UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., sent the following message to university students, faculty and staff on March 12:
Dear UNMC Community –
As the spread of COVID-19 continues rapidly, we are taking several additional steps to help protect the UNMC community and all of the communities we serve.
The health and safety of our community continues to be our primary concern in this fluid situation, and we are making decisions as warranted following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Nebraska Central Administration, along with state and county health departments. These decisions are being made to help mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect UNMC and the communities that we serve.
As you know, we have been planning for this scenario for several months. I understand this may provide challenges to our students, faculty and staff, but I am confident we will stay focused on our strategic missions and maintain our commitment to our students, while also keeping our communities safe. Faculty, staff and students have worked tirelessly for months to address these challenges and prepare for this possibility. Now that we have reached this critical point, I am confident we will rise to the challenge and create solid teaching and learning opportunities.
Among our highest priorities is to ensure that this thoughtful and well-planned transition to remote learning does not disadvantage any student. Many of you will have questions, and I encourage you to look for college and program specific information, email and web updates and also join me in a digital-only UNO/UNMC town hall meeting on March 20. Watch UNMC Today for details.
Video: Dr. Gold provides update on COVID-19
Remote and Small Group Learning
Effective Monday (March 16), UNMC has made the decision to take the proactive step of moving away from large-group classroom teaching to remote education, small groups, simulations and one-on one mentoring. This means that many students will get their education remotely and will not need to be on campus. However, clinical preceptorships and laboratory work will continue as usual. All faculty and students have been sent separate communications on how to access our educational tools as well as how to switch to online delivery.
I refer you to our Campus Coronavirus website where we have a repository of all our past and ongoing communications and resources, in preparation for this event, with clear explanations on all you need to teach or learn.
Will UNMC close?
No, UNMC will NOT close! All UNMC campuses across the state will remain open. At the present time, our campuses will continue to provide health and counseling services, dining services and available campus study spaces. The availability of campus facilities and services are subject to change as circumstances dictate.
UNMC has extensive research programs, which will remain fully active at this time, respecting the very best practices of social distancing and care. We do not believe that any of the support services for our research enterprise will be impacted by the remote and small group learning decisions.
Each department, college, and unit has been undergoing an assessment of essential on campus personnel and off-campus (online/virtual) personnel. Faculty and staff should consult with their supervisors to establish appropriate telecommuting protocols for their work.
If I am faculty or staff and have to work from home will I lose pay?
The university already has existing sick, crisis, and vacation policies as well as a flexible policy to allow employees to work at alternative sites, including at home, with supervisor approval. These policies are open to all university employees.
Additional information on leave policies, including crisis and sick leave, will be announced in the coming days. Follow-up information regarding the potential future need for work from home will also be forthcoming in the near future.
How about travel?
We recently issued a travel advisory that can be found here. This advisory limits most non-essential university related travel and makes recommendations regarding personal travel.
How about events that we have scheduled, such as grand rounds, conferences and campus visits and tours?
Campus tours and large group gatherings and events outside of classroom instruction will continue and be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We recommend using ZOOM for as many meetings as possible, including large group grand rounds. Any campus-wide cancellations will be noted on the events calendar. For most of these events, we are coordinating closely with local public health officials. Here are some suggested approaches for different groups:
- Potential students/residents coming for interviews. You should consider limiting to groups these to less than 20 at a time. If possible, consider ZOOM interviews
- Potential recruits should be allowed to visit but will need to follow campus rules regarding reporting of exposures or travel to regions designated as CDC level 2 or greater.
- International visitors/visiting scientists’ visits should be evaluated by country and CDC level of risk, and U.S. state risk. These individuals should follow the same self-isolation or quarantine rules as we have for others on campus.
Moving Forward
This will be continually updated with new information. If students, faculty or staff have questions, please email them to unmcincidentcommand@unmc.edu. We will continue to keep our UNMC community apprised of any new decisions or developments.
Summary
This is a situation where the information and guidance is evolving daily and frequently from hour to hour. We will continue to adapt UNMC’s policies and procedures as the situation warrants to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and wellness of the communities that we serve. For additional information, UNMC’s Coronavirus Updates website is updated daily.
Thank you again for your support of the university’s mission and our ongoing commitment to the well-being of the UNMC and community. At this time of public health concerns, we truly are all in this together as we navigate our way forward. I am confident that the Med Center family will continue to thrive as we convert challenges into opportunities and build a strong future . . . together.
Best,
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
Chancellor
University of Nebraska Medical Center