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Dear students,

Happy New Year! We are eager for the start of the spring semester and are encouraged by the news that COVID-19 vaccines are becoming more widely available. With more in-person classes and the hope of more face-to-face events this semester, we need everyone’s continued cooperation in following health and safety protocols. I know it can be tiring to remain vigilant as case counts continue to climb, but I have faith that our university community can work together to keep everyone healthy.

Here are ten things to keep in mind as we begin the Spring 2021 semester:

1. Even with vaccines forthcoming, it’s vital that everyone take precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others.The university’s Vaccine Distribution and Administration Task Force is developing a strategy to provide ample opportunities for faculty, staff and students to be immunized when the MSDH distributes vaccines to the university. More info will be shared on our vaccination page and with the university community as soon as it’s available.
2.  Event protocols may change throughout the semester but, for now, they will remain the same as they were in Fall 2020.Please see this page for more details about social and academic events and look for event updates during the semester. If you have ideas for an event, bring them forward! You know what students want to do, so work with university staff who know the parameters for events.
3. One of the most important tests you may take during the spring semester is a COVID-19 test.University Health Services will provide COVID-19 tests on campus for students who have symptoms. Free asymptomatic testing will be available again this semester — stay tuned for more details. You may also request a test at any of these local facilities, and please remember to report any positive tests to University Health Services.
4. If you receive a positive COVID-19 test from an on- or off-campus facility, you must report it to the University Health Center at (662) 915-7275.All reports will remain anonymous and confidential. To confidentially report a positive test after hours, use the Everbridge app or submit a UHS self-report form. If you’re isolating or quarantining, you may complete the voluntary COVID-19 Student Self-Report Form to allow someone from the Student Affairs office to check in on you and offer resources. This optional form is separate from the requirement to report a positive COVID-19 test to the University Health Center.
5. Masks and social distancing are still required and incredibly important.Even with vaccines becoming available, we must continue taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, both on and off campus. The university requires students, employees and visitors to wear a face mask or face covering in all indoor spaces on campus. Masks are also required outside when social distancing can’t be maintained and recommended in all outdoor spaces on campus.
6. You are encouraged to self-quarantine before returning to campus to prevent unknowingly spreading the virus.If you are ill, please do not return to campus until you have tested negative for COVID-19. Contact the Student Health Center and your instructors if you will need to miss class because of an illness.
7. The university continues to follow quarantine and isolation recommendations from Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC.Our COVID-19 dashboard will provide information about any outbreaks on campus, which are defined as three or more cases occurring in a group or space. The university’s Contact Tracing Team is still hard at work to keep our university safe, open and operational. Your continued cooperation is necessary and very much appreciated.
8. Continue to monitor your health every day.Use the confidential and secure Daily Symptom Checker before heading out each morning.
9. C19 Ambassadors will return to campus this semester to support the university community in following health and safety policies.A C19 Ambassador can help you find a mask, answer questions and direct you to resources if you need them. Care packages containing a face mask, sanitizer and health info will also be available at the Student Union for students and employees to pick up Tuesday, Jan. 19-Thursday, Jan. 21 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
10. And of course, classes!This series of videos on the Keep Learning website details what to expect from Spring 2021 course delivery modes. Please watch the four main videos describing each format as well as individual faculty videos that relate to your classes.

If you need a quick, overall refresher, an updated Campus Ready module on COVID-related student responsibilities is in Blackboard for all new and returning students.

Enjoy the remainder of your break, and know that we are working hard preparing for your return. Thank you for being such an important part of keeping Ole Miss a wonderful place to learn, live and work. And remember: Be safe. Be responsible.

Charlotte Fant Pegues, Ph.D.
Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Apr 9, 2020

Dear faculty, staff and students,

In light of the continuing uncertainty about our ability to conduct programming safely on our Oxford and regional campuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Mississippi is canceling all in-person on-campus summer camps, conferences, events and other experiences through Aug. 1, 2020. This includes all academic and athletics programs on the Oxford, Tupelo, Southaven, Booneville and Grenada campuses.

Online or remote experiences will be offered where possible. Further details will be forthcoming from programs that can offer virtual experiences. Individuals who registered previously for canceled programs will receive direct communications from those programs.

While this was a difficult decision, this action is necessary to uphold our commitment to the safety, health and well-being of our campus community. We recognize that this decision presents disruptions and challenges for students, families, faculty and staff.

We also know that these camps held many benefits for our camp participants, their families and our university units. We are encouraging all units to think about how they might offer a virtual or alternative experience for students that might help to accomplish some of these important objectives.

We appreciate your continued patience and support as we implement the necessary operational and logistical adjustments during this trying time and look forward to the time when we can again convene on our campuses.

Sincerely,

Noel Wilkin
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Mar 27, 2020

Dear faculty, staff and students,

With registration for upcoming academic terms scheduled to start Monday, I want to share several important academic updates with our university community about the current term and future terms.

SUMMER 2020

All Summer terms – including May, First Summer, Second Summer, Full Summer and August – will be delivered remotely through online or alternative methods. Courses available during registration for those terms will be limited to courses that are amenable to online or alternative delivery methods. This change will take effect at the Oxford and all regional campuses.

FALL 2020

Registration options for the Fall 2020 semester have not changed at this time. Any future changes to that plan will depend on how the public health emergency unfolds over the coming months. If we are forced to shift to remote course delivery, some courses could be affected. University leadership will notify you if any change is required for Fall 2020.

GRADING POLICY FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Chancellor Boyce approved a pair of recommendations from the Council of Academic Administrators as follows:

• Graduate students will be granted the same accommodations as undergraduate students in light of the suspension of in-person instruction in response to the coronavirus pandemic. These changes will give graduate students the option to choose to change a grade of C or better to a Z grade, or to change a C- or D to a P, or Passing, grade. All graduate students should explore whether exercising these options could affect their financial aid awards or future professional opportunities.
• A mandatory pass/fail grading system will be applied to all JD and LLM Spring 2020 courses.

GRADUATE COUNCIL PASSES OPTIONS ON STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES

Due to the COVID-19 emergency and difficulties for potential applicants in sitting for standardized tests, the Graduate School will allow programs that require a standardized test as part of the application for admission to suspend the requirement for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 admissions. Programs that opt to do so cannot use the standardized test as a requirement for admission or in their admissions decisions during the COVID-19 crisis and they cannot deny anyone admission based on performance on the test. An individual previously denied admission to such programs for the Summer 2020 and/or Fall 2020 terms based on their score on the standardized test can request re-review of their application.

Programs wanting to waive the standardized test requirement must submit a written request with justification to the Graduate School (by email to askluck@olemiss.edu) from the GPC, with approval indicated in the email from the department chair (if applicable) and line dean. The request should mention the application deadline, the test to be waived and the status of applications (such as whether any applicants have already been denied based on test score). The Graduate Dean will decide whether to approve the request and notify the GPC. Programs that are approved to suspend a standardized test requirement must publish information about the change in application procedures on their program website.

I am appreciative of the careful deliberation and quick action taken by the committees on these matters to ensure that we are supporting our students during this difficult time.

Noel Wilkin
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Mar 15, 2020

Employee Health Services is committed to serving our faculty and staff and will continue to operate with normal business hours. We are taking extra precautions based on recommendations from the CDC and Mississippi State Department of Health regarding COVID-19 and have made the following changes to our appointments.

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