RWU COVID-19 Update
We deeply appreciate the patience and cooperation of the RWU community regarding our decision to extend spring break by one week in order prepare for the transition to online and alternate modes of instruction beginning March 23. As circumstances related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to quickly evolve during our Spring Break week, we decided proactively yesterday evening to immediately notify our community about the change to campus operations to allow students, families, and employees begin to make different arrangements and preparations.
We continue to make our decisions guided by the care of our community and in line with advisories from the Rhode Island Department of Health, which has advised all RI university leaders to begin aggressive containment measures and move to online learning. Although there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at RWU campuses, we are being mindful of protecting the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff, and of our surrounding community.
Taking the step to first extend spring break provides us an additional week to bring all courses fully online and develop alternative formats of instruction for hands-on courses such as performing arts and science labs that may be more challenging to provide remotely. Additionally, we are using the extended week to communicate with our bookstore and various textbook publishers and providers to work toward online access to materials to the best extent possible.
We have been hearing your questions and responding as we can; asking how campus operations will be impacted, how instruction will be delivered, and about access to campus and dormitories, about status of travel and events. This communication will begin to address your questions regarding our proactive and preventive measures to ensure the safety of all members of our community from COVID-19 and will continue to respond and update our efforts as frequently as necessary.
Federal (CDC) and International Advisories
• Around the globe, there total number of cases has now exceeded 120,000 in 114 countries, with 4,291 deaths caused by the virus. Due to the rapid level of spread and severity, as the number of affected countries tripled in the past two weeks, the World Health Organization has now classified COVID-19 a pandemic – defined as an influenza outbreak that spreads globally.
Rhode Island Advisories: RI Dept of Health (RIDOH) & Governor
• Currently there are five confirmed cases of COVID–19 and one additional presumptive case in Rhode Island. On March 9, the State of Rhode Island declared a state of emergency.
University Advisories & Preparations
Advisories to Entire RWU Community
• The University is transitioning to online and alternate modes of instruction to begin on March 23. This applies to the Bristol and Providence campuses except for CWPD courses as noted below, as well as the School of Law.
• Student Spring Break has been extended by one week to provide ample time for our faculty and students to transition to online learning. Students may not return to campus; however, provisions are being made to retrieve belongings.
• Faculty and staff are expected to report for work. The University remains open (operating at Level 2: Emergency Planning in Process) until further notice.
• As of today, ALL University and student organization travel is prohibited through the end of the semester, with the exception of travel related to advancement, recruitment, and athletics. Please make arrangements to cancel and request refunds.
• The university is cancelling ALL external groups and University events (on- and off-campus) of 50 or more attendees now through March 29. We will continue to evaluate events scheduled for April and May and will share plans for our later event decisions with enough advanced notice and no later than March 27.
Guidance Regarding Courses
• Before classes resume online beginning March 23, students expect to receive communications from their professors regarding the specific courses and any changes to the instructional format and course requirements.
• Additionally we will be providing guidance on our lab-based courses, performance-based courses, practicum, CPC projects, and internships in the coming days.
For University College
• Note: All CWPD instruction offered through University College is continuing and operating as normal at this time.
For Students
• Questions regarding refunds or credits related to room and board fees are currently the most common questions we are receiving from students and parents. We expect to have more information by the end of next week on this question of reimbursement or future semester credits. Once we have made a determination, we will communicate the information to students and parents.
• For resident students: Students will be allowed to retrieve essential belongings from their residence hall rooms and the mailroom during the following dates and times:
◦ Sunday, March 15th from 12pm to 5pm EST
◦ Monday, March 16th from 12pm to 5pm EST
Students who need to retrieve essential items from their room must submit an Extended Spring Break Item Retrieval notification form through Hawk Link so that RWU staff can be prepared to provide room access. DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS – you can designate someone else.
• Any student who has registered accommodations with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) will be contacted by SAS staff to review their accommodations during this transition. Students in this situation can contact Laura Choiniere, Director, Student Accessibility Services at lchoiniere@rwu.edu.
• Any student with extenuating circumstances requesting exceptions to stay on campus during extended spring break must complete an Extended Spring Break Housing Exception Request form via Hawk Link. This form will be reviewed by Student Life and decisions will be communicated via the student’s RWU email account. Access will not be granted until formally approved.
• All international students who are not currently on campus should be in contact with Cassidy Hammond, Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Initiatives, at (401) 254-3400 or chammond@rwu.edu for any questions related to housing and their visa status. If they are requesting an exception to remain on campus they must fill out the Extended Spring Break Housing Exception Request form via Hawk Link above.
• In moving to online instruction, university dining services will be modified during the week ahead (only Lower Commons will be open). Hours of operation and any changes to their service hours can be found online.
• For student athletes: Student Life and the Athletics Department are following the guidance of our athletic conference, the NCAA, and in consultation with other schools in our conference in making decisions about our spring season. Spring athletes will receive further information in the days ahead.
For Staff
• The University remains open and staff are expected to report to campus.
• An informational session will be held to answer employee-related questions on Friday, March 13, from 12-1 p.m. in CAS 157. Additionally division vice presidents have been asked to convene smaller staff meetings within their teams to address the particular questions they may have at this time.
• If you are presenting symptoms of illness, do not come to work. If you have received medical advice to be isolated (self-quarantined) for a specified period of time, you may explore options to work from home. Please contact your supervisor and Tom McDonough in Human Resources. Human Resources can be reached at (401) 254-3028. For faculty, please contact your Dean to discuss this option.
For Faculty
• Virtual and in-person training and support sessions to be held next week are being scheduled currently to supplement existing video tutorials to convert your courses. Faculty should expect an email later tonight with instructions from the Office of the Provost with further details.
• Reminder: the university is not closed. Faculty members are able to use their offices and their classrooms, at their regularly scheduled course times, to deliver their virtual courses.
• Further updates for faculty will be forthcoming from the Office of Provost. Questions can be directed to Sue Bosco at (401) 254-3096 or sbosco@rwu.edu.
• If you are presenting symptoms of illness, do not come to work. If you have received medical advice to be isolated (self-quarantined) for a specified period of time, you may explore options to work from home. Please contact your Dean to alert them of your needs as soon as possible.
University Planning Underway (Items currently under review)
• We are currently assessing all academic field work, CPC course projects, and Pro-Bono Law work in the community and guidelines and protocols we need to put in place and assess how this work may continue. More information will follow.
• Our Center for Student Academic Success is using the days ahead to establish online student/peer tutoring so that our current students will still be able to access tutoring support for their courses remotely.
• Fall 2020 course advisement is still set to begin on Monday, March 16. Further information about advising and Fall 2020 registration process will be sent soon to students and advisors.
Contact Information and Updates
• Please check the dedicated university website for regular updates and additional resources. The website is available at: rwu.edu/covid-19.
• For questions on university planning related to COVID-19, please email covid19@rwu.edu.
• For Students, contact the Office of Student Life at (401) 254-3042 or rwustudentlife@rwu.edu
◦ Students with health questions, can contact RWU Health Services at (401) 254-3156.
• For Faculty, contact the Office of the Provost (401) 254-3096
• For Staff, contact Human Resources at (401) 254-3028
As this situation evolves daily, please know that university leaders will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed with the well-being of the RWU community as our top priority. We know that these changing events can, understandably, be a source of anxiety and questions. We wish to remind our campus community to remain calm, be informed, and to follow the advice of university officials and health care professionals.
Our work together will ensure the safety of our community, families, and neighbors.
Thank you for your support through this process,
RWU Emergency Response Team