The University of Mississippi

Office of the Chancellor

Letters from the Chancellor

Message to students regarding Spring 2021 events

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear students,

As we settle into the rhythm of the spring semester (despite this week’s weather disruptions), I’m excited to share information below about the wide range of current events and activities, how you can stay plugged into campus life and our next steps for expanding engagement opportunities safely for the remainder of the semester.

We’re so proud of the way our students have found creative ways to host events while following our campus protocols. We now have more than 380 registered events scheduled across our campus this semester, and we expect to add many more before the term ends. We’ve already had our first Flagship Friday, Welcome Week on the Student Union Plaza and are looking forward to Engagement Week featuring our registered student organizations, free food and giveaways. You can see the entire list of registered student events in The ForUM.

Events and activities are an incredibly important part of campus life, and I’m committed to the university doing all we can to help you make the most of your college experience through this period. I’m grateful to you, our students, for all that you have done to help us navigate this pandemic to date. We appreciate your continued patience and commitment to do your part to protect all in our community.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor
Expanding Events and Activities for the Spring Semester
In January, we shared that we would monitor our COVID-19 positivity rate for the first month of the semester to inform decision-making about future on- and off-campus activities. We must follow public health guidance and current executive and local orders in effect for the respective venue, and that requires good information to understand the health status of our community. Please note that all events are subject to approval and changes may occur based on our positivity rate.On the Events page of our COVID-19 website, you will find the positivity rate framework that we will follow for the remainder of the semester. The framework outlines conditions that must be met to host events, based on a series of thresholds for the positivity rate. Also, on the Events page (and in the snapshot below), you will find the minimum requirements for all events and activities regardless of venue (university-managed and non-university-managed) for the current positivity rate.

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
  1. SOCIAL DISTANCING: Social distancing must be maintained at all times (indoors and outdoors).
  2. CAPACITY: Must adhere to COVID capacity limitations and regulations currently in effect for that space or venue (consult current executive orders, city restrictions, etc.).
  3. MASKS: Cloth face coverings or masks required at all times except when actively drinking or eating (indoors and outdoors).
  4. FOOD:

    •  Lower Risk Requirement: Food allowed if served while seated and adhering to dining restrictions.
    •  Moderate Risk Requirement: Food services Grab and Leave only.
  5. EVENT MONITORS: Minimum of three designated Event Monitors present.
  6. ATTENDEE LIST: Attendee list provided to Ole Miss Student Union (OMSU) or Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) at least seven days in advance. Only current students and/or organization advisors will be allowed to attend.
  7. REGISTRATION: Activities must be registered in ForUM. Activities prior to March 11 must be registered ASAP. Activities on or after March 11 must be registered at least 15 business days in advance.
  8. NON-UNIVERSITY-MANAGED VENUES: Additional requirements must be met for non-university-managed venues. See the activities protocols and parameters for full details.

 

Q: When and how can we start registering events?
You can start now! Activities must be registered through The ForUM. Events prior to March 11 need to be registered ASAP. Events on or after March 11 must be registered 15 business days in advance as outlined by standard Union procedures. The latest updates for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) regarding protocols for events and activities for this semester can be found here. If you have questions, email union@olemiss.edu.Q: When can we start having events?
Events and activities can be submitted now and will be reviewed by OMSU or FSL staff for adherence to the requirements outlined for this semester. Staff will do their best to be flexible with requests so that events and activities can proceed.Q: What kind of events and activities can we have?
Events and activities can be hosted as long as the specified requirements are met and it is submitted through the appropriate channels.Q: Can we have off-campus events outside of Oxford and Lafayette County?
Non-university-managed venues must be reviewed and approved by the Ole Miss Student Union or Fraternity and Sorority Life. At this time, group travel outside Lafayette County is prohibited unless a waiver is obtained through the Event Registration process.Q: Can we do events in shifts?
Yes, organizations can schedule up to two shifts of maximum capacity for each shift. Additional details about how shifts must be managed is posted on the Events page.Q: Why can’t we just do things like we used to?
We know this is a lot to sort through as we navigate new and creative ways of gathering and holding activities. We also know this is not college life before COVID-19, but it is more open than we could be in the fall. It is important that we recognize the pandemic does not mean that we can’t do the things that we used to do before COVID-19, it just means we need to do them differently. Take, for example, college sports. COVID-19 didn’t mean we didn’t get to cheer on Lane Kiffin, Matt Corral and our football team. It just meant we had to do so with fewer people in the stadium, with masks on and social distancing. The same holds true for student activitiesQ: Why does the asymptomatic testing matter?
Our Asymptomatic Testing Program is an important part of this strategy. We understand that some people who are infected with the virus don’t exhibit symptoms, yet they can spread illness to others. Understanding the positivity rate among those who do not have symptoms is an important tool to help us protect our community. Your participation in testing is essential — more testing does not equate to more positives, so please do your part to stop misinformation that students should not get tested because it will drive up the positivity rate. The more students who are tested, the larger the pool for calculating the rate. Please participate in the testing program and encourage your classmates and friends to do so.Q: How do we know what the university’s current positivity rate is?
Each Friday, the university updates its COVID dashboard based on the previous week’s positivity rate. The rate measures the percentage of positive RT-PCR tests performed during the prior seven days through the Asymptomatic Testing Program.Q: How can RSO and FSL Leadership better understand how all this will work?
Details will be shared soon for a Zoom panel session for RSO and FSL leadership to review this process and get questions answered.Q: How can I find out what events are occurring on campus?
Q: Do you have questions about your event?
As you plan events/activities or social gatherings, please consult the Event Registration resource page for answers to many common questions. If you still have questions, contact the OMSU staff at union@olemiss.edu.

Message to Graduate and Professional Students from Chancellor Boyce

Letters from the Chancellor, Welcome

Dear graduate and professional students,

Happy New Year and greetings as we embark upon the spring 2021 semester! As we get busy with the work of a new semester, I want to share my profound gratitude for all that you did last semester to persevere through an incredibly challenging time. I want to especially thank our graduate instructors and graduate assistants who are to be applauded for keeping on track with their own studies while staying in service to our students. Our graduate and professional students embody the meaning of “resilient.”

As we press ahead even as we continue to face many obstacles related to the pandemic, I want to convey words of encouragement for the semester ahead. The education and experiences you are gaining here will shape the opportunities and paths you encounter throughout your life. This is because we expect our graduates to be driven by the quest for ingenuity, creativity and the pursuit of big ideas. Especially in light of the unexpected economic challenges caused by COVID-19, the value of your graduate or professional degree is even greater.

Please let us know how we can support you throughout this semester and for the duration of your studies here — the Office of the Chancellor is here as a resource for you. Graduate and professional students are a vital part of our campus community, and it is important that you receive the support you need to thrive. We are committed to ensuring that our graduate and professional students achieve their greatest potential as tomorrow’s top researchers and practitioners.

Best wishes for a successful semester!

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Spring 2021 Message from Chancellor Boyce

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear faculty and staff,
 
As we embark upon the Spring 2021 semester, I want to extend my sincere appreciation for all that our university community has accomplished — not only this past fall, but since the onset of the pandemic. It is hard to comprehend that we are approaching the one-year mark since we began this journey together. You kept our university going, displaying an incredible work ethic and commitment to the continued success of the university and our students. For that, I’m truly inspired by and grateful to you.
 
Vaccine
While this semester will largely feel similar to the fall semester, I’m heartened by the rollout of the vaccines being administered throughout the state and country. I’m also hopeful that the vaccine rollout means our operations will begin to return to normal by this Fall, but we will continue to put the safety of our community at the forefront of every decision made.  
 
Understandably, I have heard from many of you who are anxious to learn when the vaccine will become available on our campus. We do not currently have a definitive timeline of when University Health Services will receive doses from the state to administer to our employees. However, I’m supremely confident in the thorough and thoughtful groundwork being laid by the Vaccine Distribution and Administration Task Force to be ready the minute we are notified when we are up.
 
I want to encourage all members of our university community to get vaccinated as soon as you are able through other channels provided by the state of Mississippi. It will help to protect you, but even further it will help to protect your families, friends, co-workers, neighbors and all of those you care about. This is the best way in which each of us can fulfill our responsibility to contribute to upholding a healthy and safe environment for those around us.  
 
Since this rollout is evolving rapidly, we will continue to keep you updated on developments as we learn them. For now, the best way to stay current is to monitor our vaccine update page and read the COVID-19 newsletter published each Wednesday. Our very own Dr. Jean Gispen, staff physician with the Employee Health Center, penned a blog about her experience with the vaccine as a healthcare provider. She shares great insight about the science of the vaccine.
 
Parameters and Protocols for Spring 2021
We have shown that our on-campus parameters and protocols are effective. While we can celebrate this fact, we must understand that we must all continue to remain vigilant. It will be several months before the protection of the vaccine is widely administered. During that time, it is vital that all of us continue to wear cloth face coverings, stay distanced, monitor our health and practice all COVID-19-related safety measures. I commend our faculty and staff who have fully embraced this responsibility.
 
Provost Noel Wilkin shared a message recently with faculty, staff and graduate instructors with helpful reminders for the semester related to classroom protocols, instructor supplies, class attendance and the condensed spring schedule, among other items. I encourage you to review this important planning guidance.  
 
Contributing to a Successful Semester
The start of a new semester is always a significant and invigorating time in the life of a university. We have much to look forward to including not one, but two Commencement celebrations — truly the pinnacle of our academic year that honors the incredible achievements, character and spirit of our students. 
 
My deepest thanks to you, our dedicated faculty and staff, for all that you have already delivered and for the tremendous work that lies ahead. I look forward to another incredibly successful spring semester at the University of Mississippi.
 
Sincerely,
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Spring 2021 Semester Message from Chancellor Glenn Boyce

Letters from the Chancellor, Welcome

Dear students,

The Spring 2021 semester is here, and we’re so excited to get back at it! I hope everyone had a great break and that you’re recharged and ready to tackle a new term. In addition, we’re thrilled to welcome nearly 250 new students to our campus community. All the best to our newest arrivals on campus.

We are coming off an unexpected journey in the fall. Our student body showed adaptability, resilience and leadership as the university navigated unprecedented challenges in order to protect the health of everyone in our community. Most importantly, you did all of that while continuing to make progress toward earning your degree. We are proud of how you persevered and moved forward.

Stay Focused, Stay Engaged
Now, a new semester calls for some reminders and caveats. With a condensed calendar, this semester will unfold quickly. For that reason, it is vital that you start this term strong from Day One. You know what you must do to succeed academically, so hold yourself accountable and don’t fall behind. Ask for help as soon as you think you need it. Reach out to your professors and advisors. Tap into the resources and support available to you across campus. We are here for you and want to see you succeed!

For campus life, we’re exploring creative ways to host programming, gatherings and opportunities to stay sharp and fit. The university continues to offer free COVID-19 asymptomatic testing for all students, faculty and staff, which helps us understand the COVID positivity rate and, in turn, inform decision-making about on-and off-campus gatherings. We will monitor testing rates from Jan. 19-Feb. 19 with the hope that social gatherings can take place after Feb. 19.

Vaccine Offers Us A Shot
We’re encouraged with the rollout of the two effective vaccines being administered throughout the state and country. While it remains unclear when college students can get the vaccine, I urge you to get vaccinated as soon as you are able. It will help you stay well while protecting your families, friends, classmates, neighbors and all of those you care about. This is one of the best ways each of us can do our part to have a healthy and safe environment for those around us.

Stay Vigilant
In the meantime, hang in there! We are getting control of this virus, but we must remain vigilant. Last week, you received a letter from Student Affairs highlighting 10 things you need to know for Spring 2021. And I recently saw a tweet from U.S. Surgeon General VADM Jerome M. Adams sharing the five W’s of how we can get as many people as possible to the finish line, as quickly as possible:

  1. Wear masks
  2. Wash hands
  3. Watch distances
  4. Wait to gather
  5. When it’s your turn, get vaccinated!

Let’s Have a Successful Spring
The start of a new semester is always an exciting time on campus. We have a lot to look forward to including not one, but two Commencement celebrations! We can’t wait to honor the incredible achievements, character and spirit of our graduates for the Classes of 2020 and 2021.

On our campus, students learn in and out of the classroom. That was certainly the case in the fall as our community faced numerous challenges, and I take great comfort and pride in how our students, faculty and staff came through all of this together. Thank you — the strength of our students is a hallmark of our university. It is important that you know we are working creatively and diligently to provide you the best possible college experience during these extraordinary times. I’m looking forward to celebrating the outstanding and numerous successes that our students deliver each spring.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Eduardo Prieto Hired as Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear faculty and staff,

I’m very pleased to share that Eduardo Prieto will join the University of Mississippi as the first Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management after a successful national search. A native of Oklahoma, Eduardo brings more than 20 years of higher education experience across several institutions. He offers deep expertise in enrollment management, competitive admission efforts, student recruitment and financial aid, among other areas.

Eduardo will join us in March from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he has served as vice president for access and enrollment management since 2014. He will oversee our newly created Office of Enrollment Management, which will bring together the Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid into a combined team of 70 professionals.

The Office of Enrollment Management is an investment that will deliver greater administrative focus and strategic emphasis on building our future, and we are very excited for the seasoned leadership and energy that Eduardo brings. We’re eager to see how his leadership will invigorate university-wide enrollment work and lead efforts for financial aid strategies to maximize support for future generations of students.

To learn more, please read the full announcement. When Eduardo arrives on campus later this semester, please join me in warmly welcoming him and his wife, Traci, to our community.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

End of Fall 2020 Semester Message from Chancellor Boyce

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear faculty and staff,

As we close out the Fall 2020 semester, all of us are very familiar with the words and phrases that have been used and overused to describe the current environment — “challenging,” “unprecedented,” “unknown.” While we may be numb to these words at this point, that does not make them any less fitting. In our institution’s history, we have rarely faced an external threat like COVID-19 that reshaped our community and the world around us so rapidly.

Reaching every one of our students to provide life-changing educational and growth opportunities is ingrained in our mission and in our culture. In fulfilling that mission, our faculty, staff and administrators faced this semester with tenacity, resolve and skill. Mere words cannot adequately express my thanks and gratitude for your tremendous work and service to our university and our students.

As we commemorate the end of the semester, I hope everyone has a deep appreciation for the way we kept our students on track toward earning their degrees, redesigned how we deliver courses to comply with public health protocols, continued pushing our research enterprise, and implemented necessary training and technology upgrades. We completed the semester without the disruptions that so many of our peer institutions across the nation experienced.

All of this was accomplished in the face of every member of the university family being impacted, professionally and personally. And before the fall was over, you were looking ahead to the Spring 2021 semester and all the ways that we can improve and enhance our academic offerings and campus life opportunities for our students. All of this gets at the core of who we are as a university community that we are all working tirelessly to offer the best on-campus living, learning and working environment possible. I commend you, and I’m thankful for your adaptability, creativity, and commitment to keeping our campus community thriving.

I know we all look forward to the holidays, spending time with loved ones, and celebrating all for which we are thankful. I continue to be tremendously grateful for our caring and dynamic campus community. Over the next several weeks, we will recognize faculty and staff with various activities through the “Red & Blue Because of You!” celebration. Thank you again to the entire university family for your commitment. You are truly an inspiration.

Wishing you and yours a happy and restful Thanksgiving!

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor