Nowaczyk and Travis Issue Joint Statement Regarding Concerns About COVID-19 On Campus

We are reaching out to ask if Frostburg State University has anything they’d like to say in response to these concerns. Moreover, numerous students have said they’re going home with, or without, accommodations from their professors. Given the shift to online instruction this week and the potential for that period of time to be extended, will the Office for Academic Affairs be making any changes to grading, or will they issue a statement regarding accommodating students at this time?”

Note: The Office for Academic Affairs has not issued a statement in response.

We understand the caution anyone has about choices made during the pandemic. It is a difficult time, and we appreciate any concerns that are raised. We encourage anyone to reach out to us with comments and questions. We established the fall2020@frostburg.edu email earlier this year to specifically allow concerns to be sent to us. We have assisted more than 200 people specifically through their use of that email.

As we shared with the FSU community yesterday, since the pause was announced on Thursday night, early indicators have shown our steps are having the desired effect, including preliminary results from last 14-day period of FSU-administered testing results, which show a positivity rate among those tests of 5.64%. Additionally, FSU has been able to identify that many of the current cases had been in common social circles. Further evaluation will occur to determine the level of spread beyond those circles.

The response we took was a measured one and appropriate based on our pandemic plan and our monitoring of COVID indicators. Our discussions with the Allegany County Health Department likewise indicate our measured response was appropriate. If the uptick in cases on Thursday, as early signs are indicating, was an isolated spike, our hope is to return to our previous instructional modality this upcoming week, but only if our indicators confirm that.

From the moment that we made the reasoned and measured choice to offer the fall 2020 term in a hybrid-style, FSU was aware there would be challenges. Our efforts to mitigate risks and provide an altered, but substantive educational experience have not been perfect. Much is still not known about the virus and so much of what happens hinges on individual behavior during this very difficult crisis. Overall, the efforts of the vast majority of our students have been very encouraging. And the feedback and responses from many have been appreciative of FSU’s efforts to provide an in-person educational opportunity, especially when so many of their peers at other schools have not had the same experience.

What is also clear is that across the campus, the administrators charged with the return to campus have prepared and placed in effect a plan that has continued to adapt and changes as conditions change. Our decision to Move Forward has been based on best practices, guidance from the national, state and local governments, health officials, facts and evidence.

We, again, encourage anyone — as we have throughout the Fall 2020 term — with concerns to reach out to us through fall2020@frostburg.edu or studentaffairs@frostburg.edu (specific student concerns), caar@frostburg.edu (academic assistance) or president@frostburg.edu. You can also visit http://www.frostburg.edu/fall2020 for all our information and updates.