Hurricane Helene recovery and relief

Dear UNCSA Community,

As we learn more about the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, I wanted to take a moment to update you on how things are going here, how UNCSA is stepping up to help, and how you can pitch in too.

Thankfully, the Piedmont Triad was largely spared, but we know many of you — students, faculty and staff — have family in the mountains of western North Carolina and other hard-hit areas. Some of our faculty and staff also currently reside there. I personally know of one faculty member who rescued their parents from Asheville, and I’m sure there are many more stories we haven’t heard yet.

We know of about 70 students — ranging from high school to grad school — whose families have been impacted by the storm, with some hit particularly hard. Thankfully, despite communication challenges, all of our students were able to connect with their families by Sunday night and are safe.

For students who have been affected: Please know that there are resources available on campus via Student Assistance and Support, such as the Student Affairs Emergency Fund, Pickle Pantry and emotional support through our Counseling Center or Uwill teletherapy.

For employees who have been affected: Should you need to assist family who have been directly affected by Helene, please contact your supervisor. Resources available include emergency loans through the Faculty-Staff Loan Fund, as well as emotional support through the Employee Assistance Program administered by ComPysch or the Headspace Care app (formerly Ginger) online. 

Many of you have expressed a desire to help the communities impacted in western North Carolina. Following are some ways we are already helping, and some resources for you to lend a hand: 

How UNCSA is helping 

• From now until the end of October, UNCSA will donate 100% of the proceeds from our performances to hurricane relief efforts through the Piedmont Triad Chapter of the American Red Cross. These performances include Fall Dance through Brass Impact – performances from every conservatory. You can also donate directly to our fundraiser. 

• Oct. 15-17, we’re sending four members of our Police & Public Safety team to UNC Asheville to assist with campus security. Chief Tommy McMasters has coordinated with local authorities to determine what additional support and items are needed. Find out what items the Police & Public Safety team are collecting here. 

• UNC System schools in western N.C. remain closed, and some students have been relocated. We’ve been asked to open our medical and counseling services to students from UNC Asheville who are in the Winston-Salem area. They’ll also have access to Uwill teletherapy. 

• In addition, we’re working with the UNC System to provide key supplies for the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Morganton when they return to school. 

How you can help 

It’s clear that our community wants to help those affected in western North Carolina, a region many of us know and love. We encourage you to contribute to or volunteer with any relief effort that speaks to you. To make it easy, we’ve set up a Hurricane Helene webpage with links to local, state, and national relief organizations, including our partner, the Piedmont Triad Chapter of the American Red Cross. Be sure to do your research to ensure whatever you are donating to is a reputable organization and be aware of scams.

Pease resist the urge to organize your own relief trips or efforts, as this could interfere with rescue and recovery operations. State and local officials are still requesting that no one other than essential personnel travel to the affected areas. 

Employees, if you want to make sure your donation goes to a vetted organization, you can contribute through the State Employees Combined Campaign, currently underway. For hurricane relief organizations, please click the Western NC Hurricane Relief option. And anyone can donate to our fundraiser for hurricane relief at the American Red Cross.

As state employees, permanent, full-time staff can take up to 24 hours of community service leave per calendar year, and can use up to 16 additional hours for storm-related volunteer activity. Part-time staff also have options to serve, but please remember, the state is asking that volunteers sign up through the official volunteer website instead of self-deploying. 

Lastly, as an arts conservatory, we’ll be working with the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts to help support the future economic recovery of WNC through partnerships and advocacy efforts to help ensure the re-establishment of its vibrant arts community. This is our way of giving back to a region that means so much to us. 

I’m grateful that UNCSA was spared and that we can continue with our normal activities, including Homecoming (Oct. 17-19). But let’s also remember to step up as the determined Fighting Pickles we are and help those in need. 

Be well. #UNCSAgives #WNCstrong 

Sincerely,

Brian Cole 
Chancellor