COVID-19 Response

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation November 16 regarding increased mitigation efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the state. One of the key items identified in the proclamation is a prohibition on gatherings of more than 15 people through December 10, 2020.

In the event that the Governor's restriction would be extended beyond December 10 through the weekend of December 18th and 19th, the RiverCenter has confirmed that we would not be able to host our undergraduate commencement ceremony there on the 19th, and we would be unable to host the graduate ceremonies on campus on the 18th.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will keep you advised as more information becomes available, but we did not want you to be caught unaware should we need to change plans for our commencement ceremonies. We know you join us in hoping that these ceremonies can take place, but we will, as always, follow the directives which the Governor may require.

Dear Students:

The continuing increase of COVID-19 cases in the community and on campus will force us to extend last week's decision to convert most undergraduate and graduate classes to distance delivery learning through the remainder of fall semester. We also will suspend face-to-face extracurricular activities, including most athletic events and practices, until further notice.

We regret having to make this decision, but the safety of students, employees and the wider community must be our first priority. We are proud to have come so close to completing the on-campus portion of our fall semester as scheduled, and are grateful to the students, faculty and staff whose commitment to safe behaviors helped us in that mission.

We very much look forward to resuming a modified spring semester schedule with face-to-face and hybrid instruction and adjusted extracurricular activities starting on January 25.

Residence halls will remain open to all students through 6 p.m. on November 24. Some students may remain in residence halls to quarantine or isolate beyond November 24. Other students also may remain with Residence Life approval. Support services, including meal delivery, will continue for isolating students now and beyond Thanksgiving.

Meal service for all other students with meal plans will continue through November 24 on a Grab-and-Go basis.

All students concerned about exposing high-risked family members to the virus have an option to self-quarantine on campus through the 24th and/or be tested for the virus.

The following exceptions will continue to apply to distance-delivery learning:

• Some laboratory courses, with the approval of the Dean, may take place in the classroom, with the appropriate protective equipment required.
• Students on internships, clinical coursework, and student-teaching assignments should continue to participate in such experiences following the directions of the department and the placement site.

Thank you again to those who kept the Bee Safe, Bee Responsible Promise and did their best to cooperate with support staff to ensure the health and safety of the entire campus community. I ask that each of you pray for breakthroughs in efforts to create a vaccine in the coming weeks and months, and to lessen the virus threat through spring semester.

I, in turn, will pray for each of you, for your health, your safety and a successful academic conclusion to your semester in early December.

Sincerely,
Sister Joan

Due to a rising number of positive COVID-19 cases, the University is taking the proactive steps of immediately suspending all face-to-face extracurricular activities – including most athletics events and practices – and converting most face-to-face courses to online delivery for one week, starting Monday, Nov. 9 through Friday, Nov. 13.

Students are encouraged to remain on campus and not return home, as course plans are not being changed to distance delivery beyond that week.

This status will be reviewed next week to assess the need to extend.

In the meantime, students have been urged to follow practices and protocols listed in the COVID-19 section of the Student Handbook and outlined in the Bee Safe, Bee Responsible Promise. These include the use of masks and the practices of social distancing and careful hygiene.

Beginning at 4 p.m., Nov. 5, the following changes will take effect:

• Carryout-only dining will be offered in the Cosgrove Dining Hall, Rogalski Center Food Court, and in the Beehive. Beehive seating will be limited to one person per table.
• The Library will maintain normal business hours, with existing requirements for masking and distancing in effect. Study groups are not allowed.
• All student activities and meetings must be virtual.

Effective Friday, Nov. 6 until further notice, the Wellness and Recreation Center will remain open for individual exercise and physical activity with the following changes:

• No team practices, group exercise, or group activities will be permitted throughout the building.
• Masks are required in all areas of the Wellness and Recreation Center, except for the Athletic Weight Room and the Field House. However, social distancing of six feet or greater is required in all areas of the building, including the Athletic Weight Room and the Field House.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, the following exceptions will apply to distance-delivery learning:

• Laboratory courses will take place in the classroom, with added protective equipment required. Department chairs and directors will notify students about any meeting requirements during the week of November 9-13.
• Students on internships, clinical coursework, and student-teaching assignments should continue to participate in such experiences following the directions of the department and the placement site.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report for the CARES Act (pdf)

This is the final report.