As we embark on a new semester tomorrow, the importance of ourHealthy Together Community Commitmentcannot be overstated. The following guidelines and resources outline measures W&M is taking to advance the health and safety of our entire campus community. You are required to wear a face covering when in university housing hallways, other shared spaces and hall baths (except when actively washing, brushing teeth, etc.). Thank you for the questions you have submitted through the Path Forward website and via email. We are especially grateful for the partnership and shared purpose of Student Assembly President Kelsey Vita 20 and the entire SA leadership team. I am pleased to offer you a link to the W&M Student Rebate portal, where you will find individual information on your personal housing, meal and parking rebates as well as your dining dollars refund. Residence Life will provide additional details and instructions about spring move-in: January 22: new students (transfer & freshmen), international students, freshmen who studied remotely in the fall, January 23-24: freshmen who lived on campus in the fall / international students. But amidst the pain "They reached out, said, You know we're feeling that our students aren't feeling connected to school. Build a snow sculpture. Everyone is eager to be back in the classroom with you. Walk the dog. And finally, how W&M might take the lead in issuing broad calls to service at this critical time, in order to strengthen our communities near and far. Programs or events sponsored by the university or student groups will continue to be limited to 50 people, with required masks and physical distancing. Visit. Besides saying they miss their students, nearly every teacher used the word love in their response. For now, on behalf of my colleagues on the Board, I want to recognize the incredible leadership and efforts by each of you.We have faced many challenges throughout our 327-year history. Yet at a time of loss and sacrifice, we have also made gains. If your students are sick, please keep them home, and if your son or daughter tests positive for COVID, please contact our school nurses. W&M will provide each student a free COVID-19 saliva test, mailed in advance of returning. Testing protocols developed in partnership with VCU, VT, UVA and other universities in our public higher education system. As we anticipate this final phase of move-in before the start of in-person classes on Tuesday, I write to share several important messages for those who have chosen to be on campus to live and learn this fall: We cannot let up. ; Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. May we continue to take care of each other. At W&M, we take care of one another. Please continue to save September 25-27, 2020, on your calendar and expect to receive more details regarding a schedule of virtual events via email, social media and our website as the summer progresses. to date, no student on campus has tested positive, state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, Read the descriptions of high-level categories for course delivery, detailed plans for Check-In and New Student Orientation, All generative questions and ideas are welcome, Flourishing during Unexpected, Uncertain, and Unwanted Change, https://www.wm.edu/offices/wellness/ohp/general-wellness/silvercloud/, https://www.wm.edu/offices/it/remoteresources/index.php, monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, support for the online instructional, remote learning, Undergraduate Residence Halls close on November 25 at 10 a.m. Be sure to carefully review the, Remaining on campus after November 25 at 10 a.m. is not an option, Students living in the Graduate Complex or Tribe Square are permitted to remain in their current apartment, but must verify they are staying via the, Spring semester course delivery attributes will be in Banner by Friday, November 13. Thank you for helping to safeguard the health of your fellow W&M students, as well as faculty, staff and members of our neighboring community. It is based on collaborations with Commonwealth public higher education (including peer university public health and medical centers), CDC and VDH guidelines, and the Governors guidelines. Students are strongly encouraged to return home or stay home. On June 12, 2020 William & Mary released its planning process for the coming semester the Path Forward: Fall 2020. That includes mental health and wellness, and we acknowledge the need for the entire university to have downtime. As we move through the many decisions that we face individually and as a community, our top priorities remain to keep teaching, keep learning, and keep helping each other to stay well. Kimberley is a Creative Director at WeAreTeachers. Initially, staff members wanted to drive by houses in their cars, but considering the social distancing protocols that were in place at the time, the idea was changed to making a video and they reached out to fellow staff to collect clips and edit them all together. Students who lived on campus in the fall but have a fully remote schedule for the spring semester may request a release from their housing contracts. W&M's COVID-19 Response Team has outlined significant risk reduction measures W&M is taking to prepare for the fall. The greatest weapon we can have today is guarding ourselves with faith and prayer. Tribe Market is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Chick-fil-A is to-go only, no indoor seating. As William & Mary comes together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we write as president, vice president and as members of the W&M community to express our gratitude. More details about October to follow from the Commencement Committee. Next week we will also share our expectations about work conditions after June 10, based on the Governors evolving guidance. Our mission calls us to convene together, and we have all explicitly committed to supporting that mission in this time. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.. The Bursars Office will credit the appropriate amounts to your student account. Our Health & Wellness team is working to create a Virtual Wellness Center that includes a variety of wellness and fitness resources for students to access online. There are many ways to help ensure the integrity of the learning and assessment processes. Gabriel H. Sanchez Senior Photo Essay Editor Kate Bubacz On March 12, 2020, Virginias Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic that is ongoing. We continue to invite your questions and comments at COVIDResponse@wm.edu as we implement the Path Forward: Fall 2020 plans. Group Gatherings. All residential students received an email communication on June 17 from the Office of Residence Life outlining new expectations and policies for on-campus living during this upcoming semester. Make some art. Masks must be worn outside unless you are engaged in an activity where you can consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. Residence Life staff will be unable to respond to lockout requests. Finally, W&M has a responsibility to contribute to local, state, federal and global public health efforts. As we gather new information, we will continue to use these goals to guide our best judgment. Take care of yourself and know your limits Teaching can be an extremely stressful profession, particularly now. It is recommended to Post them in the hallways or on the wall of the classroom. Faculty are in the process of assigning course delivery information to our fall classes in Banner. 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. Our testing and other public health protocols are based on ongoing epidemiological modeling being developed by VCU, UVA and VT as Virginia's academic medical centers. You spend a little time learning what it's like to live in someone else's shoes." Country Living. Only residents will be permitted entry to residence halls. William & Mary is partnering with the VCU Health System (VCUHS) for expanded physical and mental health services, including COVID-19 testing for students and employees. We will hear from faculty and undergraduates who will join me (virtually) to share their reflections on this weeks transition to distance learning. We are asking you to continue following W&Ms policies developed with such mutual respect in mind. Recently I shared with you detailed instructions for registering with Kallaco so we may send you an off-campus COVID-19 test based on your move-in date or the date you will resume in-person classes. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ET. More answers about W&Ms approach to testing may be found on our website; questions about Kallaco and Opteo may be found here. "Our students and community have responded to the video in a very positive fashion," he noted before reading appreciative responses from students and their families. Updates will include information about prizes & award nominations, diploma mailing, the timeline for ordering regalia, and registering for Octobers ceremony tickets. Over the next week we will move to online and remote modes of instruction. The pace at which employees return to work on campus is outlined in those plans. Completion of the training program must occur by Monday, Aug. 24. Honorlock is FERPA compliant and uses securely encrypted protocols to save and view all test \-taker assets. Here are just a few examples: In this historic moment, each of us has an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine our purpose, pursue new passions and explore new modes for creating community. See the student FAQ section at www.wm.edu/coronavirus for additional details. At-home testing for students before arrival ensures that those testing positive can self-isolate at home and not unknowingly bring the virus to campus. The Student Health Center remains open to students by appointment only. 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. Students scheduled to move in on January 30 will receive a $100 rebate and those arriving February 6-7 will receive $200. The entire faculty Provost, deans, department chairs and faculty members quickly moved more than 2,000 classes to distance learning, ensuring that teaching remains vibrant despite a mid-semester interruption and that our students remain the focus. We want our lifetime Longhorns to come back to Texas and come back often.. When we experience emotions like sadness and anxiety, research suggests that expressing them through visual and performing arts is one of the most effective ways to address them. Staff throughout the university are offering many services virtually and also ensuring that our campus remains safe and ready for our return. Please mark your calendars. The health and safety protocols were currently maintaining are helping to limit the spread of COVID-19 in W&Ms close-knit community. These policies will be effective through at least April 3. Teachers Share Uplifting Message to Their Students Amid Coronavirus Pandemic In these trying times, this school staff has gone the extra mile to make sure their students know they are. Knowing people are out there thinking of them can make all the difference in the world. Shannon S. Teachers everywhere want students to know that they havent gone anywhere.