HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 25, 2015 – Caring people are a vital component of High Point University. With more than 90 percent of students living on campus, HPU remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even during inclement weather.
Teams in Campus Enhancement, Food Services, Security and more are preparing campus for a winter storm expected to hit the Triad tonight. Here’s a glimpse at how they will ensure safety for students in the coming days.
Approximately 500 hours of manpower are dedicated to prepping and maintaining the physical campus. Depending on the amount of accumulation, HPU’s Campus Enhancement Team has up to 50,000 pounds of rock salt and 45,000 pounds of ice melt for university sidewalks and streets.
“Our Campus Enhancement team cares about the safety of our students and continuously works to keep stairs and sidewalks clear,” says Steve Potter, vice president for facilities and operations. “Their dedication is second to none.”
For HPU dining locations, shelves are stocked in advance so operations will remain on schedule throughout a storm.
“Orders are increased to our vendors to ensure we have enough food on hand in case delivery issues arise,” says Laura Thompson, resident district manager for Aramark at HPU. “We are holding enough food to fill all of our dining locations through Monday.”
To ensure all food facilities remain open, managers of HPU dining operations may stay in local hotels near campus if commutes become dangerous. They also offer transportation to their employees who may not be able to drive due to weather.
HPU security and student life staff will also be on duty around the clock. If shuttle systems are delayed due to road safety concerns, students can call security at 336-841-9112 with special transportation needs.