COVID-19 ALL CUPPA UPDATE 3/15/2020

From Dean Pagano

Good Evening CUPPA Faculty, Staff, and Students,

I am sure you have now read the announcement by the Provost and the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs. UIC Spring Break will now start Monday, March 16 and extend through Friday, March 27. Classes resume on Monday, March 30 and will be held exclusively online until further notice and possibly through the remainder of the semester.

Thank you once again for your patience and flexibility as these changes were made very quickly to increase the precautions against the COVID-19 virus and to provide more time to adjust to the online platform for classes for both instructors and students. We will continually adjust plans when we receive new and better information regarding COVID-19, and we will always keep you apprised of the latest information. For now, we do not know whether commencement ceremonies will occur as scheduled. As soon as we know, we will tell you. What we do know is that classes will end as scheduled and final exams will end as scheduled on May 8. There will NOT be an extended week of classes to make up for the extra spring break week.

 

Please thoroughly read all information sent to you from UIC and CUPPA.

  • Spring break has been extended from March 16 through March 27. No classes are permitted to be convened; no exams given, no required assignments can be due during that time period. Classes resume Monday, March 30.
  • CUPPA Hall and the CUPPA Front Desk (Dean’s Office, Suite 115, CUPPAH) will remain open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  – even during the two weeks of Spring Break. Although classes are not convening for two weeks during the extended spring break, the university is not closing.
  • Effective immediately, all staff should work with their supervisors to identify if work can be done remotely and when possible, do so by following theprocedures outlined by the Office of Human Resources. These employees will not be required to utilize any form of leave time during this period. Creativity in making this possible is strongly encouraged to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 virus spread. We must do our part in social distancing while assuring business continuity and little disruption to our services and projects.
  • Our teams across the college will carry out their responsibilities and be available per their usual schedules but more than likely, virtually. Specific arrangements will be made between supervisors and their respective reports, including graduate assistants.
  • For those faculty, staff and student employees who must come to campus, free parking will be available at the following visitor lots. Users will need to provide their valid UIC i-cardto access without paying:

- Harrison Street Parking Structure, 1100 W. Harrison Street

- Halsted Street Parking Structure, 760 W. Taylor Street

- Lot 1B, 1139 W. Harrison Street

- Lot 5, 1135 S. Morgan Street

  • UIC’s plan is to maintain the current calendar for end of semester and final exams; instruction ends on May 1, final exams May 4-8.
  • CUPPA’s academic advising will continue – even during the two weeks of Spring Break. The university is not closed, which means faculty, graduate assistants, and staff and are still working. Please contact your advisor to set up a meeting in a way that best fits - whether virtual, telephone, email, skype, etc.
  • Our CUPPA Hall computer labs on the 1stand 2ndfloors will remain open – even during the two weeks of Spring Break. We have instituted practices of social distancing in the Lab and Lab Suburbs (by closing 15 computers to create social distance) along with cleaning wipe stations available upon entrance and use before touching the keyboards. Purell is located on each floor near the elevators and near the Lab and Lab Suburbs.
  • UIC residence halls will remain open to serve students who choose to remain on campus. All student support services will also be open including the libraries and dining services.  Schedules may be adjusted so please check out UIC’s COVID-19 page.

We are navigating unchartered territory. Governor Pritzker just announced the closing of all bars and restaurants in the state at close of business tomorrow, Monday through March 30.

Our greatest concern is for the well-being and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. I again thank you for your patience and support.

Please reach out to Jodi White Jones, assistant dean for communication, jmwhite@uic.edu, or to me, mapagano@uic.edu, any time if you have additional questions or concerns. Our CUPPA website will provide real-time updates as quickly as possible  and the UIC COVID-19 news website does as well.

Keep informed on the latest correct information about COVID-19 and how we mitigate its spread and damage via the Centers for Disease Control, the City of Chicago , and the State of IL Department of Public Health.

Thank you and stay well!

Dean Pagano

 

Michael A. Pagano
Dean, UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs  http://cuppa.uic.edu

412 S. Peoria St. (MC 350)
Chicago, IL 60607
312-413-3375

CUPPA: Promoting Just, Resilient, and Livable Communities