OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi has responded to the rapidly evolving situation with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with amended schedules and guidance for faculty, staff and students to maximize social distancing in an effort to slow the transmission of the disease.
All classes on the Oxford campus, and the regional campuses are canceled for March 16-20, the week that students were scheduled to return from Spring Break. The decision will extend Spring Break by one week so that faculty and staff can prepare to move classes online following the extended break. This timeline is open and subject to change, as university officials will monitor the situation continuously and adjust accordingly to protect the UM community. Deans, faculty members and instructors will also provide specific instructions to students in their schools and colleges.
“Initial cases of the virus have emerged in Mississippi and most of our border states, and the spread of the virus is predicted to accelerate across the country,” said UM Chancellor Glenn Boyce. “We are committed to protecting the safety, health and well-being of our campus community. Before our community returns to campus from domestic and international Spring Break travels, we chose this course of action to mitigate and slow the spread of COVID-19, protect the continuing good health of our university community, and enable each of you to plan accordingly.”
Faculty, staff and other employees are expected to work during this period and practice social distancing. Some faculty and staff may be able to telecommute, and those kinds of arrangements may be approved on a case by case basis. Unless otherwise noted, research activities will continue at this time. Anyone involved in research will receive subsequent guidance in the coming days. Further guidance will be shared with faculty and staff in the coming days by leaders in your respective areas of the university.
UM’s full list of guidance for faculty, staff and students is available here.