NMU provides COVID-19 updates; special website for details created
MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s cornoavirus-related online class transition began Monday, although offices continue to be open and functioning. Housing and food services are operational with modifications.
President Fritz Erickson sent a letter on Monday to faculty, staff and students, which included details on how NMU is handling the outbreak.
≤ Northern Lights Dining and the Wildcat Den are open and serving carryout only. Tamaki & Tea is taking call-in orders at 906-227-6633 and is drive-through only. Fieras and Melted are closed until further notice.
≤ The NMU Sports Complex, the Physical Educational Instructional Facility recreation areas and Wildcat Fit Zone are closed until future notice. Bike, ski and snowshoe checkout continues from the Fit Zone area. NMU faculty and staff will be able to access their offices if they are located in the complex.
≤ The Lydia M. Olson Library, Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center, NMU and Central U.P. Archives, and the DeVos Art Museum are closed. Harden Hall remains open, but Olson Library on the second and third floors and NMU Archives on the first floor are closed.
≤ Northern’s campus visit program has been canceled until further notice.
≤ Canceling, rescheduling and modifying all events held on campus that have 50 attendees or more are urged per the new recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
≤ Vehicle travel is added to NMU’s suspension of university-sponsored travel, with flight and ship travel already restricted.
It was announced on the NMU coronavirus website link that course withdrawal and drop for students has been extended to April 3.
“Our first day of nearly all distance learning classes has gone extremely well,” Erickson wrote in the letter. “Thank you faculty and students for your patience and collaboration. To those faculty continuing to work to put even more of the face-to-face lab courses online, thank you. The effort is greatly appreciated.”
Erickson said he and NMU vice presidents have started meeting with department leaders and supervisors to begin to accommodate some staff to work remotely, and equipment requests and training needs are being processed.
Erickson sent a letter to NMU students Friday thanking them for their patience during the fast-changing COVID-19 situation.
“Due to the dedication of the Northern faculty, the vast majority of our lab classes have now been converted to a distance learning format,” Erickson said in the letter. “This is an amazing accomplishment that two days ago I was reluctant to say was possible. There are still a few specialty areas that need to be taught face-to-face, but they are very few.”
Erickson also sent a letter Friday to NMU faculty and staff.
“We understand that the K-12 and related childcare closures may impact a number of our employees who do not have viable longer-term daycare options,” he wrote. “Employees in this situation should work with their department heads to determine whether alternative work arrangements can be managed (e.g. modifying work hours, telecommuting, etc.). Creativity to keep employees working in some capacity is encouraged.”
If there are no options for alternative work arrangements, employees will not be required to use annual leave time to cover the K-12 closure through April 5, he said. However, employees will be required to use any remaining personal leave days and dependent care leave days.
“The definition of dependent care leave is being expanded to include caring for dependents impacted by the K-12 closure for this unique situation,” Erickson said. “Once these banks are depleted, any remaining time will be paid as regular paid time through April 5.
“Please note that due to health and safety reasons, our standard practice remains not to allow children to attend work with their parents.”
NMU also is developing plans that will ensure that technologies will support a large number of employees working remotely, he wrote.
“However, at this time, the university remains open, and it is important we maintain the on-campus operations needed to meet the ongoing needs of the NMU community,” Erickson said. “We understand we are dealing with a fluid situation and may need to make a different decision in the future. We have a general plan for the university to do that.”
NMU is posting the latest developments on the coronavirus outbreak on its website at www.nmu.edu/covid/.
Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.