March 12, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, and Parents:
As a precautionary and protective measure, the University is transitioning all in-person classes on the Norman campus to an online learning environment for the two-week period following Spring Break, beginning Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 3. To be clear, there are currently no cases of COVID-19 at OU. The unambiguous guidance from our public health experts is that this important measure is necessary to protect the health of our community.
Students leaving campus for Spring Break should take all instructional materials, including textbooks and devices, to prepare for distance learning. Click here for more details.
For students, resources on how to use necessary technology and succeed in the online environment have been gathered at ou.edu/learnanywhere.
For faculty, resources on how to use necessary technology and successfully instruct in the online environment have been gathered at ou.edu/teachanywhere.
At this time, in-person instruction is planned to continue uninterrupted on both the OU-Tulsa and OUHSC campuses. The unique characteristics of these campuses – the generally non-residential environments, small class sizes, and health care instruction components – do not require suspension of in-person instruction at this time. Nonetheless, the situation for both the OU-Tulsa and OUHSC campuses could change rapidly and the University will keep all students, faculty, and staff on those campuses informed of any new developments.
The University will continue to monitor closely the status of COVID-19’s spread and will regularly communicate any additional University decisions. For updated information, please routinely check coronavirus.ou.edu.
Though Norman campus classes will not meet in person, the University will remain open. All non-classroom activities will continue in accordance with OU travel guidelines, and faculty and staff should report to work as usual. Employees able to temporarily perform work from home may coordinate with their managers to identify possible telecommuting opportunities.
All University-related events scheduled to occur between March 14-April 5 are suspended. This includes, but is not limited to: recruitment events, tours, student programs, reunions, performances, conferences, and social events. We will continue to evaluate event hosting and will issue an announcement regarding events slated for April 6 and beyond. For more information, contact University Events at (405) 325-1701 or specialevents@ou.edu.
The OU Athletics Department has suspended all athletics competitions, as well as all out-of-season practices and workouts, until further notice. For more information, visit soonersports.com.
For all employees, students, and residents: If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, call your medical care provider as soon as possible. Please also avoid contact with others; do not travel unnecessarily; and continue practicing good hygiene that minimizes the possibility of virus spread. For additional information about COVID-19 and its symptoms, click here.
My sincere appreciation goes to each of you for the resolve you’ve shown in the face of such uncertainty. We recognize that this is a significant adjustment for faculty and students, and we are committed to providing the necessary support to help facilitate this effort. Thank you all for taking this matter seriously, and for your commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our community.
Please continue to visit coronavirus.ou.edu for regular updates.
Sincerely,
Joseph Harroz, Jr.
Interim President
More Information on COVID-19:
- OU Campus COVID-19 Updates
- Oklahoma State Department of Health | COVID-19 Call Center: (877) 215-8336
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- VIDEO: OU Health Experts Discuss Coronavirus
*The above message was updated March 12, 2020 at 8 p.m. to reflect an OU Athletics announcement.
