This communication was sent campuswide May 1, 2020. 

Dear Weber State Faculty, Staff and Students:

Like many institutions, Weber State University hopes to return to on-campus, in-person operations in time for fall semester 2020.      

Weber State has developed a four-stage framework that the university will follow to return to more traditional operations as the state and local health departments begin to ease some of the guidelines established to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The four stages are modeled after the overview of guidelines table found in the state’s 
Utah Leads Together 2.0 recovery plan.

Red - High Risk

Orange - Moderate Risk

Yellow - Low Risk

Green - New Normal 

Since March 13, the university has operated in the High Risk stage, and will continue to adhere to those guidelines through May 10.

The university plans to transition to the Moderate Risk stage on Monday, May 11. Supervisors, working in accordance with Human Resources, may begin asking select employees to return to campus ahead of this date to assist with essential university functions.

What does this mean for you?

The state’s stabilization phase is scheduled to last for 10-14 weeks, assuming our communities do not see an increase in COVID-19 cases.

When the university transitions to the Moderate Risk stage, most students and employees will see little change to their current routines. 

• All summer session 2020 classes will be conducted online.
• All employees who can work remotely will be asked to continue to do so through at least May 31. (Employees should watch for additional guidance from Human Resources early next week.)
• Employees and students in CDC-defined “High Risk Populations” should continue to follow High Risk stage guidelines.
• All campus buildings will remain closed. While employees are still asked to work from home, employee access to facilities will be eased, allowing people to access their offices or work spaces when necessary. When on campus, employees should follow all recommended public health guidelines (practicing social distancing of at least six feet, wearing protective face coverings, not congregating in groups larger than 20, cleaning their personal space, etc.)
• University-related travel (domestic and international) should not occur during this time.

The Moderate Risk stage is expected to last at least through May 31.

What to expect during the Moderate Risk stage on campus:

• The Val A. Browning Center and Dee Events Center have canceled all public events through June 30, 2020.
• Shepherd Union Building will remain closed through at least May 31, 2020.
• Testing centers and computer labs on campus will remain closed through the end of summer session 2020. Testing centers will provide online support for administering summer course exams.
• Residence Halls remain open for current residents who do not have other housing options.
• New residents will not be allowed to move into the residence halls until June 19 (at the earliest).
• All study abroad trips through June 1 are canceled.
• Gatherings are discouraged, but cannot exceed 20 people.
• Campus facilities will remain closed to the public. Some facilities (e.g. Wildcat Store, Stewart Library, Shepherd Union, etc.) may eventually re-open during the Moderate Risk stage to offer limited services to students or the public.
• WSU’s Keeping Connected site will continue to provide up-to-date information on available resources.

The university will approach recovery efforts in a deliberate, incremental process. By easing restrictions in small steps, the university will have time to assess the impact of lifting specific restrictions, and return to previous guidelines if changes lead to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in our community or among our campus populations.

For additional details regarding the recovery process and what to expect, please visit weber.edu/coronavirus. Specific questions or concerns may be emailed to covid19@weber.edu.

Thank you for your ongoing vigilance and patience. We all have a role to play in helping slow the spread of COVID-19, keeping our communities safe, and eventually returning to campus.

Dane LeBlanc
Director of Public Safety

References:

Davis County Health Department Guidance (Effective May 1, 2020)

Weber-Morgan Health Department Guidelines Moving to Moderate Risk  (Effective May 1, 2020)