Coronavirus Update: Remote classes, campus closed

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT HUNTINGTON ON MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020

Dear Heidelberg Community,

In response to the ever-growing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and in our effort to do everything we can to protect the safety, health and well-being of our entire community, tonight I am announcing that the Heidelberg University campus will be closed, effective at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2020, for the rest of the semester.  As previously announced, all courses will be delivered remotely, which will continue through the end of the semester.
 
This decision was based on currently available information, which continues to change rapidly and which we continue to monitor closely.  We have relied upon the strong directions and guidance of Governor Mike DeWine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and our local Seneca County Health District in our decision-making.
 
Below are additional details to help inform all of you about this decision:

1. While the University will continue its business operations, many faculty and staff will continue to support students in completing their coursework. This may include work from home, beginning next week for some positions.  It is our intent to continue to support all Heidelberg employees through this time of uncertainty.  We will have additional information forthcoming this week.  Please contact your supervisor if you have questions or concerns.

2. All students currently residing in campus housing are required to move out by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22. 

3. Students who were off campus for Spring Break should report to campus to pack up your belongings and vacate the campus by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 22.  If you are unable to make this deadline, you will need to schedule a time with Residence Life & Housing to move out of your campus housing by Sunday, March 29, 2020. 

4. Heidelberg will identify housing options to assist students who are unable to vacate their campus housing. 

5. The Office of Residence Life & Housing will be following up with communications to help students navigate the move-out process.  Please email the Office of Residence Life & Housing at reslife@heidelberg.edu if you need assistance. 

6. Heidelberg will assist and prepare all students for online learning.  Many faculty members have already been in contact with their classes to share logistics of remote classes.  Please email the Office of Academic Affairs academicaffairs@heidelberg.edu if you need assistance. 

7. Heidelberg will be providing a pro-rated cash reimbursement for all graduating seniors for the cost of room and board for the remainder of the semester, from March 22 through May 17. 

8. Undergraduate students returning in the Fall of 2020 will receive a pro-rated credit for room and board for the remainder of the semester, which will be applied to room and board for the Fall 2020 semester.  The credit for room and board applies only to students who paid room and board this spring and who will live on campus this fall.  Students with questions about reimbursement or credit should contact the Business Office at businessoffice@heidelberg.edu. 

9. It is with great regret and sadness that we are announcing that the 2020 Commencement ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, May 17, is being cancelled.  Graduates will still be awarded their degrees.  We know this is very disappointing for many of you, but we are working on the most appropriate ways to award and recognize our graduating seniors. 

The COVID-19 coronavirus has had an unexpected impact on each of us in our daily lives, our work, our education and our outside activities.  Each of us has had to make changes in our lives that were perhaps unthinkable just days ago.  All of these changes were made – including the extremely difficult decision to close our campus – with one goal in mind: to limit contagion and spread of the virus.
 
Heidelberg University is actively working to address your questions and share timely information.  We welcome your questions as we work to develop a list of FAQs for this rapidly evolving situation.  Heidelberg continues to update our website with information and resources for the campus community at www.heidelberg.edu/coronavirus.  Going forward, please post your questions to this webform and we will do our best to respond in a timely manner.

We fully understand the downside to feeling like our lives have been turned upside down over the last few days.  But there is an upside.  Challenging times have a propensity to underscore compassion for one another.  Neighbor helping neighbor. Friend helping friend. Co-worker helping co-worker.  We already have seen some inspiring examples of that right here on our campus.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will do our best to keep the lines of communication open with you.  We are all in this together and we will get through it together.
 
Sincerely,

Rob Huntington
President