Message from the Chancellor (COVID 19 March 16, 2020 5:20 p.m.)

I hope you are still well and wish you the best as we take the next steps in proactively responding to the coronavirus situation. 

 

Today, we have decided to move courses online for the remainder of the spring semester. We do not want faculty to hold face-to-face classes either on- or off-campus in support of the CDC-recommendations for social distancing. Students will soon receive an email from Student Life with details related to housing and dining. Provost Kapinus will follow up with more information about classes (including field-based experiences), award ceremonies, and commencement.

 

The communications team is currently reorganizing the university’s coronavirus website to make it more user-friendly and expanding commonly asked questions. It will include a way for you to let us know if you have other questions or concerns that you would like us to address. I will let you know when the enhanced site is ready.

 

I know much is evolving quickly. Faculty and students are often learning about changes at the same time. We extended spring break to give the faculty a week to develop plans for their courses. Students: I hope you will give your instructors time to regroup, but also know, we see you! Many of you have to face hard situations, too, including the possibility of having to move mid-semester, potential financial losses due to cutbacks at work, etc. 

 

At these times, I think about the word ubuntu. It’s an African philosophy, originated in South Africa, mostly from the Zulu language, and means “being self through others” or “I am because you are.” I am keeping this thought—and all of you—in mind as my leadership team and I listen to your voices and make decisions each day about our next steps together.