The following is a memorandum emailed the afternoon of March 11 to members of the Maryville College community from President Tom Bogart regarding the campus’s response to COVID-19.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Maryville College Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Dr. Tom Bogart, President
RE: Campus response to COVID-19
DATE: March 11, 2020
I know many of you are aware of colleges and universities across the United States that are responding to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) by temporarily or partially closing and/or moving all classes to online formats. Like many other institutions, we have NOT determined that similar action is necessary at this point. However, I want to let you know that a team of college administrators is monitoring the situation daily, looking to expert advice and guidance from a variety of sources, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization and state and local health officials.
A page has been set up on the homepage of the College’s website to keep all of our constituents informed about global and national developments, decisions made with regard to the MC community, and precautions taken on campus against the introduction and spread of the disease. Over Spring Break, I urge you to check your College email account frequently, as we may be sharing more information in the coming days
As stated in last week’s memo, I also urge you to take precautions while traveling, practice good hygiene and stay home if you get sick.
While we will make every effort to continue operations here at the College uninterrupted, we cannot predict the spread or severity of COVID-19 in our area nor the directives of authorities. Because there is the possibility of having to move classes to an online format, students should take with them those things (electronic devices and chargers, textbooks, notebooks, etc.) that would allow them to fully engage with online instruction.
The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are of paramount importance, so I want to assure you that faculty members and supervisors will be as flexible as possible with classes and in-person attendance if your circumstances warrant it. Please use your best judgment as it relates to your health and the health of classmates and colleagues, and communicate with the appropriate people.
The news reports and responses to COVID-19 change hourly. We will make decisions that are in the best interest of the health and safety of our campus, and we will try our best to give our campus community ample time to plan for any change in our normal operations. I ask you to be patient and remain calm throughout this outbreak.
—–
The following is a memorandum emailed the morning of March 3 to members of the Maryville College community from President Tom Bogart regarding the campus’s response to COVID-19.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Maryville College Students, Faculty and Staff
CC: Maryville College Board of Directors
FROM: Dr. Tom Bogart, President
RE: Campus response to COVID-19
DATE: March 3, 2020
As the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak continues to headline the news, I want to assure you that many of us here at Maryville College are monitoring related reports issued daily by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Department of State, and state and local health officials. The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff are of paramount importance.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus that was first detected in China and now has shown up in 60 locations around the world, including the United States. Symptoms of the disease may appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. COVID-19 is not an influenza, but in terms of how it is transmitted, what its symptoms are, and how to treat it and prevent its spreading, it functionally resembles a flu (though more contagious).
At the time of distribution of this memo, the CDC is predicting that most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to this virus. So far, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee, but the CDC is reporting that, like any other virus, this one will spread worldwide.
As a college campus with a high residential population, it is vitally important that we take necessary precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 on our campus, so I offer the following advice:
- Do not travel to COVID-19 “hot spots” and be careful when traveling, domestically. With Spring Break occurring in two weeks, please avoid all nonessential travel to those countries identified with high advisory levels, and be mindful of the possibility of cross-contamination in airports and other large, public venues.
- Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often, with soap and water or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol; avoid close contact with individuals who are coughing and sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze; and clean and disinfect shared/touched surfaces. (The College’s housekeeping staff will increase its focus on sanitizing surfaces in common areas, heavily used doors, elevators, handrails, etc. However, this will not be a substitute for good personal hand hygiene practices.)
- Stay home when you are sick. If you live in a residence hall, avoid the common spaces. Students may seek medical treatment in the College’s Health Clinic or at East Tennessee Medical Group’s CareToday Clinic at a reduced student fee. The clinic is located at 266 Joule Street in Alcoa.
The College’s Center for International Education (CIE) is monitoring and assessing the global COVID-19 situation daily. The CIE is in frequent contact with MC students who are currently studying abroad and those students and groups that have international travel planned for later this spring and summer.
The College’s Crisis Management Team is increasing its meeting frequency and expanding its membership to continually monitor and efficiently respond to situations resulting from this virus. Members of the team will be communicating about more specific issues with various constituencies in the near future.
I urge everyone to stay informed of the latest reports and advisories posted by the experts in communicable diseases and international travel by visiting the websites of the CDC, World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of State.