By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
In a letter addressed to faculty and staff Thursday afternoon, Fort Hays State University announced the university would shift all instruction to online only after spring break on March 23.
"Based on guidance received from Kansas Department of Health and Environment last night, as well as information gleaned from ongoing discussions with our Student Health Center, our Critical Incident Policy Group, and various leaders and stakeholders throughout all divisions of FHSU, we have decided that all FHSU classes will be transitioned to online delivery, effective March 23," said FHSU President Tisa Mason in the letter.
"Additional issues surrounding clinicals, labs and practicums will be addressed in their respective departments," she said. "This effectively means that, after the conclusion of spring break, faculty and students should be prepared to transition all face-to-face classes to online delivery only."
"At FHSU we remain committed to the underlying goal of all our efforts and decision-making since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak: safeguarding the health of our students, faculty and staff," Mason said. "In striving to do so, we have also remained committed to our guiding principle that policies and decisions in response to COVID-19 should be informed by and aligned with, local, state, and national medical authorities and public health experts."
As a part of a social distancing strategy, the university is asking all students who reside on campus to return home during the break and remain there while courses are taught online only.
However, accommodations are being planned for those who must continue to reside on campus.
As the virus continues to spread FHSU will continue to re-evaluate the decision on a weekly basis, but anticipates that online-only instruction will continue through the end of the semester.
The campus will remain open during this period, but university-sponsored travel is being restricted.
"All university-sponsored travel to destinations with community spread or outbreaks is prohibited," Mason said. "We strongly discourage all non-essential personal travel to any such areas, and may require employees or students who do travel to such locations to self-quarantine upon return."
In the letter, Mason acknowledged the challenges the decision will create but believes in the interest of safety is the best decision with the information available.
"We appreciate the gravity with which this decision will impact our local Hays area businesses and partners and the ripple effect this will create through western Kansas," Mason said. "We believe that these measures help to proactively mitigate the potential social spread of COVID-19 throughout this area. Armed with the information and guidance we have received to date, we believe this is a prudent course of action."