The work ahead will continue to be challenging in unprecedented ways and uncertainty will remain high. Our comprehensive testing and case management programs actively seek positive cases on campus so we can prevent them from further circulating in the community, provide individuals needed care and limit the opportunity for spread. We are here for you. Well be adding specific information about W&M positive rates if/when they rise to the reporting threshold required. Commons is set up as a to-go option only and no self-service. Glue/tape recycled things together to make a sculpture. May we continue to take care of each other. From exercise, personal training, and yoga videos to mindfulness and creative art, we will be offering a wide range of resources to help you manage the stress and emotions that are a part of this new challenge. Service is one of the universitys core values, and we have seen that in action throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. An elementary school principal who had to quickly pivot her school to remote learning amid the novel coronavirus pandemic has implemented an array of tools for students, parents and teachers. Deans and faculty will ensure personal engagement for all students, including those who live on and off campus, through the start of in-person classes. Wearing masks is a personal preference as we come back into this school year. All rights reserved. Even with full compliance, the health and safety of our community will remain vulnerable. Reach out to your child's teacher and other relevant school staff if you have concerns about their coping and keeping up with assignments or activities. That includes mental health and wellness, and we acknowledge the need for the entire university to have downtime. You will receive a reminder four days before the deadline, and you and your supervisor will be notified if you have not completed the training by Aug. 24. We are asking you to continue following W&Ms policies developed with such mutual respect in mind. Today, we are announcing rebates for the spring semester, for eligible students, as follows. Professor Jal Mehta isn't surprised that some students and teachers are finding positives during remote learning. Building Relationships With Young People . Violations of these agreements will haveconsequences. IT has set up the web resource that may also be helpful, https://www.wm.edu/offices/it/remoteresources/index.php. Thank you for your patience as we work through the details that will allow us to navigate the extraordinary challenges wrought by pandemic. To that end, the university has developed a series of training videos to teach the community about COVID-19 and how to protect ourselves and others in a campus environment. The full Board will meet electronically on Tuesday, May 12th.President Katherine Rowe and the senior leadership team briefed us on the various efforts across campus to respond to the crisis and prepare for the future. I write to share essential information for students. The portal will also give you the option to donate your remaining rebate balance back to William & Mary to support students in need. The university is providing support for the online instructional, remote learning and technology needs of faculty, students and staff. P.S. When we experience emotions like sadness and anxiety, research suggests that expressing them through visual and performing arts is one of the most effective ways to address them. Your case manager will help make the arrangements. You are missed! 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. More will be needed in the weeks ahead. The health emergency forced the closing of schools all over the country, sending over 55 million K-12 students and about four million teachers home for the remainder of the school year. Ralph Northam announced new restrictions on private and public gatherings in the Hampton Roads region and Peninsula, which includes Williamsburg. Not having been able to say goodbye weighs on many. Additional details will be shared early next week. Face coverings must be used when interaction with others precludes physical distancing, such as conferring with colleagues, advising students, etc. We will decide by April 1 whether to extend them further. These decisions will have consequences for each of us professionally and personally. Students who need accessibility accommodations to fully participate in the fall semester campus housing, curricular offerings, etc. No university-sponsored travel (domestic or international) will take place, unless required to meet obligations of externally sponsored research or state scientific advisory services. For those of you who are or will soon be in Williamsburg, we need you to prioritize the health of our community every day, every week and every weekend for the entire semester! We have confidence in each of you and great trust. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers. It is imperative that we all hold ourselves accountable for keeping our campus and neighbors safe: For those unwilling to follow the necessary health and safety protocols, it is important to be clear that there will be consequences for violations. Based on these determinations and the most recent federal and state guidelines, Family Weekend 2020 will be re-imagined as a fully virtual event. Students currently on campus and in residence need to move out by Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Honorlock's certified proctors and W&M's faculty are able to review test session videos until deleted based on the university's retention policy. On-campus services (residence halls, dining, etc.) It is clear, given the continuing trajectory of the pandemic, that spring break will have to be different this academic year. Please mark your calendars. If you are away from campus and have belongings in your room for which you have a critical need (medications, laptops) you must make plans to collect them by Wednesday, March 25, 5:00 p.m., as follows: If you need for someone else to retrieve your critical items for you: Email living@wm.edu from your official W&M email account and provide the following information: We will plan a full move out period from April 18-May 18, 2020. For instance, this may be a great time to learn about our online training modules on mental health via SilverCloud (https://www.wm.edu/offices/wellness/ohp/general-wellness/silvercloud/). Employees are expected to continue working during this period, observing proper health protocols and with modifications as needed and approved by supervisors. We are managing returning student room change requests as we can. Violations of this personal commitment endanger our collective well-being and will result indisciplinary action. "The Lord gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers". It's a hive of human activity and constant, emotional interaction - buzzing with movement, noise, rapid changes, ups, downs and, in many cases, actual bells to tell everyone when to stand up and go. Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors on campus and off-campus, in. The deadline for student training has been extended to Friday, Aug. 28. A return to campus, like all aspects of life, carries with it potential risk. Students will have an opportunity to review and affirm the Healthy Together Community Commitment through the Personal Information Questionnaire that is being deployed today. All in all, just make life spicy. We can succeed whereso manyother schools could not that number of universities is growing daily. Programs or events sponsored by the university or student groups will continue to be limited to 50 people, with required masks and physical distancing. As we continue to chart a path forward together, I feel honored to be part of this community. 3. William & Mary employees are preparing for students to return to campus in early August. "Thank you very much for doing that video. Our communitys well-being is paramount. Planning around the pandemic may be easier said than done. COVID-19 testing is required for ALL students returning to campus for the spring semester. Will there be testing at the end of the Fall 2020 semester? Our researchers have pooled their PPEs and shared them with local hospitals resources we hope will extend the safety of our courageous local healthcare providers on the front line. 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. Children will look at you and learn from the skills you use daily to deal with stressful situations. ; Do not travel 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. What a fall this has been! In recent weeks, I have witnessed the Alma Mater of the Nation standing together in the face of a global pandemic. School is important but so is your health. For Fall 2020, the university is preparing for an early opening and a primarily in-person semester, adapting our curriculum and operations consistent with Virginias public health guidelines for higher education. As we move into these last days of the semester, I am deeply grateful to and for you for your resilience, your creativity and your fortitude. Case managers will be assigned after you have completed the intake form at ReportCOVID.wm.edu. New Student Housing Assignments were made available via the housing portal on July 8. The theme of my message is simple: You're amazing! Ginger AmblerChair, Commencement CommitteeVice President for Student Affairs. Testing is a critical part of the commitment we make to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19. To return to normal campus activity after 10 days of isolation, you will need to be cleared to return to work by a physician and have gone at least 24 hours without symptoms, including no fever (without the use of fever-suppressing medications). No one should take these early results as license to relax our vigilance. I am so grateful for our communitys outpouring of support, yet many students continue to have an urgent need for longer-term housing and food. These SEL Lessons Inspired by Dogs Are What Kids Need Right Now. April 28, 2020Dear Campus community:Last Thursday, the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors (BOV) met to hear updates about the universitys response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all members of the BOV participating. Students who need to use the elevator to access the concourse level of Kaplan Arena may arrange. You become a student. COVID-19 Messages to Students (2020) | William & Mary An archive of messages sent to William & Mary students about the university's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Event sponsors should explore solutions that include canceling, rescheduling or moving to alternative platforms. Completing the address confirmation and questionnaire is necessary, but your test may not ship immediately. And pre-arrival testing requirements will be announced by the week of November 16. That is the territory we are in now, together. We have had our last classes, at least one professor put on her regalia and said lets celebrate the graduating students, said Interim Dean-Designate Lillian Mills for the McCombs School of Business. Thank you for helping to safeguard the health of your fellow W&M students, as well as faculty, staff and members of our neighboring community. Any art. November 18, 2021. We must continue these measures with increased vigilance. our actionswillbe swift anddirectfor those who arent following theguidelineswe have in place. In light of those conditions and with the health and safety of our W&M community as our highest priority, in-person Family Weekend and Homecoming & Reunions Weekend will be re-imagined as opportunities for virtual gatherings. We love them. We have heard the concerns expressed by many students and faculty about this falls compressed semester. Further details may be found below. The COVID-19 pandemic creates a unique challenge for our students, their families, faculty and staff as we strive to meet our educational mission. Working closely with our local and state health officials, as well as our Virginia university partners, W&M is closely monitoring all guidance related to health and safety practices and protocols. We all know that higher education prides itself in measured response and reflection. Building Hours. For now, we can share these details: Already, our graduating students are experiencing a deep sense of loss, as a spring semester they joyfully anticipated has changed in profound ways outside of our control. Take care of yourself and each other (from a safe distance of course). Residence Life staff will be unable to respond to lockout requests. We hope this collection of letters helps our students relieve some stress and always remember, "An exam is only an exam. At present, all new expenditures have been unallocated. This too shall pass. By Friday, we will provide additional guidance on planning underway to support students, families, staff and faculty. We continue to move forward in a phased way: focusing on adaptations and flexibility, to mitigate risk to health, while ensuring we can sustain W&Ms mission of teaching, learning, and research. I felt like I was actually with you and the other teachers. Its been tough, and she said an added challenge for her students is having the equipment to connect with her virtually, whether its because of not having the means or not having internet access . We are working with real-time information, assessing current conditions and predictions for future trends with expert advice guidance from authorities in infectious disease, epidemiology and our regional public health partners. Please use this. In an emergency situation, WMPD will help with a lockout, but we need this to be a last resort. All students who alerted us should be contacted by the end of the day. During the Summarize phase, teachers and students share, discuss, and refine strategies and conjectures as a whole-class discussion. If you bring guests with you, they must remain in your vehicle. Testing protocols developed in partnership with VCU, VT, UVA and other universities in our public higher education system. KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. If you are experiencing dire financial need this semester, the university may be able to help. We will continue to communicate regularly, to provide as much clarity as feasible, as soon as possible. An archive of messages sent to William & Mary students about the university's plans and policies responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Next week we will also share our expectations about work conditions after June 10, based on the Governors evolving guidance. We recognize the uncertainty so many are feeling. Take care of yourself and know your limits Teaching can be an extremely stressful profession, particularly now. So this email aims to add clarity where we are able. 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. The Student Health Center will provide instructions on necessary next steps. Itonly takes a handful of studentsbehavingrecklessly, to jeopardizetheabilityfor all of usto be on campus this fall. I hope you can do the same, and I hope you can focus on forgiving yourselves if you're not perfect. He will communicate separately with employees next week. At W&M, we take care of one another. "For me it was a massive morale booster to meet lots of dogs and cats." Teachers say there has been a collective spirit among staff Glad to be back If there's something children have learnt from. "I would like to begin by recognising our parents, families, and loved ones, especially my mum and dad, who, may not be physically present with us, but who are, as always, cheering us on from the screens of the Great Hall or on their devices; our lecturers for imparting their wisdom - who have recently acquired the number 1 spot in the recent The coronavirus pandemic and school shutdowns have forced schools to go remote, creating a whole new set of extra difficulties for teachers. This message was sent to students, staff, faculty and other academic personnel at the University of Washington's Bothell and Seattle campuses on behalf of the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases. We and our VCU Health partners actively pursued due diligence from the beginning and continue to do so. 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). So, we asked the teachers in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook to share their messages to students during COVID-19 school closures. The deadline to request a release is, Fall meal plan selections will automatically roll to the spring semester and students are able to make one allowable change through the add/drop period at, Students with a meal plan this fall who plan to study remotely in the spring must log on to. University travel and events are suspended, as detailed below. 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. With students due to return from spring break and reports of presumptive cases in our region, we are taking further steps to ensure we meet these goals. Thank you for your cooperation. By establishing a care network, we hope to lessen the complications of navigating the university system as you work to remain well or recover. Outbreak of COVID-19 in a class/cohort. Employees were advised of their units in-person or remote requirements the week of July 20. The universitys Path Forward: Fall 2020 lays out our commitment to highly engaged and close connections between teachers and students; that commitment underpins the effort to return to in-person experiences as appropriate under pandemic conditions. 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. Last Monday, the school system's 1.1 million students the largest school system in the country transitioned to remote learning, which will last until at least April 20. Since our founding in 1693, our history has been one of creativity and resilience in the face of daunting challenges. 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. It is based on collaborations with Commonwealth public higher education (including peer university public health and medical centers), CDC and VDH guidelines, and the Governors guidelines. But my kids are trying and were doing the best that we can to get the needs met of the kids.. International Students will receive specific testing instructions in the next week to 10 days. Our obsession with marks teaches students that external achievement is the only path to success. Students must comply with mask expectations. I hope your semester is going well and that you and your family are healthy and safe. I also understand that COVID-19 has drastically hurt chances to see your friends and to get more involved; just stay positive and things will be back to normal soon. They constitute direct violations of the Healthy Together Community Commitment that each of us affirmed. Planning continues apace and I hope this message will address many of your queries. As does the fear of worse losses, impending. Whenever possible, we will seek opportunities to enable some events through virtual means and platforms. For the limited number of courses that require proctored exams, W&M will use Honorlock. The resilience and compassion of our student body inspire us each day. Safety measures being taken in the area of Campus Dining were detailed in Sam Jones. Next week will be the first week of prevalence testing at W&M. I believe this and I hope it for each one of you. Entry will be restricted to these doors. Classes will begin in Spring 2021 according to the following schedule: January 11: Online Graduate Programs (Business and Education), January 25: Full-Time MBA, Flex MBA, MAcc, MSBA, January 27: Undergraduates, Grad A&S, Marine Science, Education (residential programs), In order to phase our return to campus, all undergraduate classes will take place via remote instruction from January 27 February 9, In person and blended instruction for undergraduates begins on February 10, The graduate schools do not anticipate delaying in-person instruction but will advise their students directly if that changes. Staff at Richmond Hall will assist with your move-in, providing transportation as appropriate. 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. I love the way your mind works and promise to come see Mrs. Richards next year.. Again, for those students who are unable to implement their personal evacuation plans know that we are committed to working with you to find a solution. ", Teachers' Acts of Kindness During Coronavirus. You become an investigative reporter. Please note that these will once again be COVID-19 PCR nasal swab tests, the same as Round 2 of testing and current prevalence testing. In order to donate, you must indicate your decision to do so no later than Sunday, April 5, which will provide W&M time to process the donation. That speaks volumes about who we are as a community. Additional information about testing plans and protocols will be shared later this month. You spend a little time learning what it's like to live in someone else's shoes." Country Living. We continue to plan in earnest for your return, to ensure you have options, and we look forward to the start of our 2020-21 academic year. 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. William & Marys response to the pandemic and reopening follows Commonwealth guidelines. 2. In addition, employees who work in positions identified by Human Resources as being in high-contact roles in which they may not be able to use mitigation strategies such as masks, physical barriers and social distancing at all times may be tested for COVID-19 before students return to campus. Against the unpredictable environment of COVID-19, we will do everything we can to continue to provide as much certainty as we can. Please note that intentional submissionsof false reports are subject to disciplinary action. "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. I have cautious good news to share about our return-to-campus testing positivity rates so far, which are very low. Currently, we project losses ranging from $13 million to $32 million through August 2020. "My eyes hurt, my back hurts, my hands/wrists hurt from constantly typing, I get frequent headaches that can only be minimized by taking a nap, I have mom guilt." Megan is one of many teachers across the United States who are facing a new set of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read through all information, which includes: We recognize that this fall semester will feel very different for us all. According to the CDC, symptoms of fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath appear within 14 days after being exposed to the disease. We have an obligation to one another to extend flexibility and understanding everywhere possible. Therefore, William & Mary is taking the following measures to advance the health and safety of our entire campus community while we continue to provide high quality teaching, learning, and co-curricular experiences for our students and conduct essential research. For the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic and for tips on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please visit The Center for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov. by. May this situation help us realize that the Lord is always with us and will never leave us." Jion P. Dimson, RMT, MSMLS Chair, Student Development and Activities Department, The Student Affairs I am confident that will be the case in the coming days and weeks. Amy SebringVice President for Finance and Technology. More details about each event will follow. These tests are administered at no cost to you. ; Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. Read the descriptions of high-level categories for course delivery: By looking up course attributes in Banner, students will be able to craft a fully remote schedule for the fall semester if that is their preference. We are firm in our convictionsour actionswillbe swift anddirectfor those who arent following theguidelineswe have in place. Best wishes as W&M moves forward into this new virtual educational environment.