editorial staff

March 19, 2020: Staff Update

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From: Lisa Brommer
Subject: Staff Update

As we continue to support our students and faculty through the transition to a distance-learning model, Wesleyan remains fully committed to the health and safety of each and every one of our colleagues. Whether you are supporting faculty, helping students move off campus, ensuring that technology resources are available, or thinking creatively about how you can continue your daily work in new ways, we are deeply grateful for you and your commitment.

Currently, the majority of us are working remotely. Cabinet members are collaborating…

March 19, 2020: Refund of Residential Comprehensive Fee

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From: Robert Mirabal and Chris Olt
Subject: Refund of Residential Comprehensive Fee

Dear Students,

The Student Accounts Office has started to process adjustments to Residential Comprehensive Fees (RCF) for students who have turned in their keys to Residential Life. Please review the student FAQs for more information regarding turning in your key, which will initiate the RCF process.

As a reminder, students who have been approved to remain on-campus will not receive an RCF adjustment.

March 13, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Public Health Update

To our student body:

As we transition from in-class learning to distance online learning, the University is promoting social distancing to ensure the safest environment for all. This includes picking up your personal belongings on campus. As this is difficult for any of us as social human beings, I feel you should know the medical rational behind this.

Dr. Anthony Fauci from the NIH gave an excellent answer to this question when he recently testified to Congress.  The essence of his presentation:

The best way to decrease the spread of this virus is to prevent…

March 13, 2020: Staff Update on COVID-19

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From: Wesleyan Human Resources

Subject: Staff Update on COVID-19

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, the University has suspended all in-person classes and is moving to a distance-learning model because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus. I encourage you to review President Roth’s message to the campus community and to review the central coronavirus website.

While this outbreak and the difficult decisions it has necessitated are unprecedented for Wesleyan, we will continue to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who remain on campus. The University will remain open and staff shall continue to work during this period. It is also important to note that the demands…

March 11, 2020: Suspension of in-person classes due to coronavirus/COVID-19

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From: Michael S. Roth
Subject: Suspension of in-person classes due to coronavirus/COVID-19

Dear friends,

This is a message I was hoping not to have to write.

With the CDC today reporting nearly 1,000 known cases of COVID-19 nationwide (having doubled since Monday) and Governor Ned Lamont declaring a public health emergency in Connecticut, it has become clear just how rapidly this potentially deadly virus is spreading. As hard as we work to make the on-campus Wesleyan experience the best it can be, we must apply that same diligence and care to protecting our community’s well-being in light of this growing threat.

After consulting with a variety of public health experts and other higher education institutions around the country, we…

March 9, 2020: Important Update on Wesleyan Travel and Events Due to Coronavirus/COVID-19

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From: Rob Rosenthal and Mike Whaley
Subject: Important Update on Wesleyan Travel and Events Due to Coronavirus/COVID-19

To the campus community:

We are carefully monitoring the evolving coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, paying particular attention to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other leading federal agencies and organizations. In the interest of keeping our community as informed as possible, we will continue to update Wesleyan’s coronavirus/COVID-19 information page as new information becomes available.

The health and safety of our campus community remain the University’s top priorities. To this end, and because…

March 6: New Guidance on Travel and Events Due to Global Coronavirus Emergency

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From: Rob Rosenthal and Mike Whaley
Subject: New guidance on travel and events due to global coronavirus emergency

To the campus community:

As we enter spring break, with the health and safety of our community in mind, the University is issuing guidelines on Wesleyan travel and events:

Travel (including Athletics over Spring Break):

All travel plans should be carefully reconsidered given the evolving situation.
Suspend Wesleyan travel abroad and to or through U.S. states that have declared emergencies related to COVID-19 (currently: California, Florida, and Washington).
For personal travel, Wesleyan recommends the same limitations.
Wesleyan faculty, students and staff who travel to or through an area designated as Level 3 by the CDC must self-quarantine for 14 days between returning to the U.S. and coming back to campus. All leaving Connecticut should register their travel and will be advised if self-quarantine if necessary.

March 4, 2020: Update on global coronavirus emergency

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From: Rob Rosenthal and Mike Whaley
Subject: Update on global coronavirus emergency

To the campus community:

As our campus looks forward to spring break, we are writing again with an update on the global coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We plan to provide regular updates going forward until the situation stabilizes. We have also created a new website with the latest information about the virus for the Wesleyan community, along with an FAQ addressing common questions and concerns, and links to other resources.

To date, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 at Wesleyan or in Connecticut. As the virus continues to spread through the U.S. and the rest of the world, the Wesleyan Emergency Response Team is actively managing our readiness and response to the epidemic. Health and safety continue to be…

February 26, 2020: Update on global coronavirus emergency

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From: Rob Rosenthal and Mike Whaley
Subject: Update on global coronavirus emergency

To the campus community:

We are writing with an update on the global coronavirus emergency, as it impacts the Wesleyan community. There are no suspected cases at Wesleyan, nor in Connecticut.

To date, clusters of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and its spread is difficult to predict. Moreover, the U.S. Department of State has made the decision not to allow re-entry into the U.S. for travelers returning from mainland China who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. As the threat of COV-19 expands, these restrictions…

January 22, 2020: Wesleyan Public Health Advisory – Corona Virus

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Wesleyan Public Health Advisory – Corona Virus

To the Wesleyan Community:

Welcome back from winter break. I hope it was restful and rejuvenating.

As many of you know from news reports, there is a viral illness that has affected the Hubei Province (mainly in Wuhan) China.

This virus is a novel (new) strain of the Corona virus, which causes a respiratory illness.  In many cases, this illness is self-limited and lasts less than a week. However, there have been severe cases noted with a number of deaths attributed to this.

Symptoms are non-specific and are the same symptoms one would see with the influenza virus as well as common cold viruses.  These include cough, runny nose, headache, sore throat, fever and malaise (the feeling of being unwell).  The major difference is the risk…