Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | February 2, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
We are now in our fourth week of classes and our second week of some face-to-face instruction. I am excited to welcome many of you back to our campuses. Together as Buckeyes we got the job done this past fall, fighting the virus and remaining on campus to do the things we love. Let’s do it again, Buckeyes.
We asked all students to quarantine prior to returning to campus and sent at-home tests to students living in residence halls to make sure they were COVID-19 negative before in-person instruction began. Students also took...
Bruce A. McPheron, PhD, Executive Vice President and Provost | January 28, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I’m pleased to announce that the university will again be offering more flexibility for academic grades this semester — and that our academic leaders have developed a new system to respond more quickly and consistently when exceptional circumstances affect teaching and learning.
Today, the University Senate approved a change to the faculty rules creating the Emergency Pass grading system (PE), which will alter the traditional A-E system during situations that may adversely affect students’ academic performance. In a second vote, the Senate decided to invoke this option for spring semester 2021. The Senate...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | January 22, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff: I write to share an overview of the current available information about how the COVID-19 vaccine is being distributed under the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state of Ohio. Supplies of the vaccine remain low, and manufacturers are ramping up production. At this time, Ohio is scheduled to receive a total of 100,000 doses per week, which represents less than 1% of the state’s total population. We expect that additional vaccine manufacturers will be approved in the coming weeks, which will add to vaccine supply. Because of the limited...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | January 12, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Last night, a remarkable football season came to an end in the national championship game. I couldn’t be more proud of our team. Their accomplishments and perseverance throughout this most-challenging season are inspiring. Buckeye Nation is nothing if not resilient. We thank our team – the players, coaches and staff – who lifted us up, brought us together and gave us a lot to cheer about these past four months.
Spring classes are now underway and will be conducted virtually through January 22. Best of luck to all for a...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | January 5, 2021
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope you and your families had a safe and joyous holiday break. As we look ahead to 2021, our gratitude goes to those who led and persevered in the past challenging year. Buckeyes everywhere came together to protect and care for each other and their communities while living our values. Here’s to doing great things and building a better world in the year to come.
What a fabulous Sugar Bowl game! Our outstanding, talented and resilient squad of Buckeyes crushed an excellent Clemson team. It is...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | December 22, 2020
COVID-19 vaccine administration at Ohio State will continue to focus on Wexner Medical Center front-line clinical staff and those most vulnerable to the virus as a national rollout continues. We will continue to protect ourselves and others in 2021 by following the same safe and healthy requirements that enabled us to complete the autumn semester on our campuses: wearing face masks, staying 6 feet apart, avoiding large gatherings, and practicing good hygiene.
As a reminder, we are currently planning for the first two weeks of spring semester classes – January 11-22 – to be...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD President | December 15, 2020
With the autumn semester concluded, President Kristina M. Johnson shares her gratitude for the university community's remarkable efforts to combat COVID-19 and ensure that our mission to educate, make new discoveries and provide excellence in outreach and patient care has flourished in the face of great challenges.
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD President | December 1, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope you had a safe and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. This week is the last for regularly scheduled classes in an autumn semester like no other in our university’s history.
My gratitude goes to you for your patience, flexibility and close adherence to our COVID-19 protocols . Wearing a mask, physically distancing, avoiding gatherings and practicing good hygiene are critically important even during periods of remote learning as we look to the spring and beyond. Please also continue to “homegate” when our football Buckeyes return to action this week against Michigan State....
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | November 19, 2020
Surging cases of COVID-19 across Ohio have prompted a statewide curfew, a stay-at-home advisory in the Columbus area, and the declaration that Franklin County has gone purple — reflecting “severe” exposure and spread of the virus.
This is a moment for every Buckeye to help turn the tide. To that end, the university is implementing these additional action steps:
Instruction: Effective Friday, November 20 at 6 p.m., in-person classes will be moved to online or other forms of remote instruction. Exceptions where in-person instruction is permitted include clinical programs conducted under approved safety protocols as well...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | November 17, 2020
I want to express again my thanks and pride in our community as we collectively battle COVID-19. Your efforts to keep our campuses open this fall while learning, teaching, advancing research and scholarship, and caring for patients and their families have been extraordinary.
As students prepare to return home for the winter break, please remember the steps we are asking you to take. Get tested for COVID-19 early this week. If you obtain a negative result and are able to leave campus for the semester early, please do so and update your move-out time on the housing...
