Update - March 19, 2020
UE Extends online instruction and cancel all University events for the remainder of the semester
Dear UE Community,
The past week has been full of challenges for everyone as we all face the new reality of this global pandemic. Over the last week, we have established an environment of collaboration to discuss public safety and to determine how to serve our campus community and the Evansville community. Our faculty have been hard at work moving to online instruction by Wednesday. Staff and administrators have sorted through the details of how to continue to provide exceptional service to our students, whether through online counseling, career advising, or registering for the next semester. We continue to grow in learning how to learn and work remotely and maintaining good social distance as our public health officials recommend.
In the past week:
- The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic,
- The U.S. government has declared a national state of emergency, and
- Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has implemented guidelines on public gatherings.
As of today, there are no confirmed cases identified on campus. However, in consultation with public health officials, government officials, and other local educational institutions, and with the clarity that we expect the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to grow, we must make proactive and smart decisions. Therefore, the University has decided to extend online instruction and cancel all University events for the remainder of the semester. We expect many more colleges and universities to make the same decision in the near future. We prefer to make this decision at a time to provide sufficient notice to our students, faculty, and staff to plan for the future as well as devoting our energy to delivering an online experience that matches our in-person collaborative culture.
We are committed to supporting you and responding to the needs of our community during this rapidly evolving set of unpredictable circumstances. We know there are many unanswered questions, and we are working diligently to address these questions and to provide information as soon as possible. We are working to provide information for students living in residence halls who are separated from their belongings, as well as deciding how we will conduct commencement to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students, and much more.
Our next update will be no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, as part of my weekly Purple Friday Wrap. In the interim, we will continue to update our comprehensive web page that provides information and resources.
Our University has been innovative and forward thinking for the last 166 years. This is yet another time for us to grow and learn together. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, and students to help us plan for a bright future, even when it takes unexpected turns. Together we will find solutions and emerge even stronger.
Stay healthy!
Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz
President
University of Evansville
