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- Oct. 26, 2020 | Testing Results Remain Steady, Spring 2021...
- Title:
- Oct. 26, 2020 | Testing Results Remain Steady, Spring 2021 Calendar Unchanged
- Date:
- 2020-10-26
- Category:
- Presidential Memos
- Harvested from:
- https://perma.cc/H79Z-9K2U
- Type:
- text
- Digital Format:
- text/html
- Reference Link:
- https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/fridayletter/letters/president_memo_2020-10-26.html
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Oct. 26, 2020 | Testing Results Remain Steady, Spring 2021 Calendar Unchanged
TO: University of Idaho Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Scott Green, President
Torrey Lawrence, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
DATE: Oct. 26, 2020
SUBJECT: Testing Results Remain Steady, Spring 2021 Calendar Unchanged
Our COVID-19 testing results for the past week continue to show low levels of infection within the Moscow campus community. We completed 912 tests and saw a 2.3% positivity rate. Wastewater testing confirmed these findings and no Greek houses remain in required quarantine. We continue to monitor other parts of the state where increased infection and hospitalization are a serious concern and consider this in our decision making.
Plans are underway for Spring 2021 with the assumption that COVID-19 will continue to influence our operations. Current safety protocols will continue as long as necessary and we will continue to follow all directives from the governor’s office, including adhering to requirements of today’s Stage 3 declaration. Our productive collaborations with Idaho Public Health and Gritman Medical Center will also continue.
Calendar
We worked with Faculty Senate, the Senate’s COVID-19 Advisory Committee and Provost’s Council to identify three viable calendar options for spring. A survey was sent to collect input and we received great feedback. All three options have strengths and weaknesses. Our conclusion is that no new option was clearly better than our original schedule and the benefits of changing did not outweigh the problems associated with such a change. The Spring 2021 semester calendar will remain unchanged. Classes will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 13, Spring Break will be March 15-19, and exam week will conclude on Friday, May 14. We hope to have Commencement on Saturday, May 15.
Testing will be required for Moscow students to attend in-person classroom activities in January. Classes will likely begin online/remote as all students will be tested upon return to the Moscow campus. Details of this testing will be shared in November.
Web Fees
No Hyflex or Virtual Meeting courses will have a web fee in Spring 2021. As in prior semesters prior to Fall 2020, Online (web) courses and Hybrid courses will have a $35/credit web fee. These two formats have significant asynchronous online elements. Web fees, in addition to other course fees, are updated and currently visible in the course schedule. If web fees challenge your ability to attend in the spring, please contact the Financial Aid office to discuss financial options.
We are obviously in a dynamic environment. The availability of a vaccine could alter the path we are taking, but for now, we are assuming COVID-19 will be with us through the spring. We appreciate all you have done to make this semester the best in-person experience possible under the circumstances. We will do our best to continue to offer live instruction and make improvements for our spring semester. As a reminder, a hold will be put on accounts where students have not tested by Nov. 9, so ensure you have either tested or are not required to do so by that date. If you tested after Sept. 28, have previously tested positive or were already taking all classes online/remote with the approval of your instructors, you do not have to retest. If you have arranged to finish the semester online, you can clear your testing status by emailing covid19questions@uidaho.edu. Thank you for keeping our campus safe and open.
Keep Calm and Vandal On.
Scott Green
President
president@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/president
Torrey Lawrence
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
provost@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/provost