Post-Spring Break Precautions and Virtual Forum Announcement

Published: March 20, 2020 | Read Time: 4 minutes

On March 20 a campus wide email was sent to all faculty, staff and students updating the campus community on precautions to take after spring break and of virtual forums scheduled on March 23 with President Wyatt.

Subject: SUU update - Please read carefully

Dear Faculty and Staff,

With all that is going on in the world, we want you to know that we care about you and your health and safety. We are committed to doing what we can to help you be successful during these unusual and unprecedented times.

As we look toward classes resuming next week, I wanted to touch base about the current status of life on campus and remind you of the changes we’ve implemented because of the spread of COVID-19.

Next week, you’ll find things on campus very different from when you left. It will not be business as usual. Campus will be very quiet. There will be very limited in-person services available. Most offices and many buildings are closed as faculty and staff have begun working remotely. However, everyone still stands ready to help, as we always do, but now we are connecting via video chats, phone calls, and emails rather than in person. As a University, we are following the instructions from our Governor and taking our responsibility very seriously to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to keep everyone healthy.

I understand that this is a different message than what we sent out previously, when we encouraged everyone to return to campus. This is a rapidly-evolving situation where decisions change frequently as new information becomes available.

As you know, all classes and course instruction will be held online. Students should have received information from their professors on how individual classes will proceed through the end of the spring semester. While the Testing and Tutoring Centers are closed to in-person visits, both offices are still open for virtual student support. Campus computer labs are open for students who need access to computers and the internet. The student center building remains open, but many of the offices are only providing virtual support and online appointments.

We would like to encourage supervisors to continue to employ hourly employees (both student and non student) within their departments if possible. If you temporarily do not have work for them to do either on campus or working from home, please notify the Human Resources office by going to the HR webpage.

During spring break, if you traveled out of state to a hotspot area, somewhere internationally, or were around someone who was sick, we encourage you to monitor your health very closely and practice strict social distancing for the next 14 days. Social distancing means staying out of crowded places, avoiding group gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others. Please take these guidelines very seriously. Remember to avoid greeting others with hugs and handshakes (stay 6 feet apart).

To date, there has been one confirmed case of COVID-19 in southern Utah and the Health Department anticipates more confirmed cases in the days to come. COVID-19 is a very high threat to public health across the world. While early data suggested it impacted individuals over 60 years old, the new data is shifting in the United States to show significant impact on those who are 20-60 years old.

Call your healthcare professional if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. You could also call Intermountain Healthcare InstaCare at (435) 865-3440 or Cedar City Hospital at (435) 865-5000. If you have other questions specifically related to COVID-19, call the Utah COVID-19 information line at 844-442-5224.

I’m sure many of you have questions about the remaining part of the spring semester. On Monday, March 23 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Mountain Time), President Wyatt will be hosting online webcasts to provide you with updated information and give you an opportunity to ask questions. You will be able to join the webcast at a link that was sent to your email.

In the meantime, the latest information regarding SUU’s response to COVID-19 can be found at go.suu.edu/coronavirus

Thank you,

President Wyatt

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Tags: Coronavirus

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435-586-5400
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