App Strong. App Resilient.
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On Dec. 8, Gov.
Roy Cooper announced a new
executive order which takes effect Friday,
Dec. 11, and will be in place until at least Jan. 8.
The order requires people to stay at home between 10
p.m. and 5 a.m. — Phase
3 also remains in effect, including all reduced
capacity limits, sanitation standards and other
restrictions. Review the FAQ
document for details.
Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North
Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
(NCDHHS), also announced an update to the COVID-19
County Alert System, which indicates
counties with the highest levels of viral spread and
offers specific recommendations to bring numbers
down.
Today, we celebrate our newest graduates with a
virtual Fall
Commencement, available to watch here.
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Nov 25 - Dec 14: The remote
learning/teaching period, which includes fall 2020
exams and faculty grading period, ends Monday.
Exams have concluded, and final grades are due by
Dec. 14.
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Dec. 15 - Jan. 18: The
university will remain open with reduced
operations with the exception of the winter break
closure (Dec. 24 - Jan. 1) and the state holiday
in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday
(Jan. 18).
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The university is closed for winter
break from Dec. 24 - Jan. 1.
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Jan. 19: First day of spring
2021 semester classes.
As we look ahead to the spring semester, it is
critically important that you continue to check your
App State email over the break for
information about returning to campus, operations
updates, and other important news and reminders. |
Holiday and Winter Break Departure and Return
Plan Reminders:
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As winter break approaches, continue to review
the university’s Holiday
and Winter Break Departure and Return Plan.
It includes guidance for returning home, travel and
holiday gatherings. Important reminders are below.
Students, please take these actions before the end
of the semester
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Return
your textbooks either via a
prepaid UPS shipping label or in person to the
on-campus dropoff location (where books were
picked up in August) by Dec. 15.
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Return your parking pass if you will not
be returning to campus in the spring
for a prorated refund to your student account.
Drop off or mail it, along with your Banner ID, to
the Parking
& Transportation office.
Guidance for a safer winter break and holiday season
Because the holidays are a time when families and
others typically gather together, it is important to
exercise extreme caution this holiday season.
The CDC and NCDHHS recommend that the safest option is
to stay at home and celebrate only with those who
reside in your home.
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Campus operations reminders:
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Campus building access will vary through Jan.
18. A key or card swipe may be required
for access. Contact your department chair or
administrator with questions. In addition, please visit
area websites for adjusted and/or limited end of
semester and winter break hours of operation.
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From Dec. 11 - Jan. 11, temperatures in
most academic and support buildings will be
lowered to maximize energy and cost
savings. Visit Facilities Operations’ COVID-19
Operations page for details and additional
information.
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A Dec.
11 message to campus from the
Office of Human Resources included reminders and information
about reduced operations and alternative work
during the time between fall and spring semesters.
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The AppCard
Office is closed through
Jan. 1. If you need assistance while
the office is closed for winter break, email dining@appstate.edu.
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University Recreation (UREC) facilities
will continue to operate with adjusted
hours through Dec. 18.
Visit UREC’s COVID-19
Updates page for information on recreation
opportunities and reservations instructions.
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Parking permit holders (students,
faculty, staff) may park in any open lot,
including parking decks, through Jan.
18 regardless of permit type.
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Key Response Measures:
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Resources for faculty, staff and students:
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Students facing financial
hardship should contact the Case
Management Team in the Office of the Dean of
Students for help to access available resources.
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Faculty and staff can apply for
loans of up to $750 through the Emergency Loan
Fund. View full details of this and other employee
assistance programs, as well as a link to the
online application, on Human Resources’ Employee
Relations page.
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The Meals
for Mountaineers program
will be available weekdays from Dec. 11 - Jan.
14 providing chef-inspired meals at no
charge to App State students, staff and faculty in
need.
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The Mountaineer
Food Hub & Free Store in the
Office of Sustainability offers pre-bagged food
staples, hygiene and special dietary needs items
to those in need. It is open by appointment
through Jan. 18. Email sustainability@appstate.edu
for a pickup appointment.
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Reach out for help if you are
experiencing emotional distress of any kind.
Mental
and emotional well-being information is
available on the university’s COVID-19 continuity
website.
App State community members have asked how they can
give back this holiday season:
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Give to the Mountaineer
Emergency Fund, which offers
relief to App State students who are struggling
with significant, sudden financial emergencies.
These grants can make a critical difference for
students in situations that may prevent them from
continuing their education.
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Support the Mountaineer
Food Hub & Free Store.
Donations can be made through an Amazon
wishlist.
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Graduating seniors are invited
to make a Senior
Class Gift in the amount of their graduation
year. These funds support current and future
Mountaineers by providing scholarships, support
for campus services and academic departments, and
more.
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Key Metrics
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On-campus
tests administered since start of fall semester: |
30,377 |
Classroom
transmission: |
0 confirmed
cases |
Current
hospitalizations: |
0 |
Current
quarantine availability: |
100%
available (0% in use) |
Current meal
support availability: |
100%
available (0% in use) |
Police
reports responding to violations of gathering
limits (Aug. 1 - present): |
23 |
Current
residence hall occupancy (includes exemption
requests in process): |
2% |
Active cases
in students who live on campus (in residence at
time of positive test): |
0 |
Active cases
in students who live off campus: |
19 (66% of
all cases, approx.) |
Days since
campus planning discussions first started around
COVID-19: |
324 |
Days since
the campus EOC formally activated to coordinate
preparedness/response/recovery efforts: |
286 |
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Latest News:
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Preparing for spring 2021
Plans are underway for the spring semester and many
of this semester’s key response measures will
continue.
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On-going briefings and strategy and
tactical meetings: Chancellor Everts
meets regularly with UNC System President Hans and
System leadership, and daily with her vice
chancellors and emergency management team.
University representatives meet daily
with local public health Monday-Friday
and on weekends as needed, and regularly
with the NCDHHS COVID-19 response team.
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Continued collaboration with
AppHealthCare: The university will
continue to partner with AppHealthCare, our local
public health agency, to confirm COVID-19 active
cases and clusters, for on-campus surveillance
testing events, for contact tracing, and for
isolation and quarantine.
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COVID-19 vaccines: In her remarks to the Board of Trustees that
were shared with campus on Dec. 4, Chancellor
Everts announced the university will be involved
in administering COVID-19 vaccines, and that members
of the university's COVID-19 response team have
been engaged in conversations with state and
local public health officials to begin
preparations for distributing the vaccine. Read North Carolina's
vaccination rollout plan here. Additional
information will be shared with campus as it
becomes available.
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Spring COVID-19 testing: As
announced by Chancellor Everts in her Dec.
11 message to campus, spring
surveillance testing will begin on Jan. 4. Visit
the university’s COVID-19
Testing page for upcoming testing events
in December and January. Additionally,
students living in residence halls will be
required to submit a negative COVID-19 test prior
their move-in date. These students will receive
additional information about testing options,
documentation requirements and timelines via
email.
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Face coverings distribution: Face coverings
will continue to be required for students,
faculty and staff when on campus. Prior to
the start of the Spring 2021 semester, each
student, faculty and staff member will receive
five new, washable, reusable face coverings.
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Environmental Health, Safety and
Emergency Management (EHS&EM) will manage
distribution to faculty and staff.
EHS&EM has reached out to departmental
administrators about face coverings distribution
and is preparing supplies for distribution at
the start of the spring semester.
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EHS&EM is working with the Division
of Student Affairs to coordinate distribution
to students. Distribution plans are
being finalized and additional information will
be shared with students prior to the start of
the spring semester.
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NCDHHS recommends discarding face
coverings that no longer cover the nose and
mouth and/or will not stay on your face, have
stretched out, have damaged ties or straps,
and/or have holes or tears in the fabric.
Review the NCDHHS Frequently
Asked Questions on Cloth Face Coverings PDF
for more information.
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Communications and updates
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App
State at Georgia Southern (ESPN3):
On Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m., the Mountaineer
football team will take on Georgia Southern, in
Statesboro, Ga.
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Additional campus updates and
information:
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Information coming soon:
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