Wellness Resources for You. Preventing COVID-19 during travel and gatherings. 2) They support research in . Back-to-School Quotes for Teachers 21. And I see this same resilience in my students this week.. should reach out to the Office of Student Accessibility Services. 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. ET. In March, we set out goals that were simple to describe yet incredibly difficult to achieve in such an uncertain and constantly changing environment. Each loss, shared and personal, compounds anxiety and hardship. Please keep sending your questions our way, since they give us a better understanding of how to support you to the best of our collective ability. Meals will be delivered to students in isolation in Richmond Hall. William & Mary is proud of you, and we look forward to coming together to celebrate you. COVID-19 testing for those employees required to show negative tests before return to campus will continue as scheduled. This fall, faculty and staff adapted to telework, new research requirements, blended learning, and a transformed campus environment; more than 500 staff and administrators took on entirely new jobs, working flat out to create a robust testing, quarantine & isolation, and case management program, mentoring for students studying off-campus, and more. Some teachers left because of the challenges of teaching during a pandemic, while others were fearful they would contract Covid-19 and some were offered higher-paying jobs. Yet, understandably those at greater risk worry about how consistently young adults will be able to adhere to these guidelines, on and off campus. W&Ms leadership will bring our best thinking to when and how we can come together in this important ceremony of passage perhaps in summer, or fall. November 18, 2021. We are asking you to continue following W&Ms policies developed with such mutual respect in mind. All our constituencies agree: the health of W&Ms people must be prioritized as we prepare to welcome students and employees back to campus. We are in wholly new territory and will learn as we go, together. Thank you for your cooperation. You are missed! W&M's COVID-19 Response Team has outlined significant risk reduction measures W&M is taking to prepare for the fall. Updates will include information about prizes & award nominations, diploma mailing, the timeline for ordering regalia, and registering for Octobers ceremony tickets. We recognize the stress this uncertainty places on students, families, faculty, staff and the communities we belong to. This week, we have also made progress on key decisions regarding room, board, and parking costs. If you are a student and receive a positive test result from William & Marys ongoing testing or from another health service provider: If you are a faculty or staff member and receive a positive test result from W&Ms ongoing testing or from another health service provider: William & Mary has established a network of case managers (all W&M employees) to help members of the community navigate living, study and work after a positive test result. We bring together exceptional people to learn and pursue knowledge at the highest levels. Be well,Amy SebringVice President for Finance and Technology. This note has only one piece of business, an invitation, and then reflections on insights that have been shared with me this week from many different sources. University travel and events are suspended, as detailed below. In recent weeks, I have witnessed the Alma Mater of the Nation standing together in the face of a global pandemic. At last weeks Reconvened Session, the General Assembly approved the Governors recommendation to give state governing boards the authority to conduct business electronically beyond pandemic- related issues. The health emergency forced the closing of schools all over the country, sending over 55 million K-12 students and about four million teachers home for the remainder of the school year. Instead, approach lower grades with compassion, and help kids find intrinsic motivation. Ginger Ambler____________________________Virginia M. Ambler 88, Ph.D. 06Vice President for Student AffairsWilliam & Mary. That I love them Michelle T. I miss them. Members of our community are not expected to police one another, however, we have a shared responsibility to do everything within our power to reduce the spread of this virus. The video concluded with a final comforting message: "When it rains, look for rainbows. For members of the Class of 2020, this reality is especially keenly felt as we approach the time of degree completion in May. The work ahead will continue to be challenging in unprecedented ways and uncertainty will remain high. Many of these institutions took different approaches to testing, campus density and/or required conduct. Our neighbors,parentsand friends have pulled together to support this community through words of encouragement, guidanceand continued investment. Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1, at 12 p.m. Please join us on Friday to hear more about how this week unfolded, from teachers and students perspectives. We will continue to assess possible timelines in consultation with local public health officials, closely tracking the Commonwealths and our nations response. more. The McCombs school boasts a whopping 6,500 students with 200 professors. Effective March 12, we will implement the following interim policies for modes of instruction, events and travel. A similar message was sent to the UW Tacoma community. We will hear from faculty and undergraduates who will join me (virtually) to share their reflections on this weeks transition to distance learning. Third-party use of university-owned or leased facilities is prohibited, regardless of there being a university sponsor for an outside group or activity. Such individuals should continue the universal precautions and protocols that are expected of our entire community, and remain in their places of residence. Ginger AmblerChair, Commencement CommitteeVice President for Student Affairs. Today, we are announcing rebates for the spring semester, for eligible students, as follows. Your contributions are appreciated and we thank you in our prayers, hearts, and minds each and every day. Event sponsors should explore solutions that include canceling, rescheduling or moving to alternative platforms. We will decide by April 1 whether to extend them further. Unfortunately, as we look ahead to the fall semester, gathering graduates and families in these ways is neither safe nor feasible in light of the ongoing pandemic. And our students have stepped up as well, engaging in the transition to online classes, cheerfully offering their professors Zoom tips, and working to fill emergency needs of students and neighbors.I also want to recognize and thank President Rowe, Provost Agouris and the entire leadership team for their thoughtful, empathetic and strategic stewardship. AUSTIN (KXAN) COVID-19 has shuttered many parts of daily life for a lot of people, including what teachers describe to KXAN as the value of meeting with them in person. Masks must be worn outside unless you are engaged in an activity where you can consistently maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. They are based in our shared values of respect and flourishing, by which we empower those who live, learn and work here to make choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Our community has generously given to the university through our, Academic Advising has helpful tips on their website. As a reminder for those on campus, W&M conducts in-person symptomatic testing at our Student Health Center and prevalence testing at our new VCU Health clinic at North Henry St. We are committed to your health and safety. Last week over 160 people join our first live, remote yoga class! "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. You can also access Kids Help Phone's e-mental health services 24/7 for support. But despite the changes, Mills said there have been positive effects. What a fall this has been! News that a few staff members originally reached out to him about doing something for their students. During the first lockdown in Spring 2020, teachers, students and parents had to face the challenge of maintaining learning processes via remote schooling in Germany, as in almost all European countries ().Short-term modifications without sufficient experience were necessary and forced all providers and . I am especially grateful to Williamsburgs Mayor and City Council in joining me to affirm how deeply we value our international graduate students, undergraduates, professional students, visiting faculty and staff honored members of our community whose presence strengthens William & Mary in every way. As we work through immediate-term solutions in crisis mode, we will begin to shift to living, teachingand learning during a pandemic. - George Burns. We ask the community to be aware that the public health context and VA directives will continue to change in the coming weeks. positivity supporting others 20 inspirational quotes to lift you up Published on January 31, 2019 Updated on February 10, 2023 Having a bad day? Social distancing protocols will be in place and we will require compliance with these actions. Many have written to me with reminders that William & Maryhas weathered extraordinary challenges in the past, with resilience. The ways you grow and learn are unbelievable. Students must comply with mask expectations. For undergraduates, there will be six spring break days: On these spring break days, classes will not meet and no due dates for assignments or exams will be scheduled. White was exhausted and disillusioned from dealing with bad student behavior, which had escalated since schools reopened after the pandemic closures. Even with full compliance, the health and safety of our community will remain vulnerable. I am deeply grateful to them for their tireless and resourceful partnership. We welcome the insights that early start may yield for the rest of us. I think the biggest part for me is the relationships and being with the students and not being able to interact with them and be there with them through their successes and challenges in the classroom.. Having concluded this process, the university has made the decision to offer rebates to all students with a university housing contract, meal plan and/or parking pass, regardless of the use of institutional aid. For travel guidance, see CDC's Travel webpage. From a learning perspective, we know that the best-case scenario is to have students on campus in person. Again, for those students who are unable to implement their personal evacuation plans know that we are committed to working with you to find a solution. As teachers close out the school year without the hugs, the in-person celebrations and even without the physical walk across the stage, one thing remains: the vision and hope from teachers to their beloved students. We teachers feel a love for students thats hard for other people to imagine. 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. You are navigating this challenging spring with grace and compassion. I know how disappointing the shift in arrival on campus will be for many students who are so looking forward to returning also how disruptive to families as they plan travel. As we prepare to change our instructional delivery modes starting next week, we are expanding the pass-fail option for Spring 2020. Medical advice at this time is that interaction is limited to immediate circle groups only. PDF. For more information, email vamrc@vdh.virginia.gov. Honorlock is an online remote proctoring service that allows students to take exams from home. Testing is a critical part of the commitment we make to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19. Please consult the following procedures. 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. With the exception ofOctober 19, when well start at 9:00 AM, testing will be available for students from 7:30 a.m. 4:00p.m.each day. On National Teacher Day, here are 15 inspiring quotes for teachers during the pandemic, courtesy of Parade and Teach Thought. Students currently on campus and in residence need to move out by Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Our live programs will be recorded to be used at your convenience. Ralph Northam announced another option for those looking to serve the greater good: an opportunity to join the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps. From teaching inspiration to ideas for staying healthy and avoiding burnout, here you'll find a place to laugh, vent, and get reinvigorated to teach. University requirements for face coverings apply to all faculty, staff, students, contract workers, vendors and others who are on William & Marys various campuses or enter university owned or leased buildings. Indoor public spaces: when in a facility, everyone should wear a face covering over the nose and mouth including building entry areas, classrooms and labs, libraries, conference rooms, hallways, elevators, restrooms, lounges and other shared spaces that allow for public interaction or gathering. In the past two months, we have all witnessed the staggering impact of COVID-19 on our nations public health and economy. COVID-19 poses an unprecedented threat to public health; so too this pandemic threatens the financial health of millions of households and institutions around the globe. As William & Mary moves into the Fall 2020 semester, the COVID-19 Response Team provides the following summary of the universitys testing protocol for students and employees. As I said in last weeks Town Hall, W&M students bring a special and very powerful commitment to building community. The Emergency Management Team will share additional details and guidance related to that action later today; please stay alert for that and please check our growing FAQ daily. Well be adding specific information about W&M positive rates if/when they rise to the reporting threshold required. So the Commencement Committee has been hard at work to bring clarity. Self-quarantine and testing schedules will be updated to reflect new return dates. As such, almost all courses will be blended to some degree, with students learning in real time and instruction delivered both directly and via technology throughout the semester. The creativity and resilience of our people have proved our most valuable resources. Reports which we are actively investigating that some of our students are gathering with no regard for their commitment to mitigate the risk of transmitting COVID-19 are disheartening. We have confidence in each of you and great trust. Please review the updates that include information about PPE, plans for symptom tracking and testing, hygiene practices and disinfecting protocols, face covering requirements and adaptations for both classroom and co-curricular spaces, including dining and residence halls. They become our families each year and we love them fiercely, even when they cant follow through or act out or dont do the work. IT, maintenance, dining, library staff, etc.) Many of the outbreaks to date have resulted from large gatherings of young adults, without masks and physical distancing. If you see something, say something. Find team highlights, scores, info and how we're {em}All In{/em} for the Tribe. In this as in other respects, Fall 2020 will be very different at W&M. William & Mary has held onto our pride in those qualities even as we have moved expeditiously to advance the three-part mission we cherish: teaching, learningand research. Such behavior, though undertaken individually, puts at risk the communitys ability to learn together in person, and also the individuals status at William & Mary. Looking forward, the Plan Ahead initiative will allow us to pivot to a post-pandemic future in a way that both capitalizes on lessons learned and makes W&M more nimble.Normally, during this part of the academic year, we have the opportunity to acknowledge those who are graduating, being promoted or awarded tenure, and those who are retiring. It is mandatory. Please use this. I have heard from so many of you over the last week and our sense of shared purpose is strong. It is equally disruptive for faculty and staff. Read the descriptions of high-level categories for course delivery: By looking up course attributes in Banner, students will be able to craft a fully remote schedule for the fall semester if that is their preference. Great quotes make complexity simple. Hold one another accountable. A Weekend for Commencement Celebration: October 9-11, 2020 Please hold the long weekend of October 9-11, 2020 as this years Commencement Weekend in Williamsburg. Seeing people wearing their masks on campus and in the surrounding community hearing faculty and staff talk about connecting to students in Williamsburg and around the world I feel pride and hope as the semester comes alive. Simply browse our wellness departments' resource pages or our App and dive into something that speaks to you. Additionally, if you do not have WiFi connectivity or access to the internet and currently have a cellular phone, you may want to contact your carrier to determine if your phone has the ability to serve as a mobile hotspot. Building Access. This too shall pass. Much like running a race, at the end of every year, she hands out a medal to each of her students as a congratulatory gift after they take their AP exams. It is clear, given the continuing trajectory of the pandemic, that spring break will have to be different this academic year. We are working with real-time information, assessing current conditions and predictions for future trends with expert advice guidance from authorities in infectious disease, epidemiology and our regional public health partners. Please bring your student ID, and wear a mask. Even if its just a pen and lined paper. 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. . Testing is an important part of the multiple strategies W&M uses to safeguard the health of students and employees by reducing transmission on campus. This virtual goodbye is not the forever goodbye, said Mills. Immediately isolate yourself in your residence and contact your health services provider. And it matters to our surrounding community, as a time when many Williamsburg neighbors celebrate living in a university town. If possible remove all of your belongings at this time and complete the online check out process. Our obsession with marks teaches students that external achievement is the only path to success. Thank you. All students living in campus housing, who plan to attend in-person instruction or use university facilities, will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus. As we continue to chart a path forward together, I feel honored to be part of this community. Entry will be restricted to these doors. Start and end dates for the Mason School of Business, the School of Education and the Law School vary by program and can be found on the, Students enrolled in remote courses who live within 30 miles of campus (with limited exceptions for students enrolled in certain graduate programs), Students who may be coming to the campus, yet arent in any of the groups listed above, may choose to opt-in for the testing. Employees should request an exception for health reasons through Human Resources. Test kits will arrive in time for students to self-administer the test, mail it back along with the required consent form, and get test results before they are due to arrive on campus. Please note that future health conditions in our region may require adjustments to these proposed dates. Over the past week, we have been heartened by so many stories of students, faculty, staff, neighbors and alumni reaching out to support each other. Please opt-in by filling out the subscription form. Residential students will need to take good care of themselves and one another. We must remain vigilant so that we can move quickly to identify positive cases and potential exposures. William & Mary faculty and staff are actively readying for the start of classes this coming Monday. Gabriel H. Sanchez Senior Photo Essay Editor Kate Bubacz Editors note: Phased planning has amended some information included in the July 22 message. In that message, she emphasized that confirmed conduct violations would be dealt with through the student conduct process and could result in consequences including separation. These are the tests required for move-in and in-person instruction; W&M does not plan to accept outside test results due to the variability and efficacy of COVID-19 tests nationally and difficulties in streamlining testing results and reporting requirements from multiple sources. With a better understanding of the viruss progress nationally, we will identify a time when we can convene such a sizable group without great risk to health. Bake cookies and decorate them. When traveling to Williamsburg, all students should practice prevention to mitigate risks of contracting COVID-19 (wearing a mask, social distancing, regular hand-washing). A. Milne. I felt like I was actually with you and the other teachers. So I hope you will consider renewing your annual support for the areas of the university where you traditionally give. I just really miss them. Cory L. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Emergencies. Residence Hall check-in will take place by appointment. Please continue to consult our website and FAQs daily, where we compile the most up-to-date information. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to visit our website for a full listing of our departments to help in your success., In the days and weeks ahead, stay connected with us and with one another. Yet at a time of loss and sacrifice, we have also made gains. So we share our expectations for accountability below. Food is either pre-packaged or boxed by dining staff and is available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. All other students should delay their return. May 2020 planning for fall 2020 and beyond. Students will receive a window of time during which they can log on and select a check-in appointment. For employees who do not have computer access, we will work with supervisors to make the training available to you. They should be telling me their stories from the weekend and being with me and theyre not.. With these adaptations in mind, I have charged a small, multidisciplinary planning group to assess potential solutions for the coming fall and present them to me by the end of the month. Otherwise, we will assume that you do not wish to donate at this time, and you will receive the rebate credit. Dear W&M Community, So much feels different about this spring semester. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 11-year-old Aaron. Honorlock is active only during a proctored exam and does not access your camera or microphone outside of a proctored session. Ralph Northam announced new restrictions on private and public gatherings in the Hampton Roads region and Peninsula, which includes Williamsburg. Remember that we are in this together -- all W&M offices are "open" and we are here for you., Virginia M. Ambler, PhDVice President for Student AffairsWilliam & Mary. Please enter the building at the ticket booth (glass) doors on the concourse level, at the corner of Ukrop Way and Compton Drive. 101 JFK Parkway | Short Hills, NJ | 07078 | (973) 921-5500. As does the fear of worse losses, impending. Here are two web resources that provide additional information: Connecting remotely to campus IT resources. AUSTIN (KXAN) COVID-19 has shuttered many parts of daily life for a lot of people, including what teacher's describe to KXAN as the value of meeting with them in person. We asked students, faculty, and staff to email us their thank-you notes to those who have helped, supported, or encouraged them. As denial moves to anger or frustration, bargaining, and depression, teaching and learning performance may dip, and both students and teachers may need guidance about how to cope with the grief and loss associated with the change and reassurance that circumstances will improve. Instead, create some custom messaging about COVID-19's potential impact on your graduation celebration or graduation party plans. Though the University of Texas has thousands of students, professors are hoping to give students some of the closure they will miss. Proctoring protects the integrity of the testing process, thereby maintaining a level playing field for all students. It is imperative that we all hold ourselves accountable for keeping our campus and neighbors safe: For those unwilling to follow the necessary health and safety protocols, it is important to be clear that there will be consequences for violations. Modes of delivery will change as circumstances change but an instructional category will be noted in Banner as a good-faith attempt to inform students of faculty intent and plans going into the fall semester. I want every one of my kids to get outside and look at how beautiful our world is. Working in five small squads, this planning group will identify strategies to advance curricular flexibility and operational resiliency, help de-densify campus, create career pathways for our graduates and engage the wider W&M community in broad calls to service to support the most vulnerable in our communities. Your questions are helping us immensely as we strive to be clear and responsive during this global crisis. Lisa Shatz Assistant Dean for MBA Programs The memories of their smiles, stories, and antics bring me joy in rough times. Glue/tape recycled things together to make a sculpture. If this kind of virtual conversation proves welcome, well continue it in the coming weeks. Watch: Teachers Share Uplifting Messages to Students Amid Coronavirus In these trying times, this school staff has gone the extra mile to make sure their students know they are missed. A total of 1,717 COVID-19 cases were reported in Massachusetts schools in the last week. Mehta says that while traditional in-person school can be exhausting for students required to be "on . Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility as we determine the best path forward. On-campus space is limited so options for moves are few at this time.