Today@Sam Article

Provost's Message On Campus Reopening Monday, Feb. 22

Feb. 20, 2021
SHSU Media Contact: Emily Binetti

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:

The past week has been difficult for our entire university community. I wish to express my deepest appreciation for those individuals who worked tirelessly this week to provide assistance to both our on-campus and off-campus students as well as those who continue to work to return our buildings to normal operation.

One important step in recovery for any university is for faculty and students to return to the classroom. The good news is that our campus is operational, temperatures continue to climb, and most of our region now has power and water. Many people have worked long hours away from their own homes to make sure that we are ready for class on Monday. By returning to campus on Monday, we will not have to adjust the end date of the semester, and holidays, including Spring Break, will remain as scheduled. We have received confirmation from state authorities that we will not have to make up contact hours from last week; however, instructors are asked to ensure that all course learning outcomes and objectives are met. 

As we return this week, faculty will work with students to get caught up. I ask both faculty and students to remain patient. There will likely be lingering power and internet issues for some in our university community. The key is to communicate and to be flexible. Faculty are asked not to penalize students for missed assignments from last week and to provide appropriate time to complete graded activities. Students should check Blackboard for information regarding the re-scheduling of assignment due dates. Faculty are also asked to post on Blackboard if there are changes to class meeting locations. Most of our campus is operational; however, we do have buildings that may have a few classrooms and labs offline because of storm damage.

Students are encouraged to contact instructors if there are circumstances, due to the storm, that prevent them from completing assignments this week. I also know that there are faculty and staff who may have circumstances that delay their return. If you are in this situation, please contact your immediate supervisor to discuss options.

With the reopening of campus, I want to reiterate that we remain in a pandemic. Please continue to follow all COVID-19 prevention guidelines, including the use of face coverings, physical distancing, and hand washing. This past week has been stressful and exhausting, which makes it even more important to take care of our physical and mental health. Many in our community continue to face significant challenges. If you are able to provide assistance, I encourage you to consider a contribution to the SHSU Food Pantry. You can visit this link to donate.

Please email me directly at provost@shsu.edu if there is anything that I can do to help as we all work together to recover from the impact of this unprecedented winter storm.

With deepest appreciation,

Christopher Maynard

Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

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