Official University Messages

April 29, 2020

Dear students, faculty and staff,

The upheaval wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the daily rhythms of a typically spectacular spring in Oxford, and we feel the impact of all that we are missing. However, more than six weeks into life with virtual operations, the impact of the virus on our nation and the world demonstrates why this upheaval was unavoidable. Our students and faculty have made the most of the past six weeks amid the disruption, and I wish you all the best as you prepare for final exams next week.
[Read more…] about Update on university operations during COVID-19

Apr 20, 2020

Dear University of Mississippi community,

The university remains committed to doing all it can to honor our graduates in person when it is safe for us to come together as a university community. And while we aren’t able to gather in the Grove and at other beautiful venues on our campus right now for traditional pomp and circumstance, we could not let our originally scheduled Commencement Day pass without recognizing the incredible achievements, character and spirit of this class of graduates. [Read more…] about Update on plans for celebrating our graduates 

Apr 10, 2020

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