Glassboro, N.J. – Rowan University announced Thursday that all in‑person classes on its Glassboro campus will be canceled for Thursday and Friday due to a significant utility disruption. The university’s central plant, which provides steam for heating and hot water across campus, is currently offline, leaving the majority of facilities without essential services.
Impact on students and staff
University officials said the loss of heat and hot water affects classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and residence halls. While the campus remains open for students who lack alternative housing, the administration is urging residential students who can safely travel home to do so until the plant is restored.
Continuity of campus life
Despite the outage, the university confirmed that all campus buildings, including residence halls, will stay open for those who need to remain on site. Some on‑campus activities may continue, but the lack of basic utilities limits many operations. Faculty have been instructed to shift to online instruction where possible, and the university’s IT services are supporting remote learning platforms to minimize disruption to coursework.
Response and next steps
University spokesperson John Miller said officials are working closely with the plant’s engineering team and external contractors to diagnose the problem and restore service as quickly as possible. No specific timetable has been provided for when the central plant will be back online.
“Our top priority is the safety and well‑being of our students, faculty, and staff,” Miller added. “We are monitoring the situation around the clock and will provide updates as soon as we have more information.”
What students should do
Students are encouraged to check their university email and the Rowan portal for the latest announcements. Those who need assistance with transportation or housing alternatives should contact the university’s student services office, which is maintaining a hotline for urgent inquiries.
Local residents and businesses in Glassboro have expressed concern for the university community, noting that the campus is a major economic driver for the town. The city’s public works department is standing by to offer any municipal support that may be required once the university’s plant is operational again.
Looking ahead
The outage underscores the importance of robust infrastructure for higher‑education institutions, especially during the colder months. Rowan University’s leadership has pledged to review its utility contingency plans and explore long‑term upgrades to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Students, faculty, and staff can expect further communications from the university over the weekend as the situation develops.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
