[Update: March 12 at 12:01 p.m.] – The University of Maine System intends refund room and board charges paid through family contributions on “an appropriate and prorated basis” according to information released today by Dan Demeritt, the UMaine System’s Executive Director of Public Affairs. Information on requesting room and board refunds will be posted to the system’s public advisory website by noon on March 18.
The complete release reads as follows:
University of Maine System students and their families will not be financially disadvantaged by the University’s move to online classes and residence hall restrictions in response to the Coronavirus public health crisis. Students will be able to complete the course of study they have paid for this semester and room and board charges paid through family contributions will be refunded on an appropriate and prorated basis. The University of Maine System will post guidance on requesting room and board refunds on our public health advisory website by noon on Wednesday, March 18th.
The University is working quickly and responsively to address individual student and family concerns as we take unprecedented steps as a public institution to protect student health and help limit the spread of the Coronavirus in Maine.
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The University of Maine System announced that all of its in-class academic programs will transition to distance learning following the resumption of classes on March 23. All seven universities will also notify on-campus residential students to make plans to depart campus by Sunday, March 22, with personal and educational belongings necessary to complete their semester requirements remotely.
According to information released by Dan Demeritt, the UMaine System’s Executive Director of Public Affairs, on Wednesday, while universities will remain open, the prospect of people returning to the state following the spring break prompted the decision to transition to remote learning. The decision comes after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
COVID-19, a respiratory illness, has spread into several states, prompting travel restrictions, quarantines and some states declaring a state of emergency. The Maine Center for Disease Control is currently reporting zero confirmed cases in the state, having tested more than 40 people and registered only negative results. Maine is currently the only state in New England not reporting cases of COVID-19.
“The University of Maine System, with many of its 23,000 students expected to travel over spring break and 5,800 students living in close proximity in resident halls, is a unique Maine institution,” said Dannel Malloy, Chancellor of the University of Maine System. “We are fortunate that there are still no coronavirus cases in Maine and we must take all appropriate steps to limit exposure to the virus in the interest of preserving public health.”
Malloy issued a Directive to Transition to Remote Instruction effective March 23 to the UMaine system presidents on Wednesday. The directive instructs all universities to transition all in-class academic programs to online or otherwise remote programs for the remainder of the spring semester. It further instructs the universities to notify students to make plans to depart the campus by March 22 with personal and educational belongings.
Universities will provide housing and meal options to students who must remain in or return to their on-campus residence due to extenuating personal circumstances.
The universities will otherwise remain operational, with employees continuing to report to work unless otherwise instructed.
So what happens to the classified staff.
Apparently the university is only concerned with the faculty and students. The rest of you get to work and disinfect those buildings, and don’t forget your rubber gloves. They are the ones on the front line and perceived to be expendable. The cleaners take all the risk, get the least credit and the lowest pay for a job many would never ever do.
When they told us we had to move out by the 22nd they kept talking about “the community”… “older community”… “locals” … so yeah I guess they don’t care about anyone else :P
I would like to point out, “West West Farmingtonite,” that all of our professional staff will also continue to work on campus. This is not the university sacrificing its lowest-wage workers by ANY means.
West Farmingtonnite that comment is far from the truth. I’ve never once been made to feel like I was less important than any other person. I actually consider it a great place to work compared to some of the other jobs I had. I will go in tonight throw my rubber gloves on and disinfect that place because that’s my job and someone needs to do it.
West west, with that attitude I’m glad you’re not a healthcare worker.
Thank you to everyone behind this decision.
@ UMF student, you’re a guest here, just passing thru, explain how foolish it is, to protect our community?
From Maine CDC,
“the vast majority of people infected with the virus experience it as they would a common cold or the flu and make a full recovery.”
The hysteria is driven by fearmongering not facts.
Triggered.
I’ll waste a few words and say,
Be Responsible and Calm Down.
Can anyone spare some toilet paper? Lol.
@ Sam
Actually I live, NOT passing through. Went through rsu9! So I appreciate them taking precautions although it is abrupt and stressful. Foolish you’d expect every umf student is a guest. Shame.
As a faculty member I understand the decision – there was a fear that students returning from Spring Break would carry the virus with them. The fear was mostly about Orono, but the U. Maine system has to be consistent across all campuses. I’m sad about this – there is real joy in working with students and helping them both understand the world and build a future. I’m sad about the money that won’t be spent on local businesses with the students gone early. We will stay connected on line and make sure all students can finish their courses. But it’s also sad that the class of 2020 has their commencement up in the air over this.
“Facts not Fear” raises good points. I didn’t think it would come to this for those reasons. But in talking to health care professionals, I understand that the fear is that if this becomes widespread it will lead to the death of a lot older people who are in high risk groups, and it may spiral out of control. They’re hoping to contain it. So despite this (and the NBA, March madness and MLB cancellations) I absolutely agree there is no reason for panic or fear. Stockpiling toilet paper is ridiculous. Purell and hand sanitizers are anti-bacterial, not anti-viral, so they’re not really worth that much. But if we wash our hands frequently and cough in our sleeves, we should be able to go on pretty much as normal, there is no need to fear. People with respiratory problems and the elderly do have more of a risk, though.
The UMF community is close knit between staff, students and faculty. This is sad for all of us, even if it is understandable.