Communications & Updates
Recent Updates
October 27, 2020
UofL’s response to governor’s recent red zone announcement:
We have updated our definition of exposure
We continue to ask all deans and vice presidents to allow staff who can work remotely to do so
We ask for better mask compliance in all campus libraries and the Student Activities Center
Winter commencement ceremonies will be conducted virtually
Visits and tours on campus should be postponed unless they are essential
October 23, 2020
Flu Shots Required for UofL Students, Faculty and Staff:
This year, we are requiring students, faculty and staff who are coming to campus to receive a flu vaccination
All sites are closed on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3
After Nov. 6, shots will be available at Campus Health Services on both the Belknap and HSC campuses
October 19, 2020
Required COVID testing continues through Oct. 23:
Thank you for your efforts to help us prevent widespread instances of COVID-19 on our campuses
Any faculty, staff or students who come to campus and who have not been tested since before Oct. 5 are required to be tested for COVID-19 by Oct. 23
October 16, 2020
University extends course withdrawal date, responds to pass/fail questions:
We have pushed the Fall 2020 course withdrawal date to Nov. 17
The university will not reinstate a pass/fail policy implemented for the Spring 2020 semester
All units and/or programs that award scholarships extend their appeals processes so that students whose Fall 2020 GPA adversely impacts their scholarship status may make an appeal to maintain funding
We will move the start of the Spring 2021 semester to Jan. 11, and we will be offering a two-day Spring Break Thursday and Friday, March 4 and 5
October 15, 2020
Changes to spring 2021 semester calendar:
Changes and key dates for spring 2021
Our Pivot to Spring
October 1, 2020
Personal travel guidance and reporting concerns:
Guidance for personal travel
Cardinal Principles and reporting concerns
September 25, 2020
COVID testing suggested now, to be required after Fall Break:
Following the Labor Day holiday, we have seen a slight uptick in cases.
We are encouraging faculty, staff and students to be tested for COVID before Fall Break.
We will again require all faculty, staff and students who come to campus to be tested between Monday, Oct. 5, and Friday, Oct. 23.
September 18, 2020
Update to the UofL community:
Please complete the anonymous Coronavirus Behavioral Health Mindset (CV-BHM) Survey by Friday, Sept. 25.
September 9, 2020
Update to the UofL community:
- Required COVID testing for faculty, staff and students will continue on the Belknap and Health Sciences campuses through Friday, Sept. 18.
- Flu shots to be available Sept. 21
September 3, 2020
The Provost provided the following updates to the UofL community:
- We are extending the testing period to Friday, Sept. 11.
- Our shared success thus far
- Weekend Reminders
August 25, 2020
The Provost provided the following updates to the UofL community:
- In an effort to make testing more convenient and to alleviate large crowds, we have added evening sessions
- We want to take this opportunity to reiterate our rationale for requiring testing in the next two weeks.
August 23, 2020
The Provost provided the following updates to students, faculty and staff:
- We are pivoting from at-will to mandatory testing
- UofL has extended its contract with Bluewater Testing Services
- And finally, don’t forget that you also need to use the Cardinal Self-Check every day before coming to campus.
August 18, 2020
The Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation provided the following updates to researchers:
- Research operations allowed to open more fully following the general university guidelines.
- In general, these guidelines are that all students, faculty and staff are required to wear masks or face coverings and practice physical distancing of at least six feet while on campus.
August 17, 2020
The Provost provided the following updates to faculty:
- What to do if a student refuses to wear a mask
- Recent communications sent to students
- Register for on-campus COVID-19 testing
August 15, 2020
Beth Boehm, Kevin Gardner, Michael Mardis and Phillip Bressoud provided the following update to students:
- Required before you arrive to campus
- Key health and safety expectations
- Covid-19 resources
August 14, 2020
The Provost provided the following updates to students:
- About your first week of class
- About masks, physical distancing and hand hygiene
- About testing
August 12, 2020
The President provided the following updates to students:
- You may take all online courses this semester.
- Hybrid courses, which consist of both in-person and online components
- You may request online-only delivery in your hybrid courses.
- We will encourage all faculty members to accommodate student requests.
- Your Student Government Association (SGA) can help you navigate these requests.
August 9, 2020
The Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation provided the following updates to researchers:
- Undergraduate students are permitted to conduct on-site research (without the need for a COVID-19 exception approval) and must complete and follow the training and guidelines outlined for all researchers during Phase 2.
- Training participants must wear a mask/face covering and eye protection (e.g., glasses, safety glasses, goggles, or face shield) throughout each training session.
- While in-person social, behavioral, educational, and community-based research continues to be restricted in Phase 2, investigators may submit exception requests to allow for the re-initiation of these important activities. Exception requests should be submitted to the cognizant College/School Research Dean for approval and approved exceptions will be submitted to the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation.
August 9, 2020
Human Resources made the following announcement to all employees:
- Free 24/7 confidential counseling service through the Human Development Company is available to all employees and their household family members. To learn more about what we offer, visit http://louisville.edu/hr/benefits/additional/eap.
August 6, 2020
Pivot to Fall Coordinating Committee made the following announcement to all university members:
- Registration is now open for the first wave of testing at UofL. We strongly urge every student, faculty and staff member to get registered and tested.
- Registration link, testing dates, times, locations and other details
- Fall 2020 reminders and recent communications
July 29, 2020
Provost Beth Boehm and the PTF Coordinating Committee made the following announcement to students:
- In order to ensure we can all have a safe, healthy and successful semester together, there are multiple protocols and expectations each of us must follow as we continue to navigate the pandemic.
- This email is meant to provide you with an initial outline that you can reference for the many different topics that concern UofL’s unprecedented fall semester.
- Health and safety protocols, Before you arrive to campus, Fall 2020 semester information, COVID-19 testing and mitigation, and Health recommendations.
July 27, 2020
Provost Beth Boehm made the following announcement to faculty:
- By Wednesday, August 12, please send an email to your students explaining where they are expected to be each day of the first week of classes.
- Almost 50% of our course portfolio is already fully online or remote; there will be fewer people on campus this fall than in the past.
- In-person instruction ends for most undergraduates at Thanksgiving (some professional and clinical experiences could continue, as could research for graduate students).
- Planning so that any given class period could be delivered remotely if needed will provide the ultimate in flexibility for you and your students.
- All faculty teaching this fall have been added to a Blackboard Organization named “Pivot to Fall 2020,” which houses self-paced resources regarding the design and delivery of hybrid and online courses.
July 17, 2020
Provost Beth Boehm and the Pivot to Fall Coordinating Committee made the following announcement faculty and staff:
- Ensuring a safe and healthy campus will take all of us staying in compliance with CDC and state guidelines, as well as specific protocols and guidelines that apply to our university.
- As faculty and staff begin returning to campus, there are seven health and safety protocols required for all university members on any UofL campus. Additionally, there are specific guidelines for faculty and staff.
- All employees should be aware of the training video requirements, travel policies, signage, mask and face covering policy, facility enhancements, sanitizing stations, flu shot recommendations and the university's COVID-19 monitoring, testing and mitigation procedures.
- Full details of these guidelines can be found in the Campus Requirements tab of the COVID-19 website.
July 16, 2020
Provost made the following announcements:
- As faculty and staff begin returning to campus, each of us must be aware of the steps the university is taking and those steps individuals should take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses.
- The university has developed a series of training videos regarding university actions and individual responsibilities for a safe return to campus.Each faculty and staff member is required to complete the training by Sept. 1 or before your return to campus.