I also understand that COVID-19 has drastically hurt chances to see your friends and to get more involved; just stay positive and things will be back to normal soon. Commons is set up as a to-go option only and no self-service. Other measures being taken to mitigate risks as students and employees return to campus this fall will be discussed at a community Town Hall scheduled for July 20. Remaining on campus and utilizing university resources while practicing social distancing - remaining 6 to 8 feet from other individuals is preferred. I just really miss them. Cory L. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. William & Mary faces considerable financial impact now as a result of the pandemic. More information about access and hours during that window will be shared at a later date. We wish you all the best in the remaining weeks of the semester and during the exam period. Copyright 2021. Kimberley is a Creative Director at WeAreTeachers. , It is my sincere hope that each of you will tap into tools and resources that you have found work best for you during trying times. In barely more than a week, William & Mary faculty and staff in every school reinvented their spring semesters, adapting long-standing habits and materials into new platforms. In response, W&M will not shorten the spring academic calendar. Next week we will update the campus on financial projections for FY21. Be sure to visit our Virtual Health & Wellness site where you will find an article by Dr. Kelly Crace on Flourishing during Unexpected, Uncertain, and Unwanted Change. I hope your semester is going well and that you and your family are healthy and safe. Since our founding in 1693, our history has been one of creativity and resilience in the face of daunting challenges. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, teachers and students all over the country have had to adjust to new ways of learning at a social distance. 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. So we share our expectations for accountability below. Note that phased planning has updated some messages since their original issuance. On-campus space is limited so options for moves are few at this time. So we will continue to share more details as they become available. In order to provide restorative breaks while remaining vigilant about the spread of COVID-19, we will offer individual spring break days in 2021, rather than a consecutive, five-day break. I have seen this firsthand, particularly in recent weeks. Next week we will also share our expectations about work conditions after June 10, based on the Governors evolving guidance. Finally, W&M has a responsibility to contribute to local, state, federal and global public health efforts. Your goodwill, care and spirit of partnership are this universitys strength. Children around the world thank teachers for helping them keep learning before, during and after COVID-19 school closures. All in all, just make life spicy. Further details may be found below. What are your favorite quotes or words of encouragement that have helped you during the Covid-19 pandemic? Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the July 22 message. My family is here, they're safe and sound, and I'm doing OK. I'm just doing the best I can. For now, we can share these details: Already, our graduating students are experiencing a deep sense of loss, as a spring semester they joyfully anticipated has changed in profound ways outside of our control. Start and end dates will remain as published on the University Registrars website. Through education and regular public health messaging across campus, we will reinforce that everyone must follow the guidelines for mitigating risk during this time of pandemic, including mask wearing, physical distancing and handwashing. AND. Indeed, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our community. Instead, create some custom messaging about COVID-19's potential impact on your graduation celebration or graduation party plans. Below are some additional resources that you may find helpful as you transition to our new online educational environment:, The departments of Health & Wellness have created a Virtual Health & Wellness site. Help our educators and teachers come alongside our students in this moment of loss, fear, and crisis. In the past two months, we have all witnessed the staggering impact of COVID-19 on our nations public health and economy. Detailed information about the schedule of Commencement events will be shared early in the spring semester. Staff members in that office are experienced in supporting students who have accessibility needs, including students who are immunocompromised. Kimberley Gorelik on March 27, 2020 If your students can't hear you correct their grammar, are you even teaching? Well be providing each of you with a date for your test, and then youll schedule the time of day. The following have three themes in common: 1) They speak to parents and teachers. Duty Office Hours. We will decide by April 1 whether to extend them further. Those who breach these rules repeatedly will be sanctioned, and may be sent home for the semester. See www.wm.edu/conversation for more details and upcoming dates. "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. Ginger Ambler____________________________Virginia M. Ambler 88, Ph.D. 06Vice President for Student AffairsWilliam & Mary. Graduates and their families will enjoy all the pomp and circumstance this ancient university has to offer. 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. These appropriate measures aim to slow spread and reduce incidence of COVID-19, which had risen at the end of this month. As we face the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and plan carefully for a 2020-21 academic year in-person and on campus, a commitment to community-wide actions is essential. The May planning process described below aligns with similar planning at Virginias public higher education institutions and with the Dept. The clear throughline in everything that has been shared with me over the past week is care for others. Parking Students with a 2019-2020 parking decal will receive a rebate of $54. The invitation: in order to create some space to reflect together, I will be hosting a virtual Community Conversation (www.wm.edu/conversation) from the Presidents House this Friday at 2 p.m. Honorlock is an online remote proctoring service that allows students to take exams from home. I miss them. On-campus services (residence halls, dining, etc.) We are extremely proud of our 2020 graduates, and we hope we'll be able to celebrate with you this fall. Rebate amounts for meal plans reflect adjustments for university costs incurred. 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. Resources to support in-person instruction include: Extreme flexibility will be crucial throughout the fall. The university has made systematic adjustments to reduce risk of transmission: instituting a phased return of undergraduate students; requiring a negative test before returning students can be on campus; implementing a comprehensive plan to reconfigure and de-densify campus; making maximum use of our beautiful campus outdoors and more. 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. Letter #2. Now, students have breaks between periods and teachers can use that time for extra help sessions or just one-on- one check-ins. All tests will be conducted at Kaplan Arena, which has ample room for testing stations, safe physical distancing and free, short-term parking for this testing in the Compton Lot. Connect with school staff. We have posted programs, videos and articles to enhance your wellness and resilience, including live wellness and fitness programs. Faculty members may not opt for face shields in lieu of masks. This has been a very difficult year for us all. 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. It outlines hygiene practices and how to best navigate situations in which the people around you dont uphold our communitys standards. You bring me more joy and happiness than any of you can imagine, and I hope we are together again soon. Justin M. The whole purpose of this quarantine time is to keep as many of us safe and healthy as possible. Give us a couple more days to complete and compile our videos and then check in frequently on our main website, www.wm.edu/offices/wellness, or download our new W&M Wellness App! 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. Yet it is within our control to limit the spread of this virus. Sam JonesDirector, COVID-19 Response Team, At William & Mary we care about what our students think. All requirements apply to both indoor and outdoor co-curricular activities and spaces. We recognize the stress this uncertainty places on students, families, faculty, staff and the communities we belong to. That total includes 1,345 student cases and 372 staff cases. Meals will be delivered to students in isolation in Richmond Hall. Save the number 757-221-IDEA (4332) to your contacts. Wash your hands. As. The following guidelines and resources outline measures W&M is taking to advance the health and safety of our entire campus community. You should make efforts to schedule your testing appointment around your class schedule, but if you cannot avoid a conflict, you will be excused from class. In these trying times, this school staff has gone the extra mile to make sure their students know they are missed. And, no matter what happens this year, be proud of yourself, your resilience, and your ability to adapt to extreme circumstances. Spring is upon us, and we are looking ahead to the end of classes and the beginning of final exams. You will be able to quickly register your opinion by responding to the text with a yes/no or numerical value. Graduate schools will be in direct contact with students by the end of October regarding spring break days and other academic calendar considerations. This week, we have also made progress on key decisions regarding room, board, and parking costs. Each person will schedule a 10-minute slot for their test. School outbreak. I would like to thank you again for your incredible commitment to our healthy community and wish you the best as we continue through the second half of the fall semester together. Use these COVID classroom rules posters and cards to teach your students how to stay safe in the classroom as we head back to school after the Coronavirus. We are very grateful that the City of Williamsburg has joined us in these commitments. Tickets for the highly . For those who want to use this time to deepen their learning on various wellness areas, we will be providing educational resources on a wide range of topics, including managing cabin fever. August 18 Add/Drop is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. As we navigate this new territory together, that spirit of partnership will be essential. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Since January of this year, W&M has been monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and actively responding, in close consultation with public health experts, the VA Department of Health and our peers. Please talk with your advisor as you consider the options that best suit you. Please reach out to the graduating students around you and support them. But many parents and educators have been struggling with their new . She returned to her classroom to pack up the belongings her students left behind. The schools of Law and Business made the transition to remote teaching last week, so teachers and students in those classes are in your second week. Barnes & Noble, through VitalSource, has made arrangements for students to have free access to eTextbooks. Courses that are already online will continue as scheduled. Day one of on-site testing is Tuesday, Sept. 8, and well continue with testing daily through Friday, Sept. 18. We continue to be guided first and foremost by the advice of our local health authorities. If you have any questions, please contact the Testing Coordination Team at [[COVIDtest]]. Sadness comes with every cancellation that passes on the calendar of self-quarantine. You become an investigative reporter. You and your families have been resourceful, understanding and patient partners with our faculty, staff and administrators. We will have more general information about Summer 2021 later this summer. The Student Health Center remains open to students by appointment only. Please use this. We can mitigate, but not eliminate, risk of coronavirus transmission.