Update regarding COVID-19 from President Houston Davis to students, faculty, and staff
We have successfully completed another week of online instruction and continued university operations. Thank you for everything you are doing to make this process as seamless and as successful as possible. I want to update you today on a few important details as we head into the final nine days of classes on Monday.
In recent weeks, we have made several key changes designed to help students and their families during this challenging time. First, in order to make the registration process easier and minimize delays, we are working to lift all non-financial registration holds EXCEPT for immunization holds, academic standing holds (e.g. probation, suspension), and student conduct holds. Second, in order to alleviate some of the financial strain on students and families, we are lifting some financial holds and are allowing students to register who still owe up to 40% of their spring semester balance. Finally, as I mentioned on Monday, because of the shift to online instruction due to COVID-19, the date to withdraw from a course has been shifted from March 30 to April 15. This extension will allow students additional time before having to make a decision to withdraw from a course.
I also want to share that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee has put forth an official statement that affirms the position of the university regarding grading policy for the spring semester. The committee supports the decision to maintain the current grading policy, while allowing faculty to offer some concessions and modifications to help students through this crisis. They implore faculty to continue to be compassionate in expectations, clear in communications with students, and patient in their understanding of students’ concerns and the disruptions to their lives. They ask their faculty colleagues to continue exercising flexibility and good judgment in their modifications to assignments, requirements, and assessments as appropriate for fulfilling programmatic and course-specific goals.
Finally, while traditional spring commencement ceremonies have been cancelled, I am excited to finally reveal our plans for commencement. Though spring 2020 graduates will still have the opportunity to participate in summer 2020 commencement events on August 7 and 8, we are going to utilize social media and other platforms to celebrate our spring graduates at the end of this month. During the week of April 27, graduates will receive a video message from me, the Provost, deans, and others that congratulates them on this momentous occasion and lists the names of each graduate by college. These messages will also be incorporated into social media celebrations of the graduates’ accomplishments that can easily be shared with friends and family. As in years past, all earned diplomas will be mailed to students at the completion of their degree requirements, along with the diploma cover, any earned university honors cords, and several other important items. I want to thank the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Registrar, and University Marketing and Communications for their work to quickly switch gears, create an alternative plan, and pull all the pieces together.
Thank you again for your patience and for all that you do daily to make UCA such an exceptional learning and living environment. Our campus community is fortunate to have excellent faculty and staff who are working to help guide and support students during this difficult time, as well as dedicated students who are committed to their success and that of their peers. I hope you all find an opportunity this weekend to take a well-deserved break, and I wish you and your families health and safety in the coming weeks.