Dec 3, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

As a University community, we have been able to keep our students’ programs, safety and learning on a successful path. We would like to continue to do so with your cooperation, particularly regarding safety.

There have been questions and concerns about the spring trimester and we would like to provide more supplemental details in this update.

As the situation is still fluid, some of these details may change and we will continue to update you accordingly.

Schedule and Format:

NUHS plans to utilize a combination of online lecture, blended online/in-person lecture and in-person lecture education as approved by the appropriate dean. NUHS also plans to utilize primarily in-person laboratory and clinical education. NUHS will follow this plan for the full 15 weeks (17 weeks for clinic) this spring trimester, unless CDC, state or local public health guidelines dictate otherwise. The course schedules posted on the student portal will be your guide for any in-person lectures, synchronous Teams/Zoom/Cygnet sessions and the in-person laboratories to reduce conflicts for dual enrolled students and room scheduling.

To be a bit more specific, each program and each site may vary due to constraints of accreditation standards, space or state requirement variations. For detailed information by program please refer to the Academic Program tab below.

Additional weekly detail will be available from the deans, assistant deans, individual faculty and their course syllabi.

NUHS asks that we all continue to be diligent with safety procedures and new learning formats to allow students to safely progress competently in their respective programs. Since safety is a fundamental goal, we ask that you review the safety precautions and guidelines outlined on the Current/Future students and Faculty/Staff tabs. The path of the Corona virus remains fluid so NUHS leaders will continue to follow requirements enforced by the CDC, state, and local public health guidelines. Therefore, these plans are subject to change.

Oct 22, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

DuPage and surrounding counties will be undergoing increased public health restrictions and mitigations as outlined by the Illinois governor.  While the majority of the mandated changes relate to bars and restaurants, the university will be implementing a few changes that will mainly focus on the Illinois campus. The changes are as follows:

• The few courses in Illinois that meet on campus for in-person lectures will be moved on-line for the two-week period corresponding with heightened measures in DuPage county.  Your instructor will contact you regarding this change.
• Laboratories and laboratory courses and schedules, on both campuses, will remain the same and in-person.
• Clinics will remain open as they are now.
• The fitness center on the Illinois campus will be closed for the two-week period corresponding with public health restrictions in DuPage county.  Re-opening the fitness center will be reconsidered at that time.

As we continue to follow CDC, state and local guidance, and in light of the recent DuPage County executive order, we are asking that employees continue remote working, when possible.  We understand that many are ready to return to campus and support the NUHS community through face to face interaction, but we ask that you remain vigilant as we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges. Your supervisor will contact you to discuss departmental needs, while maintaining a safe work environment.

At this time, we simply do not have complete or appropriate data to make any decisions regarding the Spring 2021 semester.  Our ability to shed light on the upcoming semester will be determined over the next several weeks as the situation is incredibly fluid. We hope to provide further information by the end of week 13.

Given the current global situation, we are in the best situation possible as the university balances the need for the health and safety of our community and the ability to provide the access to your continued education.  This can only continue as each member of the university continues to be diligent about your own personal health and safety both on and off campus. Failure to do so will result in a drastic change to what the university will be able to accomplish with regard to course completion and graduation.  Please continue to keep each other well.

Aug 7, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

National University of Health Sciences is very much looking forward to the upcoming trimester which may look different than any other in our 114-year history. We have worked hard to ensure its success and continue to provide outstanding opportunities for our students to achieve their academic goals.

This Fall we will continue to limit the number of students, faculty and staff on campus to the greatest and most reasonable extent possible. Since the beginning of the pandemic the university, at all levels, has been working to adjust the delivery and sequence of the various programs to ensure continued progress in their academic programs. This has been a very extensive and complicated process. We will continue to assess and modify our programs such that the required competencies remain intact.

Generally speaking, the Fall trimester will look very much like what the university has put in place during the current Summer Semester. The majority of our lecture courses will remain at a distance, while a modified laboratory schedule will now persist for the entire fifteen-week semester. The Bachelor’s degree program will remain on-line. Clinical education will continue as it is now. This will give both students and faculty the most flexibility should a member of the NUHS community contract or become exposed to the novel coronavirus. Due to the nuances of each program and requirements of each program’s accrediting body, further information regarding the format of individual courses and specific schedules will be communicated by email within the upcoming week.

In order for the university community to continue successfully navigating these challenging times, we must remain diligent and act responsibly. Social distancing and the donning of correctly worn face masks will continue to be mandated while inside buildings, including classrooms and laboratories. If physical distancing is difficult to maintain in outdoor settings, masks will also be required. Additionally, all employees and students will continue to complete the virtual self-certification screening prior to coming to campus. The established enhanced cleaning protocols will remain in place. NUHS continues to recognize and utilize CDC protocols. In the event that an exposure happens on campus or to a member of the NUHS community, the university will respond with established protocols including cooperation with local health authorities.

Persistence, tenacity and resourcefulness have always identified National University as a leader. We will continue to meet the upcoming challenges in the same way. Please continue to keep each other well.

July 31, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

The university continues to plan for the upcoming trimester. Our goal is to provide a plan that is effective for achieving campus community safety and affording for the opportunity of our students to continue their education. We are also aware that many of our students will have continued complications to their normal routines based on the changing conditions of the COVID-19 situation. These might include childcare solutions, household work schedules, and school schedules for children. To that end, we hope to provide a schedule solution for our students which is as insulated from change as is possible in these times.

We have been collecting information on the current procedures and processes to help inform the decisions that will impact the Fall Trimester. This data also includes adherence to protocols from students while they are on campus. Additionally, as was mentioned in a previous update, the university is still waiting on authorization and direction from outside agencies regarding possible approaches to the fall.

We hope to share the plan for the upcoming trimester next Friday, August 7^th. This should help our student body plan and present a schedule that will be sustainable through the fall. However, final plans are contingent upon State and county officials, accreditation and licensing bodies, and other key agencies as well as adherence to NUHS safety protocols.

NUHS continues to thrive because of the hard work, dedication and flexibility of our faculty, students, and staff in these unprecedented times.

Keep up the good work.

July 24, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

As we are well underway with the face-to-face laboratory portion of the trimester, congratulations are in order for the university community. NUHS continues to meet the challenges and uncertainty in these extraordinary times, all thanks to student, staff, and faculty innovation. As always, safety is of the upmost concern and we appreciate the adherence to the protocols that are in place on each campus. Each of us understands that many of these processes are new, and will evolve accordingly. We will of course continue with the prescribed and mandated protocols for the foreseeable future and modify them as necessary or when improvements have been identified.

Every member of the NUHS community is aware of the fluid, changing nature of the COVID-19 situation. As we look to finalize the direction for the Fall Trimester, we also have to receive approval and guidance from agencies outside of the university. To date, we have not received that level of information. What we hope to achieve this fall is a hybrid level of instruction that allows for a similar level of on campus interaction as we are currently experiencing. This would include reliance on both face-to-face, small group laboratory instruction as well as education at a distance. We anticipate receiving that information in the next couple of weeks.

Please continue to keep each other well.

June 26, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

The university is closely monitoring changes in the COVID-19 situation in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. We are also evaluating the impacts of the change from Phase 3 to Phase 4 in Illinois and the guidelines that were released earlier this week. As we determine what changes should or may be made, we will further update the university community.

May 29, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

As we move into a new phase in Illinois, there are a few updates that we wanted to relate. The campus fitness center and the playground will remain closed until further notice per Illinois guidelines. Other outdoor areas on the Illinois campus will be limited to gatherings of ten people or less with appropriate social distancing and personal preparedness measures in place as is consistent with the governor’s reopening plan.

At this time, we are assessing the possibilities of both the white coat and graduation ceremonies for this semester. Holding these ceremonies relies heavily on state and municipal mandates. We will send out information regarding these two ceremonies in a forthcoming update.

Students and employees are still not permitted on the Florida campus.

The university remains on track for the current semester schedule and format for program delivery. Employees will receive guidance regarding their individual department needs/schedule for the return to campus in July and the support of our students.

The university community is working on several contingencies for the Fall semester schedule and format for program delivery. Currently, we anticipate an in-person format for the Fall semester. However, the university will be monitoring state and local municipality guidelines/best practices to inform our decision. We will update our stakeholders as those decisions are made.

May 8, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

The first priority of NUHS is to provide the opportunity for students to continue to progress competently in your program without delay. In general, all programs, which includes lecture and lab content, will be online (Weeks 1 – 9). On the Academic tab below, you will find a more detailed description of individual programs as schedule details will vary. The deans, assistant deans, chairs and faculty will hold regular student meetings through phone, email or video conferencing for students to ask questions or voice concerns.  The Students Services office is also available for your questions.

The current guidelines put forth by the governors of Illinois and Florida are expected to be phasing back to some sense of normalcy.  As the mandates phase out, it is the NUHS commitment to keep all students, faculty and staff safe.  Social distancing will be incorporated into the academic plans when returning to face-to-face learning and interactions.  The use of face coverings will initially be mandated for all students when returning to campus for any face-to-face interactions.  For all laboratories and the clinic, the use of gloves, hand sanitizer and dis-infective wipes will be utilized.  Students will be required to provide their own face coverings. Anyone found to have an illness will be required to stay home.

Students will return to campus for the face-to-face laboratories and clinic experiences in the week noted below for each program in bolded text.  The schedule outlined provides the opportunity for students to meet necessary competencies through an altered sequence and varied learning format. Therefore, students will be ready for boards, clinic, licensure and practice thereafter. The general schedule listed below serves as an outline for the summer term. Specific details regarding your program will be provided by the appropriate dean and your course syllabi.

Please refer to the Academic Program tab below to access the General Schedule for the summer term.

April 24, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

As the rest of the world continues to work on getting back to normal, we too are keeping a watchful eye on how the events are unfolding. At this time, we see no necessary changes to the on-line format for the end of this term or the beginning of the summer trimester. As many of you are aware, the discussions continue as to which restrictions will remain in place as local, state, and federal governments look to ease social mandates. NUHS will take into account best practices and requirements while developing a plan for when we return to an in-person format for the academic programs. We continue to work with our accrediting agencies to determine near term and future planning with regard to face-to-face laboratory and clinical education.

We feel confident that the best plan for our incoming and current students’ academic progress is to stay with an on-line format for the first three weeks of the summer trimester. Regardless of what is determined for our eventual transition back to normal, we will provide students, faculty, and staff adequate time to facilitate their return to campus. That is to say, the format for week four and beyond of the summer trimester will be communicated no later than Friday, May 8. We will continually be assessing the plan and updating the university community always keeping in mind the need to provide information as quickly and accurately as possible.

As a reminder, if students have not yet registered for classes, they should please do so. While NUHS has waived the late fee to accommodate the current situation, prompt registration will be important to ensure timely disbursement of federal financial aid. As we will be in an on-line format at the beginning of the summer trimester, federal financial aid checks will be mailed. Students sheltering in place elsewhere from their residences on file, should reach out to the Office of the Registrar to update their contact information.

Illinois graduates who would like to pick up their diploma please make arrangements with Student Services. For all other graduates, the diplomas will be mailed to the address currently on file. Please make sure that the university has the correct information as to where to send the diploma.

Congratulations to the Spring 2020 graduates! For all other students, good luck on finals and enjoy the term break!

Esse Quam Videri

April 17, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

As the rest of the world continues to work on getting back to normal, we too are keeping a watchful eye on how the events are unfolding. At this time, we see no necessary changes to the on-line format for the end of this term or the beginning of the summer trimester. As many of you are aware, the discussions continue as to which restrictions will remain in place as local, state, and federal governments look to ease social mandates. NUHS will take into account best practices and requirements while developing a plan for when we return to an in-person format for the academic programs. We continue to work with our accrediting agencies to determine near term and future planning with regard to face-to-face laboratory and clinical education.

We feel confident that the best plan for our incoming and current students’ academic progress is to stay with an on-line format for the first three weeks of the summer trimester. Regardless of what is determined for our eventual transition back to normal, we will provide students, faculty, and staff adequate time to facilitate their return to campus. That is to say, the format for week four and beyond of the summer trimester will be communicated no later than Friday, May 8. We will continually be assessing the plan and updating the university community always keeping in mind the need to provide information as quickly and accurately as possible.

As a reminder, if students have not yet registered for classes, they should please do so. While NUHS has waived the late fee to accommodate the current situation, prompt registration will be important to ensure timely disbursement of federal financial aid. As we will be in an on-line format at the beginning of the summer trimester, federal financial aid checks will be mailed. Students sheltering in place elsewhere from their residences on file, should reach out to the Office of the Registrar to update their contact information.

Illinois graduates who would like to pick up their diploma please make arrangements with Student Services. For all other graduates, the diplomas will be mailed to the address currently on file. Please make sure that the university has the correct information as to where to send the diploma.

Congratulations to the Spring 2020 graduates! For all other students, good luck on finals and enjoy the term break!

Esse Quam Videri

April 10, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

We continue to monitor events as they unfold regarding the COVID-19 situation. The academic schedules for the remainder of this trimester and the summer trimester, shared in the March 27 update, remain unchanged. Our primary focus continues to be the health and safety of the NUHS community and ensuring the academic progress of our student body.

We are pleased that so many students and faculty have taken advantage of the options made available to create flexibility and provide support during finals and the completion of the term. We recognize that individual circumstances may continue to change, so students should reach out to their instructors if they need additional assistance. For those students with no other personal technology options who have already requested a Chromebook, they should be arriving shortly.

Registration is open and we encourage students to register for classes as soon as possible. While NUHS has waived the late fee to accommodate the current situation, prompt registration will be important to ensure timely disbursement of federal financial aid. As we will be in an on-line format at the beginning of the summer trimester, federal financial aid checks will be mailed. Students sheltering in place elsewhere from their residences on file, should reach out to the Office of the Registrar to update their contact information.

To stay current and updated on the COVID-19 situation, please take advantage of the following resources:

Florida Campus

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429

Illinois Campus

https://www.dupagehealth.org/610/DuPage-County-COVID-19-Dashboard

Center for Disease Control (CDC) – Situation Summary

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html

Good luck with final exams!

April 3, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

Our university community continues to respond to the COVID-19 situation in outstanding ways. Our students and employees have shown amazing support for one another in this unprecedented time. During this time of social distancing, the importance of staying connected cannot be emphasized enough. Please continue to help and take care of each other.

We are all experiencing changes to our communities, our personal lives, and the increased challenges of just getting around today. We understand how all of this is further compounded by the additional stress of the end of the term. We hear you. We have worked to provide the best solutions for as many of our students, faculty and staff as possible. We know these are not perfect solutions, nor permanent solutions, and do not perfectly fit every individual situation or circumstance. As a result, faculty and staff are continuing to develop additional options for students and we are finalizing solutions which will address academic needs. We have also been working with individual faculty and students regarding technical issues that we have been made aware of.

On Monday, we expect to be able to share additional options and support information. We have heard from many of you that the solutions implemented thus far are working as well as from those who have requested additional information or assistance. In the meantime, if you are having issues with individual quizzes or assignments, please make your instructors aware. Again, we understand that your individual needs may require individual solutions.

Please continue to monitor your email as more specific information regarding your program will be forthcoming.

We appreciate your continued support of National University and each other. We continue to work toward solutions that balance the current challenges we all face and keeping our students on track in completing their academic goals without delay.

ESSE QUAM VIDERI

March 27, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

We are providing this continued communication to update the university community regarding the current coronavirus situation. As of this time, the university, which includes our on-campus housing, has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. We appreciate the university community’s adherence to social distancing practices and shelter-in-place and safe-at-home mandates.

Academic Schedule

As information has unfolded and been made available to the university, we have tried to stay as close to the normal academic schedule as possible. This has been done to provide the best possible academic experience that can be offered. This has also allowed us to make necessary changes to meet the accommodations of our current community situation.

Current trimester:

• Weeks 12 – 13 remain unchanged in their on-line format.

• Weeks 14 and 15 (Final Exams) will be moved to an on-line format. As usual and customary, a final exam schedule will be posted on the student portal and shared via email.

• Clinic intern rotations will remain in an on-line format through week 17. Interns who were expecting to graduate on April 24^th, will graduate without a commencement ceremony as long as all requirements have been completed.

Summer Trimester

For the first three weeks of the summer trimester, we will continue with our on-line learning format. We are mindful of the need to update the campus community as quickly as possible regarding changes in academic delivery. Based on current information, the decision was made to afford faculty and staff time to prepare. Again, our goal is to maintain as normal an academic experience as possible. We will continue to assess the opportunity to return to a face-to-face learning format as we gain information on the COVID-19 situation. We are reluctant at this time to speculate beyond the first few weeks of the summer term.

Graduation

In lieu of travel bans, social distancing and mandates regarding congregating, earned diplomas will be mailed. Students should provide the Department of Student Services with the appropriate information. As commencement is the culmination of your academic journey and held in the highest of regard by the university, we understand your disappointment. We apologize for this unfortunate circumstance but we must consider not only the current mandates but the resources required to carry out the actual ceremony or other alternative formats that have been suggested. Graduates are welcome to participate in a future commencement ceremony.

Employee Update

We ask that all staff and faculty please continue to coordinate schedules with their supervisors. We appreciate the flexibility of our university employees as we work through the current situation and remain productive.

March 20, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

University Community,

We are providing this continued communication to update the university community regarding the current coronavirus situation. As of this time, the university has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

We are incredibly proud of the way the university community has come together in this unprecedented time. Our faculty and staff have been steadfast in addressing and solving the many challenges put before us.

Academic Schedule

Next week begins the on-line phase of our academic plan. The on-line portion of the plan, as you know, continues through week 13 of the trimester. With that said, this afternoon, we expect to hear from the Illinois governor regarding a possible change in guidance for the state. This may in fact outline stricter guidelines for the residents of Illinois.

At this time, we do not anticipate that such a change would disrupt our on-line academic plan for either campus. Should the governor’s address necessitate changes to the current plan, those changes will be communicated as quickly as possible. We cannot stress enough that we continue to reassess and reevaluate the university’s plan for the remaining portion of the trimester.

Employee Update

At this time, we are not certain as to the impact of the governor’s address on next week’s altered employee schedule. Your supervisor will reach out to you today regarding the necessary changes.

March 18, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

We are providing this continued communication to update the university community regarding the current coronavirus situation. As of this time, the university has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Clinic Update

Effective Thursday, March 19, all NUHS clinics on the Florida and Illinois campuses will be closed. This includes Lombard, Aurora, Pinellas Park, HEC, and Salvation Army clinics. All clinical internships including outside preceptorships and hospital clerkships will be paused until Monday, April 6. We have been in communication with programmatic accreditors regarding state and federal mandates/guidelines and at this time, there is no indication that these changes will affect students’ ability to graduate on schedule.

Information is being shared with clinicians regarding student requirements during the temporary clinical shutdown. Interns who have been out on clinical internships will return to the purview of their original NUHS clinician. Interns and clinicians will be participating in on-line educational experiences. Please understand that this plan outlines the next two weeks, however, the fluid nature of this situation may mandate additional changes. At this time, we cannot ignore that other states have implemented increased measures to curtail public gatherings and in some instances directed their population to shelter-in-place. Therefore, the plan we are sharing here is informed by the most current information available to the university.

Academic Schedule

On Friday March 13, we outlined the special schedule for the remainder of the trimester. For Weeks 11-13 (March 23 – April 10), laboratory classes were to be held face-to-face. This format is now changing to an on-line structure. Therefore, all face-to-face laboratories are cancelled for the same time period, Weeks 11-13 (March 23 – April 10), and all labs will continue in an on-line format.

Final exams, as previously outlined, will be held on campus. Lab exams will be held during week 14 and lecture exams will be held during week 15. Detailed schedules will be communicated at a later date.

Campus Facilities

The following buildings on the Illinois campus will be available:

• Lombard library – students and employees only, weekdays only

• Lombard clinic – employees only, contact campus security for access

• Janse building – students and employees only, weekdays only with limited access

• Residence halls – open as normal

All Florida campus facilities are closed.

Commencement Ceremony

In response to state and federal guidance regarding COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the April commencement ceremony. At this time, this should not affect your ability to graduate on schedule if you have met all graduation requirements by April 24th. Additional details regarding commencement will be communicated at a later date.

March 16, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

We continue to reevaluate the plan as proposed on Friday, March 13 as governmental guidelines are developing, sometimes by the hour. As of this time, the university has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.

This past weekend, we very much appreciate that the NUHS community was very active in sharing information and reaching out with questions. As such, we want to provide the following update.

Federal Work Study Update

The University understands that Federal Work Study (FWS) is an important resource to many students as it is used to supplement the federal and institutional aid that had been awarded. As we do not want this crisis to become a financial burden to students who rely on their FWS earnings, the University will be paying students their remaining FWS eligibility during the upcoming payroll periods of the trimester. Remaining eligibility has been calculated as of the last payroll period (payroll date 3/13/20) and is based on the FWS voucher completed by the student and department which will be split and paid equally during the upcoming payroll periods of the trimester. To be eligible, students must have been paid for at least one pay period during the current trimester. All paychecks will be mailed to the address on file with the Payroll Coordinator. Please email Fran Morgan, Payroll Coordinator (fmorgan@nuhs.edu), for address verification.

Employee Update

We understand and appreciate that employees need clarity regarding the upcoming days and weeks of their work environment and how this can be complicated by their individual situation and family. Therefore, on Tuesday, all employees will be meeting with their budget center managers to discuss how their individual departments will be meeting the needs of the university in the foreseeable future while on the special schedule outlined in the March 13 update. Budget center managers will outline several options available to employees which will allow the university to be productive while maintaining a safe work environment. The university continues to underscore the CDC guidelines which emphasizes the importance of personal preparedness and enabling social distancing.

University Facilities

Enhanced cleaning of high traffic areas is taking place on the Illinois campus which includes more frequent attention by custodial services. Special attention is being placed on high touch areas such as doors, door knobs and work surfaces. Our current cleaning products have been verified to be effective by our suppliers. Facility personnel have been reassigned as needed to support these efforts. At the Florida campus, St. Petersburg College department of facilities planning and institutional services is using disinfectant cleaners in all high exposure areas, including restrooms, cafes, and areas where people congregate.

We have received multiple inquiries regarding the decision to close the Fitness Center on the Illinois campus. We recognize the importance of exercise in maintaining a healthy person and how this serves our on-campus community, however, the extremely high-touch nature of the equipment necessitated this decision. Key facilities personnel were directed to prioritize the cleaning efforts of the essential academic areas.

Clinic

We have received inquiries regarding what is being done in our clinics. Interns have been asked to practice social distancing while in the clinic and therefore are encouraged to spread out and utilize other locations in the clinic while not with patients. Personal preparedness cannot be stressed enough and when coupled with the below measures provides for an effective protective strategy for both clinic staff/interns and patients.

Additional protocols for screening patients have been implemented and include:

• Calling patients before their treatment time with appropriate screening questions. If the patient is deemed at risk, they will be asked to reschedule their appointment.
• All patients, and those accompanying them, will be screened for fever in the reception area.

Lombard Whole Health Center access will be limited to the front door.

Interns have been instructed to follow enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols. In addition, interns should not report to clinic if they’re experiencing cough, fever, and/or shortness of breath.

We continue to appreciate the hard work from all of the university departments and will be providing more updates as information changes and or becomes available.

March 13, 2020

COVID -19 UPDATE

NUHS is closely monitoring COVID-19 actively and is committed to the health and safety of our students, employees, and patients. The administration is carefully monitoring updates from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the State of Florida Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). As future decisions are made regarding this issue, we will communicate the most up-to-date information available via the website and email.

While there are currently no known cases of COVID-19 within the National University of Health Sciences community, we must do our part to combat the spread of this coronavirus. Our goal right now is to FLATTEN THE CURVE in order to limit the spread of the disease.

The finite resources of our national healthcare system can only handle a certain number of sick patients at any given time. If we are able to “Flatten the Curve” this will spread the number of cases over time which will help to keep our healthcare systems within capacity.

With the information we know at this time, we have developed a plan that will address weeks 10 – 15. It is important to note that this a rapidly evolving situation and we will continue to update the university community. Going forward, we will provide a weekly update each Friday. However, additional updates will be made as the situation warrants.

In-person classes will be cancelled from March 16 – 20 (Week 10)
In order to address the need for social distancing, the university is cancelling classes during Week 10. To maintain the academic standards of the university, faculty and staff will be dedicating time to successfully transition in-person classes to an on-line format. Note: Clinical shifts and observations will continue as scheduled.

Note: Current on-line courses will continue as scheduled.

On-line classes and in-person labs will be held March 23 – April 17 (Weeks 11-14)

Lecture classes will be delivered in an on-line format. Laboratory classes and laboratories will continue in a face-to-face format. However, the schedule will be modified in order to reduce risk from social interaction. Schedules are being developed and will be available by the end of week 10. Note: Clinical shifts and observations will continue as scheduled.

Final Exams (Weeks 14 and 15)
It is currently planned for laboratory finals to be held on campus during week 14 and lecture finals during week 15. Detailed schedules will be communicated at a later date.

Commencement
In response to state and federal guidance regarding COVID-19, a decision regarding the April 24thCommencement will be made in the near future. Details will be communicated as soon as they are finalized. We encourage individuals to refrain from making travel arrangements until that time.

Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff are expected to report to work as per their normal schedule until further notice. All university sponsored travel is suspended until further notice. All future travel will be evaluated by the appropriate vice president. If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with anyone who is a confirmed COVID-19 patient and/or recently traveled to a location with a Level 2 or 3 travel notice, please stay home, contact a health care provider and notify NUHS Human Resources.

Campus Facilities and Services

Clinic
Whole Health Centers in Lombard, Aurora, Salvation Army, Stroger, Pinellas Park and SPC will remain open and clinic shifts will continue as scheduled. For those students currently participating in preceptorships or planning to participate in a preceptorship they should contact the Dean of Clinics for important information and guidelines.

Campus Housing
Campus housing will remain open. Students are encouraged to follow the Personal Preparedness guidelines listed below.

LRC
Hours during week 10 – 8:30am-5:00pm The LRC will be closed to the public until further notice.

Fitness Center
Closed until further notice.

Campus Services
Employees in the business office, financial aid office and the registrar’s office will be available via email or phone during normal business hours. Please use email or phone to request services when possible. Campus security in Illinois will be maintained as usual. Security in Florida will be determined by St. Petersburg College.

Personal Preparedness
We strongly encourage NUHS students and employees to follow the recommendations provided below to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and all respiratory viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• If you are concerned about your symptoms, seek advice from your primary care provider or other appropriate healthcare professional.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Stay home when a household member is sick with respiratory disease symptoms.
• Stay isolated at home if you have been in contact with anyone who has recently traveled to a Travel Health Notice country.
• If you may have been exposed, contact the county health department for instruction before proceeding to a physician or hospital.

Non-Discrimination Notice
NUHS is committed to maintaining an environment of respect and freedom from discrimination and to supporting all members of our community. Please be mindful not to make any assumptions or comments about others’ perceived symptoms (a cough or fever is not uniquely associated with COVID-19) or based on someone’s national origin, race, color, or other identities. If someone you know has experienced discrimination, please contact Student Services and/or Human Resources.

Questions
Questions regarding the following:

• Classes and laboratories should be directed to the appropriate faculty
• Clinic shifts and observations should be directed to the programmatic chief clinician
• Accommodations or other student services should be directed to the Dean of Students
• Employee questions should be directed to Human Resources

Resources
Ongoing updates are available from:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Illinois Department of Public Health: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
• State of Florida Department of Health: http://www.floridahealth.gov/

Please remember that this is a dynamic situation and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to keep our community safe and healthy.