Mar 10: Weekly Update from President Nowaczyk

Mar 10, 2021 12:20 PM

Good afternoon, 

I hope you are enjoying the spring-like weather. Take some time to appreciate the sunshine. Mid-term is stressful enough without the background of the pandemic and the restrictions it requires. 

Here are some updates: 

Staycation

Because travel is still a significant concern for spreading the coronavirus, we planned this semester without a spring break. However, there are still many activities planned for next week, and classes are canceled on Wednesday, March 17 (only on Wednesday!). Check out the schedule at this link. 

With Staycation next week, we are also taking the week off from the next series of Virtual Coffees with the President for students and employees. Watch for a resumption later this month. And you can always review the past events as well. 

State Capacity Changes

Gov. Hogan yesterday announced the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions in capacity limits and the easing of others, effective Friday, March 12, at 5 p.m. I have asked the Pandemic Recovery Team to review the Governor’s changes for any potential impact on our operations and recommend any policy updates to me. Any changes will be announced by email. However, all campus protocols remain the same until they are announced otherwise, including the need for masks and social distancing. 

I also encourage you to read the statement from Chancellor Jay Perman regarding continuing campus safety protocols and the current state of the vaccine rollout.

Vaccines

If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, please upload that information to the FSU COVID Check-in portal. That will serve as another indicator we will monitor as we evaluate the ongoing status of the campus during the pandemic. 

There is still no indication of when or if we will receive doses of the vaccine to distribute to the campus community. I still encourage you, if you are eligible, to seek a vaccine elsewhere and make sure your name is on the Allegany County Health Department/UPMC Western Maryland Vaccine Interest Form at this link. The state health department website offers information on local vaccination sites.

Emergency Assistance

Funding: This Friday, March 12, is the deadline to apply for the additional CARES Act monies that have become available to help cover financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Awards can only be made to students who qualify for federal financial aid. Applications must be submitted at this link. (Don’t forget to include the required documentation. A cell phone photo of documents is sufficient.) 

We are still awaiting information on funding coming from later federal legislation. We will share that information as it becomes available.

Football game

Thursday’s football game will go on as scheduled, starting at 7 p.m., although with a new opponent, Wheeling University. A limited number of students and student-athlete family members may attend this game in person, but I encourage everyone else to watch this game and many of our other sports teams’ events online. 

Students who want to attend MUST pick up wristbands in advance of the game at the Cordts PE Center ticket booth outside of Bobcat Arena today, Wednesday, March 10, or Thursday, March 11, between noon and 2 p.m. each day. There will be no admittance at the gate without a wristband. 150 tickets will be available to students on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Students must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within the past 5 calendar days or proof of testing exemption (your testing and exemption info can be found at the FSU COVID Check-In Portal) to receive a wristband. 

You can get more information on other sports held in Bobcat Stadium. 

Vigilance

It’s easy to become complacent as our positivity rate stays low and vaccines are making their way into more arms, but please stay vigilant. COVID is still very contagious, especially with new variants being reported across the country, and the majority of our campus community is still waiting for the vaccine. Outbreaks at other locations should act as a warning to us. Don’t let the virus disrupt our semester. 

If you are on campus, test twice a week, every week. (More info at this link.)

• Wear your mask and wear it property. 
• Wash or sanitize your hands frequently. 
• Avoid parties, crowds and any unmasked gatherings with people outside your household. 
• Monitor your symptoms and use the FSU COVID Check-in Portal daily. 

Stay safe and be well, 

President