To the WCSU community:

As a result of the university’s proximity to the first cases of COVID-19 in Connecticut, with two cases currently linked to Danbury, and in accordance with a system-wide directive from President Ojakian, Western Connecticut State University is cancelling all out-of-state athletic, academic and student club travel at least through Spring Break. We will also be cancelling or postponing large events.

Although the university recognizes that this decision will cause hardship for many, we are acting with an abundance of caution and considering the safety of students and the public health implications of travel with this action. Specific guidance for those who will be cancelling university sponsored trips and events will be shared with coaches, advisers and department heads in the next two-days.

In addition, all students, faculty, and staff are strongly discouraged from personal travel outside of the state of Connecticut during spring break. If you do decide to travel outside of Connecticut, we ask that faculty and staff inform Human Resources (crattyf@wcsu.edu) and students inform Health Services (lipked@wcsu.edu) so that we may assess the risk and provide guidance on when you can return to campus. If your travel involved a region where there has been a high incidence of COVID-19, you may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Be sure to bring textbooks, or other relevant materials home with you, so you can work remotely.

Please see a supporting statement from Mark Ojakian, the president of the Connecticut Colleges and Universities, at (https://wcsu.edu/emergency-management/cscu-president-mark-ojakian-statement/)

A reminder:

Any member of the campus community who has flu-like symptoms should stay home. Students should notify their professors and arrange a plan to keep up with their assignments. Likewise, faculty members should contact their department chairperson and/or dean in order to make arrangements for instruction to continue. Staff members are requested to take similar steps by contacting their immediate supervisor and/or the Human Resources department.

Students, faculty and staff who require accommodations should also communicate with the appropriate academic and administrative leadership.