The Path Forward: Messages
With increased spread in the local community, the University again is asking UD students to stay on campus unless it is absolutely necessary to leave. If they must go off campus, be extremely vigilant about wearing face coverings and practicing physical distancing to help prevent bringing the virus back to campus.
To help curb the spread of the flu on campus during the pandemic, the University is requiring students be vaccinated for the flu. The deadline is Nov. 1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends receiving a flu shot by the end of October.
Given the continued uncertainties around the pandemic, the University made changes to the spring 2021 academic calendar that will support the good work of our students, faculty, and staff in observing the safety protocols that are helping to protect our campus community.
The University notified campus today there is a growing spread of COVID-19 in its five largest residence halls — most notably in Marycrest, Founders and Stuart halls. While the uptick in cases is concerning, the campus COVID status remains at Status 2 - Localized because the University believes it is able to isolate and contain outbreaks with a high degree of confidence at this time.
In the following messages sent by the University today, the University provides updates on testing for students and employees; reminds students they should continue to observe health guidance to stem the spread of COVID-19 and should not go to class if they have symptoms of COVID-19; provides the schedule of virtual and physically distant events on campus this weekend; and more.
In the message below from Provost Paul Benson, he urges faculty to support one another as they return to in-person classes.
With a clarified financial outlook, the Board of Trustees has approved the leadership team's proposal to resume University contributions to the defined contribution retirement plan that were suspended in May.
The University today announced it is lowering the campus status lowered to 2-Green - Localized and a full schedule of in-person classes resumes Thursday, Sept. 24.
Several departments on campus have organized virtual and physically distant activities on campus Sept. 18-21.
Now that the University is beginning to hold some classes in person, students have requested we provide spaces other than their residences to study and participate in online class sessions.
Members of the UD board of trustees wrote to parents about Family Weekend.
The University today announced it is lowering the campus status lowered to Yellow and some in-person classes resume Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Several departments on campus have organized physically distant activities on campus Sept. 11-13. Students have a chance to win a suite at a UD men's basketball game.
A message to campus reminds everyone that people who have completed isolation still need to follow safety protocols, and can consider donating plasma.
In a pair of messages to students from Public Health - Dayton and Montgomery County and University of Dayton Student Development, students are urged to remain on campus Labor Day weekend and take advantage of physically distant activities, including the opening of RecPlex.
This message is a reminder that the UD Student Health Center in Gosiger Hall is available as your primary place for care. It also contains changes to COVID-19 testing options on campus, including that students without symptoms can be tested at the RecPlex instead of onMain for their convenience.
The page below provides information for students thinking about pausing studies, studying remotely, and seeking credits or refunds for tuition, housing or dining.
In recent days, there has been a sharp increase in the number of undergraduate students on campus who have tested positive for COVID-19. We are praying for their quick recovery. The University also is taking additional steps to stem the spread of the virus and give the campus community its best chance to remain on campus this semester.
The UD Student Health Center in Gosiger Hall is now open evenings and weekends, in addition to regular weekday hours, for student health needs, including when you’re not feeling well, need a vaccine or have symptoms of COVID-19. Effective immediately, the urgent care site at the InterMed building will no longer be open for student or employee visits.
The University clarified its approach regarding crediting or refunding payments for tuition, housing and meals in different scenarios.
Students who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 can now schedule a nasopharyngeal PCR test on campus.
The University announced, in consultation with our medical advisory panel and with the support of Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, it is elevating the campus status level to 3 - YELLOW - CAUTION and implementing a number of measures to help identify, contain and isolate the spread of the virus, including remote classes the first week of the semester.
With a number of students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and others identified as close contacts or concerned they may have been exposed, we want to provide you with updated information on resources if you are experiencing symptoms or wish to be tested as a precaution. NOTE: If Telehealth refers for a test, you must bring a copy of the after-visit summary or a copy of the order on your phone to the test.
Beginning this coming week, the University will launch the next phase of our COVID-19 testing program to help identify individuals who may be carrying the coronavirus, yet show no symptoms and also to assess the spread of the virus within the campus community. The University will test up to 1,000 individuals per week, which will include surveillance testing targeted at potential hot spots as well as random testing.
Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, each department or building will have COVID-19 liaisons to help provide supplies for immediate needs and promote overall COVID-19 health and safety in classrooms and offices in accordance with University guidelines.
The University sent the following messages to students, the entire University community and families notifying them about an increase in the campus status level to 2 - LOCALIZED.
In a message to the University community, University leaders provided an update on testing for students and shared their gratitude for the UD community abiding by health and safety protocols needed to ensure we can remain on campus for the semester.
The provost's office released updated guidelines for planning experiential learning activities on- or off-campus.
UD expects students who are identified through contact tracing as close contacts of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 return to their permanent residence to quarantine if they live within 400 miles of campus.
The University, in consultation with our distinguished medical advisory panel and Public Health - Dayton and Montgomery County, has established key tracking metrics and identified five "Campus Status" levels to describe key conditions on campus and in the community.
The University requires students, faculty, staff, visitors and contractors to wear cloth face coverings or non-medical masks while on campus to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 and help prevent people who may have the virus, and do not know it, from transmitting it to others. Face coverings must be worn generally in all inside spaces, and outdoors when 6 feet distancing cannot be maintained.
UD has partnered with Premier Community Health to expand health services to students by providing access to urgent care on campus and a new 24/7 telehealth service.
The long-awaited path forward for the UD community starts as students gradually begin moving into their residences, which will continue for the next two weeks. This approach to student move-in is part of the careful, thoughtful set of safety measures and protocols recommended by more than 150 members of our campus community that are now being implemented by hundreds more faculty and staff.
We want to provide updated responses and information to the most frequently asked questions we are receiving from students and families about testing.
Every student and employee, whether they are working or studying on campus or remotely, is required to complete the Return to Campus Online training to help inform and remind our community about requirements and guidelines for measures and behavior that will promote safety on campus. The training covers topics including cleaning and disinfection, screening and health, protective measures, and workplace logistics.
Updated information on instructional modalities for all fall semester courses is now available on the University's registration site. Courses may be delivered in three different modalities — face-to-face, blended, and remote learning.
Students and families received a message from student development leadership outlining expectations and consequences related to mass gatherings, including in the student neighborhood, and important habits to promote the health and safety of our entire campus community. In a companion video, Dean of Students Chris Schramm, Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Savalas Kidd, Student Government Association President Natalie Coppolino and SGA Vice President Anne Philbin sat down for a conversation about expectations and consequences for students.
In this message to faculty, Provost Paul Benson discusses faculty contracts, bringing back furloughed employees, classroom assignments, modes of instruction and the faculty review process.
The Path Forward Gatherings & Events Working Group is developing guidelines for gatherings and events, including meetings, in University-owned or controlled space, following physical distancing and other protocols established by the Protective Measures Working Group.
The University announced July 16 it will start the process of bringing back furloughed employees.
In making these decisions about modes of instruction in the fall, our primary considerations have been safeguarding the health of students, faculty, and staff, and maintaining the highest quality of education and engagement for our students as they progress toward their degrees. The instructional modes in which courses will be offered — blended, fully remote, fully face-to-face — are influenced by several factors.
Members of UD's medical advisory panel and faculty plus Dr. Mary Buchwalder, medical director of the UD Student Health Center, and Natalie Coppolino, UD Student Government Association president, discussed frequently asked questions about COVID-19, including testing, symptoms, what to do if you're sick or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19, and best ways to protect yourself against the virus.
Students received notification July 7 they can start scheduling times July 9 to return to campus. The messages below provide information on the process and an update about the first day of registration.
The University's COVID-19 testing requirements are designed to curb the introduction of COVID-19 to campus and slow its spread. Our testing program centers on early identification and isolation of individuals who are asymptomatic — who have no symptoms and who may be unaware they have the virus — to reduce the chance they will expose others on campus to the virus.
- Testing program information
- Message about alternative testing option (July 10, 2020)
- Testing program fact sheet (downloadable PDF)
- COVID-19 test scheduling checklist (downloadable PDF)
- NEW: Frequently asked questions about UD's requirements and protocols for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and quarantine/isolation
Recognizing that travel can contribute to the University's teaching, learning, research and reputation efforts, new guidelines for travel during the pandemic will apply for the fall semester to help guide faculty, staff and students as they plan activities involving travel.
The University published three sets of guidelines for returning to teaching, learning, research and experiential learning on campus this fall with measures in place to promote safety and lessen the risk of COVID-19 spread.
We are at our best when we are in community together, and it is for that reason that we are pivoting toward re-opening campus in the fall as our highest priority
President Eric F. Spina has created the new UD Path Forward Task Force to advance and refine options and plans for safely reopening the campus this fall.
UD has launched the Path Forward, a planning process to examine a broad range of options to help the University adapt to significant, long-term demographic and enrollment trends in the higher education landscape while adhering to UD’s identity, mission and values.