Coronavirus update: Next Phase of Planning and Action

Dear Campus Community,

The Whatcom County Health Department has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the county. While we have been expecting and preparing for this next phase, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s a change which may heighten anxiety or fear about what’s next. We can reduce that anxiety by staying informed, taking action to protect ourselves in all the ways we’ve been practicing in the last few weeks, and giving and receiving support and care.

The Incident Response Team will work closely with the Health Department over the next few days, determining what, if any, impact this case has on our next steps. We will continue to communicate regularly and fully with you as more information is available. And we’ll keep making the necessary changes to our operations to support the health and safety of our community.

We will also move to a broader implementation of our social distancing practices. You may have wondered what exactly social distancing means and how it works. Briefly, social distancing limits the size and number of public events, in order to slow the spread of an illness. We have already begun to practice some social distancing here at WWU, in response to coronavirus.

The difficult decision to reschedule Commencement arose from the need to implement some social distancing on our campus. To bring a thousand or so visitors to campus, many from areas of the state with active cases of COVID-19, to spend an extended period of time sitting close together in Carver Gym, would not promote the health of our students and their families, or our broader community. Continuing to attend classes is much less likely to introduce new risk for students. As the Health Department provides new guidance, we will be prepared to change our decision-making about events, including classes.

In collaboration with departments and office, we are also assessing upcoming events on campus for their public impact. At this time, if you are planning a large (100+ person) university event in March, we recommend that you consult with Casey Hayden, casey.hayden@wwu.edu, to review that plan.

Beginning Spring Quarter poses a new set of challenges, for which we are actively planning. While we can’t predict exactly what will happen, we can use the experiences of other campuses for operational planning. Brief interruptions to operations—perhaps 2 or 3 days--for targeted disinfection or other medical response is one very likely scenario. The ICS team is working now to strengthen our capacity to bridge those interruptions with virtual instruction and adjusted operations. As those plans mature, in consultation with medical and public health experts, as well as our own academic affairs team and others, we will keep you informed.

Even in the uncertainty of emerging events, we can be confident in our shared commitment to the well-being of our community, and our ability to respond thoughtfully, compassionately, and wisely to these new challenges. As I spend hours each day (and night!) with the members of the ICS team, I wish you all could see the dedication and hard work, the creativity and care they bring to every plan, discussion, and decision. I’m deeply thankful that Western has this team to count on.

With appreciation for your partnership,

Melynda Huskey

Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services