Important Decisions on COVID-19 at UW-Green Bay

To: University Community
From: Sheryl Van Gruensven, Interim Chancellor
Date: March 11, 2020
Subject: Important Decisions on COVID-19 at UW-Green Bay

UW-Green Bay continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and strategize to keep students, faculty and staff safe from potential transmission. University leadership is meeting daily to assess the situation and make necessary decisions. We will announce updates every Wednesday or more frequently if required.

Consistent with guidance from the CDC, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, UW System and the Brown County Health Department our goal is containment. Toward that end, the University has made the following decisions regarding class delivery, spring break travel, upcoming events and workplace expectations.

Students:

  • Beginning Monday, March 23-March 28, all UW-Green Bay classes at all campuses will be taught via alternative delivery methods. You will receive additional details from your faculty in the days ahead. We will update this status for subsequent weeks every Wednesday.
  • Students leaving campus for spring break are strongly encouraged to go home and remain home until further notice. We are evaluating the situation daily and will communicate a return-to-campus date as soon as possible.
  • Take instructional materials, computers, medications and other valuables home with you over spring break.
  • Campuses remain open and essential services will remain available (in person or by phone), including but not limited to counseling and health, dining, housing, police and academic advising.
  • Students not able to leave campus for spring break will have accommodations.
  • Students requiring internet and access to computer labs can return to campus after break to do so.
  • All University-sponsored spring break trips for students and faculty have been cancelled. See the additional travel guidance for international and U.S. travel, below.

Faculty:

  • Continue your preparations to move all instruction to alternative means of delivery by Monday, March 23. Resources to assist you in doing so can be found online: https://www .uwgb.edu/coronavirus/faculty-resources/
  • We expect every effort to be made to communicate to students by March 23 how their courses will be delivered. Please work with your deans and department chairs to achieve this.
  • All University-sponsored spring break trips for students and faculty have been cancelled. See the additional travel guidance for international and U.S. travel below.
  • All University-sponsored travel outside the state of Wisconsin for faculty and staff from March 14-March 29 has also been cancelled. Exceptions can be made only with approval from the Chancellor.
  • Campuses remain open and essential services will remain available. Employees are expected to report. If you have specific concerns or reasons not to report, work with your supervisor.

Staff:

  • Campuses remain open and essential services will remain available. Employees are expected to report. If you have specific concerns or reasons not to report, work with your supervisor.
  • A temporary telecommuting policy will go into effect on Monday, March 16. More communication on alternate work schedules and telecommuting will be provided by Friday, March 13.
  • All University-sponsored travel outside the state of Wisconsin for faculty and staff from March 14-March 29 has also been cancelled. Exceptions can be made only with approval from the Chancellor.

Campus Events

  • Campus events from March 14-March 22 have been cancelled. Future events are continually being evaluated with decisions being made each Wednesday regarding continuation or cancellation of upcoming events and mass gatherings.
  • The Kress Events Center will be closed to the public from March 14-March 29.
  • Refer to the Weidner Center website for individual event updates.
  • Green Bay Athletics continues to monitor the situation, with guidance from the NIT, Horizon League and the NCAA forthcoming.

University Travel Cancellations and Guidance

With spring break approaching next week, please be aware of the following if you are planning to travel. You are strongly encouraged to take the necessary precautions to keep yourself from coming in contact with infected individuals.

University-Sponsored Travel Cancelled

  • All University-sponsored Spring Break trips for students and faculty have been cancelled.
  • All University-sponsored travel outside the state of Wisconsin for faculty and staff from March 14-March 29 has also been cancelled.

Spring Break Travel Guidance

Domestic Travel

As of March 10, a state of emergency has been declared in the following states in an effort to combat the virus:

  • California
  • Florida
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Washington

As these states are reporting some of the highest levels of COVID-19 cases, UW-Green Bay discourages travel to these locations by students, faculty and staff. Per the Wisconsin Department of Health Services: People who have traveled in the past 14 days to places where there is community spread of COVID-19 (international and domestic locations), are asked to self-quarantine themselves and monitor for symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms, like fever, cough, or difficulty breathing are present, they should contact their local health department and health care provider for possible testing. People should call ahead before arriving at a health care facility for testing.

International Travel

Travelers returning from Level 3 (High Risk) countries (China, Iran, Italy and South Korea) will be required by the Department of Homeland Security or other governmental agencies to follow CDC After-Travel Health Precautions, to include self-monitoring from home for 14 days and social distancing.

As more countries may be declared Level 3 in the weeks ahead, international spring break travelers should be aware that they may encounter problems with re-entry into the U.S. Please continue to watch for updates to the list of Level 3 countries and be diligent about having contingency plans for travel.

Stay Informed

The situation regarding COVID-19 continues to change. While on break, continue to stay informed by regularly visiting the CDC website as it is updated daily. We also advise you to monitor https://www.uwgb.edu/coronavirus/ and your campus email over break for updates specific to the University. UW-Green Bay will continue to monitor the situation closely, share updates and take action as needed to safeguard your well being.

Continue to stay well and stay informed. As Phoenix, we will persevere together.

UW-Green Bay Coronavirus Update, Travel and General Health Considerations

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed two documents to the University community providing coronavirus updates on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. One is a memo from Interim Chancellor Van Gruensven and the other is a Coronavirus Preparedness memo from UW-System President Ray Cross.

To: University Community
From: Sheryl Van Gruensven, Interim Chancellor
Date: March 4, 2020
Subject: UW-Green Bay Coronavirus Update, Travel and General Health Considerations

 

To: UW System Chancellors
From: UW System President Ray Cross
Re: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness

 

UW-Green Bay Chancellor Finalists Named

Memo: UW-Green Bay chancellor finalists namedThe UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor sent, on behalf of Michael Draney, Professor of Biology and Vice Chair, Chancellor Search and Screen Committee, the following memorandum to the campus community on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

 

Memorandum

To: University Community
From: Michael Draney, Professor of Biology & Vice Chair, Chancellor Search & Screen Committee
Date: January 27, 2020
Subject: UW-Green Bay chancellor finalists named

I am excited to share with you that University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross will announce today the four finalists for the position of chancellor at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.

A 13-member Search and Screen Committee, led by Regent Robert Atwell and myself, recommended the list of finalists. The Special Regent Committee determined that the following individuals will continue in the selection process.

The finalists, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Beginning Tuesday, February 25, the four candidates will participate in separate public forums, offering opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members to interact directly with them. See the complete schedule of open forums for details.

On behalf of the entire Search and Screen Committee, I highly encourage you to participate in this important step in the selection process for the University’s seventh Chancellor, including the opportunity to offer feedback on each candidate.

Following campus interviews and public forums, President Cross and the Special Regent Committee will interview finalists March 26. They will recommend one candidate to the full Board of Regents, which must approve the recommended candidate. The committee is still on schedule to submit a recommendation for approval at the April Board of Regents meetings.

For additional information on the Chancellor Search process visit Chancellor Search.

Winter 2020 Coffee Break Video

Faculty and staff gathered for coffee, donuts, updates and perspectives with UW-Green Bay Interim Chancellor Sheryl Van Gruensven and Provost Michael Alexander. The remarks, presentations and discussions were recorded live so that colleagues from all campus locations could attend in person or remotely. The recording is available linked with timestamps for agenda items below.

Agenda

Commencement Changes for Spring 2020

Memo: Commencement Changes for Spring 2020The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed the following memorandum from Interim Chancellor Van Gruensven to the campus community on Monday, January 27, 2020.

Memorandum

To: University Community
From: Sheryl Van Gruensven
Date: January 27, 2020
Subject: Commencement Changes for Spring 2020

As we continue to grow as a University, we need to make adjustments to serve our students. An area that is impacted by our continual growth is Commencement. For a myriad of reasons we will be expanding to two ceremonies on Saturday, May 16 in the Kress Events Center.

Ceremony I: 9:30 a.m.

  • Austin E. Cofrin School of Business
  • College of Science, Engineering & Technology

    Ceremony II: 2:00 p.m.

  • College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • College of Health, Education & Social Welfare
  • All Associate Degrees from all four campuses

    Rationale:

  • There is space for 750 students on the floor. We have had over 700 participants the last two years out of over 900 students eligible to walk. If a higher percentage of students wish to walk, there is not space for them.
  • This also allows us to lift ticketing restrictions for students, so that they may invite more guests than the previous limit of 4.
  • Last year’s spring ceremony was over 3 hours long. Some parents and family members arrive 1-1.5 hours early to get seating, making their stay 4+ hours. With this change, each ceremony is estimated to last around 90 minutes, much more reasonable for students, families, and faculty/staff.
  • A smaller group of students for each ceremony allows the University to utilize stronger/larger chairs. Chair size/quality has been a concern voiced the last few years.This change for Commencement will be positive for students, faculty, and staff and will be in line with current best practices in higher education. Faculty will only need to participate in the ceremony that their college has students graduating. Graduate students will be hooded with the college in which their program is based. Thank you for your support. More information will be coming out in the near future.

Arneson Resignation

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed the following memorandum from Interim Chancellor Van Gruensven on Thursday, December 19, 2019 informing the University Community that Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Climate Eric Arneson submitted his resignation. The memo also thanks him for his leadership. Arneson will be leaving UW-Green Bay as of January 30, 2020 for a new role as Vice President for Student Affairs at Kennesaw University in Georgia.

Arneson Resignation

To: University Community
From: Sheryl Van Gruensven
Date: December 18, 2019
Subject: Eric Arneson, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Climate

UW System Presidential Search Input

The UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed the following message from Interim Chancellor Sheryl Van Gruensven to the University community on Friday, December 13, 2019.

Attached is a memo from Regent Vice President Michael M. Grebe, Chair of the UW System Presidential Search Committee. Regent Grebe is inviting UW System employees to share their thoughts and insights on the presidential search via an online comment webpage and/or two video listening sessions on December 19.

Thank you.

Online comment form

Presidential Search website

Register here for either of the two video listening sessions on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Don’t forget, every Friday is Phoenix Friday!

On Thursday, December 5, 2019, the UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed the following holiday greeting from Interim Chancellor Sheryl Van Gruensven to the University community.

Several years ago, we started the Phoenix Friday tradition here at UW-Green Bay. Many faculty and staff participate and it’s great to see so much green across campus.  I invite you to join Phoenix Nation by making every Friday a Phoenix Friday!

Here’s a few perks for faculty and staff:

  • Free coffee every Friday at Garden Café, Rosewood Café and MAC Cart, for those showing their Phoenix spirit by wearing spirit wear
  • Phoenix Friday rotating specials from Chartwells (wear your Phoenix gear for special deals)
  • $5 Friday lunch at the Cloud Commons
  • Various Phoenix Bookstore specials like 30% through the end of 2019!
  • A very special Phoenix Friday on Feb. 28—Homecoming Week! (Watch for details).

Let’s show our Phoenix spirit and turn campus green!

#uwgbphoenixfriday

Holiday Greetings

On Tuesday, November 27, 2019, the UW-Green Bay Office of the Chancellor emailed the following holiday greeting from Interim Chancellor Sheryl Van Gruensven to the University community.

As we embark on the upcoming Holiday Season, it is my hope that you have the opportunity to relax with family and friends.  This is also the time of year to reflect on the many blessings we have and be mindful of those around us who are not as fortunate.  I am grateful to work at a university that is committed to serving our students and communities to help improve lives beyond the classroom, synonymous with the Wisconsin Idea.

Happy Holidays to you and your family,
Sheryl

Sheryl Van Gruensven
Interim Chancellor