RWU COVID-19 Update
8 p.m.
To the RWU community,
As we have been hearing from government health authorities, this is the time to stay in our homes to the extent possible, practice social distancing, and not visit or congregate in large groups in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. RWU is taking seriously the guidance from the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the Rhode Island Governor’s Office to operate remotely and limit contact among groups of people.
That is why we are taking the following steps:
• On Monday, March 23, all Spring classes will resume in online or alternate instructional methods and will continue in this format for the remainder of the semester. Faculty have been directed to design the remainder of their courses in a remote learning method. We are planning right now that there will be no more in-person classes this semester.
• However, if the circumstances around COVID-19 dramatically improve in our region, we will assess whether to reopen residence halls on April 18; that decision will be made by April 13. Earlier than this date appears highly unlikely to occur; and bringing students back later than this date would not be practical as students would have only a week or two of classes remaining.
• Regardless of whether Rhode Island and campus conditions allow students to return to campus, our online and alternate instruction will continue. We must do so in order to ensure we serve students from various geographic locations that may still restrict travel or students whose circumstances prevent a return to campus.
• We hope this decision helps provide clarity to students and faculty that the alternate course delivery will continue. We trust you can plan your learning accordingly with this information. Instructors are communicating with students this week and many have already been in touch with their students.
• Student Room and Board. We know that the continued time away from campus for our residential students has an impact on full semester payments that families have made for the Spring 2020 semester. The University is continuing to review the level of refunds or credits for room and board that will arise. The analysis underway is quite involved and the decisions will require approval by our Board of Trustees. Further there are different meal plan and room options our students select with varying rates to consider. We will communicate the exact decision on credits or refunds for our students and their families as soon as we are able. We sincerely thank our students and families for their patience with the series of complex decisions that are needed.
• Status of Reopening Campus. No later than April 13, we will make a decision on whether to reopen residence halls on April 18 and return to full operations on April 20 and through the end of the semester.
• Retrieving Essential Belongings from Residence Halls. This past weekend we provided signup opportunities for students to come to campus and retrieve essential items from their rooms. Please look for separate correspondence from Residential Life soon regarding access to your room in this extended online period.
• Commencement. If we are able to reopen residence halls, we will be able to hold Commencement ceremonies as scheduled across May 15 and May 16. If a return to campus is not possible, the university is already exploring other opportunities and ways to bring our graduating Hawks back to campus for a truly memorable event that you all deserve at a later date. We will decide by April 13 whether we can hold Commencement ceremonies on May 15 and May 16.
Other measures the university is taking at this time:
• We have developed a revised remote work policy that has been communicated to all faculty and staff. As we move to remote work, our focus will remain on providing the best instruction and support possible.
• Campus visits and tours have been canceled through April 6. Alternative virtual sessions are being offered in place of campus visits.
• In order to help students and families make a thoughtful college decision, RWU has extended the enrollment reservation deadline from May 1 to June 1.
We want to thank faculty and staff who have been working hard to prepare for the transition to online and alternate modes of instruction on Monday, and we are grateful to our students and families for your patience and cooperation.
Additionally, with words of empathy, compassion and thanks, President Miaoulis shares the following message to the RWU community today
As the situation continues to evolve, we will make decisions based on the well-being of our campus community and our neighbors. Please check our website for regular updates: rwu.edu/COVID-19. For any challenges you encounter, please contact covid19@rwu.edu.
Thank you for your support through this process,
RWU Emergency Response Team