April 6, 2020
Dear Students,
I hope this finds you healthy and adjusting as well as possible to the difficult times affecting us.
Governor Hutchinson announced today that all Arkansas public schools would continue with alternative delivery of instruction through the end of the semester. This announcement was not unexpected, as the growth in the number of cases of COVID-19 is projected to continue to rise for the next few weeks. Throughout our country, students are now finding themselves sheltering at home, in some cases with their young children, in an effort to protect themselves and their families from the coronavirus.
Our continued concern about the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students leads me to announce that remote delivery of classes will continue through the end of the spring semester.
As we move into the month of May, we will closely monitor events related to the spread of COVID-19 and as soon as we feel it is safe to return to normal operations, we will begin to do that. While we hope to be able to do it sooner, our goal is to return to some semblance of normal operations by no later than May 26th, the beginning of the summer semester.
Meanwhile, I want you to know that supporting your success remains THE priority of all of us at ASU Mid-South as we work together through this difficult time. Our faculty and student services personnel will be reaching out to you in the coming weeks to answer questions about your classes, your schedule, or college in general. We look forward to working with you and helping you reach your goals.
I’m looking forward to the time when we can all return to campus again. I hope you are as well. Until we can safely see each other again, please stay home, stay safe, and stay healthy.
With kind regards,
Debra West, Ph.D.
Chancellor
April 2, 2020
Dear 2020 Graduates,
I hope this email finds you and your family well and coping successfully with the challenging events of the past several weeks. My heart is with each of you during this difficult time.
I’m writing to let you know that, after much thought and deliberation, ASU Mid-South has decided to postpone our 2020 Spring Commencement Ceremony. As we continue to monitor the news from both a national and statewide perspective, it appears less and less likely that we will be able to safely assemble on our original date of May 14. Although we had hoped to wait a little longer to make this decision, we realized that continued uncertainty creates more stress for everyone – especially those of you with family who would be traveling in for the ceremony.
Please understand, your commencement ceremony is postponed, not cancelled. As a community college graduate myself, I understand the significance of this milestone event, both for you and for your families. Our faculty and staff, too, look forward to this event each year, as it’s often our last chance to celebrate your accomplishments before you move on to more advanced study or into the workforce. Postponement simply gives us time to get your perspective on the type of experience you want, given the current limitations on social gatherings.
It’s also important to understand that if you complete your degree requirements, you are still graduating at the end of the semester. Commencement is a ceremony celebrating your graduation. It is not a requirement for graduation. That means you can continue with your post-graduation plans, whether that be going on to more advanced study or into the workforce. Your diplomas will be mailed to you a few weeks after the end of the semester, as is our normal procedure.
While I am heartbroken we will not be able to celebrate together in person on May 14, I look forward to celebrating your accomplishments in a unique and memorable way on a later date. This semester has been one for the history books, and we want your commencement to be fitting of the unique place ASU Mid-South’s Class of 2020 holds in that history. With your help, I have no doubt we can make that happen. We’ll be reaching out to you soon via email for your input, so please be on the lookout for that communication.
Sincerely,
Debra West, Ph.D.
Chancellor
CAMPUS PREPARATIONS FOR COVID-19
March 25, 2020
To Our Students,
ASU Mid-South is following the latest developments regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency and working to be responsive to the communities we serve. With your safety and well-being as our priority, we have decided to continue on-line and alternative delivery through April 17th. All campus buildings will remain closed, however we are committed to serving you during this disruption.
We will continue following our established Academic Calendar as closely as possible while also exercising flexibility and patience in meeting established deadlines. Changes will be communicated as quickly as possible. ASU Mid-South faculty and staff are dedicated to your success and will assist all students in meeting their classwork objectives. Please don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it!
We ask that you continue to monitor your ASU Mid-South email, Canvas, and campus alerts. Also, be sure to check the ASU Mid-South website often, as additional resources are being added regularly. And as always, if you have unanswered questions, email greyhoundsupport@asumidsouth.edu
Stay safe, stay home, and be well!
Debra West, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Arkansas State University Mid-South
March 19, 2020
Good evening, everyone.
I hope today finds you well and taking the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your family.
Today, Governor Hutchinson issued five directives that affect higher education:
• K-12 schools in Arkansas have been ordered to remain closed through April 17th;
• All indoor dining at bars, restaurants, and cafeterias in Arkansas has been ordered to cease. At this time, take-out or grab-and-go type orders are still an option for those establishments;
• All gyms in the State, including weight rooms, are ordered closed;
• All medical clinics in the State are now mandated to screen individuals before permitting entry;
• And finally, the Governor has directed that all state employees will conduct business through telecommuting. On-site work will be limited to personnel that are “necessary for the proper functioning of government.”
Immediately following Governor’s press briefing this afternoon, the ASU System conducted a conference call to talk through what this means for our colleges. That call was followed immediately by a conference call of the ASU Mid-South leadership team. Fortunately for us, we implemented our remote operations plan on Sunday, so we are already in full compliance with the governor’s directives.
Student success remains our top priority, and in these uncertain times, it is critically important that our students have every opportunity to succeed. It is possible that alternative delivery of classes could last beyond Spring Break. Your instructors will be assessing all students’ needs in terms of support.
Much of the decision making right now is occurring day by day, if not hour by hour, due to the rapidly evolving situation in our State. Be assured that we will continue to monitor local events, abide by the Governor’s directives for state employees, monitor the recommendations provided to us by the Arkansas Department of Health, and ultimately do what is in the best interest of the health and well-being of our campus community.
Take care and as always – be kind to one another!
Debra West, Ph.D.
Chancellor
March 15, 2020 6:45 pm
Greyhound Nation,
After careful consideration and in an abundance of caution, Arkansas State University Mid-South will be closed tomorrow Monday, March 16th in preparation for shifting to alternative delivery of instruction and services, which will begin Tuesday, March 17th, and continue through the end of the week. Students will receive assignments from their instructors through the normal communication channels (Canvas, text, and email.) Likewise, employees will receive instructions via phone, email, or text from their Chancellor or respective Vice Chancellor.
Additionally, ASU Mid-South campus will be closed the week of Spring Break, March 23rd-27th, to everyone but those personnel tasked with functions deemed critical to the continuity of operations and instruction. Other personnel will be expected to complete any assigned duties remotely.
As of today, our plan is to resume normal campus operations for all programs on Monday March 30th. However, we will continue to monitor information provided by local, state, and federal health officials and will communicate further, as needs arise. As always, the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students is our highest priority.
We ask that you continue to monitor your ASU Mid-South email and our web sites (https://www.asumidsouth.edu/ and https://www.asumidsouth.edu/coronavirus/) for updates, and address any unanswered questions to greyhoundsupport@asumidsouth.edu
Please continue to take responsibility for protecting yourself and others. We’re all in this together.
Sincerely,
Debra West, Ph.D.
Chancellor
UPDATE — MARCH 13. 2020, 9:30 AM
Yesterday, Governor Asa Hutchinson signed an executive order declaring a public health emergency in Arkansas due to our state’s first reported case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Arkansas State University Mid-South is closely monitoring information provided by Governor’s Office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and state and local health and emergency management agencies and following the guidance provided.
For the past several weeks, members of the ASU Mid-South faculty and staff have worked diligently in responding to the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States. We are coordinating with local and state health officials, state higher education officials, as well as our local partners, such as Marion and West Memphis School Districts, to protect the safety of our campus community to the extent possible.
While to date there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in Crittenden County, plans are being put into place at ASU Mid-South to ensure continuity of operations and instruction. Additionally, our Facilities Management team is taking extra measures with regard to custodial and routine disinfection activities, including routinely disinfecting commonly touched surfaces hard surfaces throughout the campus. Additionally, we are following the Governor’s directive for state employees which suspends out-of-state business travel for 60 days and cancelling or postponing large meetings and conferences scheduled for our campus during that same time period.
Limiting the spread of coronavirus is our best defense against this virus. Practicing good respiratory hygiene (sneezing or coughing into your elbow or a tissue), washing hands thoroughly for 20 seconds or more, “social distancing” (reducing face- to-face contact and large gatherings of people), and staying home when you don’t feel well are key to helping to reduce the risk of infection.
We have set up a web page that addresses questions that have been expressed by faculty, staff and students and are updating the site regularly with information as it become available or necessary. Also, If you have specific questions or concerns that ae not addressed by the web page, you may email them to: greyhoundsupport@asumidsouth.edu.
We will continue to monitor the situation in the days ahead. As always, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our top priority.
Sincerely,
Debra West, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Overview
While the United States is not experiencing large numbers of people with the novel coronavirus at this time, ASU Mid-South is reviewing and updating our emergency management plans so that we understand what actions we would take should there be an outbreak in our area.
Will there be school closures?
We do not know yet if the virus will cause closures of colleges, schools, childcare centers, or offices in our area. But we are preparing so that we will be ready to take fast action if needed. Everyone’s health and safety is our highest priority.
Decision-Making
Unlike our local decision making with weather-related closures, our Chancellor will follow the advice and direction from local officials, the Arkansas Department of Health, and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Notifications:
If we suspend operations, you will be notified through our institution’s website as well as through REGROUP, the alert system ASU Mid-South uses to send out calls, emails, and text messages to faculty, staff, and students. If you have previously opted out of this service or if your contact information has recently changed, please contact the Registrar’s Office to ensure your information is up-to-date.
Travel Restrictions
On Wednesday, March 11, Governor Asa Hutchison declared a public health emergency in the State of Arkansas and issued an order restricting all out-of-state travel for state employees for 60 days. ASU Mid-South will follow the Governor’s directive.
The CDC is currently warning people to avoid all non-essential travel to any area listed as Warning Level 3. Also, anyareas classified by the U.S. State Department as Level 4, are similarly restricted. Any student, faculty or staff of ASU Mid-South who travels from or through a region listed on either travel advisory should be aware of potential for quarantine upon return to the United States. Currently there are no restrictions on travel in the U.S., other than those imposed by individual states.
While most of us will not travel to those Warning Level 3 and Level 4 areas, students, faculty, and staff should take into consideration potential impacts of any travel – official or personal – and take appropriate precautions to limit their exposure to the novel coronavirus. Known exposure would necessitate a 14-day quarantine before returning to campus, during which time employees would be required to use personal leave.
