Dear Mines Community,
As we’ve said often in the last few days, the COVID-19 outbreak continues to require our ongoing and deliberate attention—and action. News about COVID-19 changes moment by moment. We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to address the impact of this public health disruption to our operations. Based on guidance from health organizations and state leaders, and due to the temporary closing of area school districts, as well as emerging insights from our campus community, I am announcing additional measures Mines is taking to best protect the health and safety of our community while fulfilling our educational and research missions.
- All campus events and conferences, including athletic practices, club meetings and Discover Mines are suspended until at least April 5. We will continue to re-assess the situation to determine if the suspension needs to be extended beyond April 5.
- Face-to-face interviews with external candidates must be completed using Zoom, Skype or other video conferencing tools until at least April 5. In-person meetings with internal candidates are permissible. Please contact HR if you have questions.
- Until further notice, all non-essential university-affiliated travel (out of state domestic and international) is suspended. This includes travel for conferences, research, athletics, alumni and donor events and more. University-affiliated is defined as any travel in which expenses would be processed through Mines regardless of funding source.
- Supervisors are strongly encouraged to consider alternative work arrangements or remote work opportunities that allow for appropriate social distancing to safeguard employees while still ensuring that Mines fulfills its mission. Additional information will be sent via email from HR.
- As announced earlier, Mines has canceled classes for March 16-20. The Provost office has directed that all homework and exams, including take-homes and online, are to be postponed from now until after Spring Break.
Additional information
WORK STUDY [FINANCIAL AID AWARD]
If a student is able to continue their assigned work through the Federal Work Study Program, the normal process of timekeeping and pay should be followed. If a student is not able to continue their assigned work Mines will pay work study wages for hours that would have been worked if the campus were under normal operation. Those students must also continue to complete timesheets for their regularly scheduled hours and have them approved. All work study policies and rules remain in place.
No work study student is obligated to remain on campus this semester in order to complete work study responsibilities and to receive their financial aid.
OTHER STUDENT EMPLOYEES
If a student is an hourly employee (not on a financial aid work study award), the student can continue to work if they are able to. If the student is unable to work they will not be paid, however, no student will have their employment status changed as a result of this disruption to campus operations. If students have traveled home or are unable to work during this time their employment with Mines will resume when normal operations commence. Mines does reserve the right to change student employment responsibilities at any time.
No student employee should feel obligated to remain on campus this semester in order to fulfill employment responsibilities.
GRADUATION / COMMENCEMENT
We hope to have information on Spring Commencement (Graduation) by April 6. We are committed to hosting a ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and will explore delay or changes to format if the situation does not permit us to hold it on our regularly scheduled date.
STUDENT MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH RESOURCE
All Mines students are able to access FREE tele-health and tele-therapy through AHP Live Care. Through this safe and secure service, students can see a provider from the comfort of their home or anywhere else. Students should install the Amwell App on IOS or Android or by visiting ahplivecare.com.
EVENTS AND FACILITY CLOSURES
Mines is suspending all campus events and conferences through April 5, including athletic practices, tours and admissions events. No decision has been made on E-days. MAC has offered to develop an E-Days plan that would address health and safety concerns should the current situation not be resolved by April 5.
We are currently examining how best to operate campus in the event we are faced with a reduced staffing situation. Please prepare for the possible case in which access to campus facilities is limited between March 14-March 29 (accept for those with authorized Blaster card or key access).
RESEARCH LABS
Faculty research labs, many of which have instruments and activities requiring constant attention and human engagement, remain open. However, in the near term, the faculty leading those labs are being asked to staff their operations with essential personnel only and to encourage remote work as much as possible.
Thank you for your patience. And a special word of thanks to our custodial staff, our grounds crew, Residence Life team (including all of our RAs), faculty, staff, students and the families and friends that are going to extraordinary efforts themselves to take care of loved ones right now.
One last thing: We are all feeling the pressure of this situation. Please remember to take care of your physical and mental needs. And please stay in touch if there is more that we can do or say to support all of you. Together, I’m confident that our spring semester will be a successful one.
Best regards,
Peter Han
Chief of Staff, Presidents Office
Incident Commander, Pandemic Response Operations Team