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The following message was shared with Ohio University employees on July 24, 2020.
Dear Colleagues,
I hope that you are all staying safe and, despite the complexities of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, enjoying the summer months within the limitations of our “new normal.”
Today, I am reaching out for two reasons: First, I want to share significant progress on the implementation of our Fall Planning Report and Recommendations announced just over one month ago. Second, I believe it is important to acknowledge the concerning rise in cases we have seen across the State of Ohio, including not just Athens, but also Fairfield and Lawrence counties, home to our Lancaster/ Pickerington and Southern campuses, and to express our commitment to adjusting our plans as necessary to minimize risk to our University community and the region we serve.
I would like to thank our faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure we are ready to bring students back to our campuses, and I also thank our Bobcat community members who have reached out to ask questions and provide feedback throughout the process. Following our recommendations, and supporting much of the feedback we received, we have finalized our Interim Face Covering Policy , put in place an OHIO Pledge to ensure every member of our community is committed to public health, mapped every space to reset capacity and ensure social distancing, and much more. A comprehensive outline of our plans can be found at ohio.edu/coronavirus , which has been updated with the latest information.
That said, University leaders are diligently monitoring the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, and we continue to work with local and state public health officials to ensure we have the latest guidance available. This is an extremely fluid situation, and even as we continue implementation of the collectively designed fall plan, we are developing alternate scenarios to ensure we can deliver on our educational mission in any situation.
Thank you for your continued patience, and stay safe, Bobcats! Please watch your email and visit www.ohio.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates and information.
M. Duane NellisPresident
President Nellis approves interim face covering policy, effective immediately
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to our campuses are required to wear face masks where appropriate across campuses.
University community required to sign OHIO Pledge before return to campus
Due to the hard work and leadership of Ohio University’s five Senates – student, graduate student, faculty administrative and classified – the University is announcing the creation of the OHIO Pledge
OHIO modifies classroom and building spaces in preparation for safe fall 2020 restart
Members of the Ohio University community have been visiting every classroom across the Athens and regional campuses to review capacities and room features for a safe return to campus.The full inventory of classrooms consists of over 350 rooms on the Athens and regional campuses. Employees have been moving furniture and taking measurements for the installation of safeguards to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
University committee develops updated campus signage for new school year
An Ohio University committee has developed new campus signage designed to help students, faculty, and staff safely navigate buildings and common spaces this coming school year. The signage will be used in buildings on the Athens and regional campuses, including in residence and dining halls.
OHIO launches new Be Safe Bobcats site to keep University community informed
Ohio University has launched a new website today, Be Safe Bobcats, to inform the University community about how it is preparing for a safe return to operations for the 2020-2021 school year. Be Safe Bobcats , an update of the university’s Coronavirus Response website, also features resources and information for students, faculty, and staff about how they can keep themselves and their communities safe, whether they are returning to campus or continuing to work or study from home.