CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS

Sent to all employee emails July 6, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

From the beginning of the pandemic, EWU has put the health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty at the center of our decision-making. Now, as the number of new cases increases significantly in our region, we will continue and even redouble those efforts.

Keeping health and safety in mind, and after consulting with our local public health experts, we’ve made the difficult decision to have courses beginning in the second summer session be delivered all online. This decision does not change the specific learning opportunities in semester-based courses that have already been approved as required for licensure or accreditation.

If you have questions, please contact Provost May or others in his office who will be able to give answers for individual situations

I know this decision will disappoint some, but it was made unavoidable by current public health realities. To help answer questions and hear concerns about summer and fall, I invite you to join me, executive leadership, and campus experts for a virtual town hall focused on campus preparedness and plans for fall:

Date:  Tuesday, July 14
Time: 11 a.m. to noon
Zoom link: ewu.zoom.us/j/99475925722

I hope you are staying healthy and safe. I look forward to meeting with you by Zoom next week.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all employee emails July 2, 2020

Good Morning,

Based on the significant influx of COVID-19 cases in Spokane County, EWU is taking steps to reduce the amount of potential exposure to the virus on its campus. For the health and safety of our university community, it is imperative that people follow the Governor’s order to wear masks and follow social distancing protocols.

Effective Monday, July 6^th:

• Employees are encouraged to telecommute whenever possible
• No in-person meetings or events will be permitted on campus until July 20th
• Employees should not be working on campus if they cannot maintain a minimum of six feet of distance between themselves and others. If there are areas where this is not possible, such as cubicles or confined work spaces, employees should rotate between teleworking and being on campus to minimize contact between individuals. If teleworking is not an option, employees should contact their supervisors to see if an alternative work location is available where they are able to adequately socially distance. Essential employees whose jobs do not allow them to maintain social distancing should contact their supervisors to discuss other protective measures
• Masks are required within EWU’s buildings unless someone is working alone in their office.  You may wear your own mask or contact your supervisor to obtain a cloth mask

We care about the safety and welfare of our employees and campus community.  Please help us in keeping our community safe.

Thank you. 

Deborah Danner, J.D.
Associate Vice President Human Resources

Sent to all employee emails June 25, 2020

Good Afternoon,

Please take time to reviewed the important EWU news article posted today on Inside EWU regarding COVID-19.  The article provides details on the following:

• New requirements to wear face masks beginning Friday, June 26th in response to the Order issued by Governor Jay Inslee;
• How to obtain a university-supplied reusable mask;
• How to file a report of a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19; and
• Link to EWU’s COVID-19 resource page

You can access the article on Inside EWU at https://inside.ewu.edu/.

If you have questions regarding these updates,  you can contact Human Resources at 509.359.2381.

Deborah Danner, J.D.
Associate Vice President, Human Resources

Sent to all employee emails May 28, 2020 – see email for important attachments

Good Afternoon,

As of May 22, 2020, the Governor’s Office approved Spokane, Pend Oreille and Stevens County to progress to Phase 2 of the “Safe Start” Recovery plan.  Under Phase 2, employees who perform professional services, which means employees who perform office based occupations, can begin returning to work onsite in these counties on June 1, 2020.  The University has spent the past few days preparing safety plans to support this transition.

Employee Guide and Training

You will find attached the Employee Guide for Returning to Work During COVID-19 Pandemic.  All employees who will be working on site, including those who have remained on campus over the past few weeks, must review this document.  The Guide details new procedures that employees will be expected to comply with as we move into Phase 2.

Additionally, employees who will be working on site, including those who have remained on campus over the past few weeks, are also required to complete Return to Work Training which can be accessed at https://canvas.ewu.edu/enroll/NKNT6T by June 8, 2020 or within one week of return to campus.

How do I Prepare to Return to Work

You will need to work with your supervisor to coordinate arrangements for your return.

As you return to work, you will need to ensure you have your keys or prox card because buildings remain closed to the public, except for the PUB.  Employees must be free of symptoms potentially related to COVID-19 before reporting to work.  Each day, employees are expected to check their temperatures to ensure they are below 100.4◦ and to confirm that they do not have any shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a new cough that is not associated with a non-COVID related illness or condition.  If employees have these symptoms, they will need to call their supervisors and not report to work.

If you are eligible to return, but feel unsafe, immediately contact your supervisor to discuss telework or leave options.  If your supervisor is willing to authorize telework, you must have a new telework agreement on file with Human Resources Office.  A copy of the telework and leave forms are attached.  If authorized to telework, employees must submit a task sheet to submit to their supervisor documenting the tasks performed while teleworking.  A copy of the task sheet form is also attached.

If you have any questions about this email, you can contact Human Resources at 359-2381 and if you have any questions about employee safety measures or Phase 2 operations, you may contact Risk Management at 359-6618.

Deborah Danner, J.D.
Associate Vice President, Human Resources

Sent to all student and employee emails May 8, 2020

Dear Campus Community,

The Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) recently notified EWU that a member of our campus community tested positive for COVID-19. While we are unable to share specific details about the case, we have been reassured by SRHD that the individual had not been on campus during the time they were contagious. The individual is currently in stable condition at their home; EWU has reached out to offer our assistance.

SRHD has been in contact with the individual and followed its contact-tracing protocols for anyone who may have been impacted. At this time, no further health or safety actions need to be taken by EWU or by our students, faculty and staff.

Moving forward, the university will only notify the campus of incidents that require broader action by our community. EWU will continue to work with the health department on contact-tracing and notifying those who may have come in contact with individuals in instances such as these.

Please continue to follow all CDC and public health guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash hands often with soap and water or, if not available, use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid contact with people who are sick
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others
• Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
• Consider wearing a mask

If you think you have been exposed to COVID‑19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

More information about COVID-19 and EWU’s response plan can be accessed at: www.ewu.edu/coronavirus

Sent to all student and employee emails May 5, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

Today we announced our “online-first, maximum flexibility” model for instruction and campus operations this fall. This approach will help ensure the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. I want to thank our faculty experts in public health and science who provided the leadership team with counsel and insight as this framework was developed.

All courses where online instruction is possible will be developed with the goal of delivering those courses online this fall. We will identify courses that cannot be offered online, such as some labs, so they can be approved for face-to-face instruction while following public health guidelines and reducing health risks to students, faculty, and staff.

This plan allows for flexibility: online offerings could switch to face-to-face instruction or a hybrid model if public health restrictions ease. Likewise, if health concerns increase, all courses can shift online using the existing class meeting schedule.

This approach will help students as they plan their schedules, mitigating disruption in their progress toward a degree.

While the first-year live-on requirement has been waived, residential halls and dining operations will be open for students who choose to live on campus. Only one student per room will be permitted; facilities will be cleaned and sanitized frequently. Housing staff will assist residents with social distancing practices and guidance on how to follow other public health measures.

We will continue to monitor and reassess the ongoing situation and, following directives from public health and government officials, make adjustments as needed in the best interest of the health and safety of our campus community.

As always, I deeply appreciate everyone’s flexibility, thoughtfulness, and creativity as we face the complexities of this situation.

If you have questions, please submit them to my Q & A page.

Best wishes,

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all student and employee emails April 30, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

On Wednesday afternoon, Governor Inslee announced that Washington’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive will extend past May 4. That announcement, intended to continue reducing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, does not affect Eastern’s current operations.

Tomorrow the governor will release more information about reopening the state. If that message affects Eastern’s operational plans, I will let you know.

EWU remains open, and we are not in suspended operations.

I know many of you want to return to campus. Many of you are eagerly awaiting a decision regarding Fall 2020. We expect to announce plans soon, with the well-being of students, faculty, and staff our most vital concern.

To help guide our approach, I’ve asked our very own public health experts to advise us, helping to ensure our plans are thoughtful, deliberate, and grounded in science:

• Krisztian Magori, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
• Katie Taylor, PhD, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
• Sarah Mount, EdD, Program Director, Undergraduate Public Health
• David Line, PhD, Program Director, Public Health

Many thanks to these faculty for offering to provide their knowledge and insight.

And thanks to all of you, as always, for your ongoing support of one another during these difficult times.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all student emails April 24, 2020

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your commitment to staying home and reducing physical interactions throughout spring term.

Social distancing strategies can take a toll on our physical health, social connections, and personal wellbeing. Here are our top five strategies, with helpful apps, to overcome these challenges and bring back control to your life.

1. Build a routine. Develop recurring to-do lists that lead to healthy habits. Be sure to include regular sleep times, targeting 7-9 hours each day. This will ensure you have the energy and focus you need to be active throughout the day.

Recommended app: Productive. Productive will coach you through small steps towards healthy habits. You can track good habits like flossing, eating healthy foods, and performing yoga.

2. Maintain a balanced diet. Fuel your body with the things you need to stay focused on school and more active during your free time. If nutrition is something you’ve struggled with, EWU’s Dining Services can help. Contact Natalie Stine at nstine@ewu.edu.

Recommended app: MyFitnessPal. MyFitnessPal allows you to record the food you eat each day, tracking micro and macronutrients. This app also allows you to see your calorie intake and compare it against your energy output for the day.

3. Dedicate time and space. Designate different spaces in your home where you work, exercise, eat, and sleep. Do the same with your daily schedule: identify and protect your times for work, play, and exercise (aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week).

Recommended app: Outlook. Outlook enables you to keep tabs on your school and personal email while also managing your personal schedule.

4. Engage with supportive communities. Active lifestyles are easier to maintain when you are a part of a supportive community. Keep in touch with your communities by following #EaglesOutside on social media or simply calling a friend to talk while taking a walking break outside.

Recommended app: Strava. Strava allows you to follow people in your local community and participate in various challenges. Check out the Eastern Washington University club on Strava to see other members of the EWU community who choose to be active.

5. Embrace the virtual. Several health and fitness companies have stepped up to help support active lifestyles through virtual platforms. Many of these platforms are specifically for college students. Below is a list of resources that can ease your transition into a “Stay Home, Stay Active” lifestyle.

Recommended apps:

• Les Mills On Demand – Free access to over 100 at home workouts.
• Down Dog – Free access to yoga workouts when you login with your EWU email.
• Nike Training Club – Free access to multi-week training programs.

Contact Chris Hoppe, Associate Director of Campus Recreation, at 509.359.7394 for more information. The Campus Recreation team is here for you through this challenging period.

You got this.

Chris Hoppe
Associate Director of Campus Recreation

Sent to all student and employee emails April 21, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

Now that we’re well into spring term, I’m receiving many questions about summer and fall. We still don’t know whether Governor Inslee will extend the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive beyond May 4; however, I know how important it is for students, faculty, and staff to be able to plan. Living with uncertainty is very difficult for all of us. Nonetheless, the health and wellness of our Eastern family are paramount.

We can’t make a decision about fall classes until we have more information. I’ll communicate with the campus as soon as possible. Updates are posted at www.ewu.edu/coronavirus.

In the meantime, this is the plan for summer:

• All quarter and semester classes will be held online. By June 1, leadership will decide on any face-to-face exceptions for the second four-week session of quarter and semester summer sessions.
• EWU is not planning to host any face-to-face summer camps prior to fall term.
• The URC and athletic facilities, including the swimming pool, will continue to remain closed through summer.
• The PUB will continue to have limited operations and access for students, faculty, and staff. Please use the 2nd-floor entryway to access the laptop kiosk, ATM, printer station, and Union Market. The first and third floors are closed to the public and accessible to authorized personnel only.
• All food services, with the exception of Union Market, will be closed. Union Market will continue to offer “grab and go” meals only.
• The EWU Eagle Store’s physical location will remain closed through summer. Items may still be purchased online. Staff are available by phone and email to provide customer service.

In addition, we’ve made these decisions regarding Fall 2020:

• EWU will suspend the housing live-on requirement for Academic Year 2020-21.
• Residence halls will be available in academic year 2020-21 for students who want or need that option.
• University Apartments will be available for those who qualify.

I’ll communicate with the campus as soon as more information becomes available. I appreciate your patience and understanding.

As always, my thoughts are with you and your families during this difficult time.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all student emails April 16, 2020

Eastern Washington University Administrative Updates – 4.16.20

Mary Cullinan, President
David May, Provost, Vice President Academic Affairs
Mary Voves, Vice President, Business and Finance
Rob Sauders, Vice President, Student Affairs
Barb Richey, Vice President, Advancement

As we move forward through spring, executive leadership will continue to provide as much information as possible through a variety of media. Over the last two weeks, we’ve held town halls, provided timely information via email and social media, and continued to update the coronavirus website for faculty, staff, and students as well as for families, alumni, and other external constituencies. We were pleased to see hundreds of participants tuning in to the town halls we’ve held so far. The president and vice presidents plan to hold another town hall next Thursday, April 23, 10:30-11:30 AM (more information to come).

The following are updates on areas about which we’ve received numerous questions during town halls and on the website:

June Commencement ceremonies

We will not hold graduation ceremonies face-to-face in June. This is one of the most difficult decisions the leadership team has made in these trying times. We know how important it is to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. The graduation team has already shifted gears, working on a virtual alternative. As those plans become clearer, we’ll share them with the campus. We will also invite all graduates to walk at future Commencement ceremonies.

Summer term

Classes will be entirely online for the first summer session (which starts June 22). We’re hopeful that it might be possible to allow limited options for face-to-face offerings during the second summer session (which starts July 20). If the public health situation allows for safely offering some classes, these would remain limited to labs and practicum courses that cannot be taught online for reasons of licensure or program accreditation.

Allowing even a limited number of specific courses will be decided only if we can continue to keep our students, faculty, staff, and communities safe. We will follow guidelines from public health officials or the Governor as we plan for Summer 2020 and for Fall 2020.

The Student Care Team

Please know that the Student Care Team is available to assist students who are having difficulties or need assistance. To centralize the high volume of requests the Student Care Team is receiving, Student Affairs has created two online intake forms.

If you are a student and wish to connect with the Student Care Team, please click Student Intake Form. If you are a concerned faculty, staff, or community member and wish to alert us about a student needing assistance, please click ICARE.

Catalyst Building and Interdisciplinary Science Center

The Catalyst construction has been moving forward on schedule. We’re still planning to move into the building in time for Fall 2020 classes. We’re also developing contingency plans in case there are delays to the schedule.

ISC construction has been halted while we’ve been directed to shelter in place. We’re negotiating with the contractor to resume construction. Although the project has slowed, we’re confident that it will be completed close to its original estimate; however, we don’t know right now when the building will be completed and ready for occupancy.

The EWU Eagle Store, library, URC, and all athletic facilities

These will remain closed through the remainder of the academic year. Please visit their respective websites for information on the limited services they are continuing to provide.

Pence Union Building (PUB)

The PUB remains open for “grab and go” food service at Union Market and is accessible via the second floor entrance only. The laptop kiosk and printer station have been moved from the third floor to the second floor. The first and third floors are restricted to staff only.

AVP for Equity and Inclusion

Every member of university leadership is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on our campus and in our community. However, the search process for an AVP has been halted while we are sheltering in place.

As we are late in initiating a search process this academic year, and as our campus situation remains uncertain, we’ve decided to find an expert in our own community to help us chart a course toward more diversity, equity, and inclusion and a more welcoming learning environment. The provost and his team are focused on that planning and will have more information shortly.

Meanwhile, the Multicultural Center and the Pride Center continue to function remotely—and will function as normal when face-to-face interactions are possible again.

Giving Joy Day

We’re delighted by the results of Giving Joy Day: $275,805.18 was raised as a final total. We received 370 individual gifts from 279 donors; 191 of the donors were EWU faculty and staff. The donations will help support student scholarships, the food pantry, and the Student Emergency Fund.

Thank you to everyone who donated! The support makes a huge difference for our students.

We continue to learn wonderful stories of ways in which Eastern students, faculty, and staff are going above and beyond during this difficult time—thank you! Be sure to read about them on InsideEWU. Just look for those labeled Eagle Strong.

Students, we miss you! We hope to see you back on campus very soon. We’ll continue to communicate as information becomes available. Please be safe and keep those close to you safe as well.

Sent to all student and employee emails April 15, 2020

In-person commencement has been cancelled.

Dear Campus Community:

Every year at Commencement, we celebrate our students’ academic accomplishments. Walking across the stage, hearing your name called in front of your classmates, family, and friends, is an experience like no other.

This year, unfortunately, the global pandemic has forced us all to reset gatherings, celebrations, and holidays. We can’t hold a traditional Commencement ceremony this spring.

Although we can’t bring everyone together physically this year, we’re committed to celebrating our graduates. Thus, we’re planning a virtual Commencement for our Class of 2020 semester and quarter program graduates.

Please join us online on Saturday, June 13, for this celebration. Information about the virtual ceremony will be updated here: https://inside.ewu.edu/commencement/schedule-of-ceremonies/

In addition, if you would have walked the stage this spring, I invite you to participate in traditional Commencement ceremonies in spring 2021. (If health restrictions are lifted by then, we may even explore holding a special in-person graduation ceremony in Fall 2020.)

Class of 2020, your perseverance and dedication through these challenging times make you a shining example of Eagle spirit and grit. I’m so proud of you! And I look forward to celebrating your success at our virtual Commencement ceremony. Watch for more information coming your way.

Stay safe, and be well.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all employee emails April 14, 2020

Good Afternoon,

Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-46 today (see Link), amending Proclamation 20-05, which prevents all employers, public or private, from failing to provide accommodation to high risk employees, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that protects them from risk of exposure to the COVID-19 disease on the job.

Specifically:

1. The employer must offer high-risk employees alternative work assignments, including telework, alternative, or remote work locations, if feasible, and social distancing measures:
2. If an alternative work assignment is not feasible, or the employee declines, the employer must allow the employee to use any accrued leave or seek unemployment benefits;
3. The employer must maintain the employee’s health insurance benefits;
4. The employer is prohibited from permanently replacing high-risk employees.

This proclamation was issued April 13, 2020 and expires on June 12, 2020, unless extended by the Governor.

The safety and welfare of our employees is of primary concern to Eastern Washington University.  If you are at high-risk, as defined by the CDC, (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html) and would like to request an accommodation under the Proclamation, please complete the leave form which is available.  If you have any questions you can contact Human Resources at 359-2381.

Deborah Danner, J.D.
Associate Vice President, Human Resources