Dear Members of the John Carroll Community,
Yesterday, Ohio Governor Mike Dewine announced an extension of the Stay at Home order through May 1. The Stay at Home order continues to require all individuals in Ohio to stay at home or their place of residence, except as permitted in the order. The order permits only essential activities, businesses or operations to remain open, as defined in the order. The order continues to permit educational institutions to facilitate distance learning, perform critical research, and perform essential functions if six-feet social distancing is maintained.
What does this mean for our community?
General:
- John Carroll University remains open, but our operations are impacted in a variety of ways. As previously announced, our transition to online learning and student services will continue through the end of the spring semester. Many of our campus buildings are closed or operating on limited hours.
- We realize that you may have questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, and the impact of the virus on your work and learning. As a reminder, symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever greater than 100.4 degrees, cough, body aches, nausea, and diarrhea. Please reference our guide to COVID-19 treatment and care for more information. If you are having any symptoms of COVID-19, are being tested for COVID-19, or are otherwise ill, you should not come to campus. If you have tested positive for or been diagnosed with COVID-19, we request that you notify Jan Krevh, R.N., B.S.N., director of the JCU Health and Wellness Center at jkrevh@jcu.edu so the University can appropriately follow up.
Students:
- Residential students will not be able to return to campus to move out of the residence halls until early May. Plans for move-out will be based on current state and local guidance, and will be developed in an abundance of care for the health and safety of the JCU community. Residence Life will communicate with residential students directly in the coming weeks with more information.
- Seniors will receive a survey regarding Commencement options. We are also forming a committee of faculty, staff, and students to continue exploring appropriate ways to celebrate the Class of 2020.
- On April 2, the Provost and Academic Vice President distributed a message regarding policy changes for Withdrawals, Course Repeats, and Pass/Fail.
- We know you may be feeling overwhelmed by this situation. The JCU Counseling Center has developed a list of resources for students who need help, including tele-health consultations and many other services.
Faculty and Staff:
- Due to this extension, we understand that you may need to visit your campus office to pick up additional items to facilitate your teaching or telecommuting. To be compliant with the Stay-at-Home order, please minimize the number and duration of your visits, and avoid bringing guests, if possible. When you come to campus, please enter via the Belvoir gate. You will need your JCU identification card to access most buildings. You may find some entrances or restrooms locked and other services available only on limited hours. While you are on campus, you must maintain social distancing of six (6) feet per person to the greatest extent possible.
- If you do not need to be on campus or you are not approved to be on campus to perform essential functions that cannot be performed remotely, you must continue to work from home.
- We know you, too, may be feeling overwhelmed. Please remember that IMPACT Solutions Employee Assistance Program is a confidential resource available to all employees and members of their household. For more information, please call 800-227-6007 or visit their website. (Click “Go to member login” on the top right hand corner of the screen. Enter your member username: JCU)
Please join us as we continue to pray for all those who are impacted by COVID-19, in particular those who are battling the virus personally, those whose families are impacted by the virus, and our healthcare workers and all those on the front lines working to combat the spread of this virus.
Mark D. McCarthy, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Garry Homany
Director of Risk Assessment and Regulatory Affairs