New College of Florida cancels classes Tuesday, Wednesday for Idalia

New College of Florida in Sarasota has called off classes for Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 29-30, ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia’s arrival. 

Although the tropical storm, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane, is expected to stay north of the Tampa Bay area, Interim President Richard Corcoran made the decision out of “an abundance of caution,” according to the press release. 

An update Monday afternoon states that classes are now expected to resume on Thursday. The college’s emergency operations team is planning to meet Wednesday to assess the situation.

The college has spent the summer trimming trees, cleaning ditches and hardening dorms to prepare for tropical weather, a press release states. All of the NCF's dorms and partner hotels are in evacuation zones C or D, which have not been issued yet. Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough counties have all called for those in zone A to evacuate. 

If students choose to voluntarily evacuate from NCF, they have to check in with housing before doing so, the release states. 

Campus dining services will continue to operate for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the coffee shop will be closed. Students living in the school’s partner hotels can expect to have three boxed meals delivered throughout the day. 

The campus police department will also continue to operate. Extracurricular activities, including athletics, are canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday.