Please note: Campus Connection stories posted prior to March 13 may be inaccurate due to COVID-19 updates. See the University health advisory page for the latest updates and developments at udmercy.edu/coronavirus.
Original Post –
As you are probably aware, Michigan health officials have confirmed that two people in Michigan, one from Oakland County and one from Wayne County, have tested positive for COVID-19.
Because of the evolving nature surrounding COVID-19 and to keep students, faculty, staff and friends healthy and safe, the University has decided to transition the delivery of course instruction to online classes. This proactive effort will hopefully help to contain the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of all of our campuses.
The following decisions have been made by the University’s COVID-19 Response Team.
- All classes on the McNichols Campus have been suspended through Tuesday, March 17 (on-campus, face-to-face and online courses).This period will be used by faculty to transition course material to the University’s online teaching platform. McNichols classes will move to all online beginning March 18.
- Since the School of Dentistry and School of Law have unique student instruction situations, the deans of these schools will communicate further instructions to their faculty, staff and students based on the guidance of their accrediting agencies.
- Offsite courses will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- To assist faculty in transitioning to online instruction, the Instructional Design Studio will offer sessions on how to convert courses to the online format. The session schedule will be shared as soon as it is available.
- Campus housing remains open, but students who do not need to be on campus will be strongly encouraged to return to their permanent place of residence, if possible. For those unable to go home to an off-campus location, we will continue to fully support students in our campus housing and dining facilities.
- Campus Dining will maintain their normal hours. Safe dining practices, including social distancing, are recommended. Campus Dining will encourage students to opt for to-go/takeout options and are making the necessary preparations to accommodate this shift.
- The campus will remain open. All staff and administrators must report to work based on their normal work schedule. Human Resources will be providing further guidelines on other necessary policy adjustments. Employees who are ill, especially if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, are instructed to stay home.
- All events with 100 people or more will be canceled to adhere to the CDC’s recommendation for social distancing. Deans and vice presidents may consider exceptions, but safety must remain our top priority. Events with less than 100 people are also discouraged. Communications regarding the upcoming commencement ceremonies will be forthcoming.
- Effective today, all university-sponsored domestic and international air travel is prohibited.
Please continue to follow updates and developments posted on udmercy.edu/coronavirus. If you receive calls regarding Detroit Mercy’s efforts to keep our community safe, please direct callers to the website. Should you receive calls from the media, please direct them to the Marketing & Communications Department at 313-993-1254.
Please also continue to practice the recommended personal precautions to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. This is an evolving situation and we appreciate your patience.