The health and safety of our University communities is without exception my greatest concern and highest responsibility.

On Tuesday, March 10, 2020, I convened a town hall meeting on the Parkersburg Campus of West Virginia University at Parkersburg to provide current, medically-sound updates on the national spread of COVID-19 and its potential implications for the University and the communities it serves. The meeting was transmitted live to our campus in Jackson County and was available remotely to all members of the broader community. The panel consisted of medical and public health experts of the highest order so that our community would have access to the very best and most reliable information. About 75 community members participated, and the panelists answered every question that was asked.

This town hall meeting was held as part of our ongoing commitment to providing timely, thorough, and consistent communication to our students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University. Such communication will continue until the threat of the virus has passed. As the medical experts have told us, this situation changes very rapidly; therefore, the University will err on the side of caution and will continue to communicate with our stakeholders on a heightened basis.

We are in close communication with Chancellor Sarah Tucker and her leadership team, and Chancellor Tucker is in close communication with the Governor. I was recently updated that a State of Emergency has not been called in West Virginia, and no guidance has yet been provided on a statewide level about consideration of closing campuses or curtailing events. We will, of course, follow any statewide guidance that we receive. Unless and until such guidance is received, we will make the very best and most informed decisions that we can make on a local level.

To the degree that such transition is possible, I have instructed the Provost of WVU Parkersburg to begin making preparation to transition our face-to-face classes to online classes. I may make this decision to transition at a local level or state authorities may make it at a statewide level. Further, I am reviewing requests for out-of-state travel on a case-by-case basis, and am considering putting a complete halt on non-essential domestic travel. I have not yet taken that step, on advice of medical authorities who do not believe such a step is currently necessary. WVU Parkersburg is not aware of any University-sanctioned international travel recently undertaken or planned.

As always, I take the safety, security, and health of our community very seriously, and will work in consultation with our Board of Governors, local, state, and national authorities, and the management team of the University to do everything we can reasonably do, based on medical counsel received, to maintain a safe learning and working environment.