Five coordinated teams will focus on short-term solutions for mission-critical areas of the university: curricular flexibility, operational resilience, how we might de-densify campus spaces, how we might expand career pathways for graduating seniors and recent alumni. 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. ; Do not travel Thanks to each of you for your creativity, understanding and commitment to this shared effort. May we continue to take care of each other. To this end, all members of the W&M campus community will be asked to affirm their commitment to shared actions to mitigate risk of spreading COVID-19, to show care and concern for others, and, thereby, to support the universitys ability to succeed during these most challenging of times. IT, maintenance, dining, library staff, etc.) This month we are adding a third effort: planning ahead for next year. The same subscription form can also be used to opt-out if you no longer wish to participate. This is the time to show everyone what W&M students are capable of doing. If you have any questions, please contact the Testing Coordination Team at [[COVIDtest]]. W&M menuResources for. The William & Mary Finance Office is finalizing the process of distributing student rebates and will communicate specifics with students via email no later than Thursday, April 2. 2. AND. I just really miss them. Cory L. I hope you are all safe and healthy. Students should call ahead to schedule an appointment. By establishing a care network, we hope to lessen the complications of navigating the university system as you work to remain well or recover. In addition to maintaining students' attention through devices and teaching the planned curriculum, they also have to adopt new technology and tools, accommodate students' different home environments and varying access to resources, and create a safe . Thank you for being our rock stars, everyday heroes, and for answering this call of duty. I want every one of my kids to get outside and look at how beautiful our world is. Our largest expenditures are on salaries for the faculty and staff who support teaching, learning, researchand our varied university operations, from student financial aid specialists, to career services, to facilities. Exceptions have been made for a small number of A&S COLL freshman classes to begin and continue in person, and the individual graduate and professional schools are communicating directly the start date of their in-person classes. Alumni talk about ringing the Wren bell, saying goodbye to beloved places on campus, and walking together with classmates out through the door they entered when they first arrived at William & Mary. With great strength of purpose, William & Mary students and their families, faculty and staff embraced the work of safeguarding our community while ensuring that our learning and research mission remains strong. Any remaining credit will be disbursed to you. Even as we benefit from sharing wisdom with peer institutions in the Commonwealth and around the country, our decisions will reflect William & Marys unique culture and educational model. Entry will be restricted to these doors. Do not test the resolve of this university to take swift action to prioritize the health and well-being of our campus and the Williamsburg community. In the spirit of both/and, we will honor them in both May and October, both virtually and in person, in ways that are traditional, new, and joyful. As such, almost all courses will be blended to some degree, with students learning in real time and instruction delivered both directly and via technology throughout the semester. We recognize the stress this uncertainty places on students, families, faculty, staff and the communities we belong to. Please review the updates that include information about PPE, plans for symptom tracking and testing, hygiene practices and disinfecting protocols, face covering requirements and adaptations for both classroom and co-curricular spaces, including dining and residence halls. Kimberley Gorelik on March 27, 2020 If your students can't hear you correct their grammar, are you even teaching? 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. In other words, asymptomatic students will await test results wherever they live. The emotions many of us feel this week have been intensely mixed, with good reason. Students are strongly encouraged to return home or stay home. 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. 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. The timing of initial testing depends on when a student arrives on campus: If you are an employee, how and when will testing occur? The correct time frame is between 36-72 hours of receipt of the test kit by the lab. We are living, learning, and connecting with one another in new ways. Just days before New Jersey GovernorPhil Murphyannounced schools in the state will remain closed for this academic year, staff from a Bridgewater elementary school virtually banded together to spread an uplifting message to their students. Check out some of Kids Help Phone's favourite inspirational quotes! But amidst the pain Verified disregard for mask-wearing, social distancing and other practices will not be tolerated. Much like running a race, at the end of every year, she hands out a medal to each of her students as a congratulatory gift after they take their AP exams. Case managers will be assigned after you have completed the intake form at ReportCOVID.wm.edu. To support that effort, yesterday, Provost Agouris shared temporary adjustments to grading policy for this semester that provide options to undergraduate students in different situations. Starting next week, we will begin a program of prevalence testing, beginning with an initial sampling of 5% of the student body and 2% of the employee/contractor population. Meals will be delivered to students in isolation in Richmond Hall. We ask that everyone continue to refer to https://www.wm.edu/coronavirus for the most up-to-date information on anything related to W&Ms institutional response. BU Today staff. Prevalence testing on campus allows us to track spread. Heres to you, William & Marys remarkable Class of 2020! So I ask you to read what follows with care. Virginias Phase 3 of reopening began July 1. UNICEF/UNI327202/. Students Suffer. Plus, her advice to students who might have a little more time with stay-at-home orders is to pay special attention to fostering relationships. Our ability to flourish through fall will depend on the commitment each member of the W&M community makes to one anothers health and safety. Any art. Prevalence testing (initial sampling of 5% of the student body) will occur at least every two weeks. The sobering lesson is that the William & Mary community needs to be all in on our strict health and safety protocols, on and off campus. Wishing each of you health and happiness. We want our lifetime Longhorns to come back to Texas and come back often.. The upcoming tests will also be processed by William & Marys partner lab, Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories, facilitated by VCU Health System. We will continue to reach out to you with updates and information we think you may find useful. Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the July 31 message. Teachers can have an impact on. Tests will be sent based on your anticipated return date, according to a predetermined schedule arranged with W&Ms health care partners. Katherine A. Rowe, PresidentGinger Ambler, Vice President for Student Affairs. Social class juniors, seniors, and graduate students may request housing contract release without penalty. Our mission calls us to convene together, and we have all explicitly committed to supporting that mission in this time. Questions can still be submitted to us at
[email protected]. I am sorry to be sharing news that I know saddens us all. These SEL Lessons Inspired by Dogs Are What Kids Need Right Now. More details about October to follow from the Commencement Committee. Safety measures being taken in the area of Campus Dining were detailed in Sam Jones. Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, at 12 p.m. A new guidebook from the U.S. Department of Education urged districts to step up emotional support for their staff members, even as they focused intensely on supporting students traumatized by. We dont get to see them again and I dont know when Ill get to see them and thats just hard, she said. They will take part in our most cherished traditions: ringing the Wren Bell, Candlelight, the Walk Across Campus, formal exercises in full regalia, and the personalized school/departmental ceremonies with faculty. Be kind to your little brother and your older sister. 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. . She said, What I know is: a resiliency develops from this. Do not be the person who causes us to shut down this semester. 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. By taking further preventative steps, we maximize time for measured transitions and reduce the risk of future disruptions to our teaching, learning and research mission. Medical advice at this time is that interaction is limited to immediate circle groups only. Our communitys well-being is paramount. These trends, along with additional data and considerations, will inform William & Marys spring operations. The coronavirus pandemic and school shutdowns have forced schools to go remote, creating a whole new set of extra difficulties for teachers. Additional information about testing plans and protocols will be shared later this month details are being finalized in collaboration with a partnering third-party healthcare provider. Professor Jal Mehta isn't surprised that some students and teachers are finding positives during remote learning. NOTE: W&Ms on-campus residency requirements notwithstanding, any freshman or sophomore student electing a fully-remote curriculum may be released from their campus housing contract with no penalty in order to reside at their permanent home address for the fall semester. You can find details of our meeting here. So I hope you will consider renewing your annual support for the areas of the university where you traditionally give. We ask everyone in our university community to aid in this effort by embracing the actions below. However, please expect delays in responses due to high volume. I wish you all the best as you finish your classes and exams and prepare for a well-deserved break in just a few weeks. Faculty will be flexible about academic materials (textbooks and the like) that you do not have access to. COVID-19. Those who breach these rules repeatedly will be sanctioned, and may be sent home for the semester. And we will pick up right where we left off!! Testing schedules will be released later. Graduates and their families will enjoy all the pomp and circumstance this ancient university has to offer. Year 12 Parent/Teacher Interviews. Being away from our students has been a rude awakening, and were feeling all kinds of emotions. You will make the best memories at SHU; your friends, your professors and classes, everything. Please note new hours for the Post Office in Sadler and the Student Health Center: Dining Services. As teachers close o The memories of their smiles, stories, and antics bring me joy in rough times. International Students will receive specific testing instructions in the next week to 10 days. 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. The COVID-19 pandemic creates a unique challenge for our students, their families, faculty and staff as we strive to meet our educational mission. With a better understanding of the viruss progress nationally, we will identify a time when we can convene such a sizable group without great risk to health. It seemed so specialI miss you so much. Take a walk. I just really miss them. Cory L. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. I take heart in the transformations we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Take care of yourself and each other (from a safe distance of course). Words are not enough to thank you for your strength, courage, and dedication. We are doing so, thanks to the assistance that Student Affairs and the Reves Center are providing, and the hospitality of many campus neighbors. They gathered in a group exceeding our size guidelines, without the space to physically distance, were not wearing masks and possessed alcohol while underage. - Ed. 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. I am enormously grateful for the W&M communitys commitment to these three goals over the past eight months and we must remain vigilant. Youre crazy amazing. School districts and schools should also support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of all staff. "Thank you very much for doing that video. I have no doubt that we will emerge from this a stronger community and institution.With best wishes,John E. LittelRector. "These are 10 and. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? Additional information about testing plans and protocols will be shared later this month. Earlier today, Dean of Students Marjorie Thomas shared with all students W&Ms Fall, An introduction to the Healthy Together commitment, COVID-19 and its prevention, A tutorial on mask use and requirements at William & Mary, A review of proper preventative hygiene, including hand washing, the use of sanitizer and the difference between cleaning and disinfecting spaces, Tips on how to handle situations in which peoples behavior diverges from our shared commitment to health, A conclusion that reinforces the main points and offers additional resources. 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. 8. We must do all in our power to protect one another. Take care of yourself and know your limits Teaching can be an extremely stressful profession, particularly now. , It is my sincere hope that each of you will tap into tools and resources that you have found work best for you during trying times. The self-collected saliva test is administered through Clinical Reference Laboratory as part of the network of labs that includes VCU Health, our health care partner. 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. No one may accompany you into the building. Your case manager will help make the arrangements. Next week will be the first week of prevalence testing at W&M. So over the coming weeks, W&M will be repeatedly stressing the new rules via regular guidance, online training, signage and more. The health and safety protocols were currently maintaining are helping to limit the spread of COVID-19 in W&Ms close-knit community. You are navigating this challenging spring with grace and compassion. We must remain vigilant so that we can move quickly to identify positive cases and potential exposures. Specifics on operations for all employees will be announced by the week of November 16. Access to personal items. We remind the community of CDC guidelines and recommendations, which include a self-quarantine of 14 days after travel abroad in specific regions. If you are unable to move out completely now, we will offer another window in May to come back and collect your belongings. , Get to know our book expert, Ciera Pasturel, Heres why your car looks disgusting today. The university will remain open with modified academic operations: All in-person classes are suspended. Spend the free time you might have during our shelter in place to nurture and start new relationships and then take care of them as the years go by, she explained. These prudent measures ultimately increase our ability to be together as a community by decreasing the density on campus at a critical time. Buy that oversized $30 pack of UNO that is literally impossible to shuffle just so you can say you own it. Please read through all information, which includes: We recognize that this fall semester will feel very different for us all.