As we plan for our spring semester, our overarching goals remain steadfast: to prioritize the health and well-being of the community; to keep teaching, learning and pursuing research; and to continue adapting our living, learning and working environments so as to mitigate the spread of the virus. Wishing each of you health and happiness. But my kids are trying and were doing the best that we can to get the needs met of the kids.. Do not gather socially in larger groups in your residence halls, across campus or in locations in the community. "The job of an educator is to teach students to see the vitality in themselves." Joseph Campbell 22. We can succeed whereso manyother schools could not that number of universities is growing daily. May the coming weeks keep you and your loved ones well. The timing of initial testing depends on when a student arrives on campus: If you are an employee, how and when will testing occur? W&M will automatically default students to the Block 175 meal plan if they are newly registered for campus housing in the spring and do not self-select a meal plan by the start of the semester. For William & Mary, flattening the curve of financial impact for our community will mean balancing awareness of the economic vulnerability of students and familieswith preserving our dedicated workforce for the long term. We strongly discourage all personal travel, domestic or international, and may require employees who do travel to self-quarantine upon return. Indeed, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our community. Technology Questions? That plan reflected the work of five Plan Ahead squads composed of campus experts faculty, staff, students, administrators. Editors note: Phased planning and increased understanding of COVID-19 has amended some information included in the July 14 message. The deadline for student training has been extended to Friday, Aug. 28. You are missed! 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. For those for whom this is not a realistic option, you are welcome on campus as detailed below. Itonly takes a handful of studentsbehavingrecklessly, to jeopardizetheabilityfor all of usto be on campus this fall. Faculty are in the process of assigning course delivery information to our fall classes in Banner. William & Marys response to the pandemic and reopening follows Commonwealth guidelines. Build a snow sculpture. For those who want to use this time to deepen their learning on various wellness areas, we will be providing educational resources on a wide range of topics, including managing cabin fever. Please join me for more discussion on this and other topics at our next Town Hall meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5. Large student gatherings of any kind both on- and off-campusare not permitted. 2. Walk the dog. 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. Over the next week we will move to online and remote modes of instruction. Active cases within the student population will be monitored through the Student Health Center under guidance from the Center's medical director. Please dont hesitate to send more questions to covidresponse@wm.edu. At least six feet of physical distance must be maintained 10 feet for those exercising, singing or cheering consistent with state guidelines. Thanks to each of you for your creativity, understanding and commitment to this shared effort. There are many ways to help ensure the integrity of the learning and assessment processes. For employees, they will help transition to remote work or leave, coordinate notification to departments and arrange cleaning and disinfecting. Knowing how much this semester matters, to so many, this email updates you on issues at the front of many of our minds: You are likely aware of the news about positive COVID-19 cases at some colleges and universities. Your goodwill, care and spirit of partnership are this universitys strength. (Again, pending EMT hurricane guidance.). International Students will receive specific testing instructions in the next week to 10 days. This is an incredibly challenging time. These appropriate measures aim to slow spread and reduce incidence of COVID-19, which had risen at the end of this month. Currently, the state is. We will also use this as an opportunity to weave into the conversations many of the questions we have been hearing. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.. 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. With added pandemic pressure, grades are bound to slip. As we begin to plan for next year and ways in which we can flatten the curve of financial impact for our community, the Board and administration concurred that freezing tuition and mandatory fees for all students at the current years level was critical, as were other prudent decisions to freeze new hiring and limit other costs.What has been especially evident to us is the very thoughtful and capable manner in which the university community has responded to this emergency. The heart of Round Rock ISD teacher, Natalie Wieland, has been with her students since what was thought would be a short break away turned into an indefinite stay at home learning model. The health and welfare of our employees, not just our students, depends on robust compliance. Were hoping students will be supportive and kind to each other remotely as well. 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. I am proud of each and every one of you. Tressa S. We know being home (in sometimes tight quarters) is tough on everyone, so now is the time to dig deep and be kind. Conversations are easier, resources are more readily accessible, and communication between students and teachers and parents is offered through more options than ever before. William & Marys responsibility to steward our resources prudently is understandably at front of mind for all in this community. Please contact deanofstudents@wm.edu for more information and to discuss your options. All that is needed is a computer with the Chrome browser, a working webcam & microphone, and a stable Internet connection. Our neighbors,parentsand friends have pulled together to support this community through words of encouragement, guidanceand continued investment. On March 12, 2020, Virginias Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic that is ongoing. I wish you a safe and happy holiday season. - Ed. You are responsible for locking your doors and carrying your keys. Do not come to campus if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been asked by state or local health officials to self-quarantine. We are establishing a testing program that goes above and beyond state health and CDC guidelines and is designed to be responsive to the most at-risk populations within our community. At-will testing empowers employees to be aware of their own health status. During the social distancing of COVID-19, we have been looking for ways to stay in close contact with you. William & Mary faces considerable financial impact now as a result of the pandemic. Programs or events sponsored by the university or student groups will continue to be limited to 50 people, with required masks and physical distancing. 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. So the deans, faculty, and staff are empowering each other to explore as many solutions as warranted for each discipline and each students learning situation. We have the advantage of being a close-knit community already. Quarantine may occur anywhere the student feels most comfortable, e.g. First, I want to thank you for your continued patience as the university finalizes the details that will allow us to issue student rebates. With our determination and steadfast efforts, we are also mourning: a lecture, a birthday, the long-awaited symposium, a team road trip, and so much more. Ginger AmblerChair, Commencement CommitteeVice President for Student Affairs. Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the Aug. 10 message. Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the July 31 message. 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. Teachers can have an impact on. PPE for faculty and staff and cleaning protocols for instructional spaces. Proctoring protects the integrity of the testing process, thereby maintaining a level playing field for all students. I believe this and I hope it for each one of you. In barely more than a week, William & Mary faculty and staff in every school reinvented their spring semesters, adapting long-standing habits and materials into new platforms. Parents of all students in the class/cohort. We hope this collection of letters helps our students relieve some stress and always remember, "An exam is only an exam. And remember: We're not gonna' let COVID-19 beat us. Access to personal items. Extending the time between phases of return allows us to welcome new students in our community safely, helping them form connections. Undergraduate, graduate Arts & Sciences, and Marine Science classes will begin January 27 and end May 7. If you see something, say something. Sam JonesDirector, COVID-19 Response Team, At William & Mary we care about what our students think. We continue to be guided first and foremost by the advice of our local health authorities. Wieland teaches sophomores, juniors and seniors in her Pre-AP and AP chemistry courses. The university is providing support for the online instructional, remote learning and technology needs of faculty, students and staff. This virtual goodbye is not the forever goodbye, said Mills. ; Do not travel Students do not need to surrender their parking decals to receive the rebate. In addition to the Healthy Together Community Commitment, every student at William & Mary is accountable to theStudent Code of Conduct. 11-year-old Aaron. We are guided by four key goals: safeguarding the health of students, faculty and staff; ensuring students complete their classes; maintaining the universitys research and other operations; and joining in the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, to protect our communities, from Williamsburg to DC and beyond. Student Affairs will provide details about the winter break transition and spring semester arrival by the week of November 2. Thank you for your patience and support as we move through these challenging days together. Your kids must be feeling overwhelmed, restless, anxious, and agitated with the sudden change in environment. Virginias Phase 3 of reopening began July 1. It has been moving, and heartening, to listen as this unprecedented shift has taken place. Richmond Hall is also identified for housing any on-campus students with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. We want to try to do something," he recalled. The following guidelines and resources outline measures W&M is taking to advance the health and safety of our entire campus community. While W&M is allowing student to upload rapid test results to satisfy requirements for move-in and on-campus activities, the university asks that students still complete the test process with Kallaco, which provides a different type of COVID-19 test. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day from the Career and Technical Education Team. Your case manager will help make the arrangements. Currently, we project losses ranging from $13 million to $32 million through August 2020. The pandemic has required us to adopt new behaviors, and we share in this challenge together. University requirements for face coverings apply to all faculty, staff, students, contract workers, vendors and others who are on William & Marys various campuses or enter university owned or leased buildings. If you would like to help with immediate needs, please consider a gift to the Fund for William & Mary or one of our emergency funds. 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. Watch: Teachers Share Uplifting Messages to Students Amid Coronavirus In these trying times, this school staff has gone the extra mile to make sure their students know they are missed. All tests will be conducted at Kaplan Arena, which has ample room for testing stations, safe physical distancing and free, short-term parking for this testing in the Compton Lot. 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. The university has made the difficult decision to close all W&M residence halls (including apartments and the Graduate Complex) effective March 25 at 5:00 p.m. Any residential students still on campus will need to execute their personal emergency evacuation plan and move out of their residence hall by that time. One key aspect of this program is COVID-19 prevalence testing, by which random samples of students and employees are chosen periodically to take COVID-19 tests so the university can rapidly assess potential community spread. So I ask that you hold close our core values of belonging and respect. We remain committed to the four goals shared last week and will continue to support those students who are unable to leave campus. Connect with your friends in small groups, outside (where the ventilation is good), and with masks on. We have posted programs, videos and articles to enhance your wellness and resilience, including live wellness and fitness programs. For more information, email vamrc@vdh.virginia.gov. Building Relationships With Young People . 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. Students Suffer. Please read the, Freshman and sophomore students are still required to live on campus. You are navigating this challenging spring with grace and compassion. That I love them Michelle T. I miss them. Being away from our students has been a rude awakening, and were feeling all kinds of emotions. ; Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. As a result, some local students will be chosen to conduct a test at the clinic at 332 N. Henry Street. Removal of any member of our university community is not a decision we take lightly, and following our student conduct procedures provides due process for each individual. The reasons educators gave for these stress-related feelings could be divided into two buckets. May we continue to take care of each other. Because of health concerns and regulations, Richards couldnt return to teaching her students in person. As William & Mary finalizes plans for the spring, I will be in touch with additional updates and details. how the pandemic shows us that schools are more important than ever. We have confidence in each of you and great trust. Thank you for your resilience and kindness and for being a constant in a time of rapid change. Beginning tomorrow, September 8, William & Mary will launch on-site testing for our students. 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 . Participating in prevalence testing is a condition to which we have agreed in order to work, study or receive on-campus services at William & Mary under the Healthy Together Community Commitment. You are required to wear a face covering when in a classroom, lab or other instructional space. Social class juniors, seniors, and graduate students may request housing contract release without penalty. -- Ed. For members of the Class of 2020, this reality is especially keenly felt as we approach the time of degree completion in May. In other words, asymptomatic students will await test results wherever they live. This option was provided at the request of fellow students who desired to forego their rebates. I think the biggest part for me is the relationships and being with the students and not being able to interact with them and be there with them through their successes and challenges in the classroom.. Please call or text someone (a friend, your grandparent, or a cousin) to say hi. 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. While many students are complying with the rules and regulations set forth in our Healthy Together Community Commitment,too many are not. more. Outbreak of COVID-19 in a class/cohort. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work diligently to ensure a safe and successful fall semester. I am sorry to be sharing news that I know saddens us all. We want to support your success as we transition online. We are here for you. Because children look to their parents for signs of safety, parents may need to put more effort into expressing confidence and security with words and body language in addition to facial expressions. Students scheduled to move in on January 30 will receive a $100 rebate and those arriving February 6-7 will receive $200. Wellness Resources for You. As we move through this summer and into the fall semester, the COVID-19 Response Team is providing guidance regarding the required use of face coverings on campus from now through the end of the calendar year (July 15-Dec. 31, 2020). The university has made systematic adjustments to reduce risk of transmission: instituting a phased return of undergraduate students; requiring a negative test before returning students can be on campus; implementing a comprehensive plan to reconfigure and de-densify campus; making maximum use of our beautiful campus outdoors and more. That total includes 1,345 student cases and 372 staff cases. Students should call ahead to schedule an appointment. Just spend responsibly, kids. William & Marys campus will be officially open on August 5. Residence halls will not reopen this semester. Please feel . Teacher workspaces displayed to the class can incorporate student work along with new notes and work that can . If possible remove all of your belongings at this time and complete the online check out process.

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