A Message to Students, Faculty, and Staff

(The following is an email sent to Students, Faculty, and Staff on Thursday morning, March 5, 2020)

Edgewood College faculty and staff have been working diligently to stay ahead of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments worldwide in order to keep students, faculty, and staff safe and healthy. Given the recent national attention regarding Coronavirus, it is important that we are well-informed, aware of all inherent risks and taking steps to ensure a healthy campus environment. College officials are meeting on a regular basis to review and plan for the potential short-term and long term effects of the global outbreak on our campus community. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with more specific information regarding work that is being done on our campus to monitor the spread of coronavirus, the importance of continuity of our classes, travel consideration information and updates.

As recent news reports indicate, COVID-19 has been identified in many countries, including cases in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring the situation and continues to assess the risk to the general public in the U.S. as low.

Anyone with general questions about the virus can visit the CDC website or the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) at the following links:

Continuity of Classes at Edgewood College

Faculty and students are concerned about being able to complete courses this semester if we experience an outbreak that results in potentially closing face to face course offerings for any period of time. It’s important to consider both pedagogic and technological plans for moving instruction online. The College Online team provides us with important information to prepare us for the possibility of teaching online. Please take advantage of these opportunities:

Virtual Brown Bag: How to Move Your Class Online in Inclement Weather or Health Emergencies
Dates:March 5th and 6th from Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Travel Considerations

Faculty, Staff and Student Travel- we are paying close attention to CDC analysis as well as the US Department of State recommendations regarding travel. A recent statement by the CDC was issued on March 1, 2020 regarding guidance for student foreign travel for Institutions of Higher Education:
http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/student-foreign-travel.html

We are in the process of reviewing this recommendation along with US Department of State advisories, international education organizations recommendations, and bench-marking with other colleges and universities. The Center for Global Education is in contact with our current study abroad students and with the program directors for our short-term faculty-led programs that are scheduled to travel this semester. The health, safety, and well-being of our students is of utmost importance and we will continue to closely monitor the situation and make program adjustments as deemed appropriate.

We do not have any students currently studying in countries where the CDC has recommended US citizens avoid nonessential travel. Sara Liang, Co-Director for the Center for Global Education, has been carefully evaluating COVID-19 impacted destinations with regard to student, staff, and faculty travel, working in alignment with the CDC’s current guidance regarding travel.

Other programs and planned travel, especially over spring break, are being evaluated in real time as the outbreak unfolds globally. Should a planned program or travel be affected, Sara Liang, in consultation with the Academic Dean’s Office and impacted faculty and staff, will directly contact the individuals involved in the program in order to provide guidance and assistance.

All travelers are encouraged to think carefully about any planned travel, especially internationally, and to assess the risks both of their destination(s) and of traveling through domestic and international areas where the virus has been confirmed. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Center for Global Education ask all faculty, staff and students who are returning to the U.S. from a country with a CDC warning level 3 or alert level 2 to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of departure before returning to the Edgewood’s campus. This means staying home and not going to work, classes, athletic events, or other social gatherings, and monitoring your health. See the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for more details.

Stay Healthy- disease prevention precautions

Although we are monitoring the progression of COVID-19 carefully, colds and the flu are much more prevalent on campus so it’s a good time to remind everyone, especially students, to take the following steps to stay healthy:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Follow these five steps and encourage students to do the same:
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. If you think 20 seconds isn’t long, it’s the same length of time as humming the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Please encourage students to stay home from class and other events if they are feeling sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Get your flu vaccine. It’s not too late!

We will continue to provide periodic updates to the campus community via email. The College is committed to keeping the community well-prepared, well-informed and healthy.

President Mary Ellen Gevelinger, OP, EdD
and
Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs/Academic Dean Margaret Noreuil, PhD, RN