CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS

There have been NO reported cases of COVID-19 on the EWU campuses. The community will be notified if the situation changes.

Latest Updates

As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 3. What’s new?

No In-Person Internships, Labs or Practica

As of Friday, March 20, all face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the academic year has been suspended. This includes all internships, labs and practica that require face-to-face contact. Students may still enroll for course credits if their work in these programs can be completed in a non-face-to-face format. Please reach out to your department chair or program director for further guidance. 

Work Remotely – EWU will remain open, not in suspended operations.

As of April 2, Washington’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order has been extended until May 4. The directive requires Washingtonians to stay at home except for essential activities. In keeping with the governor’s directive, all faculty and staff who are able to telework must do so. While the governor’s current order will remain in place until midnight, May 4, employees should be prepared for possible extensions to the timeline. More: Telework Resources

Classes Will Resume April 6

EWU will delay the start of spring quarter by one week to Monday, April 6. This will allow our students, faculty and staff more time to prepare for the start of the term and increase opportunities to “flatten the curve.” We will be sharing a reduced academic calendar including a plan for finals very soon. Spring semester will also resume April 6, though some semester programs are resuming online coursework as early as March 23. Please consult with your departments for further details.

What’s Open?

Prevention Measures

Students, Residents & Visitors

Parents &
Families

Future Student Assistance

Faculty & Staff Resources

Travel & Study Abroad

Health Services & Testing

New Messages

Sent to all resident student emails April 3, 2020

We hope this finds you safe, healthy and staying home! Yesterday, Gov. Inslee extended the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order to Monday, May 4. With that in mind, we want to update you on a few items related to EWU Housing:

Timelines for Moving:

  • If you are not planning to live on campus spring quarter, but have not yet moved out your belongings, you must remove them within 7 days after the stay home order is lifted. Your spring quarter charges will remain on your account until your belongings have been removed.
  • If you are remaining on campus for spring, but are not currently here, you do not have to be here by Sunday, but you need to move as soon as you come back. We will turn off your access on Monday so you will need to call your hall’s on-call number when you arrive to move.
  • If you are remaining on campus, and you are currently here, you must be moved by end-of-day Sunday, April 5.

Parking:

  • If you have an annual parking pass, it will work at your new hall assignment.
  • If you did not purchase an annual pass, you need to purchase a spring quarter pass online.
  • Parking enforcement will resume on Monday, April 6.

Dining:

  • Take-out service only – no dine-in. Please honor marked spacing on the floors for social distancing. Dining staff will be monitoring how many customers are in any given space.
  • Union Market Hours:
    • 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
    • 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
  • Einstein’s Bagels (offering GrubHub ordering at this location)
    • 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Connecting:

Being apart from our friends, families and fellow human beings in general has already been a struggle for the last week and a half, and now we are looking at another month. We’ve got you covered!

  • Your hall on-call number isn’t just for emergencies and move-outs anymore! Please call your hall on-call number if you need anything, even if that is just to chat!
  • Housing and Residential Life staff will be reaching out to you in the next week or two to check-in.
  • Student Support and Advocacy, well-being coaching, and Counseling and Psychological Services all continue to be available to you. If you are struggling at all, reach out. We all need support during this time. For more information on these services visit inside.ewu.edu/student-support-advocacy.
  • Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership has created a page entirely focused on your virtual entertainment. Visit inside.ewu.edu/sail/virtual-events to check it all out!
  • Intramurals will be offering eSports opportunities this quarter. Details for leagues coming soon!

Staying Healthy:

You play a critical role, not only in your own health, but in the health of every member of your community, the staff serving you, and their families. The only way to get through this is together!

Please continue to practice the following:

  • Social distancing:
    • Stay 6 feet away from others at all times.
    • Do not bring visitors into the residence halls – we do not want to add their germs to the mix!
    • Remain in your room whenever possible.
  • Wash your hands…frequently…for 20 full seconds (perhaps sing the EWU Fight Song). Seriously.
  • Wipe things down in your room regularly. If you do not have the appropriate cleaning supplies, call the on-call phone and we will work to get some disinfectant to you.
  • If you start to feel sick, please call the on-call phone so we can plan next steps with you.
  • Call your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

This is an incredibly challenging time. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to keep everyone healthy! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need anything at all. Stay healthy!

EWU Housing and Residential Life

Sent to all student and employee emails April 2, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

This evening Governor Inslee extended the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive until May 4 to reduce further the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Following the governor’s directive, EWU will maintain its current approach to operations until further notice:

  • All instruction for spring term will continue online.
  • Students, faculty, and staff should continue social distancing practices and other preventive measures.
  • University housing and dining operations will continue to provide limited service.
  • All employees who are able to telework must do so.
  • Campus buildings are closed to the general public. Certain buildings and offices, such as the PUB, will have limited hours while providing essential services.

EWU will continue to assess how this directive impacts the university’s operations through the remainder of the academic year. We will follow up with any additional information or directions. Meanwhile, please continue to operate as you have done since the order was originally implemented.

I know this directive is challenging for many of us. Truly, this situation is unprecedented. My thoughts are with you and your families during these difficult weeks. Your patience, understanding, and courage will help carry our university—and all of us—through this extraordinary and frightening time.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all employee emails March 31, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

Sheltering in place continues even as spring classes are around the corner. A few early flowers are beginning to add color to the campus, but only a handful of people are here to welcome them.

Working from home is challenging. Zoom calls have lost any charm they once had. Texts, emails, and websites don’t replace informal conversations and lunch meetings, to say nothing of face-to-face classes, advising, and mentoring.

But, even as we work in these strangely dislocated ways, we need to remember that we remain a community. We need to reaffirm the importance of our mission.

I’m very proud of all the effort this campus has made to stay focused during these troubling weeks. It’s a heavy lift. Faculty have taken on the challenge of online classes with energy and creativity. Staff in advising, dining, mail service, financial aid, admissions, IT, student support—everyone is working hard to serve students, to help our university function in this different reality, this oddly disjointed and disrupted time.

Moreover, the heavy lift will stay with us for the immediate future. We will continue to face challenges as the health crisis impacts our university in unprecedented ways.

Although this was not the spring that any of us imagined or planned for, it’s important that we remain a community, united in our mission and our commitments to students and each other.

Thank you all. Stay safe and healthy.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all student emails March 30, 2020

Dear EWU Students, 

The past few weeks have been difficult: The rapid spread of COVID-19, moving all classes online for spring term, and a “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” directive from Governor Inslee are but a few examples of the unprecedented and stressful times we are living through.

In response to these difficulties and to best support you as you continue your studies at EWU during the Spring, the Student Affairs team has been working to ensure that students are well-supported in these unsettling times.

To help you as you prepare to begin classes next week, I want to share a few of the support services we have available during Spring term. Some of these are new, while others are modifications or adaptations of our existing services.

For more information on each area, please click on the links below.

  • Financial Aid: Financial aid has moved many processes online and has authorized flexible aid packages for students, while adhering to federal financial aid requirements. With the evolving state and federal response to COVID-19, Financial Aid will provide updates about new opportunities and options for students on their website.
  • Housing: This quarter the on-campus experience will look a little different; however, the Housing team will be ready to assist you virtually throughout the spring. You can expect staff to be reaching out to you via email, text, phone, or Zoom, to regularly check-in with you throughout the quarter. You can always email us at housing@ewu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
  • EWU Food Pantries: Even in the midst of COVID-19, we remain committed to supporting students in need. The Central Food Pantry in Tawanka Hall will be open on Tuesday afternoons between 1-4 p.m. We ask that you please meet one of our staff members by the door on the side facing Patterson Hall during that time. Please email ceamericorps@ewu.edu with questions or if you need accommodations.
  • Disability Support Services: DSS has worked closely with Instructional Technology and faculty to help meet student accommodation needs in the online class environment. Students needing accommodations for online learning should reach out to both DSS and their instructors since the online environment will be new for many students, staff and faculty.
  • CAPS: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) remains committed to supporting student wellbeing and resilience, and is responding to COVID-19 by moving services online. In accordance with social distancing protocols, most individual counseling during spring quarter will be provided via telephone or videoconference (Zoom) sessions.CAPS will continue to have clinicians available for walk-in or, currently, phone-in sessions. These brief sessions remain available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1-4 p.m. For students who have not been clients of CAPS, online forms will need to be completed prior to speaking with a counselor. Please visit the CAPS website for how to reach out and access services.Additional services remain available at CAPS including biofeedback resources and TAO self-help online modules.
  • Student Care Team: Our Student Care Team is dedicated to helping support all students and has moved operations online. If you would like to connect with a member of the Student Care Team via Zoom/email/phone please complete our Student Intake Form and we will reach out directly to you. If you are concerned about a fellow student and would like us to reach out to them, please complete our ICARE form and we will reach out.
  • Student Emergency Fund: We have modified the Student Emergency Fund to assist students in crisis and help provide laptops to students unable to complete their courses due to a lack of equipment. If you need assistance with a computer, please go to the I Need a Laptop form on the coronavirus FAQ site.
  • Career Center: The Career Center has updated their materials for online delivery and has migrated all of their services online. All career advising appointments, resume and job search assistance as well as employer interviews are being facilitated virtually. Advisors are assisting students through a variety of online, email and telephone services.
  • SAIL: Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL), and Eagle Entertainment are here to help students stay connected through virtual programming. Check our calendar of events to see what opportunities are available and remember to log in to EagleSync to find other virtual events student organizations will be hosting.

In addition, the Academic Affairs team has also developed online support services for students. Specifically, I would like to make sure you are aware of the following:

If you have any questions regarding how to access these support services, I encourage you to email vpsa@ewu.edu and a member of the Student Affairs team will be in touch with you to help.

Lastly, there will be an online town hall meeting for students and parents on Thursday, April 2 from noon-1 p.m. Student Affairs staff will be available to answer questions from you about support services for the Spring term and we look forward to hearing from you then. An invitation to attend the Zoom webinar will be sent via email shortly. In the meantime, you may submit questions for the online town hall meeting here.

Sincerely,

Robert R. Sauders, PhD
Interim Vice President, Student Affairs

Sent to all resident student emails March 26, 2020

We hope this email finds you safe and healthy! Following the Governor’s recent “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive, we have developed an FAQ to provide updates and clarification.

Can/should I live on campus Spring quarter?

As the pandemic has continued to evolve we have also evaluated all University operations. We are providing limited housing and dining options to those students who need a safe place to stay, and strongly recommend students consult with their parents and families to determine where they should live. Housing and Residential Life is committed to providing those students who need to stay on campus with as much support as possible, given the circumstances.

What is the deadline to get my things out of my room?

In light of the “stay at home” order issued by the Governor an exact date is unknown at this time. Therefore, we have determined that students will have up to 7 days after the order is lifted to remove all belongings.  Once the order has been lifted we will send another update with the specific date.

Can I come get my things during the “stay at home” order?

You will have access to the halls and will be able to complete an express checkout at any time, however we encourage people to honor the “stay at home” order, as well as public health guidelines, such as staying home if you do not feel well.

What if I want a friend or family member to move my things out?

You may have a friend or family member move your things out.  Prior to them arriving, you need to send an email to housing@ewu.edu with your Name, EWU ID, Room #, and your friend/family member’s name.  They should call the on-call number for your building when they arrive and a staff member will help them get access to your room.

Will I be charged if my things aren’t out of my room?

Spring quarter charges will be applied to your account if you have not checked out of your room. As soon as you retrieve your belongings, within 7 days after the “stay at home” order is lifted and check out, those charges will be reversed.

What happens if I receive a late fee because I didn’t want to pay my housing charges since I know I’m moving out?

We will reverse any late fees you incurred as a result of housing and dining charges on your account.

If I stay on campus, will I get to stay in my current room? Do I have to have a roommate?

To help ensure the safety of our residents the university has decided to place all residents in their own single room at no additional cost to the student as part of the university’s ongoing efforts to protect the health of our students. All residents will be charged the lower double room rate ($2368) plus the cost of the meal plan they have selected. We will be consolidating our residents to two halls; those halls will be announced early next week.

What is happening with my meal plan?

All remaining Winter quarter balances are rolling to Spring for use, and will then continue to roll forward to Fall quarter. If you move out, your meal plan will be cancelled and charges will be reversed.

We are reaching out to a few students that have not told us their plans about staying or leaving for Spring quarter. If you have not updated us in the last few days, please reach out and let us know your plans.

In response to the governor’s order, the physical location of the main Housing office is not currently open, however we are operating remotely and are still answering phone calls and voicemails to the best of our ability. The most consistent way to reach us during this time is by email: housing@ewu.edu.

Please visit the coronavirus Q&A guide for answers to other questions you may have:  www.ewu.edu/coronavirus

Be well,

EWU Housing and Residential Life

Sent to all employee emails March 26, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I realize that working from home can be stressful and difficult. However, we’re doing the right thing: we’re making healthy choices for ourselves and the broader community.

Beginning next week, EWU will offer up to two weeks of paid sick leave for employees who are unable to work or telework because (1) they have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to COIVD-19 concerns or (2) they have minor children whose school or childcare provider is closed due to COVID-19.

Additionally, as directed by Congress, EWU will offer up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave to employees who are unable to work or telework because they need to care for a minor child whose school or childcare provider is closed due to COVID-19. More details about these leave options will be available next week.

I’ve been writing to you frequently over the last weeks as our situation has been uncertain and information has been voluminous. However, now that the situation has stabilized, at least for the moment, I’ll respect your inbox and the amount of work you’re all doing. Moving forward, I’ll write less frequently unless something significant needs to be shared immediately.

For ongoing news and information, continue to check the coronavirus FAQ webpage: www.ewu.edu/coronavirus. Also, go to the InsideEWU e-newsletter for ongoing news and information.

Please remember that, unless we communicate otherwise, Eastern Washington University remains open. And we are not in suspended operations.

As we move closer to the start of spring term, departments and offices are adjusting to the “new normal” of operating via alternate modalities and locations. Here are a few examples:

  • Admissions will launch Admitted Student Day in a virtual format, along with webinars and videos for prospective students.
  • The Student Care Team has developed a daily planner for students to help promote balance in their lives by ensuring they stay active and social.
  • Human Resources has posted a telework resource guide on the website for employees and supervisors.
  • Additional virtual town halls and panels will be scheduled to support our students, faculty, and staff through this difficult time.

Once again, I’m grateful to everyone for your creativity and flexibility during this time.

Mary Cullinan
President

P.S. The EWU Foundation recently shared recorded performances from EWU music students. If you need an inspirational break from your work at home, check these out!

Sent to all employee emails March 24, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. I appreciate the work everyone is doing in so many ways to keep the university functioning during this tumultuous time.

Yesterday, Governor Inslee issued a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive. This directive requires Washingtonians to stay at home except for essential activities, including work. I know we will follow these guidelines to keep our community safe and healthy.

Eastern Washington University can and will remain open. We are not in suspended operations. In keeping with the governor’s directive, we are continuing operations in alternate modalities and locations.

Under the directive, essential personnel for universities includes those employees who provide behavioral health services, financial aid, mail services and shipping, law enforcement, facilities, and limited dining operations.

Please note the following:

  • Local law enforcement, including EWU Police, will primarily educate and raise awareness about the conditions imposed by the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” directive.
  • All faculty and staff who are able to telework must do so. While the governor’s current order will remain in place until midnight, April 6, 2020, employees should be prepared for possible extensions to the timeline.
  • Human Resources has published telework resources on their website.
  • Faculty who wish to have textbooks delivered to their homes may do so by ordering through the EWU Eagle Store.
  • I’ve directed my executive leadership to prudently manage expenses by restricting hiring and travel as well as limiting purchases.

As new information becomes available, I’ll continue to communicate with you. And we continue to update the coronavirus FAQ on this webpage.

Once again, I so deeply appreciate all you do. Even as we’re separated physically, we continue to work together as a community, supporting students and each other. Thank you.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all student emails March 24, 2020

Dear EWU Students, 

Effective immediately checks will no longer be available for pick up in Sutton Hall. This includes payroll, financial aid, refunds or other payments. Please make arrangements to have direct deposit or ensure your current mailing address is up-to-date. You can update your address via EagleNET.

Payroll Checks:
Direct deposit information was sent with the March 25, 2020 mailed paychecks but can also be accessed at the following –https://d3tb2mkdocc4em.cloudfront.net/financialservices/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2018/01/Direct-Deposit-Form.pdf

Completed forms can be emailed to payroll@ewu.edu or mailed to Payroll at Showalter Hall, Room 319, Cheney, WA  99004.

Financial Aid checks will continue to be mailed.

Sincerely,

Robert R. Sauders, PhD
Interim Vice President, Student Affairs

Sent to all employee and student emails March 23, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

Just moments ago, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a new “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order as part of the ongoing effort to reduce the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to share the details so that you can stay informed and be safe.

The governor’s newest restriction asks all Washingtonians to stay home and stay healthy in order to minimize contact with others for at least two weeks. [As of April 2, this order has been extended until May 4.] People are asked to go outside only if they are pursuing an essential activity, such as going to the grocery store, the doctor, or essential work duty.

The governor’s business order goes into effect in 48 hours. Between now and then EWU will determine how the directive applies to the university and follow up with specific directions. Until then, please continue to operate as you have, while making preparations to potentially work at home for a sustained period of time.

Students may remain on campus if they feel safer at the university, or if they have no other housing options.

I again urge you to stay informed on the latest developments and measures by visiting www.ewu.edu/coronavirus.

Our thoughts continue to be with you and your families during this difficult time. Your patience, understanding and courage will help carry Eastern through this unprecedented time.

Mary Cullinan
President

Sent to all employee and student emails March 23, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

Today is the first day of spring break. Instead of a traditional, much-anticipated time of respite, we are practicing social distancing. Many of us are physically separated from friends and family. Many of us are feeling somewhat isolated and lonely.

I encourage everyone to reach out to one another, to maintain connections vital to our social and emotional wellbeing. I’m delighted to hear that campus constituencies are organizing video chats, virtual book clubs, interactive computer game nights, and other online social interactions. Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL) is developing additional opportunities for student engagement during spring term.

Eastern remains open. We are not in suspended operations. However, we have implemented the following measures:

  • All events through May 30 have been postponed or canceled, including Commencement for semester programs and the Student Research & Creative Works Symposium.
  • Faculty and staff should continue to telework as much as possible.
  • We need to anticipate added directives from the governor, including the possibility of sheltering-in-place. If the governor issues an executive order, we will follow rapidly with information about how this directive specifically impacts our campus community.
  • Faculty members have been working hard to reimagine online options for student internships, labs, practica, and so on. I encourage students to reach out to program directors and chairs with suggestions for ways to complete these activities online.

Lastly, please support community members who may be facing discrimination. Media reports of people of Asian origin and heritage being targeted and harassed—as well as people being bullied for showing potential symptoms of illness—are highly disturbing.

Our Eastern community remains committed to being an inclusive and respectful environment; our campuses welcome everyone who is working and studying here. This is the time for us to come together, not from a place of fear but from a place of kindness and compassion.

As new information becomes available, I will continue to communicate with you. And we will continue to update the coronavirus FAQ webpage: www.ewu.edu/coronavirus

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. As always, THANK YOU for all you do for our campus community.

Mary Cullinan
President

About

COVID-19 is a newly identified coronavirus that is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness. It was first identified in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then, the virus has been identified in multiple other countries, including cases in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), human coronaviruses are common throughout the world and usually cause mild to moderate illness in people. This new virus is a public health concern because:

  • It is newly identified, so much is still unknown about it.
  • Two other human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, have caused severe illness.

Cases within the United States are continuing to increase.  This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is providing updated information as it becomes available, and we are in frequent contact with the Spokane Regional Health District to monitor the situation.

As part of its comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, a living document that changes and conforms to each individual event on campus, EWU has a section dedicated to how it responds to communicable diseases, such as coronavirus. View the document.

Text: Questions about COVID-19? Call the WA State Dept of Health: 1.800.525.0127 and press # or visit srhd.org/covid19The Washington State Department of Health has established an information line to answer questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms – please call 1-800-525-0127 and press #.

Prevention

The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.

How to Sew a Face Mask (NY Times)

How to Make a No-Sew Face Mask (Oregonian)

Additionally, the CDC is advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators.  Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

In some parts of the world, mask use is customary. People wear masks often for a variety of reasons, including to avoid pollen and air pollution, as a courtesy to others when they have the common cold, and for other cultural and even social reasons.

The CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the novel coronavirus:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • It is also recommended that you remove any communal candy dishes or sharing of food that is not individually wrapped.

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

Symptoms may be flu-like, ranging from mild to serious, and include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person to person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. The principle mode of transmission is still thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets that travel up to six feet in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. This transmission is similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

The CDC has issued new guidance.

Stay home from school and work. Practice good hygiene.

For individuals with symptoms who are confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and are directed to care for themselves at home, discontinue home isolation only under the following conditions:

  • If you had a fever, 3 days after the fever ends AND you see an improvement in your initial symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath);
  • If you did not have a fever, 3 days after you see an improvement in your initial symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath); AND
  • 7 days after symptom onset, whichever is longer.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, people with preexisting health conditions are at higher risk to develop complications from COVID-19 infection. The Department of Health has created guidelines to help you plan and prepare in the event of needing to limit time in public or if you become sick.

As with any natural or human-inflicted disaster, the novel coronavirus outbreak presents an added layer of stress and worry for members of our EWU community who have personal connections to the affected area. This is a critically-important time for all of us to reinforce a community of care on our campus and support one another.

If you would like to talk with someone, support is available to students:

Coronavirus is not specific to any ethnicity or race. Racist behavior and stereotyping are not tolerated at Eastern Washington University.

Faculty, instructors, and staff cannot tell students or employees to stay home based on their recent travel history or perceived nation of origin.

If individuals believe they are being treated unfairly, discriminated against or harassed, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action & ADA Compliance at 509.359.6612.

At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread COVID-19 or be a source of infection in the United States. Learn More

For More Information

Campus Services

To align with Gov. Inslee’s directive for restaurants to offer only “to-go” or “delivered meals,” EWU Dining Services will only offer take-out service, no dine-in. Spacing has been marked on floors to control lines, and social distancing measures will be monitored for all customers. Grocery and convenience items will still be sold at the Union Market in the normal fashion.

Beginning April 6, dining hours will be:

  • Union Market
    8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
    9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
  • Einstein’s Bagels
    7:30 a.m..-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
    Online ordering offered through the Grub Hub app

All spring meal plans have been adjusted to include $250 in Flex dollars to offer residential students greater access to Cheney merchants.

The EWU Food Pantry Program will continue to be stocked and accessible on a limited basis due to the closure of most campus buildings. At this time, the Central Pantry in Tawanka Hall will be open on Tuesdays, 1-4:30 p.m. Please contact the Office of Community Engagement with questions.

Spokane Campus Pantry Info

Please visit WSU’s COVID-19 Updates for Spokane Students page (note: not all services are available to EWU students).

The physical location of the EagleCard Office is currently closed to the public. Services are still offered remotely via email and phone.

Beginning April 6, students and employees needing assistance in-person will be assigned a slot between 10 a.m.-2 p.m., on Mondays and Fridays. Options are still being considered for individuals not able to return to campus. Office appointments will be 5-10 minutes long, depending on what services are needed. Preparations will be made by EagleCard staff prior to appointments to maintain best practices for social distancing.

Questions: eaglecard@ewu.edu or 509.359.6184

EagleCard Office Information Page

EWU is closed to the public effective March 20 to May 4. During this time we will not be offering tours. After May 4, admissions will continue to offer on-campus tours but will be taking proactive measures, such as limiting the size of tours.

EWU Admissions staff are working to quickly develop virtual tours and other online experiences for future students and their families. More

In response to the rapidly-changing COVID-19 situation, the JFK building is closed.  The JFK Library website when we have a planned reopening date.

LIBRARY SERVICES DURING SPRING 2020

The EWU Sports & Recreation Center (SRC/PHASE) and University Recreation Center (URC) will be closed for recreational purposes from March 16 until April 27.

Online sections of Fast Fitness are currently being developed for spring quarter.

The EWU Eagle Store will be closed until classes resume April 6. 

Students can order the course materials they need and have them shipped free of charge through April 10. Online orders will still be processed while the store is closed.

The 3rd Floor Laptop Kiosk and the print/scan station in the PUB are open with reduced hours coinciding with the building. The PUB Technology Center is closed.

Other computer labs will be open as long as the buildings in which they reside are open (most buildings other than the PUB are closed to the public until May 4).

The Career Center has updated their materials for online delivery and has migrated all of their services online. All career advising appointments, resume and job search assistance as well as employer interviews are being facilitated virtually. Advisors are assisting students through a variety of online, email and telephone services.

Please visit the EWU Career Center website for more information.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) remains committed to supporting student wellbeing and resilience, and is responding to COVID-19 by moving services online. In accordance with social distancing protocols, most individual counseling during spring quarter will be provided via telephone or videoconference (Zoom) sessions.

CAPS will continue to have clinicians available for walk-in or, currently, phone-in sessions. These brief sessions remain available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1-4 p.m. For students who have not been clients of CAPS, online forms will need to be completed prior to speaking with a counselor. Please visit the CAPS website for how to reach out and access services.

Additional services remain available at CAPS including biofeedback resources and TAO self-help online modules.

Please check their websites or contact the centers for the most up-to-date information.

As of Wednesday, March 18, the YMCA Children’s Center at EWU is closed, reopening April 13. Parents and families have been notified.

More from YMCA

EWU Parking and Transportation Services will be closed until classes resume April 6. For campus safety and easy access for first responders, normal campus parking rules and procedures will still be enforced. Customer service will be provided over the phone (509.359.7275) and electronically (parking@ewu.edu).

Refunds may be issued for spring quarter parking permits if you choose to not return to campus, or pro-rated for annual permits.

Please consult the campus directory and contact the individual office or department for their current operational schedule.

As of Thursday, March 19, the following campus services and locations remain open:

What’s closed?

All employees who are able to telework must do so. As a result, most buildings on campus will remain closed to the public until further notice, including:

  • Eagle Store (PUB is open)
  • PUB Technology Center (PUB is open)
  • EWU/YMCA Children’s Center (re-opens April 13, families have been notified)
  • JFK Library (including Thomas Hammer Coffee)
  • Parking & Transportation (normal parking rules still apply)
  • Spokane Academic Library (limited access via remote operations)
  • Spokane Fitness Center (WSU Health Sciences Campus)
  • Sports & Recreation Center (SRC/PHASE, Aquatic Center)
  • University Recreation Center (URC, ice rink, climbing wall)

Future Student Assistance

Yes. Students may now submit an alternative to the SAT or ACT in order to receive an admission decision. All policies and updates about test-optional admission can soon be found online for freshman and transfer students.

Students who have already taken the SAT or ACT may submit unofficial copies of test scores and still receive an admission decision.

For now, students may submit unofficial transcripts from their high school or college. Students will still need to provide copies of official transcripts before attending classes. In addition, official transcripts are still necessary to receive credit for college courses that students transfer to EWU.

Yes. The previous May 1 admissions and financial aid deadlines for future students have been moved to June 1.

EWU is closed to the public effective March 20 to May 4. During this time we will not be offering tours. After May 4, admissions will continue to offer on-campus tours but will be taking proactive measures, such as limiting the size of tours.

EWU Admissions staff are working to quickly develop virtual tours and other online experiences for future students and their families. More

EWU Admissions is here to answer all your questions. Please visit our Admissions Contact page to get in touch with us via chat, text, email or phone.

EWU Admissions recognizes that future students face challenges when accessing documents and test centers, which is why EWU is offering expanded options immediately.

Beginning immediately, future EWU students can receive an admissions decision by submitting an alternative to an SAT/ACT test. EWU has also changed its May 1 admissions deadline to June 1, and students may submit unofficial transcripts. We’re proud to lead the state in ensuring access to higher education during this difficult time.

Choose Your Application

Parents & Families

There are currently no restrictions placed on students who are already living on campus.

Students who live on campus are asked to remain in their rooms where possible, practice social distancing, and comply with health and safety guidelines.

Housing will continue to staff our residence halls appropriately, including Community Advisors, Campus Police, custodians, and maintenance staff to ensure the overall safety and health of our students. Learn more

As of Friday, March 20, all face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the academic year has been suspended. This includes all internships, labs and practica that require face-to-face contact. Students who do not wish to live on campus should contact the Housing Office to file for an exception to withdraw. For those who already committed to living on campus during spring quarter and wish to withdraw, no cancellation fee will be assessed. Learn more

There are additional rooms available and a plan in place to safely provide housing options for impacted students. If your student is concerned about their wellness due to a sick roommate, they are strongly encouraged to contact the Housing Office to discuss options for moving to a different room.

As of Friday, March 20, all face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the academic year has been suspended. This includes all internships, labs and practica that require face-to-face contact. Students may still enroll for course credits if their work in these programs can be completed in a non-face-to-face format. Your student should reach out to their department chair or program director for further guidance.

At this point in time, EWU continues to require MMR immunizations for students. We do not have any plans in place yet to require additional immunizations.

Travel & Study Abroad

All travel must be approved by a vice president or the provost. Employees should work with their supervisors to determine what travel may be considered essential.

Effective March 2, 2020, EWU has suspended Individual Student Study Abroad Programming and requested that all students currently abroad return to the U.S. Please see more information below for individual students currently overseas on Study Abroad Programming:

  1. Student are to return home from study abroad by Friday, March 6, 2020. Students should send an email or screenshot of their return itinerary to Elena Axton (eaxton@ewu.edu).
  2. Students are to contact their air carriers themselves to arrange their return; students should be sure to contact the official carrier site.
  3. Students are to return to their homes, not to campus, from abroad. Even students who have homes in Cheney should go to their home addresses but remain away from campus.
  4. All study abroad is on hold.
  5. EWU can reimburse up to $500 in expenses documented to be due to an early return. Students can apply for more funding with complete receipts and records.
  6. Students who had planned to be abroad longer and had arranged housing abroad will be able to stay on campus in a dorm for free for spring quarter 2020.
  7. EWU is in no way liable for students who choose not to return at this time.
  8. EWU is in no way responsible for side trips or non-approved programs study-related travel.
  9. EWU cannot pay additional expenses for students quarantined abroad because of any delay in travel.
  10. CAAR will work individually with students and their faculty to ensure that they will not lose progress to degree.

Students currently overseas on EWU Education Abroad programs or students planning to travel should reach out to their Education Abroad advisor, Elena Axton (eaxton@ewu.edu or 509.481.1128) and monitor this webpage for updates and guidance.

No. As of March 19, The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. Learn More

The travel implications of the health situation are changing quickly. At present, all travel abroad is on hold for EWU students. US travel is currently inadvisable but may be permitted in some critical situations.  It is also inadvisable to invest non-refundable dollars toward EWU-related travel for the immediate future. For more travel tips and warnings, please visit the CDC.

This website will be the place to find all updates for the future.

Health Services & Testing

MultiCare Rockwood is prepared and ready to care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Their clinical teams have been trained on how to identify, isolate, and care for patients with this or other contagious illnesses. All clinics have protocols and systems in place to keep patients and healthcare workers safe, and they work closely with the CDC, and local and state public health departments to implement their guidance.

For more information, please visit their website.

If you develop the symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath), and have been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19 or has traveled to one of the areas with widespread COVID-19 in the community, please call your health care provider before going into the clinic.

For staff or students that receive their care through Multicare Rockwood, they are assessing symptoms when you call the clinic. MultiCare is currently offering free e-visits to anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms through MultiCare Virtual Care, where providers will also help you navigate to the next appropriate step. Use promo code “COVID19” at the payment page to unlock the free e-visit after completing their protocol.

Due to high Virtual Care volumes, response times may take up to 24 hours.

If you are experiencing severe breathing problems or other serious health issues, please go to the emergency department closest to you.

Should any EWU community member be diagnosed with COVID-19, we work together with Spokane Regional Health District to initiate appropriate protocols and communication to protect the health of anyone deemed to be at risk.

NOTE: As of Tuesday, March 17, the Cheney Clinic will not be conducting normally scheduled appointments or well walk-ins. They can assist you in finding services by calling 509.235.6151. Alternatives may include a virtual visit or services at a clinic outside of Cheney.

Feedback & Questions

All members of the university community are welcome to share their concerns, suggestions or questions regarding EWU’s response to the pandemic.

Give Feedback

Picture: Top of Showalter Hall

EWU Health, Wellness & Prevention Services

201 URC – Cheney, WA 99004
Phone: 509.359.4279
Email: stuhealth@ewu.edu
Website: ewu.edu/bewell

We are your source for health and wellbeing information on campus. Our mission is to support and empower student wellbeing, growth and development through education, information and positive role-modeling. Successful achievement of this commitment is enhanced through collaboration with our campus and surrounding communities.

Text: Questions about COVID-19? Call the WA State Dept of Health: 1.800.525.0127 and press # or visit srhd.org/covid19