Hurricane Sandy caused dozens of colleges throughout the mid-Atlantic states to cancel classes and shut down operations Monday and many will remain closed Tuesday.
An estimated 1.2 million college students have been effected by Sandy, according to CNN's Chandler Friedman.
The University of Virginia, Georgetown, New York, Syracuse and Penn State Universities will all remain closed Tuesday after canceling classes Monday because of Sandy. Boston University canceled classes through 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Universities in Maryland and Virginia shut down, as did most colleges in New Jersey. All of the City University of New York campuses, Columbia University and New York University canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday.
Every college in the Washington, D.C. area canceled classes on Monday, and many were calling them off on Tuesday as well. The University of Vermont closed for Monday, the AP reports.
Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Mass., canceled classes for the first time in 34 years. The Harvard Crimson noted the school has been notoriously reluctant to cancel classes due to weather:
In 1977, former Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III quipped that “Harvard University will close only for an act of God, such as the end of the world.” The last weather-related closure was caused by the historic blizzard of 1978. Before that, the University had not closed since a catastrophic 1938 hurricane.
Some university hospitals began evacuating as well, including Hoboken University Medical Center and Staten Island University Health Center.
ABC News reports NYU Langone Medical Center evacuated last year during Hurricane Irene, but did not for Sandy and chose to cancel many surgeries and appointments. However, backup power failed at the NYU hospital Monday evening and crews began scrambling to transport patients out of the building.
Not only are classes being canceled, but administrative offices were closed and extra-curricular events held on campus were called off. Teams in the Big East have been forced to cancel football practice, ESPN reports, making preparations for the weekend's games difficult.
Some colleges are also extending early-decision and early-action admissions program deadlines at the urging of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Most colleges chose to cancel classes, but did not issue their own evacuation orders beyond whatever local authorities have. One exception is Ursinus College, near Philadelphia, whose president pleaded for students to evacuate their campus.
Have you been evacuated from your campus residence hall? Did you capture a photo of damage from Hurricane Sandy at your college? Send your photos to college@huffingtonpost.com - But we want you to stay safe and we do not encourage you to risk injury just to get a photo!
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