The University of Mississippi

Office of the Chancellor

Letters from the Chancellor

Fall 2020 Update

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear Ole Miss Parents –

 

Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet with a large number of students to check-in and gather feedback about their experiences this semester. Their commitment to the pursuit of a college education and the passion that they exhibit for Ole Miss is truly outstanding.

 

I want to share an update with you about a number of steps that we are taking to support our students further for the fall and in preparation for the spring. When we made the decision to resume instruction for the fall semester, we knew it would not be an easy task. Feedback from our students, faculty, staff and families is incredibly important, and it has informed a number of initiatives now underway to enhance student support and campus activities as outlined below.

 

Academics for Spring 2021

  • Offer more in-person (face-to-face and hybrid) courses – We remain committed to holding as many face-to-face courses as we possibly can, and we are looking at new and additional ways to make that happen. Departments are finalizing their course formats for the spring semester, and we will assess those in relation to available spaces to hold classes. Once approved and finalized, course formats will not change unless under special circumstances related to the pandemic. The Spring 2021 course catalog will be made available online later this week.
  • Expand the number of places where we host classes, including potentially off-campus locations, to maximize opportunities for face-to-face instruction while also practicing social distancing in the classroom – We will also expand our use of non-traditional spaces on campus to hold classes. It is worth noting that in normal times, we hold relatively few large classes compared to other flagship public universities. That means we have fewer auditorium-style classrooms. As a result, reduced classroom capacities required to maintain social distancing give us fewer options to host our larger classes on campus, which is why we extended our search for space to off-campus venues. We will use any space that will allow for more face-to-face instruction.

 

Student Life

  • Opened more options for registered student organizations to host activities off campus – The university has launched a pilot to expand student social activities safely. The pilot allows some off-campus social gatherings under delineated parameters and requirements. We hope to expand upon this plan at the conclusion of the pilot. (See Oct. 19 message to students for details.)
  • Created additional efforts to direct students to the full range of campus resources including supplemental instruction, tutoring, counseling services, and more. Our Division of Student Affairs contacted all freshmen by text to ask if they needed any assistance. Several hundred responded, and we are working with students individually to address their needs.
  • Extended hours of operation for the J.D. Williams Library on campus – On weekdays, the library will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The library will also be open on Saturdays (except on home football Saturdays) and Sundays.
  • Expand co-curricular opportunities for student engagement – We kicked off our Bright Pathways initiatives task force, which is developing a framework to offer additional co-curricular activities through academic departments and further engage faculty and students in topics related to their disciplines and programs.
  • Make more on-campus spaces available for student organizations and groups to meet – In addition to meeting rooms in the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union, we will make classroom spaces open to registered student organizations when available. These groups are also being encouraged to meet outdoors.
  • Expand student programming – Students can visit the ForUM website for information about the full array of registered student organizations. Please encourage your student to learn more about the hundreds of organizations in which they can get involved and grow their leadership skills at Ole Miss.

 

Additional Efforts

  • Instituted direct outreach in dorms to check on individual students – The Center for Student Success and First Year Experience is working with Student Housing staff to reach out to individual students who may have struggled in midterms or are known to be struggling in other ways. This “door knock” campaign will allow us to connect students to a full range of campus resources.  
  • Publicize additional opportunities for engagement to students and faculty — In an effort to enhance our students’ connection to campus life, we created another touchpoint with our students at the start of this semester by launching a weekly student newsletter, The Powder Blue. This publication provides student-focused updates, tips, events, resources and more.
  • Add picnic tables around campus to promote gathering places for students  – In response to a request from a student leadership advisory council, we are adding 75 picnic tables across campus to allow small groups to gather in order to enhance social connections across our campus community. We want our students to be able to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.
Please know that we are striving every day to make the most of this environment for our students. Our focus has never wavered in our mission to transform lives and communities through higher education. We will continue to work hard each day for your student.
Stay well,
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Mid-Semester Check-In

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear parents and families,
 
Greetings from Oxford, where we have reached the mid-term point of the fall semester. It is an important time for our students and represents an ideal time to check-in with our families. I want to share updates with you on several matters related to the current environment on our campus.
 
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have rethought virtually everything we do on campus. Our singular focus has been to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our university community while, at the same time, enable our students to stay on track toward earning their degrees. We know that, given a choice, the current campus environment is not what you or your students would choose. Given the same choice, we would agree with you. The reality of the moment is that this environment requires constant evaluation and fluid decision-making, which has required us at times to modify elements of our typically vibrant campus experience.
 
While the current residential, learning and working environment on campus is not the norm, I’m confident that our preventive measures mitigated the spread of the virus without taking a toll on our university and surrounding communities, especially the most vulnerable among us. Please know that we are striving every day to make the most of this environment for your student. As the father of three daughters (all Ole Miss graduates), I know that your concerns are heartfelt and you want the best for your student.  I want the very best for them as well.  That’s why I want to address any questions and concerns you may have over our current learning and living environment.  We will host a virtual Town Hall for parents that I hope you can attend.  Details of that event are described below.
 
Educational experience
The pandemic and the required protocols compelled us to offer classes in a variety of in-person and remote class delivery formats. The reliance on remote delivery is presenting challenges to some of our students, particularly those who perform best in a face-to-face environment. We understand this and have great empathy for our students in navigating this challenge. We’ve asked our faculty to work with students to help them overcome their challenges.
 
While I hear stories of how our faculty are going to great lengths to adapt to new technologies, engage students, and facilitate learning, I have also heard stories and read parent emails that raised concerns about the delivery of some of our classes. Please know that we are working closely with our deans and department chairs to understand and address those concerns when we hear about them. In addition to looking into those concerns, we are asking all chairs to meet with their faculty members regarding the class formats and assess how things are going, and we are asking faculty to check-in with their students. If your student has concerns about the delivery of a course, I would encourage them to contact the chair of the respective department so that we can address any concerns from all angles.
 
Campus life
We are expanding options for your students to engage in campus life. We are optimistic about our ability to do that as we gather more data from our Sentinel Testing Program, which offers free testing for asymptomatic students, faculty and staff in an effort to understand more precisely the prevalence of the virus in our campus community. This data is crucial to allowing us to hold more in-person activities. Any student who gets tested is eligible for weekly drawings that include scholarships and other rewards. Please encourage your student to get tested. They should watch for emails from the Office of the Provost about this testing opportunity.
 
Late last week, we notified students that on-campus organizational meetings or other structured events can move forward within the COVID prevention protocols so that student organizations can be more engaged. It is a step in the right direction for students to more fully engage in campus life, and we look forward to continuing that trend. We are also encouraging academic departments to offer more co-curricular engagement opportunities for students.
 
Students’ state of mind
With midterms underway, we are in a time of year when our University Counseling Center (a free resource for students) typically experiences an uptick in calls. In addition, COVID-related issues and the limitations on campus life may contribute to students’ need to speak with a counselor. Our Student Affairs team is keenly attuned to these issues and is working actively to address and alleviate state of mind challenges that we know some of our students are facing.
 
Families’ Town Hall
I hope you can join me and several senior administrators for a Families’ Town Hall, where we will share additional updates from the campus and take your questions. We want to hear from you and clarify anything you may not understand about the state of affairs on campus. The Town Hall will be hosted on Zoom on Monday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. Central Time. We will send the link to the town hall in a separate message to follow. Please use this online form to submit questions in advance.
 
Please know that we hear your concerns about the challenges inherent in our current academic environment, and we are committed to addressing them to the extent possible. We would prefer to do what we do best by teaching all students in-person, inspiring them with hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, and equipping them with the skills they need to change the world. At the same time, this challenging period is trying for each of us, including your student, as we adapt to the circumstances required to respond to the virus. Their ability to navigate these challenges will make them stronger, more adaptable and resilient, and better equipped to take on whatever the world throws at them.
 
I want to reiterate our thanks and appreciation for entrusting us with the education of your student. This is a huge responsibility and one of the biggest investments that you and your family will make. We are fully committed to delivering an outstanding educational experience that enables your students to start building their personal legacies.
 
Stay well and Hotty Toddy,
 
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Revised Spring 2021 Academic Calendar and Commencement Plans

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear students, faculty and staff,
 
As we look ahead to Spring 2021, we are committed to offering the best on-campus living, learning and working environment that we can under the current challenges that we continue to face due to COVID-19. Our planning continues to be driven by four guiding principles:
  • Maintain an on-campus learning, residential and working environment that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the campus population,
  • Prevent the spread of the virus by following guidance provided by public health officials and agencies,
  • Fulfill our core mission of education, research, and service, and
  • Enable our students to maintain academic progress toward earning their degrees.
 
We recognize that the restrictions on campus activities have made this semester different for our students. While faculty and staff feel the difference as well, they are committed to delivering an outstanding educational experience to our students.
 
This message provides an overview of the modified academic calendar, the health and safety measures that will be in place as well as other relevant details known about the spring.    
 
Spring 2021 Health and Safety Protocols
The established public health protocols and parameters outlined in our Campus Ready Plan will remain in effect, including wearing masks and practicing social distancing. These parameters and protocols are constantly evolving and are continuously being evaluated as our environment and understanding changes.
 
Classroom Capacity and Engagement
Like every university in our state system and the Southeastern Conference, we must maintain reduced capacity in our classrooms to allow for social distancing. This reality constrains our ability to offer classes that can meet face-to-face. We will offer as many classes as we can with a face-to-face component, up to the protocol-adjusted capacity of our classroom spaces. Course formats for Spring 2021 will be determined and made known prior to registration so students can take this into consideration.
 
There will be many opportunities for faculty to engage with students in every course. These opportunities will be announced to the class or posted in the syllabus. Of course, these opportunities are more prevalent in remote, face-to-face, and hybrid formats. Interactions with faculty can take many forms, like class instruction, office hours, extra recitation, virtual discussions, etc.
 
Condensed Spring Schedule
  • Martin Luther King Jr. holiday (UM closed) will remain on the calendar for Jan. 18, 2021.
  • Classes will begin as originally scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.
  • Spring break will be canceled to complete the semester as quickly as possible while mitigating risks associated with travel. This has been widely adopted as a best practice in the current environment by universities across the country.
  • Good Friday holiday (UM closed) will remain on the calendar for April 2, 2021.
  • Classes will end April 23, 2021, which is one week earlier than previously scheduled.
  • Final exams will be completed by April 30, 2021.
  • Faculty will remain on contract until May 15, 2021.
For more information, please see the academic calendar for Spring 2021 on the registrar’s site.
 
Commencement
We consider it a great privilege to celebrate our graduates and their accomplishments during Commencement each year, and we are pleased to announce ceremony dates for the Class of 2021 as well as the Class of 2020. While we were unable to hold an in-person event for the Class of 2020 this past May because of the pandemic, we are eager to welcome them back to campus to celebrate and honor their incredible achievements, character and spirit. 
In anticipation that we will be able to interact more freely in May, we are planning both commencement ceremonies for that time. If COVID-19 restrictions are still in place, we will make and announce any adjustments to the formats of these events. We will share more details as they are finalized.
  • Class of 2021 Commencement — The main ceremony and most individual ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 1, 2021. Some individual ceremonies may take place the day before or day after May 1. Details about individual ceremonies will follow.
  • Class of 2020 Commencement — The main ceremony and most individual ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021. Some individual ceremonies may take place the day before May 8. Details about individual ceremonies will follow.

In spite of the many challenges we have faced and continue to tackle since the onset of the pandemic, I’m grateful and humbled by the incredible commitment and determination of our university community to look after all of our students as well as our faculty and staff. We remain committed to delivering the education, experience and value that is synonymous with Ole Miss.
 
Stay healthy, stay well.
 
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

University COVID-19 Update

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear students, faculty, staff and parents,

Entering our second week of classes, I’m writing to share observations and updates as we continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19.

On Friday, Aug. 28, a group of university leaders and I met on campus with Dr. Thomas Dobbs and Dr. Paul Byers from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss MSDH guidance to the state’s universities regarding isolation and quarantine processes, and to share what we have learned in navigating a number of complex and ever-changing scenarios. Dr. Dobbs added that he recognized the challenges facing universities, but was encouraged by the detailed plans and on-campus safety protocols employed by our university.

I’d like to share a big Thank You to all in our university community who expressed support to our colleagues who are working earnestly, diligently and tirelessly to make this environment work. Managing through a pandemic is difficult, and it affects everyone on every level, personally and professionally. Thank you for sharing constructive feedback, which we are using to improve our processes, approaches and overall response.

Below are updates and clarifications to keep you apprised of where we stand. Additional details are provided in the links incorporated below.

Monitoring the impact of the virus on campus

Last week, the Future Planning Task Force launched a dashboard to share data and metrics that we are tracking to assess the impact of COVID-19 on our campus. It is important to note that there is no single data point that will determine whether we need to implement additional measures. Rather, decision-making will require us to consider a number of factors affecting our ability to address the needs of current cases, mitigate risk for our campus constituents and manage the resources we need to respond.

For example, the number of active cases is considered in conjunction with other metrics such as capacity of hospital beds for our local hospital (Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi), or in tandem with availability of designated isolation or quarantine space on campus. Such considerations will more fully reflect the impact of the virus on our community and our ability to respond.

Thanks to our robust contact tracing efforts through our team of expert volunteers from the School of Applied Sciences, we have discerned that spread of the virus on our campus is not prevalent in classrooms and academic spaces. The experiences that have been shared with us about the classrooms and learning experiences have been positive. People are following the protocols in our academic and research spaces, and those protocols are working there.

We have linked a number of cases and outbreaks to a failure to follow the protocols in other settings, primarily off-campus social gatherings. We once again ask all members of our community to embrace the shared responsibility of adhering to the protocols – on and off campus. It is imperative that all of us take precautions to protect our entire community, especially vulnerable individuals among our students, faculty, staff and neighbors in Oxford.

Isolation and quarantine processes for on-campus residents

There has been some confusion related to isolation and quarantine, so I want to clarify our approach in this area.

The university is required to manage these processes in accordance with MSDH guidance, which continues to evolve as MSDH’s understanding deepens on how the virus may spread in various areas and populations. On Aug. 21, we learned that an outbreak in a university setting was defined by MSDH as three or more positive cases among a defined group, such as residents of a floor in a residence hall or members of a team.

Subsequently, MSDH updated its written guidance on Aug. 27 regarding isolation and quarantine on college and university campuses. In the on-campus meeting last Friday (Aug. 28), MSDH verbally communicated its plan to clarify further its guidance to colleges and universities on how to quarantine individuals affected by outbreaks. As a result of these discussions, we updated the information about these processes for Student Housing residents on our university’s COVID-19 website. Please visit this information page for additional details and FAQs.

This is just one example of how our processes continue to evolve as new information becomes available, and it requires time to understand such changes before we can communicate them to you. We remain committed to keeping our campus community informed as we navigate this period together.

As a university, we are working diligently to provide the best living and learning environment possible within the limits posed by these challenging times. While we may have to do things differently in the short term, we must remain focused on our long-term goal of reducing the impact of the virus in our community while keeping our students on track toward earning their degrees. We are grateful for everyone who is doing their part to help us get there.

Stay healthy, stay well.

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

University Budget Update

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear faculty and staff,

We are writing to share an update with you on the university budget.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to rethink almost every aspect of our campus operations, including finances. The financial impact of the pandemic has already been significant for us as we provided millions in refunds from the spring semester, invested in new ways to deliver courses remotely, incurred added costs to implement new protocols for the Fall 2020 semester and more. While many of our pandemic-related expenses may be eligible for reimbursement through CARES Act funding, many are not eligible for reimbursement.Read More

Return to Campus Plan for Fall 2020 – Alumni

Letters from the Chancellor

Dear alumni,

I hope this letter finds you healthy and well. I’m writing to share information about our “Campus Ready” plan that outlines changes to campus operations for the Fall 2020 semester. While our campus operations and academic protocols might not affect you directly, we recognize that there is great interest in how the university is navigating these very challenging times. In that spirit, we wanted to provide the summary below as well as share links to the plan and other relevant information.

While it is as comprehensive of a plan as possible to date, it remains a work-in-progress and will continue to be updated as additional campus protocols are finalized, the pandemic unfolds and updated public health recommendations become available. We remain focused on preserving the on-campus experience, but COVID-19 has forced us to rethink everything we do.

We recognize there are questions that we are not able to answer yet, including the impact on events in the fall like football and other sports, tailgating, Homecoming as well as other campus and social events. Throughout the pandemic, we have learned that each day brings new data and information that influences decision making at every level. As information and decisions are refined and finalized, we will continue to share those with our university community. Stay well, and we hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor

Overview of Return to Campus Plan for Fall 2020

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 while returning to in-person operations, the university is implementing new protocols and expectations for everyone on campus, a modified academic calendar, new forms of course delivery, mandatory training for employees and students, daily symptom checks and COVID-19 testing and tracing.

The university’s guiding principles continue to be preventing the spread of the virus and safeguarding the community; resuming on-campus learning while prioritizing safety and well-being; fulfilling the university’s core mission of education, research and service; and enabling students to maintain academic progress toward their degrees. 

The parameters and protocols include maintaining six feet of physical distancing and practicing proper hand hygiene. Face masks or cloth face coverings will be required at most times by faculty, staff, students and visitors, including at all times while indoors and in the presence of anyone else, and while outdoors where maintaining the required six feet of physical spacing is not feasible. 

The Fall 2020 semester will begin as scheduled on Aug. 24 with the last day of classes on Nov. 17. Final exams will be held Nov. 18-24. This was done in an effort to mitigate the potential spread of the virus, account for other health threats during the winter and acknowledge the likelihood of increased travel during fall holidays.

Classroom capacities will be reduced to comply with CDC and national public health recommendations. This will necessitate some courses to be taught in-person or through a blend of in-person and online instruction, while others will be offered remotely or fully online. The “Campus Ready” plan also includes specific guidance about events, student housing, dining services, fraternity and sorority life, the Student Union, campus transportation and more.

The “Campus Ready” plan was developed in alignment with government orders and public health recommendations from the Safe Return order of Gov. Tate Reeves’s reopening plan, the City of Oxford’s Serving Oxford Safely recovery plan, the IHL Safe Start Task Force, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), and the American College Health Association (ACHA).

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