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COVID-19 Update March 12, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As indicated in my email to the Bay Path community on Wednesday, today you will receive critical updates regarding the University’s response to the coronavirus threat.

Following careful consideration and consultation with a wide variety of official sources, we have made a number of decisions that are important to students, faculty, and staff. But it is important to state that as this situation rapidly evolves, we will update our decisions and policies in response—which is why it is imperative that you stay informed by reading your emails and referring to our webpage daily.

As we continue to evaluate our options, it is important to underscore that all decisions being made are governed by our commitment to the health and well-being of our entire community.

Summary of Key Updates:

Classes

  • Traditional undergraduate and graduate classes: all classes that are currently running as face-to-face and/or hybrid, campus-based courses are cancelled for Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. All of these classes will resume via remote delivery on Wednesday, March 18 and will be delivered remotely online through Sunday, April 5.
  • All online classes that are currently running will proceed as scheduled with no interruption.
  • The American Women’s College classes: Fully online courses will run as planned. On-ground and hybrid courses will be converted to fully online for the remainder of the SP1 session (March 14, 21 & 28 and April 4)

Traditional undergraduate and graduate students will receive an email regarding specific details from the Provost later today; TAWC students will receive an email from the Vice President for Analytics and Innovative Technology.

As noted above, the timing of these changes may be extended in response to increasing concerns associated with the coronavirus and we will announce any changes to this ending time as soon as we are able.

Residence Halls

Effective immediately and through Sunday, April 5, our residence halls will be closed. Students currently living in the dorms will be asked to return home. Students currently on spring break and away from campus will be asked to return to their permanent homes. Only those requests to remain on campus that involve extreme extenuating circumstances will be considered by the Dean of Students. Instructions for filing such a request, as well as details regarding residence hall access to retrieve items from on-campus housing, will be emailed to students later today.

For those students not permitted to live in residence halls during this period, you will receive a credit on your student account (based upon the number of room and board days cancelled). A refund check will be issued prior to the end of the semester if applicable.

Bay Path sponsored conferences and events

In keeping with the strict recommendations made by state and federal officials, Bay Path will curtail university-related gatherings. Specifically:

  • The Women’s Leadership Conference has been postponed. It is truly disappointing to convey this news given the significance of this event to Bay Path, our students, and the thousands of attendees who look forward to this event every year. Individuals who have registered for the March 27 Conference were notified this morning. We are working with this year’s speakers, sponsors, and vendors to plan for next year's WLC and look forward to an amazing conference to be held on April 9, 2021.
  • Student and prospective student events: with the decision to close the residence halls and move classes online, a number of difficult decisions have been made. Athletics will be suspended through April 5; the spring theatrical production will be cancelled; and Academic Achievement Day will be cancelled. Prospective student events during this period will be delivered virtually if possible.
  • On-campus community events scheduled through April 5, including our Kaleidoscope series, will be cancelled.
  • Sixth annual Summer Writing Seminar in Dingle, Ireland, for 2020 has been postponed until August 2021;

Over the next weeks, we will continue to assess Bay Path events. Please stay current by visiting https://www.baypath.edu/events-calendar/ This site will provide updated information regarding event cancellations and virtual delivery.

Meetings and campus visitors

In keeping with recommendations for social distancing, it is requested that Bay Path employees and students do not attend any large external gatherings.

We strongly recommend that any on-campus or off-campus meetings be conducted via Zoom.

Students will be advised that visitors to residence halls will be strictly prohibited during this time. Faculty and staff are asked to limit on-campus meetings with external attendees (utilizing Zoom instead) and to discourage visits to campus.

Workplace policies

Although classes will be delivered remotely, the University remains open. All offices will continue to be fully staffed.

All University-related international and domestic travel is suspended effective immediately, until otherwise notified, with the exception of essential travel as determined by the president.

Later today, employees will receive an email from the Assistant Vice President and Director of Human Resources with details regarding new guidelines for personal travel registration as well as quarantine regulations. This email will also include other HR-related guidelines.

Stay informed

It bears repeating that the situation continues to develop at extraordinary speed. It is imperative that all students, faculty, and staff stay abreast of rapidly evolving issues.

Updates will be provided via email and will be posted to the website.

It is the responsibility of every Bay Path student, faculty, and staff to check emails daily to stay updated regarding the many implications of this situation.

Also please refer to https://www.baypath.edu/coronavirus for updates.

Questions not addressed on the website or through today’s subsequent emails can be sent to covid19info@baypath.edu

As is being experienced across the globe, this crisis is impacting Bay Path in unprecedented ways. Please be assured that we are working diligently to reduce risk to all members of our community. While the changes we are enacting may be difficult, they are in the best interest of us all. It is in times like these that we must think beyond our individual selves and look to one another for collective support. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers as we face this challenge together.

Yours,
Carol A. Leary
President