UF plans to finish the semester online and cancel the commencement ceremony

The following email was sent to UF students and faculty/staff at 4 p.m. (EST) Monday, March 16:

Good afternoon. As promised, we would like to provide the following detailed update regarding our actions related to the COVID-19 situation.

• Given the Governor’s directives and the estimated duration of the situation, the University of Findlay will continue remote learning for the remainder of the semester. Effective immediately, there will be no in-person classes, labs, or experiential learning on the campus or at the farms. Experiential learning occurring at off-campus sites will continue at the direction of those sites.
   
• Since all classes are remote for the rest of the academic year, students residing in on-campus housing should strongly consider officially checking out and returning to their permanent address. If you need to remain in your campus housing for the remainder of the semester, please contact Student Affairs at 419-434-4570 or studentaffairs@findlay.edu by Friday, March 20.
   
• As a result of the CDC’s recommendation that there be no gatherings of over 50 people throughout the United States for over the next eight weeks, all events meeting this criterion are canceled.
   
• Therefore, it is with great regret that the University has decided to cancel the spring 2020 commencement ceremony. Degrees will still be awarded, and diplomas will be sent. We know this is very disappointing for many, and we are looking at ways to celebrate 2020 graduates in the future.
   
• University buildings are closed to the general public, but deliveries of mail and packages will continue. Following Governor DeWine’s announcement today, effective at 5:00 p.m. today, we are closing the Koehler Center (including the Student Recreation Center, Cardio Center, and Malcolm Athletic Complex) and the Croy Center to all recreation activities.
   
• While the University will continue its business operations, many University faculty and staff will soon begin to work remotely from home as roles and timing permit. Supervisors will provide specific instructions for individual roles based on directions they will be provided by Cabinet members. Understanding that this impacts students as well, an additional communication regarding student employment will be sent in the near future.

If you have suggestions or questions, please email them to coronavirus@findlay.edu. Also, please visit the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information web page for current status reports. Additionally, we would encourage you to download the Oiler Mobile App (available at App Store and Google Play), and enable push notifications.

We are going through some uncertain and unusual times, and the University appreciates everyone’s understanding and thoughtful feedback as we work our way through this one day at a time. We will continue to do our best to provide up-to-date information on the changing situation.

David Emsweller
Vice President for Student Affairs
University of Findlay