Announcement: Delayed move-in and Spring 2026 opening
In anticipation of this weekend’s winter storm and with the safety of our students and staff always our number one priority, a decision has been made for the college to close at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. The college will remain closed on Sunday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Jan. 26, with all undergraduate classes canceled on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to allow for residential student move-in to take place beginning at noon. Spring undergraduate classes are now slated to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 28. A decision about the opening of all campus offices on Tuesday is to be determined.
Online and hybrid graduate courses with scheduled virtual meetings will proceed as normal. Off-campus graduate courses always follow the home school system announcement.
All on-campus events beginning at 8 p.m. on Saturday through Tuesday are also canceled. Students, faculty, and staff should continue to check their McDaniel email for updates. Additionally, McDaniel officials will continue to monitor conditions throughout the weekend and will post the most up-to-date information on the official college website, McDaniel’s official Facebook page, and X (formerly Twitter): @McDanielCollege.
Important move-in information:
Students should delay travel to campus for move-in until noon on Tuesday. Please be aware that there may be limited accessibility when you arrive to campus, particularly for those whose residence is along Pennsylvania Avenue. It will be best to use the alley near the Garden Apartments entrance for those moving into a house along Pennsylvania Avenue.
For move-in, the best entrances to campus will be from West Main Street at either the Stadium entrance, entrance at WMC Alumni Hall across from Carroll Hall (Admissions) or the Ward Memorial Arch entrance for access to Whiteford and Garden Apartments. Please note that there will be parking restrictions in place throughout campus along with signage to assist with student drop off. After completing the move-in process, all vehicles must be relocated to the North Village or Stadium parking lots.
Shuttle service will not be available after 5 p.m. on Saturday. Students who have previously registered for the airport pickup shuttle will be contacted individually.
For move-in related questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@mcdaniel.edu or 410-857-2240 for assistance.
Students who are already on campus must move their vehicles to the Harrison House parking lot by 5 p.m. on Saturday when the Whiteford and Rouzer parking lots will close.
Modified hours for dining services will be in place on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday with
Englar Dining Hall
Breakfast: opening at 9 a.m. for continental breakfast
Additional brunch options to be served from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Dinner: normal hours from 4:45-8:30 p.m.
Regular dining hours will begin on Wednesday.
The Hilltop Pub, Caseys’ Corner, and Champs are expected to reopen on Wednesday. Please note that Jan Term meal plans end after dinner on Sunday and Spring term meal plans begin at breakfast on Monday.
The snow removal plan will be in effect and the Grounds crew will be working to clear the RED pathways. Staff will be working throughout the weekend, but it is advised that students do not venture out except for meals due to the serious nature of the storm.
Contact the Department of Campus Safety at 410-857-2202 if any special assistance is needed.
New students/faculty/staff and as a reminder to the campus community
If circumstances require the college to close or delay opening, the only official sources for information on the current status of the college are:
The McDaniel Alert system will NOT be used to report on routine campus closures or late openings due to inclement weather. That system is used only to notify of imminent danger or a life-threatening campus emergency. To sign up for McDaniel Alert, visit the Campus Safety and Parking page on the McDaniel Portal.
Please note that although media outlets in the Carroll County/Baltimore area, as well as Washington, D.C., and in South Central Pennsylvania, are also notified of McDaniel’s campus status, it is NOT recommended to depend on the news media for complete, accurate, up-to-date information.
The college’s complete inclement weather policy, including the specifics of what a closing or delayed opening announcement means, can be found at https://www.mcdaniel.edu/student-life/campus-safety/inclement-weather-policy.
