March 11, 2020
 
Dear UPIKE Families,

By now, I am sure that everyone in the UPIKE Family has heard of COVID-19 and that many of you are wondering what UPIKE will do in response. As colleges and universities across the country are making plans for how to best address the issue on their campuses, we are reminded that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a moving target. However, staying informed and making preparations are vital to managing this type of event. 

UPIKE’s Risk Management Task Force and Communicable Disease Outbreak Sub-Committee, along with each college dean, are closely monitoring the situation and preparing for potential impacts to our campus and the surrounding community.  At this point, we are taking our lead from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and following their guidance for institutions of higher education. Decisions affecting campus will be made in cooperation with our state and local health departments.

There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the UPIKE campus or in the region around Pikeville. At the same time, the safety and wellbeing of our faculty, staff, students, and the community remains our central focus. We have met with the county health department and they are not advising educational institutions to close at this time. 

As of today, the University will resume its normal schedule as students return from Spring Break on Monday, March 16 .  We do know the pattern of COVID-19, and we can assume cases in the Commonwealth will increase during the next 4-8 weeks. Our goal as a community is to ensure continuity in our academic operations should events unfold in a way that it becomes necessary to partially, or fully, close the UPIKE campus. 

Faculty who teach face-to-face classes have been encouraged to begin thinking about how they would deliver course material via alternative formats. To be clear, as of today, we are not canceling on-campus courses at this tim e.  However, considering the fluid nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, we need to be prepared to make adjustments so the learning of our students can continue in as uninterrupted a manner as possible. In many instances, faculty can deliver course content using our university-wide online learning tools, including Canvas, which are available to all faculty and students.

In addition to technology, the individuals on campus are our greatest resource. Regardless of the situation, our academic assistance staff, ADA, student success, student affairs, registrar, financial aid, business office, admissions, and all support services on campus are only a phone call, text or email away.

What can families do?
 
  • Review the CDC guidelines for hand washing and share with your student.
  • Advise your student to not attend class if they feel sick. 
  • Remind them to communicate with their professors about missed assignments.
  • Encourage your student to check their university email and Canvas often for updates.
  • Urge your student to keep their personal living spaces clean and disinfected.
  • Continue to monitor www.UPIKE.edu or reach out to individuals on campus if you have questions.
  • Direct your student to the Dean of Students if they have questions. (Justin Tyler Owens, Dean of Students, (606) 218-5220 or [email protected]).
  • Talk with your student and plan ahead if it becomes necessary that the university’s approach to the situation changes. Will they stay on campus? Can they finish their classes from home? Does your home have adequate bandwidth to access technology? If they need to stay on campus, what services will they need to use? 

After spring break, we will have six weeks of classes remaining. Please be aware our goal will be to continue the academic functions of the university.

As President Webb shared in a message to campus, we will face this threat together - Our campus community will face whatever may come together as a community. 

Letters from President Webb and Provost Werth were shared with campus today and students will be receiving a letter from Dean Owens. Communicating will be the most important thing we can do as we navigate the coming months. 

As always, I’m happy to answer questions or talk with families anytime. 

Thank you, 

Stephanie Stiltner
Director of Family Connections
(606) 218-5815