COVID-19 Hotline262-243-4344 orcovid19@cuw.edu

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Uncommon Return

This page has been archived to document Concordia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the most up-to-date information, please visit cuw.edu/COVID

COVID-19 student return-to-campus plan

Concordia University intends to open in the fall of 2020, with in-person classes offered at both the Wisconsin (CUW) and Ann Arbor (CUAA) campuses.

Our traditional fall term begins Aug. 24, 2020; pharmacy classes begin Aug. 17, and post-traditional terms will start on schedule. At present, we are also planning to open residence halls at that time, for students who wish to live on campus.

In order to do this, we need to carefully consider how to accommodate the health needs of our students, faculty, and staff—especially those who are at increased risk for the COVID-19 virus. This guide outlines necessary procedures to ensure your safe return to campus. It was developed in consultation with CUWAA Health Care professionals, including physicians, nurses, and public health experts. This guide will continue to be revised as information and understanding of COVID-19 evolves. Four core values guided the development of this plan.

This plan is consistent with the recommendations detailed by: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (OHSA) as specified by the State of Michigan, Executive Order No. 2020-91.; State of Wisconsin Executive Order No. 36, and the general business guidelines established by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

Values Framework

  • Concordia values its studentsand employees first and foremost.There is much we do not know about COVID-19. Because of this, we need to be cautious, while remaining calm. Our calling is to support and sustain the people God has gifted us to work with and for. This is our top priority.
  • Concordia values its community.We appreciate those with whom we live and work. Therefore, we choose to take steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 as an expression of whole-community care.
  • Concordia values global citizenship and integrity.We interact with thousands of students, faculty, and staff. By extension, this means we also “interact” with tens of thousands in the surrounding communities. A public health crisis requires a public health response, and we elect to do our part.
  • Concordia values health and whole person wellness.Mitigation response reduces the number of active COVID-19 cases, which in turn gives doctors, hospitals, police, schools, and vaccine manufacturers time to prepare and respond, without becoming overwhelmed. We will continue to make choices and adopt practices that err on the side of life, health, and wellness: mind, body, and spirit.

An Uncommon Return: students on campus

Each of us at Concordia University is integral to this plan’s success. Our goal is to continue providing our students with an uncommon education, while mitigating the potential for transmission of COVID-19.

This plan will continue to evolve as we make decisions and implement plans for the 2020-2021 academic year. Continue to check your university email frequently and visit the COVID-19 resource page, which is available on the university homepage.

We are resolute in our commitment to our mission, and will continue to educate you—mind, body, and spirit. At the same time, your health and wellness are the utmost priority. In order to balance and fulfill both of these values, the university acknowledges two contingencies related to teaching and learning this fall:

  • Necessary precautions to discourage the spread of COVID-19spread of COVID-19 and mindfulness of individual health concerns will influence the delivery of face-to-face teaching and learning.
  • If a widespread COVID-19 resurgence occurs, the university will again consider the need to move all students, faculty, and staff to a remote learning environment to protect the health and well-being of all.

Concordia’s Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and current state and county governmental guidelines/standards/plans (Appendix A).

This plan addresses:

It is our hope that the following strategies will ensure student safety, health, and wellness. A similar set of protocols has been determined for all faculty and staff. Working together as a community, we can do much to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Your university leadership team continues to plan for your safety, as such this plan is evolving and we will update it regularly. We continue to study, and when appropriate will communicate and implement, all possible protocols to ensure your return to a safe and educationally fulfilling on-campus experience this fall.