Novel Coronavirus

I hope you are doing well with your fall semester classes and that you and your family are healthy.

Registration for spring 2021 classes opened this week. As you are aware, the impacts of COVID-19 are ongoing, and ASU understands that you may need continued flexibility on where and how you will attend classes in spring. ASU will offer spring courses in a variety of learning environments to accommodate your needs. You will have the option to attend classes synchronously through a hybrid of in-person and remote attendance through ASU Sync (unless you elect to attend 100% remotely), and through iCourses delivered entirely online with asynchronous lectures on demand.

Spring 2021 promises to be a vibrant semester at ASU, with increased in-person opportunities, outdoor learning spaces across each campus, and greater comfort with the technologies being used for teaching and learning.

I encourage you to register for your courses as soon as possible to ensure you have access to the classes you need in the available modality that works for your individual circumstance. Class registration links will be live in your My ASU.

Finally, and most importantly, ASU is here for you. If you are experiencing any roadblocks — academic, financial or personal — that are preventing you from advancing your academic goals, please let us know. Contact your academic adviser, a professor, the dean of your college or school, or my office directly at provost@asu.edu. We want to do anything we can to help you succeed, but we can only do so if you share with us what you need.

Thank you for being part of the ASU student community.

Sincerely,

Mark S. Searle
Executive vice president and university provost

Posted: Oct. 22, 2020, at 9 a.m.

Updates on fall 2020 academic calendar and spring 2021 semester

We have several updates regarding the fall 2020 academic calendar and the spring 2021 semester.

Adjustments to fall 2020 academic calendar
Session C will now end on Friday, Dec. 4. The final-exam week originally scheduled Dec. 7–12 will not take place. All instruction after the Thanksgiving break will be remote. Final exams, where applicable, should be held on the last day of class during the week of Nov. 30. Session B will conclude on Dec. 4 as originally scheduled.

Fall 2020 commencement will be virtual
We regret that current health circumstances will not permit us to host in-person commencement ceremonies in December. Our fall 2020 university commencement ceremony and special-interest convocations scheduled for the week of Dec. 14 will be converted to a virtual format. More information will be available soon at graduation.asu.edu. 

Introducing the ASU Innovation Quarter
ASU is proud to announce the Innovation Quarter: a collection of educational opportunities that will take place between the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters designed to leverage and highlight ASU’s innovation. This noncredit-bearing experiential learning program will offer students the chance to explore something new, make new connections, build career skills and affirm their commitment to lifelong learning. The ASU Innovation Quarter will consist of activities organized around the ASU Charter including events linked to ASU’s use-inspired research, building inclusive communities, enhancing the health of our communities and professional development. Ideas under review include virtual museum tours, book clubs, boot camps for students preparing for advanced study in law and medicine, game nights, poetry series, community service projects and esports. All opportunities will require registration but will be available at no charge to all ASU students. The Innovation Quarter calendar of events will be available in November, allowing students to register in advance.  

Expectations for spring semester
Consistent with our efforts to always meet learners where they are, in spring 2021 ASU will offer courses in a variety of learning environments to accommodate students’ needs depending on location or circumstance as a result of COVID-19. The university remains in Learning Mode 2, where instruction is delivered to students by faculty in a hybrid fashion. 

Students will have access to on-campus, in-person, technology-enhanced learning environments; ASU Sync, the synchronous, technology-enhanced and fully interactive remote learning using live lectures via Zoom; and iCourses delivered entirely online with lectures available on demand. ASU Sync can be used simultaneously with in-person instruction to accommodate students in different circumstances and enable physical distancing in classrooms or as stand-alone technology. It offers the benefits of face-to-face instruction in an interactive group learning environment. Students can choose their preferred learning environment to accommodate their needs. 

To assist student planning for the spring semester, our goal is to have planned course modalities listed in the spring 2021 schedule as soon as possible. At this time, faculty accommodations will continue unchanged in spring 2021 but are subject to change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Staff members should communicate directly with their supervisors on accommodation requests. Although it is too early to be certain what local or national circumstances may look like for the spring semester, COVID-19 could be mitigated by a vaccine, the introduction of therapeutics or other circumstances. Instructional modalities for the spring 2021 semester are also subject to change depending on COVID-19 circumstances. For more information on the Learning Modes of Operation and important updates, visit ASU's COVID-19 Management Strategy on a regular basis.

As always, we will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 and make adjustments to our operations as needed. All faculty, staff and students are required to continue to comply with public health requirements. I encourage you to continue to monitor official university communication channels for continued updates about protocols and university operations related to COVID-19. 

Sincerely,

Mark S. Searle                                                                                         
Executive vice president and university provost

Posted: Sept. 18, 2020, at 4:25 p.m.

Message to ASU employees in Washington, D.C.

As part of ASU’s response to the spread of COVID-19 and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser’s recent executive order directing all city residents to stay at home or their place of residence to prevent the further spread of the virus, all ASU offices in Washington, D.C., have been closed until further notice. 

If employees have essential personal items at an ASU office that they need to collect or if they need any equipment (computer, Wi-Fi access, printer, etc.) in order to continue their duties, please contact Roxanne Ladd at roxanne.ladd@asu.edu or 202-446-0381. Please note that all employees will remain in pay status and are expected to work remotely.

ASU is deeply connected and committed to Washington, D.C., and its people. We know these are unprecedented times and we appreciate the work you do on behalf of ASU. Please stay safe and continue to check ASU’s COVID-19 website for continuous updates on the university’s operations. 

Following are additional key links for your reference:

ASU COVID-19 FAQs
Telecommuting guidelines and considerations
Employee Assistance Office

Sincerely,

Mark Searle
Executive Vice President and University Provost

Morgan Olsen
​​​​​​Executive Vice President, Treasurer and CFO

Posted: April 2, 2020, at 1:45 p.m.

Online classes extended through end of spring semester; teleworking established as priority

With new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arizona Department of Health Services, ASU has made the decision to extend online classes through the end of the spring semester.

We are already in this mode and off to a great start with more than 14,000 classes being offered online. Details on continued online instruction for students will be communicated by faculty directly to students.

University housing will remain open for those who must stay and essential services will continue to be provided to students who remain with us on campus.

Although this shift in learning has been extended, the university continues to remain open. This includes computer labs, libraries, food service, health clinics, counseling services, research labs and all other aspects of the university.

The university has already canceled all public events on campus that are not directly related to the teaching and research mission of the university.

Teleworking established as first choice for as many as possible

The pace of COVID–19 transmission across the country demands that we move faster to assure social distancing in alignment with public health direction for reducing the rate of virus spread.

While the university remains open, we are moving to an even more aggressive remote work protocol:

• Telework is now the first choice and priority for as many employees as possible. In other words, employees should be on site only when performing tasks that are (1) critical to the functioning of the university as authorized by your appropriate vice president/dean and (2) unable to be accomplished remotely.
• Each vice president/dean should immediately reassess the designation of employees as required to be on site.

We understand that there is work that absolutely must be done on site. Given this unprecedented situation we are asking all of our vice presidents/deans to identify those employees who need to be here. We will follow social distancing procedures and do our best to minimize exposure.  

>>LEARN MORE: ASU telecommuting resource guide

Any employees whose regular work can only be done on site, as determined by their vice president/dean, but is not critical in the present situation, would continue in pay status until otherwise informed. This is done with the understanding that we may need to bring them back in or ask them to take on new or different duties as our response to the COVID–19 pandemic evolves.

For those employees who remain working on site, the following guidelines apply and will be determined in partnership with the vice president/dean.

Establish flexible work schedules for staff where possible to reduce the number of people working near one another at the same time.

• Implement reasonable social distancing practices to reduce the close contact in the workplace.
• Transition all meetings to phone or virtual formats. 
• These protocols will stay in place until further notice. 

Posted: March 16, 2020, at 3:27 p.m.

Updated travel guidelines and event information

Dear ASU community:

We are writing today with several updates on university activities as it relates to COVID-19.
 

New travel guidelines

Traveling from Level 3 or high-risk areas

For all students and employees who have traveled since March 1:

• Employees and students who are coming back from Level 3 countries and areas* are required to self-isolate for 14 days. If you are an employee, you must communicate your circumstances to your immediate supervisor. If you are a student, please contact ASU Health Services at 480-965-3349 and a provider will provide additional guidance.
• Employees and students who are coming back from high-risk areas are required to self-monitor. If you become symptomatic, you are required to self-isolate and should contact your health care provider. High-risk areas are defined as the following:
  • Travel by cruise ships;
  • Any air travel regardless if domestic or international;
  • Travel by any means to Washington state, New York City, California, Florida or London.

*Level 3 countries and areas include: China, South Korea, Iran, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City.

ASU now prohibiting university- and grant-funded domestic travel

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the U.S., cases of COVID-19 have been reported in many states and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. The CDC has noted that crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19, if there are other travelers with COVID-19. With this in mind, the university is now prohibiting all university- and grant-funded travel within the U.S. and internationally.  

Cancellation of events on campus

For the next 30 days, all events on any ASU campus or in any ASU building that are not directly related to the educational or research mission of the university are canceled in order to limit the community spread of COVID-19. Before attending a previously scheduled event on an ASU campus or in an ASU building, please check with the event organizer or look for an update online.

Employment practices during COVID-19

We recognize that conditions in the broader community – school closures, child care disruptions, ill family members – are likely to impact regular work schedules for some individuals. Employees should work directly with their supervisors on flexible work plans to ensure operations continue.

Sincerely,

Mark Searle                            Morgan Olsen

Provost                                   Executive vice president, treasurer & CFO

Posted: March 13, 2020, at 5:15 p.m.

ASU Transitions In-Person Classes to Online Instruction

Dear ASU community:

As you know from previous communications, university leadership has been closely following events and public health recommendations surrounding the outbreak and spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The university has been busy planning and preparing for the possibility of transitioning to an online teaching and learning environment to help manage the potential spread of COVID-19.  

Although there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at ASU at this time, we know that many members of the ASU community have been traveling this week during spring break to parts of the country and world where there may be community spread of COVID-19. As a precaution, we have made the decision to transition in-person classes to online instruction wherever possible.

Effective Monday, March 16, the following changes will occur:

• All in-person classes wherever possible will transition to online instruction. Classes will continue in this mode for two weeks, at which time the university will assess where things stand with COVID-19. Additional information will follow shortly with specific instruction for faculty and students on how to transition to online instruction.

• The university remains open. University housing, computer labs, food service, health clinics, counseling services, research labs and all other aspects of the university remain open.

• All public events will continue unless otherwise announced.

We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution. Public health officials have not yet made this a requirement for public institutions. Nevertheless, given all that we know and what we can anticipate based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we believe this is the most prudent course of action at the current time.

ASU’s COVID-19 webpage will continue to be our primary source of information and updates related to university operations. We will communicate changes across as many channels as possible, and we have teams of individuals across the university ready to assist faculty and students with the transition to online instruction.  

The spread of COVID-19 may necessitate changes in the way we interact, but it does not change what we do. ASU will continue to operate and will continue to deliver the highest-quality education possible to the students we serve, and ASU employees will continue to perform their duties.

This is a new challenge not only for our community at ASU, but for the broader community in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, and the country. We will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation with local, state and federal public health officials.

In the meantime, please carry on with your work and your studies. Do so with care for yourself and for those around you and continue to adhere to the preventative measures as recommended by public health officials, but do not retreat from your commitment to your education and to the important work you do every day. And again, additional information will follow shortly with specific instruction for faculty and students about this transition. 

Sincerely,

Michael M. Crow
President
Arizona State University
president.asu.edu

Posted: March 11, 2020 at 4:48 p.m.

Update: New ASU travel restrictions and guideline

March 6, 2020

Consistent with U.S. State Department Travel Advisories, ASU or grant-funded international travel to CDC level 2 and 3 countries and Hong Kong is prohibited until further notice. All other international travel will require an explanation as to the essential nature of the travel and must be approved by the dean and provost or executive vice president/chief financial officer.

Domestically, we encourage you to avoid nonessential travel and seek alternative mechanisms to participate in conferences and professional meetings as much as possible, e.g. Zoom. Domestic travel using ASU or grant funds, including previously-approved travel, should be essential and must be approved by your dean or appropriate Vice President.

For previously-booked travel that is deemed nonessential, travelers should work with the ASU Travel Office and Anthony Travel to minimize cancellation fees. Cancellation fees that cannot be avoided will be reimbursed.

Posted: March 6, 2020 at 5:58 p.m.

Arizona State University Update on Coronavirus Preparedness

March 3, 2020

New Travel and Self-Isolation Guidelines

ASU continues to track COVID-19 in partnership with local, state and federal health agencies. The Centers for Disease Control has provided the following destination-specific risk assessments for COVID-19:

Level 3: China, Iran, Italy and South Korea
Level 2: Japan
Level 1: Hong Kong

Per CDC guidelines, a 14-day self-isolation period is required for ALL travelers – faculty, students, staff, affiliates and visitors – traveling from Level 2 or 3 countries. Travelers from Level 2 or 3 countries should self-isolate at their home or an off-campus residence for 14 days and monitor their symptoms before returning to campus. If symptoms occur, individuals should seek medical attention.

These guidelines apply to anyone traveling on university business or personal travel. If you are traveling from a Level 2 or 3 country, please contact ASU Health Services at 480-965-3349 and ASU health officials will give additional instructions. ASU will also contact anyone that the university has record of recently traveling from these countries. The university will assist students who may have difficulty adhering to this guideline, financially or otherwise.

ASU advises all individuals follow the CDC recommendations and avoid all non-essential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. The CDC recommends that older adults or those who have chronic medical conditions consider postponing travel to Japan and recommends that travelers practice usual precautions if traveling to Hong Kong.

Visit this link for the official CDC page for information about COVID-19 for travelers.

Spring Break

Spring break and personal travel: ASU does not set requirements for personal travel, but we are strongly urging people to not travel to areas with active community transmission and/or Level 1, 2 or 3 countries. All travelers are encouraged to check the CDC’s COVID-19 travel page, State Department travel advisories, and the International Air Transport Association’s list of travel and entry restrictions for the latest information before departing.

Note that if you leave the country, your trip may affect your ability to return to the United States and campus.

Stay informed

This continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and it is difficult to anticipate what the future may hold. We encourage you to monitor developments through the State Department and CDC websites. Students who are traveling should, in addition to taking recommended measures to prevent getting sick, take basic precautions to prepare for potential travel disruptions.

Please continue to maintain daily personal hygiene similar to seasonal flu to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. These actions include:

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds
• Use hand sanitizer
• Avoid shaking hands
• Disinfect frequently touched objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
• Stay home when you are sick and avoid close contact with those who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

ASU will continue to work with federal, state and local officials to monitor potential risks. If conditions change, we will update our campus community.

Please continue to check this website for the most updated information.

You can find updated information about COVID-19 disease activity and recommendations at these sites:

CDC: 2019 Novel Coronavirus
Arizona Department of Public Health
Maricopa County Department of Public Health

Posted: March 4, 2020 at 12:36 a.m.