Update regarding COVID-19 from President Houston Davis to students, faculty, and staff
I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving Break. As we wrap up class instruction this week and prepare for finals next week, I wanted to send a few important reminders to help us have a smooth transition to Winter Break and a strong start to the spring 2021 semester in around six weeks.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR, HOUSING, AND CAMPUS SERVICES
While face-to-face instruction has concluded, dining facilities, HPER, library and all university offices will remain open through Tuesday, Dec. 22. You can click on the hyperlinks above to see the most up-to-date hours and information for those services.
Residence halls will close Saturday, Dec. 12 at noon and will not open again until 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17. If you need to apply to stay on campus during Winter Break, you can find more information here. If you have any housing-related questions, contact your RA or email Housing and Residence Life here.
The spring 2021 semester will begin as scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, which is the Tuesday after the observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Just as in the fall semester, we will have a variety of options for instructional delivery in the spring, including in-person, hybrid, and online. As a reminder, you can always find the most updated academic calendar here.
STUDY ROOMS, FINALS, AND BOOK RETURN
As previously mentioned, we have expanded the hours of five rooms on campus that may be used for small group study sessions. As when you are in regular classroom spaces, you will be required to wear your masks, maintain six feet of distance from others, and wipe down tables and chairs before and after use with sanitizing wipes. The following Wi-Fi-enabled study rooms are available for extended hours through finals week on Friday, Dec. 11.
Study Rooms in Old Main
Rooms 14, 27, 112, and 115 will each be available from 6:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
Study Room 202 in Student Center
7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Friday; 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
University-wide Study Day is Friday, Dec. 4. Finals will be held remotely for Saturday classes on Saturday, Dec. 5 and remotely for M-F classes from Monday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 11.
As you take your finals and close out the semester, I am sure you will want to know how to return your books. All of those details can be found on the UCA Bookstore website here. There is even a chat function to help you get quick answers to common questions.
HEALTH REMINDERS
While we successfully made it through the fall semester, we must continue to remain diligent in the coming weeks in order to have a safe return to campus in the spring. No matter where you are in the next couple of months, continue to wear your masks, maintain six feet of distance whenever possible, and wash your hands often. Your health, the health of your friends and family, and the overall health of our campus community depend on us all doing our part.
If you stay in the area during Winter Break and experience symptoms of COVID-19, please know that there are testing options available to you. The UCA Student Health Clinic (SHC) has a PCR-based Abbott ID NOW machine that provides COVID-19 test results in around 15 minutes for individuals who are symptomatic. The SHC also offers a PCR-based test for individuals who are not symptomatic but would like to get tested. Specimens are sent to a local lab, and results typically return in around 24 hours. Testing with both machines is fast, easy, and confidential. Visit the SHC website here or call (501) 450-3136 for more information. If you have medical questions, you can also email the SHC at covid19@uca.edu.
While the SHC will be closed Dec. 23 through Jan. 3 for Winter Break, normal hours will resume on Monday, Jan. 4. If you need medical assistance while the SHC is closed, you should contact our medical partner, Conway Regional Health System, at (501) 506-CRHS (2747). Conway Regional provides drive-thru testing as well as an after-hours clinic.
Upon our return to campus, UCA is planning to work with the Arkansas Department of Health to host a free COVID-19 testing event on Jan. 20, 2021 for students, faculty, and staff. We will provide additional details as we near the start of the spring semester.
This spring, the university will once again provide a UCA-branded neck gaiter to any student who needs one. These neck gaiters have been enhanced with an extra layer of protection to adhere to CDC guidelines. Students may pick up a new neck gaiter in the Office of Student Life, Student Center 207, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
PREPARING FOR THE SPRING 2021 SEMESTER
Just as we did leading up to the fall semester, we will communicate regularly in the coming weeks to provide the details and information you need to safely return to campus and remain healthy throughout the spring semester. Please remember to keep an eye on your CUB email account for those messages. We plan to send our next communication around Dec. 11.
We are almost there, Bears! Thank you again for your hard work, dedication, and resilience this semester. I wish you all the best of luck with finals next week.