Parkersburg, W.Va. (November 6, 2020) – Good morning, Riverhawks,

This message is to inform you that the two-week break from all face-to-face instruction will end on Sunday, November 8, and that students and faculty are allowed to resume limited face-to-face instruction and clinical and field experiences on Monday, November 9. Only those classes and field and clinical experiences which were face-to-face before the two-week break may resume in a face-to-face manner. Those classes and field and clinical experiences which have been online only all semester will remain online only. If students or faculty have questions about implementing these instructions, please consult the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Chad Crumbaker. If students or faculty wish to petition for an exception of any kind, please contact the Vice President of Facilities and Chief of Staff to the President, Brady Whipkey.

To the best of our knowledge, all known cases of COVID-19 which were part of the very small outbreak on our campuses have been released by local health authorities, and no new cases have been reported to the Office of the President. Good job!

It is my hope if we diligently follow all of our public health protocols including required mask wearing, social distancing, and prompt self-reporting of any positive cases that we will be able to hold limited face-to-face classes until the Thanksgiving break, after which all remaining instruction will be online for the rest of the fall semester. If we are able to continue face-to-face instruction until the Thanksgiving break, it is our belief that no students will be impacted by not completing and receiving credit for any courses.

Offices which are student-facing and necessary to process spring enrollment will remain open. Employees with questions about remote versus face-to-face work assignments should consult the Vice President of their area.

Our weekly state-mandated random COVID-19 surveillance testing will continue until further notice. This process has been going very well. Thank you for your cooperation.

As always, these instructions are subject to change and update based on the trajectory of the pandemic.

Best regards,

President Chris Gilmer