Northeastern to resume classes on Wednesday

***Press Release***

Several areas will be open, resume activities on Tuesday

Northeastern Junior College has announced that it will resume classes beginning Wednesday, September 25th. The college has been closed to students since Saturday, September 14^th as it prepared for the expected flood waters to arrive later that same weekend. 

All classes will resume on Wednesday.  Students are being asked to return to campus anytime between now and Wednesday morning to be here for classes as usual.  The college’s residence halls and food service will be up and running on Tuesday. The Bank of Colorado Event Center will reopen on Tuesday for regular hours. The Family Literacy Center will run GED and ESL classes on Tuesday. The Monahan Library will not open until Wednesday, coinciding with the reopening of classes.

While the campus remained dry all last week, not seeing any water damage from the flooding from the nearby river area, the City of Sterling issued a no flush order due to an inoperable pump station serving the waste water treatment plant that was damaged when the flood waters came. The no flush order was followed by a no food service order put out by the Northeast Colorado Health Department. With no ability to provide food service, indoor showers, laundry and restrooms, the college evacuated all students with the exception of a few who were unable to leave campus for various reasons. Special provisions have been made the entire time for this group of students allowing them to stay on campus with access to necessities.

Ironically, when the no flush order was lifted on the morning of Monday, September 23 and restaurants and fast food establishments began opening for business, the Logan County area saw record rainfall, as much as four inches reported in some areas, which brought some flooding and other water-related issues to the city and the campus.  These issues are expected to be short-lived, although one parking lot on campus saw water levels come up over the doors of a few cars parked in the area.

 The rain water has since subsided, the sun is shining and administrators are very relieved to be able to reopen and begin classes.

Conversations are taking place, and will continue as the administration gathers some input from the faculty and students, as to how these lost academic days will be made up. Information regarding this decision will be forthcoming.