In the weeks since the beginning of the pandemic, campus leadership has been engaged in two main efforts emergency management and adaptation adjusting academic, administrative and staff operations to safeguard the health of the community in an ongoing way. We bring together exceptional people to learn and pursue knowledge at the highest levels. And please download the W&M Wellness App to stay current on all events and resources., While William & Mary is operating on a modified academic schedule, all the departments of the Dean of Students Office are available via phone (757) 221-2510 and email. As we move through the many decisions that we face individually and as a community, our top priorities remain to keep teaching, keep learning, and keep helping each other to stay well. We anticipate bringing sophomores, juniors and seniors back to campus in early September. A successful on-campus fall semester depends on intentional acts of caring and respect for each other and for the community as a whole. I write to provide additional information about W&Ms plans for the fall semester. You can read additional information for students and employees below and on our Path Forward website. Were writing with important news about a COVID-19 testing update. I hope you can do the same, and I hope you can focus on forgiving yourselves if you're not perfect. Weve been hearing your questions regarding COVID-19 testing and the partners that William & Mary along with several other Virginia universities have been working with to conduct screening and prevalence testing. Those students may choose temporary housing in Richmond Hall, which has been identified as suitable for isolation (separate, exterior room doors, individual bathrooms, etc.) If you still have questions, please submit a comment so that we may address any concerns and update our FAQs accordingly. It will be updated on the, Week of August 3 Continuing students can make changes to their schedule based on updated course offerings and modalities. I am inspired by the resilience and compassion so many have demonstrated during this time. Several faculty members told her they had 100% virtual attendance in their sizable classes and they were able to be more available to students with later office hours. We must continue to do all we can to keep our community healthy. Initially, staff members wanted to drive by houses in their cars, but considering the social distancing protocols that were in place at the time, the idea was changed to making a video and they reached out to fellow staff to collect clips and edit them all together. We know we can help by providing as much clarity as we can, as soon as we have it. As we navigate cost-saving measures, our mission remains our north star. Our testing and other public health protocols are based on ongoing epidemiological modeling being developed by VCU, UVA and VT as Virginia's academic medical centers. So I ask that you hold close our core values of belonging and respect. We must remain vigilant so that we can move quickly to identify positive cases and potential exposures. Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the Aug. 10 message. 14. Ginger Ambler88, Ph.D. 06Vice President for Student Affairs. Spring is upon us, and we are looking ahead to the end of classes and the beginning of final exams. -- Ed. The university will remain open with modified academic operations: All in-person classes are suspended. William & Mary faces considerable financial impact now as a result of the pandemic. You become an investigative reporter. These categories will be added in Banner as class attributes by July 15. We will have a clearer picture of this impact when the state closes the books for this fiscal year and revises its revenue forecast later this summer. All testing and distancing protocols will remain in effect. The May planning process described below aligns with similar planning at Virginias public higher education institutions and with the Dept. As always in these uncertain times, we will adhere to Virginias public health advisories to ensure the safety of all participating in and supporting events in the coming year. Its been hard, theres been definitely a mix of emotions throughout these eight weeks that weve been there, said the Westwood High School chemistry teacher. However, please expect delays in responses due to high volume. Sam JonesDirector, COVID-19 Response Team, At William & Mary we care about what our students think. The provost and deans offices will coordinate this transition for all academic programs. Even when faced with an unprecedented situation like the COVID-19 outbreak, teachers across the world have. Building Relationships With Young People . Nothing makes me prouder than the wonderful things our teachers do for their pupils. Note that phased planning has updated some messages since their original issuance. Your kids must be feeling overwhelmed, restless, anxious, and agitated with the sudden change in environment. ; Do not travel It is equally disruptive for faculty and staff. Provost Agouris and the deans have encouraged teachers to approach this transition as a period of discovery, with students as our chief partners. We are making decisions in a phased, evidence-based way and understand extreme flexibility is essential to our plan. What are your favorite quotes or words of encouragement that have helped you during the Covid-19 pandemic? Amid pandemic, there is no place that individual choices are without consequence to the health of the William & Mary community. Lisa Shatz Assistant Dean for MBA Programs At W&M, faculty and staff in partnership with student affairs and with student leaders can build upon the very qualities that set W&M apart. We are working to identify and support any students who might have equipment, connectivity or other assistance needs in accessing online instruction. Residential students will need to take good care of themselves and one another. "Our students and community have responded to the video in a very positive fashion," he noted before reading appreciative responses from students and their families. Looking forward, the Plan Ahead initiative will allow us to pivot to a post-pandemic future in a way that both capitalizes on lessons learned and makes W&M more nimble.Normally, during this part of the academic year, we have the opportunity to acknowledge those who are graduating, being promoted or awarded tenure, and those who are retiring. Everyone is eager to be back in the classroom with you. Start and end dates for the Mason School of Business, the School of Education and the Law School vary by program and can be found on the, Students enrolled in remote courses who live within 30 miles of campus (with limited exceptions for students enrolled in certain graduate programs), Students who may be coming to the campus, yet arent in any of the groups listed above, may choose to opt-in for the testing. Our conclusion is that the Class of 2020 deserves to be celebrated fully. Copyright 2021. If you are sick or symptomatic when you are randomly selected, please contact the Student Health Center for evaluation and further instructions; do not make an appointment for prevalence testing if you are ill. Should a student test positive for COVID-19, they will be contacted by the Student Health Center. If this kind of virtual conversation proves welcome, well continue it in the coming weeks. Employees should request an exception for health reasons through Human Resources. Virginias Phase 3 of reopening began July 1. These decisions will have consequences for each of us professionally and personally. As. Im with you, I miss you and I just really wanted to finish this year out, she wrote on them. In an emergency situation, WMPD will help with a lockout, but we need this to be a last resort. As this world faces our greatest shared challenge in living memory, its humbling that so many of you are asking how to help William & Mary. A lot of my students arent able to get online to be able to get the internet to do the stuff, she added. Like many of you, we continue to follow closely the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19. Assuming you returned the kits as promptly as expected, we do not anticipate the turnaround from lab to results will affect your ability to move in or begin classes as scheduled; however, we want you to know accurately when your test results will be available to view. Slots are first come, first served. We will continue to communicate regularly, to provide as much clarity as feasible, as soon as possible. Instead, approach lower grades with compassion, and help kids find intrinsic motivation. I write to share updates on telework (below) as well as additional details now on our website about fall planning, including: W&M is part of an active effort to partner with the Commonwealth on a testing network anchored in our three VA university medical centers: VCU, UVA, and VT. Our testing and other public health protocols are based on ongoing epidemiological modeling with those centers. As an alumnus and employee, I have had the privilege of being associated with Springfield College for 36 years. Teaching is hard, but we can relate. Thank you. Responses will be tallied as they come in, but not saved by individual student. will be limited for those with compelling reasons to be present, such as international students. I am honored to succeed Sam in that role while also chairing W&Ms Public Health Advisory Team and serving as the universitys chief operating officer. Students who studied remotely in fall and wish to live in residence halls in spring may complete a housing application in the. The story of 12 students who integrated ATX schools, How to get to Q2 Stadium for 2023 Austin FC season, PHOTOS: Some of Austins most modern homes, Cities offer free tree, brush disposals post-storm, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I want every one of my kids to get outside and look at how beautiful our world is. As you know, William & Mary is adopting a vast array of safety measures to promote a healthy campus this fall. Custodians had started cleaning, the walls in her classroom were bare and there were all kinds of things in the hallways. The COVID-19 Response Team is pleased that health metrics in Hampton Roads have improved over the past few weeks. Staff throughout the university are offering many services virtually and also ensuring that our campus remains safe and ready for our return. We remind the community of CDC guidelines and recommendations, which include a self-quarantine of 14 days after travel abroad in specific regions. Please share any quotes that inspire you in the comments below. The resilience and compassion of our student body inspire us each day. The Commencement Committee will send additional, detailed communications in the coming weeks to degree candidates and families. We will decide by April 1 whether to extend them further. For more inspiring messages, check out these inspirational quotes about hope and healing. We need everyone to be on board with masks, physical distancing and our other preventive measures and with re-imagining social life in creative ways, consistent with those measures. Prevalence testing (initial sampling of 5% of the student body) will occur at least every two weeks. They are based in our shared values of respect and flourishing, by which we empower those who live, learn and work here to make choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. The clear throughline in everything that has been shared with me over the past week is care for others. Buy that oversized $30 pack of UNO that is literally impossible to shuffle just so you can say you own it. Here are just a few examples: In this historic moment, each of us has an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine our purpose, pursue new passions and explore new modes for creating community. As teachers close o As previously noted, we strongly advise all students to physically leave campus if they can. Walk the dog. ET, for a conversation on health and wellness. If you are unable to move out completely now, we will offer another window in May to come back and collect your belongings. More details about each event will follow. Though I regret that we cannot invite graduates and families back to campus for an October Commencement weekend, our commitment to you is unwavering. The theme of my message is simple: You're amazing! As we head into the weekend, I write to those of you who continue to act in selfish ways thatput our in-person semester at risk. , Get to know our book expert, Ciera Pasturel, Heres why your car looks disgusting today. I just really miss them. Cory L. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. P.S. William & Marys response to the pandemic and reopening follows Commonwealth guidelines. We will also post updates and FAQs regularly on W&Ms Commencement website. Many of you have reached out and expressed compassion and concern for your fellow students who may be in need -- please be assured that no student will be without shelter when the residence halls close on March 25. At last weeks Reconvened Session, the General Assembly approved the Governors recommendation to give state governing boards the authority to conduct business electronically beyond pandemic- related issues. We continue to invite your questions and comments at COVIDResponse@wm.edu as we implement the Path Forward: Fall 2020 plans. Below are some additional resources that you may find helpful as you transition to our new online educational environment:, The departments of Health & Wellness have created a Virtual Health & Wellness site. This slower pace is also a good opportunity to establish and systematically reinforce compliance with our Healthy Together Community Commitment and our new health rules mask wearing, social distancing and more. Thank you for your resilience and kindness and for being a constant in a time of rapid change. We will be learning how to work or teach remotely, fulfilling university responsibilities through new modes, while attending to the care and education of others our children, parents, neighbors and friends. Independent of whether a school system chooses to implement the above requirement, p arents of students who are determined to be close contacts of an individual with COVID -19 may opt to keep their students at home during the recommended stay-at-home period. Slots are first come, first served. According to the CDC, symptoms of fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath appear within 14 days after being exposed to the disease. Words are not enough to thank you for your strength, courage, and dedication. So we will continue to share more details as they become available. Over the past week, we have been heartened by so many stories of students, faculty, staff, neighbors and alumni reaching out to support each other. Without your compliance, our fall semester on campus will be over before it starts. In recent weeks, I have witnessed the Alma Mater of the Nation standing together in the face of a global pandemic. Additionally, if you have questions directly related to the impact of COVID-19 in the Williamsburg/Peninsula area, state and local health authorities have set up two Call Centers: Pass/Fail Expansion. Our goals have been, and continue to be: to safeguard this communitys health and wellbeing, to the best of our ability so that students can continue to learn and live together and faculty and staff can continue in the work they are passionate about. Expanding W&M's reach, educating for impact and evolving to excel. BU Today staff. Parents of all students in the class/cohort. Students who need accessibility accommodations to fully participate in the fall semester campus housing, curricular offerings, etc. Wieland, also a half marathon runner, treats her classroom as a training site as well with her students progress. The students were tearful that even though we couldnt all hug each other in real life the connection among the students and with their faculty member was as in many ways as strong as it would have been in person, she said. Employees will access the series through Cornerstone Learning. We have an obligation to one another to extend flexibility and understanding everywhere possible. So teachers want students to know that they should stay home and stay safe so that everything can return to normal as quickly as possible. All students living in campus housing, who plan to attend in-person instruction or use university facilities, will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus. Thank you for the dedication you have shown throughout this semester. 2) They support research in . 'The pandemic has been a great teacher' - 25 quotes from India's COVID-19 struggle By Madanmohan Rao April 01, 2021 , Updated on : Thu Apr 01 2021 08:03:31 GMT+0000 We are always grateful for the work that you do, but at this particular moment in time, we are even more appreciative for your work and your caring for students. As we work through immediate-term solutions in crisis mode, we will begin to shift to living, teachingand learning during a pandemic. So over the coming weeks, W&M will be repeatedly stressing the new rules via regular guidance, online training, signage and more. Students who require an exception to these requirements due to health concerns should request an exception from the Office of Student Accessibility Services. Isolation of asymptomatic individuals awaiting test results is NOT the recommendation of trusted authorities such as the CDC or VDH. Teachers finishing their first year faced additional struggles as they scrambled to move their teaching online . Thank you for your cooperation. Residence halls will not reopen this semester. You become a student. Because our initial testing round began several weeks ago and based on patterns we are seeing at other campuses, during the first week after arrival we have decided to conduct a second required round of testing. Introduction. We track the Virginia Department of Health guidelines daily.Bringing our campus back together safely is an enormous task and also a hopeful one because it is a key step in the path forward to a post-COVID-19 William & Mary. I am pleased to offer you a link to the W&M Student Rebate portal, where you will find individual information on your personal housing, meal and parking rebates as well as your dining dollars refund. As we face the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and plan carefully for a 2020-21 academic year in-person and on campus, a commitment to community-wide actions is essential. Teachers can have an impact on. The use of remote proctoring does not diminish, in any way, the Honor Code or students pledge to uphold it. Under those circumstances, you may designate someone else to return for your critically-needed belongings by emailing, Only one person may enter the residence hall, They will be escorted at a distance of 6-8 feet by a staff member, The Peninsula Health Department call center at 757-594-7069, The Southside Health Department call center at 757-683-2745. That said, in barely three weeks, our world has shifted and our lives changed. Prevalence testing (initial sample of 2% of the employee/contractor population) will occur at least every two weeks. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Given the growing number of Covid-19 cases in our surrounding area, including in our campus community, we recognized that our residence halls are unsuitable for long term self-quarantine and self-isolation, which will be necessary in the weeks ahead; additionally, we are not staffed to provide a high level of health care and living support for students under pandemic conditions., Students who are having difficulty implementing their personal evacuation plans under these unprecedented circumstances, will be helped on an individual basis, and we will deploy emergency funds wherever possible to ease the financial burden as students await housing, dining, and parking rebates (detailed information about rebates will be sent soon in a separate message). Thank you all for working so hard to protect your own health and that of the community this semester. Such behavior, though undertaken individually, puts at risk the communitys ability to learn together in person, and also the individuals status at William & Mary. Questions About COVID-19 Response. As vice president for student affairs, I have never felt more proud of our students than I do this year. "I was so happy when I saw it. It seemed so specialI miss you so much. Entry will be restricted to these doors. This note has only one piece of business, an invitation, and then reflections on insights that have been shared with me this week from many different sources. Today, Virginia Gov. It made my day," one third grade student wrote to him in an email. If you have direct questions for Residence Life, all communications have been sent to student W&M emails and shared via our Residence Life website. Hold one another accountable. Every member of the William & Mary community should take pride in the way that students, faculty, and staff embraced the responsibility to protect one anothers health and support one anothers learning and work under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. They are merely waiting in the wings until its safe enough to be back in the classroom. Preventing COVID-19 during travel and gatherings. COVID-19 testing is required for ALL students returning to campus for the spring semester. Quarantine may occur anywhere the student feels most comfortable, e.g. W&M will provide each student a free COVID-19 saliva test, mailed in advance of returning. It is clear that we must defer the planned ceremony on May 16. Research advances, music performances continue and students and teachers are coming together to explore the affordances of distance education, aided by our Studio for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Our mission calls us to convene together, and we have all explicitly committed to supporting that mission in this time. I am confident we will be able to create a strong and supportive community. Testing protocols developed in partnership with VCU, VT, UVA and other universities in our public higher education system. Kimberley is a Creative Director at WeAreTeachers. Testing schedules will be released later. We ask students not to return to campus during this period. Such individuals should continue the universal precautions and protocols that are expected of our entire community, and remain in their places of residence. I am enormously grateful for the W&M communitys commitment to these three goals over the past eight months and we must remain vigilant. the same household is COVID-19 positive. Celebrating together, in person, continues to be our goal. A number of students have inquired about Summer 2021 course offerings. Until then, may this community and those we love be healthy and safe. Testing frequency and population percentage will evolve based on campus trends and available testing methods. All our constituencies agree: the health of W&Ms people must be prioritized as we prepare to welcome students and employees back to campus. With millions of students at home around the world due to school closures, one Dunwoody student decided to use his time to spread the word about the city's unofficial motto. Other options shall be submitted to the COVID Response Team for approval. William & Mary will cover the cost of a voluntary test for students and employees who wish to be tested prior to returning home for the Thanksgiving holiday. On March 12, 2020, Virginias Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic that is ongoing. We will continue to add to this calendar overview so all students have the dates that are most critical to planning for fall. White was exhausted and disillusioned from dealing with bad student behavior, which had escalated since schools reopened after the pandemic closures. We teachers feel a love for students thats hard for other people to imagine. So I hope you will consider renewing your annual support for the areas of the university where you traditionally give. As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, Commencement 2020 has been front-of-mind for our graduating students and their families. Testing frequency and population percentage may vary based on campus trends and available testing methods. We make these decisions in conjunction with the advice of local health authorities, recognizing that the Peninsula Health District, in which our main campus resides, has a dense concentration of positive COVID-19 test results now including individuals on our campus. New Student Housing Assignments were made available via the housing portal on July 8. Our commitment to each other is especially critical this weekend and in the week ahead as a new cohort of 1600+ students join our in-person community. It outlines hygiene practices and how to best navigate situations in which the people around you dont uphold our communitys standards. 1. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It is clear, given the continuing trajectory of the pandemic, that spring break will have to be different this academic year. I feel great pride in our communitys shared commitment to this effort, despite the sacrifices that it has entailed. Employees or contract workers with positions that cannot maintain physical distancing, or where other work modifications to reduce virus spread are infeasible and impractical, will be tested prior to working with students. The universitys goal is to prioritize safety while offering as much in-person instruction as possible. Against the unpredictable environment of COVID-19, we will do everything we can to continue to provide as much certainty as we can. Additional details will be shared early next week. Its heartbreaking that we dont get to do those things, she said. If you are faculty, staff, contract worker, vendor or other: As noted above, these requirements apply to all faculty, staff, students, contract workers, vendors and other visitors to campus. While many employees will return to work on campus on Wednesday, Aug. 5 (pending further EMT guidance on Hurricane Isaias), the university will remain closed to the general public as we phase in operations. The Student Health Center will provide instructions on necessary next steps. Our ability to advance W&Ms mission during this pandemic will require each of us, without exception faculty, staff and students to comply with all COVID-related health and safety rules as articulated by university leadership generally, and the COVID-19 Planning Team in particular.