Over the past few weeks, we have detailed our new COVID-19 policies and expectations of our community. While I know the beginning of the new semester is an exciting time, we must continue to follow all state and university COVID-19 directives that protect the health of our campus community and help preserve our on-campus experience. As we approach our second full weekend of the fall semester, we would like to remind you of some of the key policies we have implemented, particularly around non-sanctioned student gatherings and parties, and make you aware of the consequences both to individuals and to student groups for ignoring these policies and guidelines.
Parties and gatherings that do not adhere to population density, social distancing, and face covering rules have the potential to cause rapid virus spread, jeopardize the health of our campus community and local residents, and threaten to put an end to our in-person classes and residence life. Hosting and/or attending such parties is reckless to your own health and to the health of everyone you encounter. In addition, violating COVID-19 directives disrespects the hundreds of faculty and staff that have worked countless hours over the last four months to prepare campus for the fall. We will not let these efforts be trivialized by the irresponsible actions of a few students or small groups.
If you have read recent headlines, you know that colleges and universities around the country have barred careless students from classes, placed them on disciplinary probation, removed them from housing, suspended them and, in some cases, expelled them. Some campuses have suspended student organizations for not following COVID-19 directives and have even been forced to close campus entirely due to unsafe parties and subsequent virus outbreaks. None of these are things we want to do, but please know that we are prepared to take similar actions if needed. Individuals and/or student groups who host or attend gatherings that do not follow COVID-19 policies will be held accountable for their unsafe actions. The UCA Student Handbook states that offenses subject to disciplinary action include:
“Violation of state, federal, local laws or ordinances, or of any university rules, regulations, or policies as approved by the officers of the university,” as well as “Students or student organizations conducting functions that unreasonably endanger the health or well-being of any person.”
Our Dean of Students office is actively reviewing reports of parties that do not adhere to health policies. The Dean of Students webpage has a link where individuals can report parties and/or gatherings they see or know of that do not meet face covering, social distancing, or population density requirements. You can find that form here.
As a reminder, students who live in residence halls or Greek housing may each have one guest at a time in their individual rooms, and those guests must also live in the residence hall or building. No outside guests will be permitted. Students who live in campus apartments may each have one guest at a time, but should always ensure that guests are able to spread out and practice social distancing. No more than four individuals should be in the same room in apartment units at one time.
We understand that what we are asking you to do can be difficult, and we recognize the importance of connecting with your fellow students, engaging in student organizations, and finding a sense of belonging on campus. That is why our Office of Student Life has worked for months with Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) to plan student events that are exciting and engaging while still adhering to COVID-19 health and safety directives. Find out more about our many RSOs and how you can connect with others and causes you care about here.
We have said this before, but it bears repeating. We are all in this together, and we each have a critical role to play in keeping our campus community and our families healthy. While we have been pleased to see you wearing your face coverings and maintaining distance during the day, your responsibility to keep yourself and others safe does not end when class is over, nor does it end when you step outside the boundaries of this campus. These are policies we all have to follow no matter where we go and what we do. We are calling on you to act responsibly, wear your face coverings, keep your distance, and respect your own health and that of others this weekend and at all times. Both the health of our community and our on-campus experience depend upon it.
Houston Davis, President
Ronnie Williams, Vice President for Student Services and Institutional Diversity