UNC Asheville remains on lockdown following direct threat

Alert from UNC Asheville:

UPDATE Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 1:50 p.m.

We write to give you a campus community update. UNC Asheville is currently in “shelter in place” status and will be sustained until further notice.

Multiple law enforcement agencies are working together with UNC Asheville Campus Police to continue the investigation.

Students in need of support may contact Health and Counseling Services at 828.251.6520.

EAP Services are available to employees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (https://hr.unca.edu/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program). You can call at 833-515-0768 or visit their website directly www.guidanceresources.com with our company ID: UNCAEAP.

We will continue to keep you updated.

UPDATE Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 10:37 a.m.

We are writing to give you a brief update. As of 10:00 a.m., the UNC Asheville campus remains on lockdown and the email articulating a threat to the campus is under investigation by state and local authorities.

• If you are on campus, please remain sheltered in place until further notice.
• Students in need of support may contact Health and Counseling Services at 828.251.6520.
• EAP Services are available to employees in need of support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (https://hr.unca.edu/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program). You can call at 833-515-0768 or visit their website directly www.guidanceresources.com with our company ID: UNCAEAP.
• While all mandatory meetings, classes, University scheduled conversations, and forums are canceled, including those to be conducted virtually, we support any optional one on one or small group virtual connections that folks want to have to support one another.
• We appreciate and understand that many of you have the desire to help in this challenging moment. We ask that, for the time being, please refrain from taking any action until you have consulted with your Senior Staff member.

Updates will continue to be shared on the UNC Asheville homepage. We will also continue to send email updates to you throughout the day today and for as long as necessary. Thank you for your patience, the good will and support we have already heard that you are providing to each other, and for remaining calm between updates.

UPDATE Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 8:37 a.m.

During the night several offices at the University received an email communicating a direct threat to members of the UNC Asheville community. The email demanded that the Black Lives Matter mural on University Heights on campus be painted over.

A decision has been made to send a Bulldog Alert to all faculty, staff, and students to shelter in place until further notice. We ask that employees, other than essential personnel, stay away from campus today. We will keep the community apprised as information becomes available and we will reopen campus as soon as possible. But no earlier than tomorrow morning.

Chief Eric Boyce and the EoC are working with senior staff and state and local authorities and we will keep you updated. Please discontinue any and all in-person and virtual classes, practices and activities throughout today.

We are working with the authorities to keep our campus safe and to return to the work of the University as soon as possible. If you have questions, please be in touch with your senior staff member.

Your cooperation is essential and we are grateful.

Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 at 7:30 a.m.

Due to a threat to the safety of members of our UNC Asheville community there will be no in-person or virtual classes, practices or activities on campus today. All residential students should shelter in place, all non-essential personnel should return home. We will provide updates as they become available.