President John R. Broderick announced recently that ODU would transition to an online education and telework environment for the remainder of the spring semester. The University is committed to keeping students, faculty and staff informed throughout this process.
The University's commitment to your health
Your safety and well-being are top priorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance for stopping the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus, including canceling gatherings of 10 or more people. While the Old Dominion University Public Health Task Force works actively to ensure the continuity of our academic and research enterprise, we, as a community, are doing our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 and #flattenthecurve:
- ODU is taking health officials' recommendations seriously. The U.S. Task Force chief said: "Stop going out" or virus containment will fail. Except for essential employees who required to work on campus, the University is practicing social distancing and using online or distance learning platforms (i.e. video chats) to conduct classes and meetings.
- To date, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus.
- We continue cleaning facilities thoroughly and providing hand-sanitizer. We recommend that you wash hands frequently (for example, upon entering and exiting buildings) and follow CDC respiratory hygiene and etiquette.
- We are placing restrictions on labs and other university spaces.
- We canceled all events and activities, including athletic events, until further notice.
- ODU has decided to close all residence halls for the remainder of the semester. To maintain the safety and health of our community, students must select a two-hour time slot for moving out in the interval between Friday, March 20, and Wednesday, March 25. Time slots can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ADAC22A4FB6-emergency. If you are unable to return to campus during this time period, please contacthousing@odu.edu. You must move out of your residential space by Wednesday, April 1, to be eligible for a partial reimbursement.
Travel ban
All business travel for University and Research Foundation employees is banned. Because of the risks traveling may pose to you and people around you, Monarch community members are urged to take into account guidance from the CDC as they evaluate personal travel plans:
- Travel Notices: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/
- Travel Guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
All summer education abroad programs have been canceled.
New COVID-19 self-reporting form available online
To further ensure the safety and well-being of the Monarch community, ODU has created an online form for self-reporting travel to areas with higher concentration of COVID-19 cases or for individuals who have been asked to self-isolate or exposed to someone who has been confirmed with COVID -19. Go to the post-travel and/or contact exposure self-report form to complete it, and an Office of Risk Management representative will contact you. For questions, please call: 757-683-4009.
Reimbursements
The University intends to issue a credit or refund to students for room and board. We ask for your patience as we work through this process and determine the appropriate amount. More information will follow.
Commencement
Old Dominion announced that it will reschedule commencement for a later date. Graduates and parents will be able to attend that ceremony either in person or virtually. Alternatively, students who cannot participate in the rescheduled commencement may attend a future commencement either in person or virtually. More details will follow.
Student employment
Students are a vital part of our workforce. We are working on options to keep students, including all graduate assistants, employed for the remainder of the semester.
Resources for transition to online learning
We developed online resources to assist students and faculty with the transition to online learning. For more information, visit odu.edu/covid19.
Summer and fall registration are open
Registration is now open for summer and fall. More than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate courses are available. Get started today:
- Summer Studies: https://www.odu.edu/academics/summer
- Fall Semester: https://www.odu.edu/academics/courses-registration/registration
Your well-being is important to us
Amid the uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic, together we continue adapting, evolving and doing our best. Your well-being is very important to us, and we are here to support you. While the University is transitioning support services to online or virtual environments (i.e. moving in-person health consultations and counseling to telehealth and telecounseling), we continue to offer care and support:
- Student Counseling Services: 757-683-4401
- Employee Assistance Program: 855-223-9277
Please refer to odu.edu/covid19 and our social media channels for the latest updates. We appreciate your flexibility and resilience as we persevere during this unprecedented moment in our history.
View the Latest Information and Commonly Asked Questions
