Hurricane Helene—until she got a knock on her dorm room door at UNC-Asheville on Friday morning. Her dorm had already lost power in the storm, and a couple inches of flooding had crept up in the stairwells of the first floor. 

The senior resident assistant and student-body vice president opened her door at around 9 a.m. to find the RA on call, who informed her there was an emergency staff meeting in an hour. Those never happened. 

“They told us, ‘It’s going to be an all-hands-on-deck thing,’” Barrera-Hernandez said…READ FULL STORY

Lineman trucks gathered to restore power to affected areas
Helene could dump 6 to 12 more inches of rain in areas that have just recently been deluged. (Photo courtesy of NBC News)

A day after a once-in-a-thousand-year rainstorm, southern Appalachia faces Hurricane Helene

Evan Bush, NBC News | September 26, 2024

A rainstorm expected only once every 1,000 years deluged parts of southern Appalachia on Wednesday night, with as much as 8 inches falling in a day’s time in Asheville, North Carolina.

Now, the area awaits some of the most intense rainfall forecast from fast-moving Hurricane Helene. In some areas, Helene could dump an additional 6 to 12 inches of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center…READ FULL STORY