Coronavirus (COVID 19) Community Update – March 20, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Community Update – March 20, 2020

Hello everyone,

This note contains important information and updates in response to questions we have received regarding what you should do if you are sick or someone in our community is diagnosed with COVID-19, using and accessing technology as we prepare to move online March 30, and the latest regarding campus housing. 

Thank you. It feels like a completely inadequate expression for all the care, grace, hard work, creative solutions, flexibility, patience, and love that I have seen in the last few weeks.

Below is a poem that was shared with me by a colleague this week.  As you read the information that follows this poem, I hope you can do it with your breath a bit slower, your mind taking one more step toward acceptance of the situation the world finds itself in, and the confidence that only you can choose your response to a situation none of us chose.  We can lead ourselves and each other through it so we are all proud of what we did together. Let us promise each other our best.

Pandemic 

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now, 
on trying to make the world
different than it is. 
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
 
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
 
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
 

Preparing for March 30

As we continue to prepare to move to online classes starting Monday, March 30, we are taking steps to ensure students and faculty have the tools and access they need. We will be providing additional information resources as we go. 

Next week, we will hold a 15-minute test class session to allow students to prepare and for us to assess our systems for any potential issues. These test sessions will be held on Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26 during your regularly scheduled class times. Students will receive an email early next week with instructions and details on how to participate. The sessions will be recorded to ensure students learn how to access course recordings.

Health and Wellness

We have received a number of questions asking for guidance about what to do if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or if a member of the community tells you they’ve been diagnosed. Attached are FAQs in response to these questions and the current recommendations for what to do if you have been exposed or if you are sick. This information is also available online at Health, Wellness, and Prevention as part of our coronavirus information page.

We ask any member of the St. Kate’s community who has been given a presumed diagnosis of COVID-19 by a health care provider OR tested positive for COVID19 to fill out this form so that we are able to monitor how this is affecting our community. This information is confidential and goes to the Health and Wellness Clinic. 

Technology and Connectivity

We have received a variety of questions regarding technology support, internet and wi-fi access, and using D2L for courses. We have created the attached FAQ to address these questions and provide resources for you. This information is also available at Classes and Academics as part of our coronavirus information page.

To report an issue or submit a need, please complete the Coronavirus Technology Form.

Campus Housing

St. Kate’s approach to housing arrangements for the remainder of the spring semester is based on public health guidelines, an abundance of care, and our need to protect everyone. Our plan is to have as many residential students as possible move off campus. We have a number of students for whom St. Kate’s is their only home, and we are making changes to ensure students who need a safe place to stay will have one with us. 

We need to move quickly on these changes, as we are seeing increased restrictions on public and shared spaces. Due to CDC recommendations, we are delaying a traditional move out until we have guidance it is safe to do so. An email was sent to residential students yesterday with specifics for their respective buildings. All questions regarding campus housing can be sent to residencelife@stkate.edu. 

We have received many questions about housing and dining agreements for spring semester. We are evaluating options and will provide an update next week. 

For More Information

We continue to update our coronavirus information page daily, which includes:

  • Links to all of our community messages and updates. 
  • A robust FAQ that is updated continuously, including information about classes, travel, and campus hours and services.  
  • Additional resources.  

You may also submit questions to healthresponse@stkate.edu.

Please take very good care of yourself so we can continue to take care of each other,


Becky Roloff
President