Bruce A. McPheron, PhD, Executive Vice President and Provost | September 11, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
While we are less than a month into autumn semester, I am writing to provide clarity about spring semester 2021 so that you can begin to make plans.
Ohio State campuses will continue to be open in the new year, and classes will take place through a mix of in-person, online and blended teaching that supports our Safe and Healthy Buckeyes plan. Classes will begin on our published start date (Jan. 11), but we have made several other adjustments to the academic calendar:
Dear Student Leaders: I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.
As you know, in response to an increase of positive COVID-19 cases among students, we put a hold on all in-person student organization events and gatherings through tomorrow (September 9). While we monitor testing trends after the holiday weekend, we will extend the hold through Sunday, September 13, with the intent of resuming activities on Monday, September 14. As a reminder, in-person events and gatherings will be limited to no more than ten people.
Likewise, to further expand your opportunities to engage with each...
David P. McQuaid, RPh, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Wexner Medical Center and Andrew Thomas, MD, MBA, Chief Clinical Officer, Wexner Medical Center | September 4, 2020
The university and medical center have worked together throughout the pandemic to ensure standardization of processes across the institution. One of those things is health reporting, the process of checking and reporting your temperature before your shift each day. Although the medical center currently has our own process for health reporting, we want to align with the university to have consistent measures, processes and reporting that help keep us safe and healthy on campus and in the community.
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | September 4, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Happy Labor Day weekend! Thank you for your incredible work to advance and support learning, teaching, research, patient care, outreach and more at this great university.
Tuesday was my first official day as president , and I spent part of the morning at Jesse Owens North to observe our COVID-19 student testing site. The level of innovation, professionalism and careful focus on safety was truly outstanding. I also visited with students, faculty and staff at our Wexner Medical Center COVID-19 call center — where individuals and families throughout the community turn for...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President | September 2, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
We have updated the COVID-19 dashboard with our most recent test results from Monday, Aug. 31.
The on-campus student positivity rate decreased to 5.7% from our last update of 5.86%. This shows that by wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart and following all safe and healthy guidelines , you are having an impact. Let’s keep it going.
The off-campus undergraduate positivity rate is not as encouraging at 9.66% in our first 24-hour snapshot from Monday. I am confident that by strictly following the Together As Buckeyes guidelines we can...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President-elect | August 28, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Our first week of classes is complete. What a whirlwind beginning to the journey we are all taking together!
Almost 12,400 Buckeyes finished a student move-in like no other , as we welcomed our new class of first-year students. And our faculty and staff worked with extraordinary skill and diligence to prepare our classrooms and campuses for a safe and healthy autumn semester. Veronica and I are so amazed by all that you have done to get to this point.
Amy L. Fairchild, PhD, MPH, Dean, College of Public Health and Gladys M. Gibbs, MD, MS, Director, Student Health Services | August 28, 2020
Dear Student Leaders:
As you saw in President Johnsonʼs message yesterday, we need to take decisive and proactive action to interrupt the trend of increasing numbers of students testing positive for COVID-19 on and around our campus.
In an effort to do all that we possibly can, Ohio State is temporarily suspending all in-person student organization events or gatherings, of any size and/or location through September 9, 2020. We know many of you have already dramatically changed the way in which you are interacting this semester, and we thank you. This new action is not a punishment and...
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President-elect | August 27, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
In the last 24 hours, we have received the latest data from our COVID-19 testing program, and the numbers are trending in the wrong direction. The good news is that working together we can change this.
As you know, on Tuesday, we released Ohio State’s COVID-19 dashboard with data through Saturday that showed a student positivity rate of 1.16%. Over the last 24 hours, we have seen the student positivity rate rise to 3.10%. But it’s not just the positivity rate that is of concern; it’s also the rate of transmission....
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD, President-elect | August 25, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
As the first day of classes draws to a close, I want to share with you my gratitude for your commitment to our mission to teach, learn and explore new and exciting research and artistic opportunities — all while working together to stay safe and healthy.
I write to share that this afternoon, the university is publishing the aggregate test results from our COVID-19 testing program, and we are unveiling a data dashboard that will be updated weekly to inform the public about test results and other related information.
Melissa S. Shivers, PhD, Vice President for Student Life | August 21, 2020
Dear Students:
Earlier this week I wrote to share my great hope and belief that we can all come together for a successful and uninterrupted semester. In that same message, I provided information about the consequences if we do not.
Let me remind you: organizations and individuals will be held accountable for their unsafe behaviors. Our Student Conduct team is in the process of opening dozens of conduct cases which likely will result in interim suspensions for individuals and student organizations who have chosen to hold parties that are not consistent with safe and healthy guidelines....
