Rock Island Today

Augustana College Board of Trustees recently issued the following announcement.

Augustana College has begun spring break a week early, extending the break to two weeks through the end of March.

At the end of spring break, Monday, March 30, all classes will move to distance learning through the end of this semester.

Classes

Students will get information from their individual instructors about how coursework and projects will continue, and what their expectations are. Students should check their Augustana email daily for updates from the college as well.

Semester-length courses will be shortened from 14 weeks to 13.

Housing and meals

Students who can travel home are asked to do so. Accommodations have been made through spring break for those requiring more time in their residence and use of their meal plans. Those who already had made plans with the Office of Residential Life to stay during spring break (from March 20-29) may continue with those plans.

Students who have returned home should not return to campus now. Details about an orderly move-out with consideration for social distancing will be shared March 19.

Additional accommodations will be available for those with no option, including those from countries with travel restrictions and those with other extenuating circumstances. Students should contact the Office of Residential Life. Call 309-794-2686 or email residentiallife@augustana.edu.

Events and athletics

All on-campus events have been canceled; many will be rescheduled at a later date.

Athletic competitions and practices have been suspended.

By April 15 the college will notify families if graduation must be postponed.

Check the campus calendar for the most recent event information for March 30 and later. If you are in doubt about an event, contact the event organizer listed on the calendar.

Student work and internships

Students who have an internship on or off campus this semester should review this detailed information. Work-hour requirements have changed.

Students who have remained on campus, and who have an on-campus job may still report for work if their supervisors permit it.

Information for employees

Campus will continue to be operational during this period. For the most part, employees who typically work during spring break will continue to work during this period. Exceptions will be communicated by supervisors directly to those employees.

All persons on campus will be required to follow health protocols put in place by the Centers for Disease Control, public health departments or Augustana College.

Employees should watch for additional communication from the Office of Human Resources and a daily update by email.

Updates

All students, faculty and staff are asked to check their email during spring break for updates from the college.

Official updates will come from covid19info@augustana.edu.

Other recent announcements

March 10: The Augustana Choir's upcoming tour of the East Coast, and related pre-concert receptions, have been canceled. This is due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and closures in the areas the choir planned to visit.

March 9: The college asks students, faculty and staff to reconsider travel to areas with widespread, ongoing transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and to notify the college in advance if they plan to do so.

March 5: Interim guidelines for international travel released

March 4: Trips during spring semester to China, South Korea and Japan have been canceled.

March 3: Coronavirus Task Force established and meetings begun.

Feb. 27: Emergency Response Team meeting dedicated to COVID-19

Augustana College guiding principles

(March 3) Augustana College released the following statement today regarding the college's guiding principles for addressing issues associated with coronavirus:

1. We will rely on and follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State (for travel), and the Rock Island Public Health Department. We will resist following the advice of those who are not experts and advice that does not align with the recommendations of the sources previously noted.

2. Our actions will be guided by available science and information, and not by fear.

3. The safety of students, employees and visitors is our highest priority.

4. We will make the financial investments that are required to appropriately respond to any pandemic; we will make other investments needed to protect the safety of our community.

5. We will communicate promptly and as fully as possible.

6. We will promote an understanding of how the coronavirus is spread and how best to limit the transmission of the virus.

7. We will convene a task force chaired by Dr. Wes Brooks, dean of the college, and Sheri Curran, general counsel. This task force will meet weekly (or as needed) to recommend steps to be taken in accordance with these guiding principles, and will help to keep the Augustana community updated.

Original source can be found here.