University of Wyoming Update on COVID-19
Extends Spring Break one week to work through coronavirus situation
by Neil Theobald, Acting President
March 12, 2020
To all members of the UW community:
I am writing to provide an update on the University’s response to the growing COVID-19 concerns. We appreciate your patience as our leadership team works through this process. I know it is a time of uncertainty, and we will be providing regular updates to help our campus stay informed. Below are important updates from today’s review of the situation.
Spring Break Extended One Week
• The University of Wyoming will extend spring break through Sunday, March 29. Thus,
o Classes are canceled during the week of March 23.
o Students who need to return to campus will have access to the student residence halls
and to food services.
• The extended break is designed to provide time for faculty to better prepare for online-only teaching should it become necessary. We will continually monitor the situation and make a decision about moving more fully to online classes. As mentioned in yesterday’s communication, students are advised to take with them any materials they might need to resume instruction in an online format.
o Specifically, the week after spring break will be dedicated to assisting instructional faculty whose courses are currently delivered face-to-face in developing, redesigning and delivering courses and curriculum through distance modalities. Faculty should plan for short- and long-term delivery of courses. Faculty should assess whether course content is more suitable for WyoCourses, Zoom or other distance modalities.
o IT is developing an online survey for students to complete that will allow them to communicate limitations and accommodations they might need for an online learning environment. More information on this is survey is forthcoming.
o A new resource is being developed in the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL) for faculty to include guidance, strategies and resources to change from in- person instruction to virtual or distance delivery. More information on training and resources is forthcoming
• The university semester will not be extended.
Work
• Except for classes, the University will remain open.
• Staff are expected to report for work. However, staff should consult with their vice president to facilitate work that can be performed by telecommuting.
• Employees who have chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised, or live with individuals who are immunocompromised, should consider telecommuting, as agreed upon with their vice president.
Travel
Individuals returning from a country currently at Warning Level 3 status (China, Europe, South Korea or Iran) should stay away from campus, self-monitor and self-isolate for 14 days following their return. At this time, there are no limitations on the ability of individuals who have traveled domestically to return to campus. These travel advisories are subject to change as public health officials evaluate our situation. Therefore, those who have traveled domestically where a state of emergency has been declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic do not need to self-isolate for 14 days. This is a correction to the guidance provided in my March 11 communication.
Education Abroad
• We have suspended education abroad programming in China and South Korea. We have recommended all students studying in Europe for the spring 2020 semester return home immediately. We are working with our faculty-directed program leaders as well as our education abroad partners to make determinations about the upcoming summer 2020 term.
• We will continue to make decisions about education abroad programming, which will be guided by information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. State Department, our state and local health departments, and on-campus public health experts.
• Students who are returning home have been asked to self-monitor and self-isolate for two weeks to reduce the risk of spread of infection upon return to the U.S.
• We have informed students that the University is ready and willing to work individually with any
education abroad student abroad with a chronic health condition, who is immunocompromised, or who is otherwise concerned about continuing their studies abroad. We strongly suggest that any education abroad student who has a chronic health condition or who is immunocompromised return home.
• Students who have continued with their education abroad program should continue to check for notices from UW Education Abroad, and should be prepared to return to the U.S. as circumstances continue to evolve. Should a student decide to stay in their host country, they will be asked to sign a waiver.
• We are working with our education partners to develop online learning capabilities wherever possible should students have to depart a program early. We are also working with the UW Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to answer student questions pertaining to funding if they are unable to complete their coursework abroad.
• For more detailed Education Abroad information, visit their website.
Going forward:
• All university-related international travel is not permitted.
• All personal international travel is strongly discouraged.
• All university-reimbursed domestic travel must be postponed or canceled unless an exception is granted by your dean or vice president.
Health
Students who are experiencing a fever, cough or shortness of breath are directed to call Student Health Service before visiting the clinic. Faculty and staff who experience these symptoms should call or visit their health care providers.
At this time, the University strongly discourages hosting or attending any non-essential large gatherings. Deans and vice presidents have authority to assess essential events and address other questions.
Facilities
Crews have increased cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces and restrooms in university buildings, residence halls, fraternity and sorority houses, recreation facilities, the Wyoming Union and UW buses.
These plans are developing, and we wanted to inform our community as quickly as possible to enable you to begin making your own arrangements. We realize you will have many questions that are not addressed here. Please know that our team is working diligently to accommodate this transition for our campus, and we will provide additional information as soon as possible.
• If your questions are not urgent, we’d ask you to wait for further communication that may address your concerns.
• If you do have an urgent question, please send to COVID19@uwyo.edu.
• In addition, please continue to monitor your campus email and www.uwyo.edu/shser/corona- virus.html. This site also offers additional information on the virus, travel advisories and prevention that may be helpful. Supervisors should share this communication with their employees.
Finally, we ask that you try to understand how difficult it is to make these decisions and request your patience as we seek to make the best decisions possible to keep everyone in our community healthy and safe, while also doing our part to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Source: http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/_files/documents/2020/03/virus.message.031220.pdf
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