Quote of the Day
“Regardless of what classes you are in right now, take time away from your computer to move around, get in touch with yourself, turn on some music in the house and have a dance party with your family. Feel your breath, stay connected to who you are and have faith that the world will heal.”
— Jennifer Mizenko, Professor of Theatre Arts (Source: Ole Miss News Story “17 Inspirational Messages from Ole Miss with Love”)
Featured FAQ
Q: Where can students go for information about Rebel Relief emergency support?
A: Students may reach out to the UMatter office if they are in need of emergency financial assistance through Rebel Relief. The Office of Financial Aid will review each case and students will be asked to provide documentation of financial need, such as monthly bills or evidence of a lost job, etc. Rebel Relief awards are small microgrants and may not meet the need of ongoing expenses that students may face. Food expenses will likely be referred to the Ole Miss Food Bank, Oxford Food Pantry or other resources that address food insecurity. Please contact UMatter at umatter@olemiss.edu.
For more information on campus operations and services, visit the FAQ page on the university’s COVID-19 website.
University news
Federal aid will provide financial assistance for students needing help
You may have heard that universities are among the recipients of emergency financial assistance targeted for students as provided under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The University of Mississippi has filed its application and is actively following guidance from the federal government to complete the administrative process to allow us to make those funds available to students.
At the same time, we are developing a process for students to request these funds, a process to determine how to allocate these funds, and a process to distribute the funds. These funds must be used by students to cover expenses related to the disruption of the educational experience due to coronavirus, including eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care. In keeping with guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education, we will prioritize our students with the greatest need, and we will establish a maximum amount for each student to ensure the funds are distributed as widely as possible.
At this time, we have not received the funds to distribute and have not started accepting requests for these emergency assistance funds. We are working quickly so that we can distribute the funds when we receive them. When the process for requesting and distributing the funds is established and the funds are received, we will promote that process to students through this email, the UM Today messaging system and the UM COVID-19 website.
COVID-19 research project seeks your input
The University of Mississippi requests your participation in a study titled the Measurement of COVID-19 Health Impact (MOCHI). The purpose of this survey-based research project is to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected lives of people, especially their health-related quality of life and financial burden.
The survey includes questions developed as part of the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO) initiative by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the University of Erfurt, Germany. Results from this project can help to:
- target and coordinate relief efforts and distribution of resources during this time,
- improve messaging and education efforts to improve compliance with social distancing, and
- provide insight into building resilience and preparedness for potential future crises.
Your participation is voluntary. The survey should take no more than 20-25 minutes to complete. Please click on this survey link or type ‘tinyurl.com/MOCHIsurvey’ into your browser to begin the survey.
If you have questions about the survey or for coordinating a response to the pandemic, please contact John Young, associate professor of psychology, or Sujith Ramachandran, assistant professor of pharmacy administration. This study has been reviewed by the University of Mississippi’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). If you have questions, concerns, or reports regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact the IRB at 662-915-7482 or irb@olemiss.edu.
Students
If you can’t travel abroad this summer, bring the world to you
Go abroad online this summer and engage in a meaningful global experience without leaving home. The university’s online study abroad programs enable you to interact and engage with faculty and other students across the world. Choose from a range of courses, covering a variety of disciplines, including art history, business, finance, history, marketing, political science, writing, intensive language, and urban/global studies.
Or, you can gain international work experience and develop global professional competencies through a remote internship. In a world increasingly reliant on connecting, collaborating and performing virtually, our remote internships educate, enable, and empower you to develop skills today that prepare you for your future career.
Learn to work and excel in a global environment with international colleagues and student peers from across the U.S., gain remote professional networking and social skills, and learn how to communicate and operate in an international context. For more information, check out the university’s virtual summer study abroad programs.
Ole Miss Athletics to Announce 2020 Rebels Choice Awards on April 20
Ole Miss Athletics will announce the winners of the 2020 Rebels Choice Awards on Twitter next Monday, April 20. The Rebels Choice Awards started in 2011 as a way for Ole Miss Athletics to celebrate National Student-Athlete Day each April. The Rebels’ Choice Awards includes 15 categories in which the winners are selected by the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Other Things to Know
UMMC and the Mississippi State Department of Health are hosting mobile COVID-19 sample collection sites. The appointment-only testing is free of charge. Anyone experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, who wants to be tested must first undergo a free screening from a UMMC clinician through the C Spire Health UMMC Virtual COVID-19 Triage telehealth smartphone app. Those without a smartphone can call 601-496-7200.
- April 16: Lexington, City of Lexington Multi Use Building
- April 16: Woodville, Wilkerson County EMA
Inc. magazine and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will team up this Friday, April 17 for a fourth virtual National Small Business Town Hall to help small business owners and sole proprietors alike navigate the programs that are available to them. The event starts at noon ET.
The Oxford Film Festival announced plans for a Weekly Virtual Film Festival series showcasing films that were scheduled previously for the 2020 festival’s run in local theaters. Beginning the week of April 24-May 1, the Oxford Film Festival will roll out a different series of films each successive week, with themed presentations, throughout the summer and fall. Tickets for each presentation (features or film blocks) are $10, which includes a 24-hour rental period and exclusive access to the filmmaker Q&A. Various viewing packages are also available for the virtual series.
On the Lighter Side: