FOR STUDENTS
LIVING ON CAMPUS
New directives from the governor’s office and relayed to us by the chancellor’s office are to discourage students from returning to campus after spring break, until further notice. We are also aware of some localities contemplating “shelter in place” guidelines, which essentially would require residents to stay in their homes and keep outside social contact to a minimum to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Students might wish to evaluate this information when determining whether they have special circumstances that would keep them on campus rather than going home or to another safe place with access to housing, food and technology. Students who wish to change their current housing arrangements – whether to leave campus, or return to collect belongings – must notify Residence Life.
Students wishing to return to collect belongings will be notified at a later date and time of an appropriate time to do so. This will allow our limited campus and safety personnel to make the necessary arrangements to ensure safety protocol for all, including social distancing measures.
We recognize this is a change from messaging we sent just last night, which is evidence of how fluid the situation is and how quickly recommendations can shift. Please use your best judgement to keep yourself safe and healthy, limiting your own exposure and that of others. We want to keep the campus a safe place and return to normal operations as soon as possible, while also preparing ourselves to handle a variety of challenges that continue to arise.
Please communicate with Residence Life about your intentions.
POSTPONED, RESCHEDULED AND CANCELED EVENTS
To comply with the Governor’s directives of no more gatherings exceeding 50 people, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to limit groups to no more than 10 people, all in-person events for the remainder of the spring semester will be canceled.
Commencement will be rescheduled. Originally planned for Saturday, May 15, we will examine a date for later this year. We are tentatively considering Saturday, Oct. 3, to coincide with Mustang Weekend. We will provide updates, including on the Commencement webpage, as details emerge.
STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
Students on campus who would like to make an appointment for either health or counseling services on campus, must FIRST CALL the Student Health Center at 315.684.6078 before coming to the center in person. As a precaution to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, all students will be asked pre-screening questions, before then being scheduled for an on-campus appointment or directed to off-campus resources as appropriate.
FOR EMPLOYEES
WORK FROM HOME
Please be sure to submit a completed work-from-home / telecommuting plan to your supervisor and to Human Resources as soon as possible. This applies to all nonessential employees who will be working from home for the foreseeable future.
CONTINUITY OF BUSINESS
All offices should complete a continuity of business plan, using this Departmental Business Continuity Planning Guide. Copies of the plan should be shared with all members of the office, and forwarded to supervisors and the appropriate Cabinet member.
Employees who are deemed essential – those who must report to campus for work – will be notified by Human Resources. With a constantly shifting set of needs, this is fluid and some employees’ status will change accordingly.
CLOSURES
The Copper Turret Restaurant is closed until further notice.
The Children’s Center will suspend operations as of Monday, March 23.
MAIL AND PACKAGES
Facilities will be delivering office mail and packages, as well as picking up and dropping off mail from the Post Office, on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
Campus mail will be picked up from the Post Office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and any outgoing mail will go back in the afternoon (no office deliveries).
Receiving will be open 7 a.m. to 2 :30 pm. Monday through Friday.
If you need other arrangements, please call 315.684.6065.
More information will be forthcoming as our plans take further shape. Please watch your email, especially Alerts@morrisville.edu, and regularly check morrisville.edu/coronavirus for updates. The “Communications Archive” in particular will contain all announcements we distribute.