Health information for the fall 2022 semester  

Aug. 23, 2022

Dear students, faculty and staff,

Staying healthy is key to a safe, successful academic year. UW-Stevens Point monitors diseases and works with local and state health officials to keep our campus communities safe. We have succeeded in keeping campuses open in part because of the personal responsibility our students, faculty and staff have taken to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. This includes wearing face coverings, getting tested, vaccinated, using good hand hygiene and staying home if sick. Thank you for your continued vigilance.

Two health issues are addressed here, COVID-19 and monkeypox.

COVID-19

Many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, both across the state and on UW-Stevens Point campuses. Yet COVID cases continue, so it's important to continue taking precautions. Here are the procedures UW-Stevens Point has in place for fall.

Face coverings are not required but are encouraged.

• Consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces and when in close proximity outdoors.
• Please be respectful of individual choices to wear or not wear a face covering, and to those who have a higher risk of complications.
• Masks are required in Student Health Service and the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic.
• Here's more on well-fitted face coverings.
  

Vaccines - Being up-to-date on vaccines is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Congratulations if you are among the students and employees vaccinated at rates higher than the county averages where our facilities are located.

• Vaccines are safe, effective, free and strongly encouraged at UW-Stevens Point.
• Find a vaccine location at vaccines.gov. Get your vaccine or booster before coming to campus.

Testing - Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to the virus.

• Students at the Stevens Point campus have easy access to Student Health Service for testing and vaccines. Call 715-346-4646.
• A limited number of self-administered COVID tests are available for residence hall students at each hall's front desk.
• Students who live on and off-campus as well as every household in the U.S. may order a third round of free at-⁠home tests. 
• Testing is also available at various community testing sites.

If you get COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommends:

• Isolate at home, separate from others, regardless of vaccination status. Also isolate while awaiting test results.
• Isolate for at least 5 days, or until symptoms improve.
• Wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10 days.
• Learn more about when to end isolation and when to stop wearing a mask.
• Notify your instructors or supervisor and your close contacts.
  

If you are identified as a close contact or been exposed to COVID-19:

• Wear a quality, well-fitting face covering for 10 days after exposure. The CDC no longer requires quarantine.
• Monitor your symptoms.
• Get tested 5 days after exposure. Test again in 48 hours, or if you develop symptoms in the next 10 days. 

For more information, visit our COVID website.

• Students with questions may call Student Health Service at 715-346-4646.
• Employees may contact their health care provider, supervisor or Human Resources.

Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus similar to the smallpox virus. It has been confirmed in Wisconsin, but no cases have been reported in the counties where UW-Stevens Point has facilities.

An unexplained rash is among the symptoms. It is spread primarily through close, physical contact and is less transmissible than COVID-19. While rarely fatal, the recovery period can last several weeks. If you have symptoms, talk to your health care provider. UWSP students may call Student Health Service at 715-346-4646.

For more information, including steps to prevent getting monkeypox, see visit this UWSP site, the CDC or the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). 

Please take personal responsibly to be healthy and safe this academic year.

Face coverings encouraged as COVID-19 levels rise

The COVID-19 Community Level are high in Marathon and Wood counties this week, and was high in Portage County a week ago, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With this fluid situation, UW-Stevens Point strongly encourages employees, students and visitors to wear face coverings indoors.

To check the community level of any county, go here. The transmission level is high throughout Wisconsin.

Two new highly transmissible variants are spreading rapidly across the country.

A high community level means there is a greater presence of COVID-19 disease among community members, and conditions are right to have greater spread of the disease. Three factors are used to indicate community level for COVID-19: weekly case rate per 100,000 people, percentage of patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 and new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000.

While precautions were relaxed in spring, high and fluctuating community levels warrant recommending a higher level of precaution:

• Consider wear face coverings in public spaces indoors around others and if in close proximity outdoors. Maintain physical distancing.
• Be up-to-date on vaccines, including booster shots. Those who are eligible for a booster should not wait for future vaccines targeted at the omicron strain.  To find a vaccine location near you, go to vaccines.gov.
• Wear the most protective mask available and make sure it fits well.
• Wash hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and good hygiene to keep you, your colleagues, friends and family safe.
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19.  Various community testing sites available.
• Stay at home when sick.
• Take a self-test before attending a gathering or traveling.

The state Health Department has recommendations for remaining safe based on COVID-19 community level.

See this website for more information on ordering free test kits, scheduling vaccines and more. 

COVID-19 testing to end at UWSP

May 19, 2022

Campus and community COVID-19 testing at UW-Stevens Point will end Friday, May 20.

Testing and vaccines are available to UW-Stevens Point students by appointment at Student Health Service (SHS). Summer SHS hours, beginning May 23, are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m.

Various community testing sites are available. Watch these sites for updates on testing at the county level.

Students may contact SHS, and employees their personal physician with questions. The campus COVID website remains a resource.

Those with COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to be tested and to stay home if sick. Employees, contact your supervisor as you would with any illness. The self-reporting form and daily screening form (for unvaccinated) will no longer be available after this week.

It is important to continue to monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Community Level guidelines, all five UWSP counties are experiencing a medium COVID-19 Community Level. (Bayfield, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage and Wood). This means that the number of people experiencing severe illness from COVID-19, as indicated by a community transmission (now at a level above 200 for the last 7 days), has increased.

All residents are encouraged to take precautions if immunocompromised. Being up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines ensures you have the best protection possible against severe illness, hospitalization and death.

A third round of free COVID-19 home tests is available at COVIDtests.gov. This time, each household may order eight at-home COVID-19 tests. Orders ship in 7-12 days. Portage County residents who test positive with an at-home COVID-19 test may report directly to the county using the Portage County Health and Human Services form.

Students and employees who live in Marathon or Wood counties need to confirm their positive home test results at community testing locations.

UW-Stevens Point employees may also receive over the counter COVID diagnostic test kits at no cost through their insurance provider. Only test kits approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be covered. Go to Over-the-Counter COVID Test Coverage Test Information for additional details and resources.

Face coverings continue be required at COVID-19 testing sites and the CPS Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic as well as Student Health Service and the Counseling Center.  UW-Stevens Point no longer requires students, employees and visitors to wear masks, but strongly encourages people to continue wearing well-fitted face coverings for their health and safety indoors and in group settings.

At-home testing updates

April 11, 2022

Students and employees living in Portage County may now report their positive COVID-19 home test results to Portage County directly.

Use the Portage County Health and Human Services form to self-report. The county will share these results with UW-Stevens Point.

Students and employees who live in Marathon County and Wood County need to confirm their positive home test results at community testing locations.

In addition, UW-Stevens Point employees may receive over-the-counter COVID diagnostic test kits at no cost through their insurance provider. Only test kits approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be covered. Go to Over-the-Counter COVID Test Coverage Test Information for additional details and resources.

Free COVID-19 home tests also are available at COVIDtests.gov. Each household is eligible to order two sets of four free at-home COVID-19 tests. Orders ship in 7-12 days.

Community COVID-19 testing continues at the UW-Stevens Point Science Building, Room C124, 2001 Fourth Ave., through May 20:

• Tests are offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Appointments are required for these free rapid-results antigen tests at www.wiheathconnect.com. Face coverings are required at the testing sites.

Allow 20-25 minutes for the test and results. The results will be available on site and by logging into the registration website.

Face coverings continue be required at COVID-19 testing sites and the CPS Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic as well as Student Health Service and the Counseling Center.  UW-Stevens Point no longer requires students, employees and visitors to wear masks in other areas, but strongly encourages people to continue wearing well-fitted face coverings for their health and safety.

These changes reflect declining COVID-19 cases in campus communities and reduced demand for screening tests. 

For parking details or more information, see the COVID testing website. For questions, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline at covid@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2619.

UW-Stevens Point community COVID-19 testing reduced

March 24, 2022

Community COVID-19 testing at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is being reduced at the Stevens Point campus and will end after March 31 in Wausau and Marshfield.
            
In Stevens Point, tests are in Science Building, Room C124, 2001 Fourth Ave., as follows:

• Through April 1 – Tests are offered Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• From April 4-May 20 – Tests will be offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

In Marshfield – Final testing is Monday, March 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., physical education building, 2000 W. 5th St. 

In Wausau – Final testing is Thursday, March 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marathon Park East Gate Hall, 801 Garfield Ave.

            Appointments are required for these free rapid-results antigen tests at www.wiheathconnect.com. Face coverings are required at the testing sites.
 

Allow 20-25 minutes for the test and results. The results will be available on site and by logging into the registration website.

Face coverings continue be required at COVID-19 testing sites and the CPS Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic as well as student health and counseling services.  UW-Stevens Point no longer requires students, employees and visitors to wear masks in other areas, but strongly encourages people to continue wearing well-fitted face coverings for their health and safety.

These changes reflect declining COVID-19 cases in campus communities and reduced demand for screening tests. 

For parking details or more information, see the COVID testing website. For questions, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline at covid@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2619.

Be respectful of face covering choices

March 17, 2022

As we transition to a new phase of living with COVID-19, UW-Stevens Point will no longer require students, employees and visitors to wear masks indoors after Friday, March 18. We do, however, strongly encourage people to continue wearing well-fitted face coverings for their health and safety.

Testing will continue to be available to campuses and communities but will no longer be mandated for students and employees who are unvaccinated.

These changes reflect declining COVID-19 cases in campus communities, and above-average vaccination rates among faculty, staff and students in Wisconsin. The transition from mandates is largely because of the personal responsibility you have taken to protect your health and the health of friends and family, including your UWSP family. Thank you for your past and continued efforts to stay safe!

Mutual respect is critical as we transition. Please follow this important guidance: 

• While masks will not be required, you can request that students, faculty or colleagues wear face coverings during class or in meetings. It is their choice whether to do so.
• If someone requests that you wear a face covering, please thoughtfully consider their request.
• Consider moving meetings and student consultations to larger conference rooms or online if you have concerns or any participant requests this.
• If you have circumstances that make continued precautions important, it may help others understand the reason requesting a mask be worn– if you are comfortable sharing this. Please be aware that your faculty, colleagues or fellow students may face those circumstances and show the same courtesy you would expect.
• Be respectful of those who choose to wear a face covering anywhere. And to those who don't. Shaming others for their choice is not acceptable.

Face coverings will continue be required in the Student Health Center, UWSP Counseling Center, Smith Hall, COVID-19 testing sites and the CPS Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic through the end of the semester, May 20.  

Please stay home if ill and get tested if you have symptoms. Stevens Point students with symptoms should contact Student Health Service for testing.

Daily symptom screening continues to be required for unvaccinated students and employees.

UWSP leaders continue to monitor the situation and consult with state and local public health officers and will respond as needed if circumstances change. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the COVID-19 hotline or your supervisor.

Thank you for taking responsibility to keep yourself and our campuses safe and healthy.

Tips for a safe, healthy spring break

March 16, 2022

Spring break is around the corner – your time to relax and take a break from the busy semester! 

However you are spending next week, here are some simple tips to make the most of your time and help protect yourself from COVID-19 – especially if you are traveling.

Check your destination
Check the area where you are traveling so you know how to prepare. If you're traveling within the United States, you can use the updated CDC Community Levels - COVID by County to determine the level of risk for your destination location for spring break. If a county has a high community level of COVID-19, you have a higher chance of getting sick, so take precautions as needed. If you're planning an international trip, check CDC's travel recommendations. 

Regardless of where you travel, everyone is encouraged to take personal responsibility for their health. Wear a face covering indoors in public where transmission is high and be up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines.  If you feel ill, get tested. 

Testing 
Consider having a COVID-19 test before and after spring break to be sure you are not carrying the virus to others or bringing it back to campus. Free screening tests at available at all three UWSP campuses:

Stevens Point – Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tests are in Science Building, Room C124, 2001 Fourth Ave.

Marshfield – Mondays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., physical education building, ending March 28.

Wausau – Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marathon Park East Gate Hall, ending March 31.

 
Students on the Stevens Point campus may also contact Student Health Service for testing if they have symptoms. 

Effective March 19, testing will no longer be required for those who are unvaccinated. 

Here are other travel tips for a safe, carefree spring break:

Check in with your travel partners
Here are a few areas you may want to talk about with your travel partners:

• COVID-19 policies at your destination. Some cities and states require everyone to wear masks in public places. Restaurants and tourist attractions may have their own rules about masks. And some places (especially international destinations) require everyone to show a COVID-19 vaccine card or a negative test.

• COVID-19 safety boundaries. Even close friends may have different ideas about what activities feel safe or comfortable during the pandemic. Talk through your preferences – indoor or outdoor hangouts, for example – ahead of time. 
  
  
• What to do if someone gets sick. If someone tests positive for COVID-19 while you're traveling, you may have to stay at your destination for longer than you planned. That could mean changing your flights, spending extra nights in a hotel and quarantining before returning to class. Save emergency contacts in your phone — including your doctor or Student Health Service. Be sure to report if you test positive for COVID-19, are a close contact or awaiting PCR results. 

Pack these must-have items

• Face coverings. Everyone needs to wear a mask on airplanes, trains and buses and in airports and public transit stations. You may want to wear a mask in crowded places.

• COVID-19 tests. Bring a few rapid self-tests with you in case someone starts feeling sick.
• Hand sanitizer. If there's no place to wash your hands, using sanitizer can help you stay healthy.
• Proof of vaccination. Some destinations may ask to see proof you've had the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Have a safe, relaxing spring break!

Revising on-campus isolation and quarantine, masking continues until March 18

Feb. 28, 2022

Students who live on campus may now follow a shorter isolation and quarantine time if they have no COVID-19 symptoms, or if symptoms are improving. All employees and students, regardless of where they live, follow the same guidance. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends isolation be a minimum of 5 full days for everyone and quarantine be a minimum of 5 days for those who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. (Those who test positive or are awaiting PCR test results need to isolate. Those who are close contacts of someone who has COVID-19 must quarantine.) Those who are severely ill with COVID-19 or who have compromised immune systems need to isolate at home longer. If you are unsure whether you should continue isolation, contact the COVID hotline.

These guidelines for quarantine and isolation, also known as 5+5, mean stay home for 5 full days, and if fever- and symptom- free after 5 days, you may return to class or work. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask at all times and monitor for symptoms for an additional 5 days. 
In updated guidance, the CDC says shared housing, such as residence halls, is considered a lower risk congregate living setting because of the lower risk of hospitalization, death or severe illness associated with young adults. 

UW-Stevens Point's mask mandate continues through March 18. After consulting with local public health officials and to protect our campuses and communities, UWSP will continue to require face coverings until spring break. Well-fitting surgical masks are the minimal protection recommended.

Masks will continue be required in the Student Health Center, UWSP Counseling Center, Smith Hall, COVID-19 testing sites at all three campuses and the CPS Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic through the end of the semester, May 20.  

A few reminders:

• Weekly testing continues to be required for all unvaccinated employees and students. Appointments are needed in advance. See spring testing protocol. UW-Stevens Point does not accept results of home tests.
• If you have symptoms or been exposed to someone with COVID-19, get tested as soon as possible. The omicron variant symptoms mimic cold symptoms. 
• Students in Stevens Point who have symptoms are encouraged to contact Student Health Service for testing, rather than going to the Science Building testing site. 
• Everyone is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. Being up-to-date on vaccines includes getting a booster vaccine when eligible. Upload your vaccination record here and your booster here. 

Thanks for continuing to take personal responsibility for your health this semester.

Be sure your COVID vaccines are up-to-date to be exempt from quarantine

Feb. 3, 2022

You may now submit your booster vaccine record to UW-Stevens Point's secure online portal here.

Currently, you are considered "fully vaccinated" when you have completed your initial vaccine series (14 days after your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or first dose of J&J vaccine). At this point, submit your vaccine record to be exempt from weekly testing and daily symptom screening at UW-Stevens Point here: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption.

To also be exempt from quarantine when you are identified as a close contact to someone who has COVID-19, you must be "up-to-date" on vaccines. This includes receiving all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s), when eligible.

Students and employees are encouraged to upload their vaccination records when they complete their initial vaccine series and again when they receive boosters. Submit a copy of your record either from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or a photo of your COVID-19 vaccine card. Once the record is verified, you will receive an automated email.

In addition, please note:

• Screening tests are required every week for all unvaccinated students and employees and are conveniently available on all three UWSP campuses. Appointments are needed in advance. This testing mandate has been extended to March 18.
  

• Rapid at-home screening tests are a convenient option for your personal use. Please note, however, that UW-Stevens Point will not accept home test results as official. If you do get a positive test at home, please confirm the result at a testing site.
  

• If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do not go to class, work or activities with other people. Students on the Stevens Point campus should schedule testing with Student Health Service. Marshfield and Wausau campus students and employees should visit a community testing site if campus testing isn't available that day.
  

• Be sure to self-report online if you test positive for COVID-19. Students who are awaiting test results or who have been notified they are a close contact should also self-report and isolate from others to prevent further spread.
  

• Refer to this chart for spring COVID-19 protocols.
  

• Wear the most protective mask that fits you well and wear it consistently. UWSP recommends using three-ply disposable masks at minimum for protection against COVID-19. See CDC guidance.
  

Thanks for continuing to take personal responsibility for a safe, healthy semester.

Those with COVID-19 should notify their close contacts

Jan. 27, 2022

With the high number of COVID cases across the state and nation, UW-Stevens Point asks those who test positive for COVID-19 to take a more active role in notifying close contacts.

As a student, you will need to self-identify and communicate with those you have been in close contact, so they can take the steps needed to care for their health. This may include roommates or housemates, those you sat next to in class (if known), other members of your student organization who attended a meeting with you, and so on. You may do this by email or text. This is a close contact definition. If you have questions about this process, contact the COVID Hotline at 715-346-2619.

Employees should contact their supervisor or department head and other close contacts.

Please use good judgment in determining who needs to be notified to minimize the spread of COVID-19. A helpful guide is here: Next Steps: Notifying Close Contacts After You Are Diagnosed with COVID-19.

Students, be sure to communicate with your instructors for the academic support you need during isolation or quarantine.

It is vital that those who test positive for COVID-19 stay home, isolate to prevent further spread and complete the online reporting form.

Please note:

• Screening tests are required every week for all unvaccinated students and employees. (At this time, those who are fully vaccinated and haven't received a booster do not need to test.) Note that appointments are needed in advance. The testing mandate has been extended to March 18.
  

• If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do not go to class, work or activities with other people. Stay home and contact Student Health Service to schedule testing if you are a Stevens Point student. Marshfield and Wausau students and employees should visit a community testing site if campus testing isn't available that day.
  

• All students and employees are encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted to provide the strongest protection against serious illness. Find additional locations at Vaccines.gov and upload your vaccination record here. Please take personal responsibility to be up to date on vaccines, which includes the booster, if eligible.
• The chancellor's mask mandate has been extended to March 18. Protective, well-fitting face coverings with no gaps between the face and mask are important to block virus particles.  KN95 masks are best, and three-ply disposable masks are recommended.
  

Thanks for doing your part to safe stay and healthy this semester.

Protocol changes to keep students, employees safe

Jan. 19, 2022

UW-Stevens Point is taking every precaution to bring students and faculty safely back to campuses for in-person classes beginning Jan. 24. The careful approach we took to return to campuses last fall was successful. You played a key role in protecting yourself and others, wearing face coverings, being vaccinated or getting tested regularly. Similar strategies are planned for the spring semester. We are monitoring COVID-19 transmission rates and are in close contact with county public health officials.

With the highly contagious Omicron variant, being up-to-date on vaccines is more important than ever. This includes vaccination and booster. We encourage all students and employees to get vaccinated and boosted to provide the strongest protection against serious illness.  A vaccine clinic for students and current employees will be held Thursday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lower DeBot conference room. Pfizer and J&J vaccines will be available. Find additional locations at Vaccines.gov and upload your vaccination record here.

A few modifications are being made to our protocols for the spring semester. They are detailed here and available for reference on our COVID webpage. 

• Testing is now required every week for all unvaccinated employees and students. (At this time, those who are fully vaccinated, not boostered, do not need to test.) Appointments are needed in advance. See spring testing protocol. Students are not required to have a COVID-19 test to return to campus for the spring semester.
• Quarantine and isolation protocols remain the same for students who live in residence halls – 10 days if test positive or are a close contact and vaccination is not up-to-date.* For students who live off-campus and employees, UW-Stevens Point will follow revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines also known as 5+5. This means stay home for 5 full days, and if fever- and symptom- free after 5 days, they may return to class or work. (Continue to stay home if symptoms persist.) They must continue to wear a well-fitted mask at all times and monitor for symptoms for an additional 5 days. 

* Up-to-date vaccination includes fully vaccinated plus booster

The university is prepared to pivot temporarily to online classes if needed. In instances where the instructor is ill or quarantining and able to teach from home; or, where 50% of students are missing from any one class, instructors will be allowed to shift to online instruction for up to two weeks, with dean approval. 

Please also note: 

• Everyone is encouraged to wear a protective, well-fitting face covering. A well-fitted mask has no gaps between the face and mask. Good filtration blocks virus particles from getting through the mask itself. KN95 masks are best, and three-ply disposable masks are recommended. Double masking is also an effective way to improve fit and filtration. A close-fitting cloth mask can be worn on top of a disposable mask to improve fit and filtration. An initial supply will be made available to current employees and students. The chancellor's mask mandate remains in effect at all UWSP facilities.
• Flexible scheduling may be needed on a case-by-case basis for employees. If you test positive or are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19 and you need to isolate or quarantine, talk with your supervisor. Working remotely on a temporary basis may be an option. If you have young children who cannot attend school or day care temporarily, work with your supervisor on a solution that provides flexibility and meets the unit's needs. The university's goal is to keep everyone safe, accommodate employees' needs and provide in-person services to our students.

• If you are sick, stay home. COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to colds. Get tested if you have symptoms or been in contact with someone who tests positive – even if you are vaccinated. If you test positive for COVID-19, report it to UWSP using this form. 

Thanks for your commitment to a healthy, safe spring semester. 

Face coverings, testing to continue into January

Dec. 22, 2021

On-campus testing will be available at the Stevens Point campus through today, Dec. 22. During the holiday break, please use community testing sites.

Testing will resume the week of Jan. 3, 2022, on all three UWSP campuses for students, employees and community members.

Testing will be required every week for all unvaccinated students – who live both on and off campus – and employees. The chancellor's testing mandate is in effect through Feb. 1.

Face coverings will continue to be required inside UW-Stevens Point facilities as COVID-19 transmission rates are rising further in our region. The chancellor's updated mask mandate is in effect through Feb. 1, 2022.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued a public health advisory Monday, calling on all Wisconsinites to take urgent action to prevent additional hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. The highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Wisconsin and is anticipated to cause a rapid increase in disease activity in the coming weeks. There is a serious risk that continued, increased numbers of COVID-19 cases will overwhelm an already strained health care system, leading to dangerous situations where patients experiencing medical emergencies may not be able to receive immediate, adequate, life-saving attention and care due to lack of hospital capacity.

If you haven't already, get your vaccination or booster through locations at www.vaccine.gov. 

Fully vaccinated students and employees enjoy several advantages: You don't have to quarantine if you're a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, and you don't have to be tested every two weeks. And you'll protect yourself, friends, family and the campus community.

Please take the precautions needed to stay safe over the holidays.

Vaccine mandate blocked for now

Dec. 14, 2021

In a recent UW-Stevens Point communication to faculty and staff, we indicated we would comply with the Federal Contractor Vaccination Mandate. Employees were encouraged to get vaccinated. However, earlier this month, court action halted this action for now. A federal district judge in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction blocking the vaccine mandate. This means UWSP is not obligated to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 precautions and requirements remain in effect at all UW-Stevens Point campuses and facilities. This includes the chancellor's masking requirement as well as the Daily Symptom Screening and Biweekly COVID Testing for employees and students who are not vaccinated.

With continued high transmission rates of COVID-19 and the new omicron variant, employees are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. It is the surest protection against serious illness from this pandemic. By uploading your vaccination record to our secure system, employees can take advantage of exemption from screening and testing.

Please see our COVID webpage for updated information about the virus, variants and testing.

Eric Roesler, Human Resources

Quarantine process adjusted, new variant spreading

Nov. 3, 2021

In response to concerns about the length quarantine time affecting unvaccinated students, a change has been made in the UW-Stevens Point process. 

UW-Stevens Point heard student concerns and found a compromise that protects the health and safety of our campus community while also giving students the option to return to class, work and other activities sooner. Quarantine had been 14 days for residence hall residents who are unvaccinated and 10 days for unvaccinated students who live off-campus. In consultation with public health officials, quarantine for both on- and off-campus students can be reduced to 7 days if the individual has a negative test on day 6 or 7. Please see UWSP testing protocol.

In related updates:

• A new variant of the coronavirus has been detected in the United States. Omicron was classified as a variant of concern on Nov. 30. More information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
  

• The emergence and rapid spread of Omicron and continued high transmission rates of COVID-19 further emphasize the importance of vaccination and boosters, now recommended for everyone age 18 and older. UWSP students may schedule vaccines at Student Health Service. Or find vaccines and boosters here.
  

• Be sure to upload your vaccination record to be exempted from COVID-19 daily screening, biweekly testing and the need to quarantine if you have a close contact. Submit your record to our secure online portal.
  

• The date UW-Stevens Point employees need to comply with a federal mandate for vaccines has not been determined yet. The president's executive order requires employees of universities under federal contract to comply with the mandate. Because UWSP has federal contracts, the mandate will affect employees, including student employees. The terms of these contracts are being explored for specific timeframes.
  

• Testing continues at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses through Dec. 22. Rapid screening and PCR tests are available to students, employees and community members. Appointments are required in advance.
  

Please stay healthy, get vaccinated if you haven't already, and finish the semester strong.

Face coverings, testing to continue into December

Oct. 29, 2021

Face coverings will continue to be required inside UW-Stevens Point facilities as COVID-19 transmission rates remain high in our region. The chancellor's updated mask mandate is in effect through Dec. 31.

In addition, testing continues to be required every other week for all unvaccinated students – who live both on and off campus – and employees. The chancellor's testing mandate is in effect through Dec. 11.

Testing appointments are required – see registration and portal links for each of the campuses. Testing continues to be available for community members. Stay on location for your result to make sure a PCR test isn't needed. Results will be posted on the Weber portal 30 minutes after your test, for your records.

Student Health Service continues to offer students walk-in appointments for the primary series (first and second dose) of the Pfizer COVID vaccine on Mondays and Thursdays from 1-3 p.m., and Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.

Students requesting a "booster" dose of COVID vaccine should visit the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot site at for more information prior to calling Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 to discuss options.

Employees who meet the criteria may find a booster dose location at www.vaccine.gov. 

REMINDER: Students have through Sunday, Oct. 31, to upload their vaccination record to our secure online portal to be eligible for a $7,000 scholarship drawing through UW System's "Vax Up! 70 for 70" campaign.

Students who upload their vaccination record are also eligible for incentive prizes through UWSP.

As of Oct. 29, 90 percent of employees and 72 percent of students indicated they are vaccinated. Congratulations to each of you who have taken this important step to protect yourself and others!

Fully vaccinated students and employees enjoy several advantages: You don't have to quarantine if you're a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, and you don't have to be tested every two weeks. And you'll protect yourself, friends, family and the campus community.

For more information, visit our COVID-19 website. 

COVID vaccine clinic set for Oct. 25

Oct. 20, 2021

As UW-Stevens Point pushes toward attaining 70% vaccination among students, a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held Monday, Oct. 25, in the Lower DeBot conference room.

The walk-in clinic is open to students, employees and community members. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Portage County Health and Human Services - Division of Public Health will administer the J&J (Janssen) vaccine, which requires one shot to be considered fully vaccinated. No appointment or medical information is required in advance.

This timeframe allows UW-Stevens Point students to complete their COVID-19 vaccine before the Oct. 31 deadline to qualify for a $7,000 scholarship!

While students and employees need to wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated and exempt from testing, daily screening and quarantining, during these final two weeks of October, students who complete their vaccine series by Oct. 31 will be eligible for the UW System Vax Up 70 for 70 campaign. You still have time to qualify for a $7,000 scholarship and other UW-Stevens Point prizes – if UWSP reaches the goal of 70% student vaccinations.

The J&J vaccine is available for individuals ages 18 years and older. Here is more information about the vaccine. Contact UWSP Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 with questions.

Please allow time for a possible wait before receiving the vaccine Oct. 25 and 15-30 minutes after vaccination for observation depending on medical history. There is no cost for the vaccination. The county can be reimbursed for the administration fee from insurance companies, so please bring your insurance card.

As of Tuesday, 69% of students and 88% of faculty and staff at UW-Stevens Point have reported they are vaccinated. Congratulations to each of you for this important step to protect yourself and others!

Submit proof of your vaccination record to UW-Stevens Point's secure online portal at www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption by Oct. 31 to qualify for prizes. It's easy, takes only a minute and is secure – no personal records are retained.

Free vaccines are also available to students on the Stevens Point campus at Student Health Service in Delzell Hall. Stop by Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. or Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m. Or make an appointment at 715-346-4646 for a vaccine or COVID-19 test. 

If you're considering the vaccine, visit the COVID-19 website for facts to help inform your decision. And, hear from a fellow Pointer.

Help UWSP exceed 70% student vaccination! 

Help UWSP reach the Vax Up goal!

Oct. 12, 2021

We're close to meeting the goal to qualify for UW System's 70 for 70 scholarships, and you can help UW-Stevens Point achieve it!

As of Tuesday, 67% of students and 87% of faculty and staff have reported they are vaccinated/exempt from testing. Congratulations on this awesome progress in a few short weeks!

Students who submit their COVID-19 vaccine records this month are eligible to win a $7,000 scholarship – if UW-Stevens Point reaches the 70% milestone for student vaccinations set by UW System to award 70 scholarships to UW campuses. 

Complete your vaccination series and submit proof to UW-Stevens Point's secure online portal at www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption by Oct. 31 to qualify. It's easy, takes only a minute and is secure – no personal records are retained. 

Plus, you won't have to be tested every two weeks, complete daily screening or quarantine if you're a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19. 

And, you'll qualify for a variety of UW-Stevens Point prizes! Stop by the DUC Wednesday afternoons to see new winners spin the wheel for gift cards.

Free vaccines are conveniently available to students on the Stevens Point campus at Student Health Service in Delzell Hall. Stop by:

• Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m.

Or make an appointment at 715-346-4646 for a vaccine or COVID-19 test. 

Some people think they are exempt from the testing or screening but find out they are not, because they didn't fully follow the instructions to submit their record. So check that you are exempt by going to the secure online portal. Contact the UWSP COVID Hotline with questions, 715-346-2619. 

Cheers to UWSP Athletics, where 85% of student athletes in fall sports are vaccinated. 
The following teams have achieved 70% vaccination or higher:

Football Volleyball Soccer  Tennis Golf Cross Country

Women's Wrestling Women's Hockey Women's Basketball  Swim & Dive Track & Field Softball

Hear more from one of our student athletes. Let's do this! 

Face coverings, testing continue through October

Sept. 29, 2021

Face coverings will continue to be required inside UW-Stevens Point facilities as COVID-19 transmission rates remain high in our region. The chancellor's updated mask mandate is in effect through Oct. 31.

In addition, testing continues to be required for all unvaccinated students –who live both on and off campus – and employees.

Please note a few changes in testing:

• No testing will be available Friday, Oct. 1, as the vendor providing this service switches.
• Appointments continue to be required for testing. The appointment links remain the same for each of the campuses. Testing continues to be available for community members.  
• Beginning the week of Oct. 4, extended hours at the Stevens Point testing location will be until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays (not Wednesday).
• You will need to stay at the testing site for results, so please allow extra time. Results will no longer be emailed.

Student Health Service also conducts testing – antigen and PCR tests – by appointment and gives COVID-19 vaccines to Stevens Point students. Call 715-346-4646.

COVID -19 booster doses are available to Stevens Point students at Student Health Service who meet certain criteria: Those ages 18–49 years with certain underlying medical conditions, or those ages 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their job.  Booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine (only) may be given at least six months after receiving their second dose of Pfizer vaccine.

Employees who meet these criteria may find a booster dose location here: www.vaccine.gov. 

As of Sept. 29, 85.7 percent of employees and 57 percent of students indicated they are vaccinated. Congratulations to those who have taken this important step to protect themselves and our community!

Students have only a few weeks to be eligible for incentive prizes by submitting their vaccination record to our secure online portal. The deadline to complete the two-dose vaccines and qualify for a $7,000 scholarship in UW System's "Vax Up! 70 for 70" campaign is Oct. 31.

For more information, visit our COVID-19 website. 

Testing protocol outlined, 70 for 70 incentive deadline extended

Sept. 24, 2021

To address questions about COVID-19 testing – required every other week for those who are not vaccinated – please review this Testing Protocol Flow Chart. It will help students and employees, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, know UW-Stevens Point procedures if they have COVID-19 symptoms, are named as a close contact or are unvaccinated.

COVID-19 transmission rates continue to be high in all counties where UW-Stevens Point has facilities, and breakthrough cases are above the state average in our region. 

UW-Stevens Point strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible. While not required, vaccination is the surest way to protect yourself from serious illness or hospitalization. 

UWSP students have a bit more time to qualify for a $7,000 scholarship. The deadline for the UW System's "Vax Up! 70 for 70" campaign has been extended to Oct. 31. Get your vaccine soon! The two-dose vaccinations require either 21 or 28 days between, so don't delay for your chance at the scholarship or other tuition relief. 

Five UW System schools have already qualified for their share of $7,000 scholarships offered to campuses who reach 70 percent vaccination. At UW-Stevens Point, 49 percent of students have submitted vaccine records so far.   

Students continue to be eligible for incentive prizes if they submit their vaccination record to our secure online portal. No personal health information is retained.

Free vaccines are conveniently available to students on the Stevens Point campus at Student Health Service in Delzell Hall. Stop by:

• Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m.

Or make an appointment at 715-346-4646 for a vaccine or COVID-19 test. 

Employees can find local vaccination sites at www.vaccines.gov.

Fully vaccinated students and employees enjoy several advantages: You don't have to quarantine if you're a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, and you don't have to be tested every two weeks. And you'll protect yourself, friends, family and the campus community.

For more information, visit our COVID-19 website.

Vaccine incentive ends soon, campus progress report

Sept. 16, 2021

If you could use $100 and haven't gotten your first COVID-19 vaccine, act now. Eligibility for the $100 COVID-19 Vaccine Reward Program continues until this Sunday for the program. The state incentive is open to anyone older than age 12 in Wisconsin who gets their first dose between Aug. 20 and Sept. 19.

That's in addition to incentive prizes available to UW-Stevens Point students who submit their vaccination record to our secure online portal. Complete this by Oct. 15, and you could win a $7,000 scholarship as part of the UW System "Vax Up! 70 for 70" campaign. UW campuses with 70 percent of students vaccinated will qualify.

At UW-Stevens Point, 46 percent of students have verified that they are fully vaccinated. Help UWSP students qualify by getting your vaccine soon! The two-dose vaccinations require either 21 or 28 days between, so don't delay for your chance at the scholarship or other tuition relief.

Free vaccines are conveniently available on the Stevens Point campus at Student Health Service in Delzell Hall. Stop by:

• Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m.

Or make an appointment at 715-346-4646. Students can call this number to make an appointment for COVID-19 tests.

Fully vaccinated students enjoy several advantages: You don't have to quarantine if you're a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, and you don't have to be tested every two weeks. And you'll protect yourself, friends, family and the campus community – and be eligible for prizes.

Currently, 76 percent of faculty and staff at UW-Stevens Point have verified they are fully vaccinated and exempt from testing. Congratulations to those who've made this healthy choice! If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, please talk with your doctor. Find nearby vaccine locations here.

A few reminders:

• Face coverings continue to be required indoors.
• Students need to work through Disability and Assistive Services for accommodation if they believe they cannot wear face coverings.
• Classrooms and labs have cleaning supplies. Students are encouraged to clean common surfaces, keyboards and door handles before and after class.
• Testing is required every other week for unvaccinated employees and students – who live both on and off campus. Testing is available at Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wausau campuses. Appointments are required at all sites. 
• Complete the COVID-19 self-reporting form if you test positive for COVID-19, are a close contact of someone who tested positive or are awaiting PCR confirmation test results. 
• For more information, visit our COVID-19 website. 
  

You have a key role in keeping yourself and your campus community safe, healthy and open. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others. 

Cash reward program extended for COVID-19 vaccine

Sept. 8, 2021

If you haven't had a chance to get your first COVID-19 vaccine, eligibility for the $100 COVID-19 Vaccine Reward Program has been extended to Sept. 19. Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services opened this program to anyone age 12 and older in Wisconsin who gets their first dose between Aug. 20 and Sept. 19.

That's in addition to incentives available to UW-Stevens Point students who submit their vaccination record to our secure online portal. Complete this by Oct. 15, and you could win a $7,000 scholarship as part of the UW System "Vax Up! 70 for 70" campaign. UW campuses with 70 percent of students vaccinated will qualify. UW-La Crosse already achieved it, and UW Madison is at 90% student vaccination. Help UW-Stevens Point qualify!

Free vaccines are conveniently available on the Stevens Point campus at Student Health Service in Delzell Hall. Stop by Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., or Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m., or make an appointment at 715-346-4646. A vaccine clinic will be held Sept. 14-15 on the Wausau campus. Vaccines are also available in many pharmacies and health clinics. Find a nearby location here.

With the fall semester underway, please note:

• Face coverings are required indoors, at least through Sept. 30.
• Students who live in residence halls and are not vaccinated must be tested twice within the first 10 days of arrival on campus, then every other week.
• Unvaccinated students who live off campus and employees must be tested every other week.
• Testing is free and available at Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wausau campuses. In Stevens Point, daily hours at the Science building, Room C124, have expanded. Appointments are required at all sites. 
• If you test positive for COVID-19, are a close contact of someone who tested positive or are awaiting PCR confirmation test results, complete the COVID-19 self-reporting form. 
• Unvaccinated students and employees must complete the Daily Symptom Screening Form.
• If you have questions, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 715-346-2619.
• For more information, including FAQs on the Delta variant and common concerns, visit our  COVID website. 
  

You have a key role in keeping yourself and your campus community safe, healthy and open. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you and others. 

Face covering mandate in effect through September

Aug. 30, 2021

As our fall semester begins, please note the chancellor's mask mandate has been modified and is in effect through Sept. 30.  This date may be extended or otherwise modified based on changing conditions related the COVID-19 Delta (or other) variants. 

For your health and safety, UW-Stevens Point:

• Requires all students, employees and visitors to any UW-Stevens Point campus or facility to wear face coverings when inside campus buildings. The mask is policy is in effect until Sept. 30. See the chancellor's updated mask mandate.
• Requires unvaccinated residence hall students to be tested twice during the first 10 days of arrival on campus, then every other week until at least Sept. 30.
• Strongly encourages unvaccinated students residing off campus to be tested regularly and complete the daily symptom screening.
• Requires unvaccinated employees to have testing every other week and complete the daily symptom screening.
• Strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible. While not required, vaccination is the surest way to protect yourself from serious illness. 
  

Vaccines are available:

For students at Student Health Services in Delzell Hall:

·         Walk-in Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m.
·         By appointment at 715-346-4646

For students, UWSP employees and community members at DeBot Dining Center, Lower DeBot Conference Room:

• Monday, Aug. 30, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 31, 11:30 am.-1 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
  

The first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, fully approved by the FDA, as well as a limited number of the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be available. Instructions will be given on how to contact vaccine providers for a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Fully vaccinated students who upload their vaccination record to our secure online portal are eligible for prizes from UWSP and also may be eligible for the UW System "Vax Up! 70 for 70" scholarship incentive. 

Any Wisconsin residents who vaccinate between Aug. 20-Sept. 6 are eligible for the $100 incentive from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

If you have questions or concerns, see our COVID-19 site or contact UWSP Student Health Service at health.services.office@uwsp.edu.

UW-Stevens Point continues to monitor COVID-19 transmission rates, which remain high in the five counties where we have facilities and will revisit our face covering policy as public health warrants. We continue to follow the guidance of local, state and federal health experts and UW System leaders. 

Thank you for your taking responsibility for your own health and keeping our campus communities safe so we may continue to have in-person classes, events and activities this fall. 

Get vaccinated, get $100

Aug. 24, 2021

Need another reason to get the COVID-19 vaccine? How about $100?

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) have announced that Wisconsin residents who get their first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine from a state vaccine provider between Aug. 20-Sept. 6 can receive a $100 Visa gift card. Simply submit your request at the DHS Reward Sign-up page.

Students from Wisconsin, employees and community members all can receive the $100 card.

Fully vaccinated students who upload their vaccination record to our secure online portal are eligible for weekly prize drawings at UW-Stevens Point, including $500 in tuition relief, parking passes, shopping sprees, gift cards, theater packages and more. You only need to upload your record once.

This also will bring UWSP closer to eligibility for the UW System's 70 for 70 incentive, which offers $7,000 scholarships to selected students on campuses that have 70 percent of their student body vaccinated by Oct. 15.

Vaccinations are not required at UW-Stevens Point, but strongly encouraged to protect you, those you care about and your campus community. Vaccinations are effective against serious illness, developed through rigorous testing based on years of scientific research. The Pfizer vaccine has been fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by ages 16 and up.

UW-Stevens Point is holding several free walk-in vaccination clinics on campus at the following locations. The first dose of Pfizer vaccine as well as a limited number of the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be available at:

• Student Health Service, Delzell Hall
• Mondays and Thursdays, 1-3 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9-11 a.m. – open to students
  
  
• Lower DeBot Conference Room, DeBot Dining Center – open to students, employees, community
• Friday, Aug. 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 30, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 2, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Instructions will be given on how to contact vaccine providers for a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Please note that you will need to wait for 15-30 minutes after vaccination for observation, depending on medical history. The vaccine is free, but bring your insurance card if you have it. No one will be turned away without insurance and there is no cost.

If you have questions or concerns, see our COVID-19 site or contact UWSP Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 or email health.services.office@uwsp.edu.

Each vaccinated person helps us move past the COVID-19 pandemic toward a safe, healthy and engaged university and community.

Precautions in place as COVID-19 rates rise

Aug. 20, 2021

Dear faculty and staff,

The health and safety of our students, employees and communities continues to be UW-Stevens Point's top priority. Our precautions – and your healthy behaviors – have kept our campuses safe and COVID-19 cases low. I understand the anxiety that many are experiencing as we diligently work to keep our campus community safe while preserving the in-person experience. As we prepare for fall opening, here are some updates:

Gathering size – Consider limiting indoor gatherings to no more than 50 people, depending on room size. As a guide, can a large-scale meeting be moved outdoors or shifted to a virtual format? Can you relocate to a larger space that accommodates physical distancing? For campus or community events exceeding 50 participants, contact Campus Reservations.

Convocation and several Welcome Week student activities are being moved outdoors. Our goal is to balance safety with an engaging, vibrant experience this fall. We will be as nimble as possible with this fluid situation. The highest priority is maintaining in-person classes, which our students, faculty and staff want.

Private or community events already scheduled will go on, with face coverings required. This includes Admissions events, DeBot dining, theatre productions and concerts.

Face coverings - The indoor face covering requirement returned Aug. 9 in response to the significant rise in COVID-19 transmission rates across Wisconsin and in the five counties where UWSP has facilities. Each member of our university community is responsible for doing our part to reduce the risk of the virus on our campus. To this end, please be aware that the face covering requirement will be enforced.

If a student, employee or visitor is not wearing a face covering, point them to the Information Desk in Dreyfus University Center where they can get one. These helpful tips from the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning can de-escalate conversations, both in and out of the classroom. Please do not call University Police unless the person becomes disruptive.

Guidance for Faculty and Instructors – Interim Provost Marty Loy will discuss draft guidance for faculty and instructors with leadership in Academic Affairs next week on Wednesday, Aug. 25. A final version of this guidance will be shared by Aug. 27.

Vaccine education, incentives – UWSP launched the "It's Worth a Shot" campaign to encourage student vaccination. It includes incentives, such as weekly UWSP prizes and a chance to win a $7,000 scholarship from UW System if student vaccination reaches 70% by Oct. 15.

Students are receiving additional vaccine information to help them make wise choices. Vaccine education will address concerns about fertility, safety, effectiveness and need. This science-based information from reliable health resources is on our COVID-19 webpage, FAQs, MOD/SMOD, UWSP homepage and university social media channels.

As of Aug. 11, two-thirds of faculty and staff submitted vaccination records – congratulations! If you haven't already, upload your vaccination record at this secure portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption. Find a vaccine here. 

If you have not received the vaccine, please consider doing so. The vaccine offers the greatest opportunity to protect our community from COVID-19 and mitigate potential variants. The higher the vaccination rate, the sooner we will be able to return to a more familiar campus environment.

For those of you who are not fully vaccinated, be sure to complete the daily symptom screening and schedule antigen testing every two weeks. While the testing requirement is in place through Sept. 30, it will likely extend through the fall. More information will be shared as updates are available. Testing instructions and requirements can be found here.

Travel – In-state travel restrictions on university-sponsored travel have been lifted. Vice chancellors or unit heads will continue to evaluate and approve the need for travel. Requests to travel out of state will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, while university-sponsored international travel remains suspended. 

UW-Stevens Point continues to monitor COVID-19 transmission rates and will revisit our face covering policy and other practices as public health warrants. 

Please contact your supervisor, dean, Human Resources or the COVID-19 Hotline if you have questions. Additional COVID-19 information and guidelines will be provided to faculty on classroom instruction by the end of next week.

Thank you for navigating this fluid situation to protect your health and our campus communities. These are stressful times. I appreciate your support as, together, we enter another year of combatting the pandemic.

Chancellor Thomas Gibson

Students will receive additional COVID-19 relief aid

Aug. 18, 2021

Thanks to federal coronavirus relief aid through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, funds are available for direct student aid. UW-Stevens Point is pleased to tell you these funds can be applied to your student account.

This direct aid will be automatically distributed to students enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester. It can be used for your costs of attendance, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health) and childcare. 

If you have not already completed the Student Grant Consent e-form to inform us if you would like these funds to be applied to outstanding charges on your student account, please do so by Friday, Sept. 10.  If you completed the consent form in the spring/summer, we will disburse grants according to any consent that was provided at that time. Funds will be disbursed to student accounts the week of Sept. 13.

For students who have chosen to receive a refund, it will take a minimum of five business days to receive the funds if you have direct deposit in place. If not, a check will be mailed. To set up direct deposit, please follow these instructions. We highly encourage you to set-up direct deposit so all refunds can be sent more quickly and efficiently.

UW-Stevens Point received a total of $9,035,562 to support students as part of a third COVID-19 stimulus bill for higher education institutions across the country. These grants – a minimum of $350 – will be disbursed to students.

Please contact the Student Financial Services office for assistance at Student.Financial.Services@uwsp.edu.

Jamie Bednarek, Bursar
Student Financial Services

Letter to students from Dr. Helen Luce, director of Student Health Service

Aug. 16, 2021

Dear students,

As director of Student Health Service at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, I look forward to welcoming you to campus for a healthy and safe year. Like you, I want us all to have a vibrant, engaging university experience.

As your doctor at UW-Stevens Point, your wellbeing is my priority. You can trust my 20+ years of medical experience. I share the following important, science-based information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Vaccines are safe and effective. Approved for emergency use by the FDA (with full approval anticipated in the next month), the vaccines underwent rigorous testing based on years of scientific research, previous coronaviruses and unprecedented scientific investment and cooperation.
• Vaccines do not affect fertility. False reports on social media have raised concerns; however, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises that claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are unfounded and have no scientific evidence to support them. They recommend vaccines for all eligible persons, including those pregnant or breastfeeding or anyone considering future pregnancy.
• While vaccinated individuals can experience breakthrough COVID-19 infections, their symptoms are often mild or discovered without symptoms during routine screening. Vaccines prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death and can also reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus to others.
• The Delta variant, the predominant strain of the virus in the U.S., is highly contagious and causes more severe illness than the novel coronavirus. Unvaccinated people are more likely to contract and transmit this virus. While a vaccinated person with a breakthrough infection may transmit the variant, they are infectious for less time. Face coverings reduce the transmission of this variant, which is especially important as infection rates grow among children and the immunocompromised.
  

Learn more at our Vaccination FAQ site through information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other medical experts. I encourage you to talk to your doctor or our Student Health Service team at 715-346-4646 or health.services.office@uwsp.edu.

Student Health Service will offer vaccinations at our campus clinic in Delzell Hall beginning the week of August 23. Portage County Health and Human Services will offer vaccination clinics at Lower DeBot on campus Aug. 27 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) and on Aug. 30 and Sept. 2 (10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.) Or go to www.vaccines.gov to find vaccine options near you.

When fully vaccinated, submit your vaccination record at our secure online portal. While the vaccine is not required by the UW System, it is strongly encouraged at UW-Stevens Point.

Each vaccinated person helps us move past the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope you will do your part to stand with the UW-Stevens Point community to keep us safe, healthy and engaged in our university.

Be well,

Dr. Helen Luce
Director, UW-Stevens Point Student Health Service

Dr. Luce is a family medicine specialist with a degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Face coverings will be required for all, effective Monday, Aug. 9

Aug. 6, 2021

The more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in transmission rates across the country and in Wisconsin. As of today, for counties where UW-Stevens Point is present, Wood County transmission rates are high; in Portage, Marathon and Lincoln Counties, rates are substantial; and in Bayfield County, rates are moderate. The virus continues to spread among unvaccinated people, contributing to an uptick in cases among all ages.

In response, effective Monday, Aug. 9, all students, employees and visitors to any UW-Stevens Point campus or facility will be required to wear face coverings when inside campus buildings and enclosed spaces with others outside of your household (e.g., in a UWSP vehicle). This policy is in effect until further notice. See the chancellor's mask mandate.

This decision was made in consultation with county public health officials. UW-Stevens Point continues to follow the guidance of local, state and federal health experts.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated guidance for fully vaccinated people.

Employees may remove face coverings if working alone inside an office or lab with the door closed. Masks are not required outdoors but may be worn if you choose, especially in areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

No UW-Stevens Point employee or student cases of COVID-19 have been reported on our campuses in the last several weeks, but cases are high and rising in our communities. We continue to monitor these transmission rates and will revisit our face covering policy as public health warrants. 

Wearing face masks is a simple, effective way to protect yourself and others you care about.

Getting vaccination is your best protection. Vaccinated people are highly protected from the most serious consequences of the disease and far less likely to become infected. Most people vaccinated against COVID-19 will not get the virus, but some breakthrough infections have occurred. Some vaccinated people with COVID-19 may be capable of passing the virus to others.

UW-Stevens Point strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Find a vaccine here. 

When fully vaccinated, submit your vaccination record through our secure online portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption. Vaccinated students will be eligible for prizes from UW-Stevens Point. In addition, the UW System is offering its "70 for 70" initiative, in which students who attend universities that achieve at least 70 percent vaccination rates will be eligible for a drawing for one of 70 scholarships valued at $7,000 each.

Please take care and practice the healthy behaviors that allow us to return to campus and plan for in-person classes, events and activities this fall. 

Face covering clarification

June 30, 3021

To clarify the June 28 COVID-19 Update, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear face coverings on UW-Stevens Point campuses. Face coverings continue to be required in these settings:

• Health care settings, including Student Health Service, UWSP Counseling Center and CPS Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic
• On CNR buses (or public transit)
• At indoor gatherings where physical distancing is not possible. (This does not apply to classroom settings.)
• When participating in standardized testing services.
• During summer camps and conferences as outlined in UW System policies and expectations for youth programs  
  

The chancellor's updated executive order has no end date. For further details on expectations of fully vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and students, please see the June 28 COVID-19 Update.

UW-Stevens Point strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to receive the vaccine to guard against serious illness from the coronavirus. The UW System is not mandating vaccines. We encourage those who have concerns about the vaccine to seek information from state and national health sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to inform their decision.

Each of us bears responsibility for our own health. In a campus community, we are personally responsible for ourselves, those we care about and others with whom we have regular contact. Your actions help determine whether UW-Stevens Point campuses and communities are safe and vibrant for all.

The chancellor's mask mandate for those who are not vaccinated is a continued step in ensuring the health and safety of our campus communities. We trust individuals to follow this expectation to protect themselves and others.

To be exempt from wearing a face covering or testing, employees and students may submit their vaccination record to our secure online portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption.

UWSP mask mandate remains in effect for unvaccinated

June 28, 2021

Face coverings continue to be required on UW-Stevens Point campuses for those who are not fully vaccinated. This policy is in place until further notice.

The chancellor issued a new executive order for the use of face masks on campus, reflecting the COVID-19 guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. It replaces an order that was in effect through June. The current order has no end date.

UW-Stevens Point strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to receive the vaccine. It is the best assurance to avoid serious illness from the coronavirus and to resume pre-pandemic activities. With variants of the virus becoming more widespread, now is a good time to be vaccinated.

Vaccines are available this week for all UW-Stevens Point employees and students, including incoming students and their families, in Lower DeBot from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Or, find a vaccination location near you here.

Fully vaccinated* employees, students and guests:

• No longer need to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors, except on CNR buses, in Student Health Services, UWSP Counseling Center, Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic, and summer camps and conferences.
• May receive an exemption from COVID-19 requirements by submitting their vaccination record through our secure online portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption. When the exemption is granted, the employee or student:
• No longer needs to complete the daily online symptom screening
• Is exempt from the COVID-19 testing requirement
• Does not need to quarantine if identified as a close contact to a positive case or following return from international travel

Not fully vaccinated employees and students:

• Must wear a face covering as outlined in the current mask order. This applies to campus guests as well.
• Should stay at least six feet apart from people not from your household in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Must be tested every other week when they are on any UW-Stevens Point property. Students living on a UWSP campus must be tested weekly. See the COVID-19 webpage for testing details and scheduling.
• Must complete the daily online symptom screening every day they come to campus.
• Must quarantine for 14 days if identified as a close contact or prior to returning to campus after traveling internationally.

We continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and consult with state and local public health agencies.

Thank you for taking needed precautions and following healthy behaviors to keep COVID-19 cases low on our campuses. If you or eligible family members haven't received the vaccine yet, please seek information to address any concerns you may have.

* You are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving either a single-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine series.

Vaccinated individuals may skip face coverings effective June 7

June 2, 2021

With updated health guidance, UW-Stevens Point will relax face covering requirements for those who are fully vaccinated. The chancellor's mask mandate will be revised June 7. 

Our decision is based on COVID-19 guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and local public health agencies. The Portage County face covering advisory captures CDC guidance. 

To the employees who worked remotely during the pandemic, welcome back! As we transition to fully repopulating our campuses by Aug. 1, the vigilance of our employees and students in following COVID-19 precautions, being tested regularly and getting the vaccine has kept our campuses safe and our community healthy during the past year. While we must continue these healthy behaviors, we are encouraged by vaccine availability and fewer COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. 

UW-Stevens Point strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to receive the vaccine. It is the best assurance to avoid serious illness from the coronavirus and to resume pre-pandemic activities. Find a vaccine here. 

Those who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear face coverings on campuses and in the vicinity of others who are fully vaccinated. You may continue to wear a face covering if you choose. You no longer need to complete the online daily screening – unless you have COVID-19 symptoms.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are required to continue wearing face coverings on all UW-Stevens Point campuses and facilities. Individuals not fully vaccinated must be tested every other week when they are on campus.  

Fully vaccinated individuals who want to receive an exemption from COVID-19 testing may submit their vaccination record through our secure online portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption. 

Face coverings continue to be required:

• In Student Health Service and the UWSP Counseling Center
• When participating in testing services
  
• On CNR buses or public transit
• At indoor gatherings where physical distancing is not possible
• During summer camps and conferences as outlined in UW System policies and expectations for youth programs 

Physical distancing of six feet continues to be recommended indoors and outdoors if you are unsure whether those near you are fully vaccinated, or in large gatherings.

Regardless of vaccination: If you are ill, do not come to campus. If you experience COVID-19 symptoms, get tested for COVID, even if you have been vaccinated.

Faculty and staff members are encouraged to discuss any concerns about face-covering compliance with their supervisor or Human Resources.

If you haven't already received the vaccine, please consider doing so – for your health and others. 

Fully vaccinated may request exemption from quarantine, testing

April 29, 2021

Need another reason to get the COVID-19 vaccine? 

UW System and the state Department of Health Services decided this week to allow students in the residence halls to be exempted from quarantine if fully vaccinated. 

This means students living on and off-campus no longer need to quarantine following a known COVID-19 exposure if they have received their final vaccine dose at least two weeks prior. Employees who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after being exposed to someone with COVID-19 – as long as they have no symptoms.
Students and employees who are fully vaccinated may also request an exemption from COVID-19 testing. 

To be exempted from testing and quarantine, submit your immunization record through a secure online portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption. Do this two weeks after your vaccine series is completed. 

You may submit a scan of your vaccination record, either from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or your COVID-19 vaccine card. You are exempt when you receive confirmation of exemption via email from the COVID-19 Hotline. Those unable to use the online option may contact the COVID-19 Hotline to discuss other arrangements. Email or call the hotline at 715-346-2619. (Do NOT email a copy of your vaccine record.) 

Individuals with symptoms and those who have not been vaccinated must continue to be tested – weekly if living on campus and every two weeks if living off campus. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidance this week for fully vaccinated individuals. Among other guidelines, it says fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face covering outdoors, except in crowded settings and venues. No change has been made to UW-Stevens Point's face covering policy. 

You have made an important difference in controlling the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. Thanks for taking needed precautions.

Vaccines are readily available in our communities at pharmacies and public health clinics. To find a vaccine near you, check here. 

Online option now available for COVID-19 testing exemption

April 27, 2021

Students and employees who are fully vaccinated and want to receive an exemption from COVID-19 testing may now submit their immunization record through a secure online portal: https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption 

This verification process may take up to 5 business days. Thank you for your participation and patience! 

Individuals at UW-Stevens Point are exempt from testing if ALL of the following conditions are met: 

• The individual is fully vaccinated, which means two weeks have passed since your vaccine series was completed. 
• The individual is asymptomatic, showing no signs of COVID-19 infection.  
• The individual has submitted a copy of their vaccination record, either from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry or photo of their COVID-19 vaccine card and received confirmation of exemption via email from the COVID-19 Hotline.  

 
Individuals may submit vaccination records in the following ways:  

1. Submit it online at https://www.uwsp.edu/C19TestingExemption 
2. Those unable to use the online option may contact the COVID-19 Hotline to discuss other arrangements. Email or call the hotline at 715-346-2619. (Do NOT email a copy of your vaccine record.)
   
   

When you have received email verification of exemption, you may cease testing.  

If you begin to feel COVID-19 symptoms, you are expected to be tested to ensure the safety of others and assist in the national evaluation of the vaccine. 

Note: If your COVID-19 immunization is not on your immunization record or you were vaccinated out of state, please work with your local health department or the location you received the immunization(s) to get a copy of the record. 

Supervisors may monitor the COVID-19 Testing Exemption List for their employees under Knowledge View and Reports in the eForm system.

Fully vaccinated students, employees can skip campus testing - eventually

April 9, 2021

Eveyone is encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Students who are fully vaccinated will have added incentives: They will soon be exempt from the UW System's mandatory COVID testing and from having to quarantine if exposed to someone with COVID-19. 

UW-Stevens Point is working on a process to exempt students and employees from COVID-19 testing requirements when they are fully vaccinated. Until this process is finalized, regular antigen testing is required. 

UW System President Tommy Thompson affirmed this week that students will not be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enroll next fall. But he strongly encouraged students – and all members of the university community – to be vaccinated. Those who demonstrate they are fully vaccinated will be exempt from the university's COVID testing. 

UW-Stevens Point aims to have a process in place yet this semester that meets UW System requirements to verify "fully vaccinated" individuals. Vaccines are fully effective 14 days after the final dose. 

With all Wisconsinites age 16 and over now eligible for vaccination, are encouraged to get vaccinated before the end of the semester. Numerous options are available locally, including on campus:  

• A walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the multi-activity center, Champions Hall. Marshfield Clinic Health System will administer 1,000 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines, first come, first served.
• Student Health Service continues to offer vaccines to students and employees on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Dreyfus University Center. To schedule an appointment, use this link.

 
Testing

Testing at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses continues at least through mid-May. 

Stevens Point: Students, faculty and staff can schedule COVID screening tests at Berg Gym here. Be sure to complete screening within 48 hours in advance of appointment. Testing continues to be required weekly for students who live on campus and every other week for other students and employees who come to campus.

Wausau students, employees and community members may schedule testing Mondays and Thursdays. Testing continues in the fieldhouse the week of April 12 and will move to the art building, 620 S. 7^th Ave., beginning April 19.

Marshfield students, employees and community members may schedule tests on Tuesdays. 

Thanks for continuing to help turn the corner on COVID-19 by wearing a face covering, maintaining physical distance, washing hands frequently and getting vaccinated.

Walk-in vaccine clinic April 10 set in the MAC with Marshfield Clinic Health System

April 7, 2021

A walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held Saturday, April 10, at the multi-activity center (MAC) in Marshfield Clinic Health System Champions Hall at UW-Stevens Point. It is sponsored by Marshfield Clinic Health System.

It is open to the public, including students and employees. The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until all 1,000 vaccinations have been administered. 

The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be given. Vaccines will be given first come, first served, and no appointment is needed. Anyone 18 years or older is eligible. 

Here is more information about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is one of three safe, effective vaccines available in the country and the only one that is a single dose.

The clinic will be set up similar to the campus and community testing held last fall. Please enter the MAC through the southwest door off Lot F West. Free parking will be available on the street or in Lots F-West and V. 

Please print and complete this form and bring it with you Saturday. Remember to wear a face covering and maintaining six feet of physical distancing.  

UW-Stevens Point is pleased to provide our facilities and support for this mass vaccination clinic and the promise it holds for those who take advantage of it. The COVID-19 vaccine provides hope that we are turning the corner to a more familiar, engaging life. 

Volunteers are needed for the walk-in clinic. If you can help for either Shift 1 (8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) or Shift 2 (12:30-5 p.m.), please email Corinna Neeb, UWSP coordinator.

All employees, students eligible to be vaccinated on campus

April 2, 2021 

The vaccination clinic at UW-Stevens Point is now open to all UW-Stevens Point employees and students ages 18 and up. Effective Monday, April 5, everyone ages 16 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin. 

Student Health Service administers the vaccines at the Dreyfus University Center food court two days per week. Take advantage of the convenience of being vaccinated right on campus Tuesday or Thursday, April 6 or 8.

When scheduling your vaccination, please be aware of the following: 

1. If you have had any other type of vaccine within 28 days prior to your anticipated COVID-19 vaccination date, please call Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 before scheduling.
   

2. Schedule an appointment only if you are absolutely sure you are able to come at that time. This reduces the potential for wasted doses that could otherwise be used.
   

3. Remember to eat and drink something prior to arriving for at your appointment to reduce the risk of light-headedness, fainting and nausea. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt. 
   

4. SHS staff will automatically receive and schedule your second dose for exactly 28 days after your first dose. Your second appointment will be made at your first vaccination. If you are not able to return exactly 28 days after your first dose, please seek a different venue for your vaccination. Vaccines are also available at numerous local pharmacies, health care providers, public health clinics. Visit the COVID-19 vaccine provider map or https://vaccinefinder.orgfor vaccinators in your county.
5. The Moderna vaccine will be given at the UW-Stevens Point clinic. Those ages 16-17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.  If you are under age 18, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website for more information.  

 
To schedule an appointment, use this link.

We welcome the opportunity to help our students be vaccinated before the end of the spring semester. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step for all of us so we can safely return to a more normal life and engaging campus. For questions about vaccine safety, please see information here.

Face coverings continue to be required at UW-Stevens Point

March 31, 2021

While a state Supreme Court ruling today limits the governor's authority to order face coverings in Wisconsin, the policy remains in place at UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point requires that everyone who lives on or comes to our campuses wears a face covering. Students, employees and visitors are required to wear face coverings in all UW-Stevens Point buildings, except their own room in a residence hall, and outdoors when physical distancing is difficult to maintain. Chancellor Thomas Gibson affirmed this mask mandate at least until July 1, 2021, as have chancellors throughout the UW System. 

This is part of our ongoing efforts to protect health and safety and to slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities. Wearing face coverings is among the healthy behaviors that allow us to return to more familiar, engaging campuses. 

COVID-19 vaccines 

Another important step toward returning to an active, engaging campus is getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Beginning April 5, everyone age 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin. 

With increased vaccine supply, the state pushed up the eligibility date. Vaccines are available at numerous local pharmacies, health care providers, public health clinics -- and at UW-Stevens Point for eligible students and employees. 

Visit the COVID-19 vaccine provider map or https://vaccinefinder.org for a vaccinators in your county.

COVID-19 disease rates remain high in Wisconsin, and maintaining good public health practices is critical for everyone. Please continue to wear a face covering, stay physically distant, wash hands regularly, avoid large gatherings and get tested regularly. 

Testing continues to be required on our campuses for students and employees who receive the vaccine. 

For more information, see the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Frequently Asked Questions site.

Schedule COVID-19 testing after spring break

March 29, 2021

As a friendly reminder, schedule your extra COVID-19 tests this week. 

Students and employees who traveled or spent time with people outside their households during spring break need to be tested twice this week, March 29-April 2. 

Stevens Point campus:

• Students, faculty and staff in Stevens Point can schedule COVID screening tests at Berg Gym through May 14. Schedule here and be sure to complete screening within 48 hours in advance of appointment. Testing continues to be required weekly for students who live on campus and every other week for other students and employees who come to campus.
• Students who have COVID-19 symptoms should contact Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 for PCR testing, rather than go to Berg Gym.
• Testing at the Dreyfus University Center is for community members, and results are not shared with Residential Living staff who need to track on-campus resident tests. 
• Employees eligible for COVID-19 vaccines may schedule using this link for Tuesday-Thursday vaccination clinics administered Student Health Service. Anyone age 16 and older with an underlying health condition is now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Students, if you identify as being in one of the eligible groups, please complete this survey to indicate interest in the vaccine. You will be contacted by Student Health Service about scheduling a vaccination appointment. 

Wausau, Marshfield campuses:

Wausau students and employees may schedule testing Mondays and Thursdays.
Marshfield students and employees are encouraged to test on two consecutive Tuesdays after spring break.

Anyone who traveled internationally must quarantine for 14 days before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus. 
Thank you for continuing to follow precautions to stay safe and healthy: Wear a face covering, maintain physical distancing, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands often. These steps, along with getting the vaccine, will help protect you against COVID-19.

All employees invited to be vaccinated on campus this week

March 22, 2021

The vaccination clinic at UW-Stevens Point is now open to all UW-Stevens Point employees.

Take advantage of the convenience of being vaccinated right on campus Tuesday, March 23, or Thursday, March 25. With fewer employees and students on campus during spring break week, appointments are available both days. 

Effective today, anyone age 16 and older with an underlying health condition is now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. See the list of medical conditions, which range from asthma to high blood pressure to being overweight. 

Students, if you identify as being in one of the eligible groups, please complete this survey to indicate interest in the vaccine. You will be contacted by Student Health Service about how to schedule a vaccination appointment. 

The vaccines are administered by Student Health Service at the Dreyfus University Center food court two days per week. Employees may schedule appointments using this link. (This link is only available to individuals who have been granted access to self-schedule.) 

If you receive a vaccine elsewhere, please email Eric Roesler to be removed from the UWSP vaccination priorities list and scheduling emails. Include your name and date of first vaccine. 
These vaccines are for current employees and students who are in eligible groups. 

COVID-19 vaccines are an important part of turning the corner on this pandemic. Thank you for your continued efforts to wear a face covering, practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands and have university-sponsored screening testing regularly on your campus.

UWSP students to receive additional COVID-19 relief aid

March 16, 2021

Recognizing the significant effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on our students – and all of us – UW-Stevens Point is pleased to report a vast majority of students will receive Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds in the next few weeks. These grants – a minimum of $150 – are part of the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act funding awarded to universities across the country.

UW-Stevens Point wants to help as many students as possible with these funds. Grants will be based on "exceptional need," which UW-Stevens Point defines as students eligible for Pell or the federal TRIO program.  Students seeking a degree, including online, who are U.S. citizens qualify. Students do not need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible, but it is recommended for future financial aid awards.

These funds will be processed through students' university accounts in the next 5-7 days to assist with educational costs of attendance and personal expenses. 
Students are encouraged to use these funds for costs of attending UW-Stevens Point, such as tuition, food, housing, health care or childcare. To monitor outstanding balances owed for the spring term, check your account through this link accesSPoint. Please contact the Student Financial Services office for assistance.

Payment will be issued by the Student Financial Services office via direct deposit or by paper check. Direct deposit is the quickest way to access the funds; information to sign up is on the Student Financial Services website. For those without direct deposit, checks will be mailed to your campus or local address as listed in accesSPoint.  If no campus or local address is listed, the check will be mailed to your home address.  Be on the lookout for these checks to arrive as soon as spring break week!   

UW-Stevens Point received a total of $9,947,577 as part of a second COVID stimulus bill that included support for higher education institutions and students. A total of $3,156,396 will be disbursed to students, and the remainder is designated as institutional support to defray costs related to COVID-19.

UWSP staff is available to support students in navigating the challenges of the educational journey. Please contact Student Financial Services or the Dean of Students office.

Jamie Bednarek
Bursar

Schedule COVID testing before, after spring break

March 16, 2021

As you plan for spring break next week, remember to schedule your extra COVID-19 tests. 

Students and employees who travel or spend time with people outside their households need to be tested once this week (March 15-19) and twice the week after spring break (March 29-April 2). 
Stevens Point campus:

• Students, faculty and staff in Stevens Point can schedule COVID screening tests at Berg Gym through May 14. Schedule here and be sure to complete screening within 48 hours in advance of appointment. 
• Testing at the Dreyfus University Center is for community members, and results are not shared with Residential Living staff who need to track on-campus resident tests. 
• Students who have COVID-19 symptoms should contact Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 for PCR testing, rather than go to Berg Gym.
  

Branch campuses

• Wausau students and employees may schedule testing Mondays and Thursdays.
• Marshfield students and employees are encouraged to test today and on two consecutive Tuesdays after spring break.

 
Community testing sites at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses will continue into early April. It will be offered only Monday through Wednesday during the week of March 22. 

Anyone who travels internationally must quarantine for 14 days before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that you do not travel. Travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Please see these travel tips. While new COVID-19 cases have slowed, CDC expects a spike in late March as variants of the virus take hold. View cases in the U.S. and cases by state on CDC's COVID Data Tracker.
Whether on campus, or in other communities during spring break, please take precautions to stay safe and healthy: Wear a face covering, maintain physical distancing, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands often. These steps, along with getting the vaccine, will help protect you against COVID-19.

More vaccinations available for eligible students, employees

March 12, 2021

UW-Stevens Point Student Health Service will receive additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week, allowing more current employees and students to be vaccinated.

The vaccination site will move to the Dreyfus University Center food court on Tuesday and Thursday, March 16 and 18, so more vaccines can be administered. Eligible students and employees in the top priority list for vaccines will receive instructions today from Student Health Service on how to schedule an appointment. Please do not call Student Health Service.

This is the Moderna vaccine. Please note, Student Health Service does not get to choose which vaccine to receive. State health officials determine on a weekly basis how many requested doses each vaccinator is allocated and which vaccine will be shipped.  All three vaccines authorized for use are safe and effective in reducing severe complications and hospitalizations from COVID-19. More information about the vaccines is here.

These vaccines are for current employees and students who are in eligible groups. This state Department of Health Services site has eligibility details. Students who meet eligibility are asked to complete this brief survey to receive the vaccine.

Employees in the "educators and childcare" group became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines March 1. UW-Stevens Point division leaders have prioritized employees into three categories based on the amount of direct student contact they have. All employees have been notified of their priority group by Eric Roesler, principal Human Resources officer.

UW-Stevens Point is one of several options in our communities to receive the vaccine, and eligible employees are encouraged to explore them. For more:

• Portage County Health Vaccination appointment scheduling website
• State of Wisconsin Get Vaccinated Website and the Provider Map
  

If you receive a vaccine elsewhere, please email Eric Roesler to be removed from the UWSP vaccination priorities list and scheduling emails. Include your name and date of first vaccine.

Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance this week for those who are fully vaccinated, relaxing some face covering rules when around other vaccinated people. Please note that on all UW-Stevens Point campuses and facilities, the face covering policy remains in place through at least June 30.

Thank you for your patience and continued vigilance in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Wear a face covering, practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands frequently and continue university-sponsored screening testing regularly on your campus.

Additional COVID testing needed before, after spring break

March 3, 2021

With spring break later this month, please note COVID-19 testing requirements will be modified:

Students and employees who travel or spend time with people outside their households are encouraged to be tested once the week before and twice the week after spring break. No testing will be offered at the Berg Gym, Stevens Point, during the week of spring break, March 22-26.

On the Marshfield campus, where testing is offered once per week, Marshfield students and employees are encouraged to test two consecutive Tuesdays. Testing will be offered on the Marshfield and Wausau campuses the week of March 22.

Anyone who travels internationally must quarantine for 14 days before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend that you do not travel. Travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. Please see these travel tips. While new COVID-19 cases have slowed, CDC expects a spike in late March as variants of the virus take hold. View cases in the U.S. and cases by state on CDC's COVID Data Tracker.

Community testing sites at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses will continue into early April, including the week of March 22.

Other important notes for the Stevens Point campus:

• Students, faculty and staff should continue to have COVID screening tests at Berg Gym. Schedule here and be sure to complete screening within 48 hours in advance of appointment.
• Testing at the Dreyfus University Center is for community members, and results are not shared with Residential Living staff who need to track on-campus resident tests.
• Students who have COVID-19 symptoms should contact Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 for PCR testing, rather than go to Berg Gym.
  

COVID-19 vaccines

Student Health Service has begun to vaccinate eligible employees and students. It has a limited supply of vaccines and more than 1,100 people on the priority list. Please be patient. This process will take several months, and those eligible are encouraged to explore other vaccination sites in the region. You will be notified by email to schedule when vaccine is available on campus. Please do not call Student Health Service.

Thank you for continuing to wear a face covering, maintain physical distancing, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands often. These steps, along with the vaccine, will help protect you against COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination will begin for eligible students, employees

Feb. 26, 2021

UW-Stevens Point Student Health Service has been allocated a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine and will start vaccinating current employees and students next week. First priority is to vaccinate previously eligible groups, including those age 65 and older and those who work in health care and emergency response. 

The next priority is current employees in the "educators and childcare" group. UW-Stevens Point division leaders have prioritized employees into three categories based on the amount of direct student contact they have. Priority 1 individuals will be notified by email with more information regarding vaccination by Monday morning, March 1. They will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment at UWSP Student Health Service. 

All employees will be notified of their priority group by Eric Roesler, director of Human Resources. Please note, everyone will have the opportunity to be vaccinated over the next few months. With limited supplies of vaccine, the prioritization process helps ensure those with greatest student contact are vaccinated soonest. Those who work from home or have minimal student contact will receive vaccines later.

Here is more information from the state Health Department on vaccine eligibility. 

As is the case with health care providers and public health offices statewide, Student Health Service will learn on a weekly basis how many vaccine doses will be allocated the following week.   
Please do not call Student Health Service. More information will be provided weekly as additional vaccines doses are available. These vaccines are for current employees and students who are in eligible groups. 

Thank you for continuing to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19: Wear a face covering, practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands frequently and continue university-sponsored screening testing regularly on your campus.

Make COVID-19 tests part of your regular routine 

Feb. 16, 2021

Now that we've settled into a routine for the spring semester, thanks to those who have built regular COVID-19 screening tests into their schedule. Your efforts to test, wear a face covering, maintain distancing and to stay home if sick have made a difference in keeping the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases low on our campuses and in our communities.
As a reminder, this UW System directive requires testing for students and employees who are on any UW-Stevens Point campus:  

• Students living on campus must test every week. Those who do not comply could be evicted from residence halls. 
• All students and employees who come on university property are to test every two weeks. 

Testing
Schedule your tests using these links. Often same-day appointments are available, following screening:  

• Stevens Point http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/point
  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Berg Gym, Champions Hall

  Testing in Stevens Point requires screening to be completed within 48 hours of the test and can be done here: Note, this is different than the UWSP daily symptom screening. 
  

• Marshfield - fieldhouse http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/marshfield
  This testing is open to students, employees and community members each Tuesday. 
  
  
• Wausau - fieldhouse http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/wausau

  This testing is open to students, employees and community members Mondays and Thursdays.
  

Remember to bring ID: Bring your employee or student identification (PointCard). 

Face coverings
Wearing a face covering correctly and consistently will provide the best protection. Face coverings need to be worn even after receiving a vaccine to protect you and others. 

Many public health experts recommend wearing two face coverings, sometimes referred to as "double masking." Here is guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends masks with multiple layers or wearing one disposable mask underneath a cloth mask. The second mask should push the edges of the inner mask against your face.

Thanks for doing your part to stay safe and reduce the risk of COVID-19. 

UWSP plans for COVID vaccination of eligible students, employees

Feb. 5, 2021

COVID vaccines are available in Wisconsin to specific groups of people at higher risk for COVID-19 infection. It will take several months to reach all those in each priority phase because of limited vaccine supplies. 

UW-Stevens Point Student Health Service plans to vaccinate eligible students and employees on the Stevens Point campus when additional vaccine becomes available through the state allocation process. Student Health Service is now an approved vaccinator through Wisconsin Department of Health Service (DHS) for COVID vaccine.

To help Student Health Service staff plan for this vaccination process, please complete a survey if you are in one of these categories currently eligible for vaccines:

• Frontline health care personnel
• Residents in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities
• Police and fire personnel, correctional staff
• Adults ages 65 and older

If you are in one of these populations and haven't received the vaccine, please complete this survey:
https://covidappt.uwsp.edu/vaccination

Student Health Service will contact eligible individuals who complete the survey when the COVID-19 vaccine is available to schedule an appointment. The demand for vaccine far exceeds the supply Wisconsin receives currently but supplies from the federal government are expected to increase in the next 2-3 weeks.

If you are not in a currently eligible group, please do not complete the survey now. Please do not call Student Health Service directly for vaccine information.

Those currently eligible may also want to contact their health care providers directly or go to the organization's website for more information. Watch for details from county public health departments, too.

The next eligible group includes faculty and staff in higher education settings who have direct student contact. The state Department of Health Services anticipates the next group will be eligible about March 1, depending on vaccine supply. Student Health Service will provide additional information for these groups as it becomes available. For more details on vaccine eligibility, see www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-about.htm.

The COVID-19 vaccine is a crucial part of slowing the spread of the coronavirus. To help inform your decision about the vaccine, see these trusted resources:

DHS - www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-faq.htm

CDC - www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/

Please continue to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19: Wear a face covering, practice physical distancing, avoid large gatherings, frequently wash your hands and continue university-sponsored COVID testing regularly on your campus.

Face coverings continue to be required at UW-Stevens Point

Feb. 4, 2021

While legislators, the governor and others in Wisconsin take steps to require or end use of face coverings in Wisconsin, the policy remains in place at UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point requires that everyone who lives on or comes to our campuses wears a face covering. Everyone is required to wear a face covering in all UW-Stevens Point buildings, except your own room in a residence hall and outdoors when physical distancing is difficult to maintain. 

This is part of our ongoing effort to protect health and safety and to slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities. 

Public health officials, including the CDC and WHO, recommend wearing face coverings, especially when physical distancing is difficult to maintain. A face covering protects you against infection from others, and others from infection by you. 

Ideally, cloth face coverings have two or more layers of washable, breathable material, fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps and completely cover your mouth and nose. Wearing a face covering, maintaining at least six feet of distance from others and avoiding large gatherings are the most important ways to reduce the risk of COVID-19. 

Also… please be safe this weekend. The safest way to celebrate the Super Bowl is to gather only with the people you live with. Consider a virtual gathering with these tips.

Community COVID-19 testing offered again, in addition to employee, student testing

Jan. 28, 2021

Free rapid-results COVID-19 tests will again be available to community members at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses beginning in February. UW System is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide additional Abbott BinaxNOW tests to all UW campuses.

On Wausau and Marshfield campuses, these will also be the testing sites for employees and students who come to campus at least once a week. The same schedule as earlier testing will be followed.

In Stevens Point, a community testing site in the Dreyfus University Center is ONLY for community members. Employees and students who are on campus should continue testing in Berg gym. (Note: The process was smooth on Tuesday with only a few minutes of wait time.)  

If you have family, friends or vendors who want to take advantage of the community testing, they can schedule a test at www.doineedacovid19test.com. In Stevens Point, community testing is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays in the DUC Food Court.  
 
Employees and students, schedule your tests using these links, which will first require screening* questions:  
 
Stevens Point http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/point
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Berg Gym, Champions Hall
*Complete screening within 48 hours before scheduled test
Open to employees and students only
 
Wausau - http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/wausau
        Beginning Feb. 1: Mondays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
        UWSP at Wausau fieldhouse, park in lots D, E, F or on the street
        Open to community members also

Marshfield  http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/marshfield
        Beginning Feb. 2: Tuesdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
        UWSP at Marshfield fieldhouse – park in south lot by marauder statue
        Open to community members also
        Two private rooms are available for isolation at the site. Request at check-in. 

In addition, please note these reminders: 

• Continue to complete the UWSP daily symptom screening every day you are on campus. This is different than the Weber Health screening for Stevens Point tests. 
• Those who have contractors, vendors or visitors on campus are responsible for screening for COVID-19 symptoms. This includes visiting researchers and non-credit students who do not have UWSP log-in credentials. Please use and retain a paper form.
• Supervisors received additional resources from Human Resources on COVID-19 testing. Please work with employees on scheduling and monitoring testing. 
  

Spring semester COVID-19 testing at a glance

Jan. 24, 2021

Here a few more details for mandatory testing, which begins Monday, Jan. 25.

Appointments: Schedule your tests using these links, which will first require screening questions: 

• Stevens Point http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/point
  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Berg Gym, Champions Hall
  
  
• Marshfield - fieldhouse http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/marshfield
  Go to scheduling link for dates and times
  
  
• Wausau - fieldhouse http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/wausau
  Go to scheduling link for dates and times 

Screening: Stevens Point's testing site requires screening to be completed within 48 hours of the test. This process takes a few minutes so please complete before coming to the testing site here: http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/point. Note, this is different than the UWSP daily symptom screening.

Bring ID: Bring your employee or student identification (PointCard). If you don't have a card or know your number, employees may check the Employee Self Reporting System. Go to Personnel and Payroll in My Point to retrieve your UWSP ID number. (This is different than your HRS employee ID number.) Bring it with you, along with a driver's license or other ID. If you don't have a PointCard, get one here:

Parking: 

• Stevens Point: Employees and students may park in meter parking in Lot F East or West for 30 minutes during the testing. The 30-minute time frame will be enforced to allow enough parking for all participants.
• Wausau: Temporary parking is available in lots D, E or F. Enter south entrance (608-B) of fieldhouse.
• Marshfield: Park in south lot by the marauder statue. Enter the PE door.

Access: UW-Stevens Point's Berg gym is at the east end of Champions Hall on the second level. Please use Door #3 to Champions Hall at the Science Building crosswalk or Door #29 from Lot F East for accessible entrances and elevators. See accessibility map and campus floor plans for more (select Centers buildings for first and second floors).

Paid time: Employees will be paid for the time needed to do mandatory testing. Supervisors, please work with employees on scheduling.

Test: This antigen test is a quick nasal swab. Results take 15 minutes to process; please stay for the result. If the antigen test is positive, a PCR test will be conducted on site. Anyone who has an PCR test must isolate while awaiting those results, which take 3-5 days.

You are exempt from testing for 90-days after your positive test.  

Symptoms: If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not come to campus or the testing site. Stevens Point students, contact Student Health Service. Employees, contact your health care provider or seek testing at a community testing site.

Reporting: If positive, please complete the COVID-19 reporting form. Employees should notify their supervisors. Students who test positive should submit their test results to hlthsv@uwsp.edu. 

This UW System directive requires testing for students and employees who are on any UW-Stevens Point campus.

• Students living on campus are to test each week. 
• All students and employees who come on university property are to test every two weeks. 

Thank you for being part of proactive efforts to identify the coronavirus before it spreads. 

Details for mandatory testing effective Jan. 25  

Jan. 20, 2021

UW campuses have been leaders in efforts to contain and combat COVID-19, as part of a national initiative. Regular testing is key to identifying the coronavirus early and slowing the spread of COVID-19. At UW-Stevens Point, we have done our part to be proactive partners in protecting employees and students. While we expect the worst of this pandemic will be behind us soon, the weeks ahead will likely be the most dangerous of all. During this time, we must continue to take precautions, including regular testing.  

Testing will be required of students and employees who are on any UW-Stevens Point campus, beginning Monday, Jan. 25. This includes:  

• Students living on campus are to test each week.  
• All students and employees who come on university property are to test every two weeks.  

Stevens Point campus  

Testing will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Berg Gym, at the east end of Marshfield Clinic Health Systems Champions Hall, 2050 4th Ave.  

Students and employees may schedule these tests at http://covidappt.uwsp.edu/point. You may schedule multiple appointments through March 19. Prior to arrival for each test, complete the online screening on this website. After you are tested, you will be asked to wait for results, which will be shared privately. Please allow 30 minutes for each test.

This is a rapid-results antigen test, which will be administered by Weber Health Logistics. It is the same Quidel Sofia 2 nasal test students received in the Science Building in fall, which is less invasive than the diagnostic PCR test. It is intended to detect the virus in people who do not yet have symptoms. 

If you have symptoms, do not come to campus. Students, contact Student Health Service. Employees, contact your health care provider or seek testing at a community testing site in your area. 

If an antigen test is positive, and the student or employee is asymptomatic, a PCR test will be conducted on site. If the person is symptomatic and positive, no PCR test is needed. Immediate isolation is required.  

Anyone who has a PCR test must isolate while awaiting those results, which take 3-5 days. If positive, please complete the COVID-19 reporting form. Employees should notify their supervisors.  

Questions may be directed to Michelle Gilbertson, project manager at Weber Health Logistics, mgilbertson@weber-health.com or 414-828-4453. 

Wausau campus 

Testing will alternate on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The first test will be Tuesday, Jan. 26, then Monday, Feb. 1, and so on. Testing will be held in the fieldhouse, using the self-administered BinaxNOW antigen tests. This rapid-results test will be conducted by eTrueNorth, the surge testing contractor. Schedule testing at www.doineedacovid19test.com.

Marshfield campus

Testing will alternate on Mondays and Tuesdays between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The first test will be Monday, Jan. 25, then Tuesday, Feb. 2, and so on. Testing will be held in the fieldhouse, using the self-administered BinaxNOW antigen tests. This rapid-results test will be conducted by eTrueNorth, the surge testing contractor. Schedule testing at www.doineedacovid19test.com.

The UWSP Daily Symptom Screening will continue to be required for all who plan to come to any UW-Stevens Point property. It will include a new question: "When was your last COVID-19 test?" This information is confirmed with the testing site information.  

This testing has been mandated by UW System for all UW campuses. See UWSA SYS 600-01 Interim: Spring Semester 2021 COVID-19 Testing Requirements for more.  

Thank you for your continued vigilance. We are all eager for COVID-19 to be controlled. Your efforts now -- testing, wearing face coverings, maintaining distance from others -- and vaccines in the weeks and months ahead will help us turn the corner. 

Additional face coverings available

Jan. 19, 2021

As we prepare for a safe, healthy spring semester, additional face coverings are available for faculty and staff members at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses.

A supply of UWSP-branded face coverings is available from contacts at each building. If you haven't already received one, please email the following in your department or location to request a face covering: 

CoLS	Carrie Ziolkowski
CPS	Jackie Durigan
COFAC	Mary Liebe
CNR	Jodi Hermsen
ALB	Heather Springer
Business Affairs	Cindy Marczak
Student Affairs	Kim Siclovan
University Centers	Susan LeBow
Athletics	Kelly Romano
Dining	Suzette Conley
Academic Affairs	Barb Grasamkee
Facility Services	Tina Kramer
Chancellor/Advancement	Sara Brandl-Reeves
Enrollment Management	Laura Bell
Wausau campus	Solution Center – stop by
Marshfield campus	Solution Center – stop by

In addition, employees who would like a new tension relief band (mask extender) or pocket pack of tissues may contact Sallie Scoville, Employee Wellness coordinator. Please email her at sscovill@uwsp.edu. 

Students will also receive new face coverings. They will be distributed in residence halls and the Dreyfus University Center University Information and Ticket desk in Stevens Point, and at The Solution Centers on branch campuses.

Thanks for continuing to wear face coverings, maintain six feet of distance and wash your hands frequently.

Details on required testing for employees and students will be emailed this week. It begins Jan. 25. 

Spring break, event planning in 2021

Jan. 14, 2021
 
While several UW campuses have canceled spring break, UW-Stevens Point still plans to have a break, scheduled for March 20-28, 2021. 

Please be aware that this could change, based on the coronavirus pandemic and UW System direction. We will keep you updated on any changes or increased precautions.

Spring break is a welcome break for students and faculty. Use the time to rest and rejuvenate, but please reconsider traveling. With the possibility that spring break may change, it's wise to avoid extensive travel plans.  

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. If you must travel in Wisconsin or beyond, be sure to wear a face covering in any place with people outside of your household. Avoiding gatherings and staying home are the best ways to protect yourself and others. Check travel advisories for the state you are traveling to at this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site. International travel requires a 14-day quarantine, and many states advise quarantines for travelers entering or returning to the state.

While vaccines have been introduced and offer promise, state public health officials say they are not likely to be widely available before summer or fall. Their effectiveness against all strains is not yet known.  

Also in the spring semester:

• Testing will be required weekly for students who live on campus. Testing will be required every other week for off-campus students and employees, even if they are campus only once a week. Additional details about testing will be communicated as soon as they are finalized. 
• Campuses and field stations continue to be closed to the public. Students and employees are on campus, prospective students visit in small groups and retail operations remain open in the Dreyfus University Center. 
• University leaders plan to examine the policy on campus facilities in mid-March for events that occur in summer or fall. Currently, facilities all locations are not available for community groups or individuals to reserve for events. 
• Please continue to complete the daily online screening each day on campus. 

We appreciate your patience and support of efforts to protect health and safety. We all look forward to a time when the virus is under control and we can return to a new normal – hopefully by fall semester.

Did you know your phone can help stop the spread of COVID-19?

Jan. 5, 2021

Employees and students are encouraged to download a new app, WI Exposure Notification, to help contain the COVID-19 virus.

Launched by the Department of Health Services (DHS), the WI Exposure Notification app alerts users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This allows you to get the care you need sooner and reduces the risk of exposing your family and others in your community.

This voluntary app is available for free download from the Google Play Store or may be enabled in Settings on iPhones. The more people who choose to sign-up, the greater our potential impact on the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Encourage your friends and family to download it too. 

The app does not need to stay open to work. It uses Bluetooth low energy technology, which allows your phone to exchange anonymous signals with other phones that are near it for at least 15 minutes. If somebody who has the app tests positive for COVID-19, they can use the app to send an alert to the phones with those signals.

DHS is committed to protecting your privacy. The app DOES NOT gather or store any of your personal information or remember your location, nor share it with DHS, Google, Apple or other app users.

Exposure Notification is an important action you can take to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, just like wearing a mask, physically distancing and washing your hands. Learn more at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/notification.htm or on the attached info sheet.

Help make COVID-19 go away, download the exposure notification app TODAY!

Required testing begins Jan. 25 for students, employees who come to campus

Jan. 4, 2021

UW-Stevens Point continues to develop details for COVID-19 testing in the spring semester. Here is an update on information regarding UW System's directive, which affects students and employees. 

On December 11, 2020, UW System President Tommy Thompson enacted UWSA SYS 600-01 Interim:  Spring Semester 2021 COVID-19 Testing Requirements.  This was accompanied by the Spring 2021 COVID-19 Testing Requirements that all students living on campus be tested weekly and that all students living off-campus as well as employees be tested every two weeks for COVID-19.   

While we are working on outlining our local requirements, we can inform you of the following: 

• UW-Stevens Point's spring semester COVID-19 testing will begin Jan. 25, 2021. 
• Remote learners and employees will not require testing unless they come to one of our three campuses 
• Testing will be at no cost to students and employees of the university. 

Meanwhile, those wanting or needing a COVID-19 screening test may take advantage of the free COVID-19 rapid result testing offered to the university and community. This testing resumes Monday, Jan. 4, and will continue until our allotted number of tests are used. This is currently estimated to continue through Jan. 22. To schedule a test at one of our three campuses go to www.doineedacovid19test.com. For more information about testing and the coronavirus, visit this UWSP webpage.  

Finally, the stress of the holidays, the continuing pandemic, and the challenges life brings our way can feel overwhelming. I encourage our employees to take advantage of a no-cost benefit that comes to you and your family through our Employee Assistance Program. We have joined other state agencies in switching vendors from FEI to Kepro. Kepro is already accepting referrals and helping our employees.  For more information, please see the State of WI EAP FAQ's.   

For real-time support electronically regarding your or your family's wellbeing, please also explore our SilverCloud services, another benefit to all our employees and students. 

Best wishes in the new year,

Eric Roesler 
Principal Human Resources Officer  

COVID-19 Update - Quarantine needed following international travel 

Dec. 23, 2020

 Anyone planning to travel internationally in the weeks ahead, please note: You will need to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus or field station.

This reminder of UW-Stevens Point policy comes as winter break begins, recognizing some employees and students may have personal travel planned internationally.

The Office of International Education and Residential Living will work with international students who live in residence halls to accommodate quarantine. Those who live off campus should monitor symptoms, stay home and away from campuses for 14 days on returning to Wisconsin.

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. If you must travel in Wisconsin or beyond, be sure to wear a face covering in any place with people outside of your household; maintain six feet of distance from others; and wash your hands frequently. Avoiding gatherings, staying home and celebrating with those in your household is the best way to protect yourself and others.

Here are two resources for safe holidays:

• Use this decision tool for individuals and family to make choices that are best for you and your family. 
• Check travel advisories for the state you are traveling to at this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site. Many states advise 14-day quarantines for travelers entering or returning to the state.
  

Wishing you healthy, happy and safe holidays.

 

COVID Update #54 - Quarantine period remains 14 days at UW-Stevens Point

Dec. 17, 2020

You may have seen news reports with federal, state and local health officials on reducing the quarantine period for COVID-19 in certain circumstances. The Centers for Disease Control and state Health Services Department say a quarantine of 14 days is the safest standard. They have outlined specific circumstances where local public health officers can shorten quarantine periods, depending on local needs and resources as well as an individual's symptoms.

While public health officials in some counties are reducing it, 14 days remains the best practice.

UW-Stevens Point is aware of these guidelines and has determined to continue following the highest quarantine standard. The quarantine period for our students and employees who are close contacts of someone with COVID-19 continues to be 14 days. It will keep us safer at a time that COVID-19 is straining our health care system. Employees or supervisors with questions may contact Human Resources.

Also, the university is working on details to implement a UW System directive to regularly test students and employees in the spring semester. Please watch your email for more information about weekly testing of students who live on-campus and biweekly testing of off-campus students, faculty and staff members who come to campuses.

Have healthy, happy holidays. Please make decisions to protect yourself and loved ones. Here are ideas to celebrate the holiday safely.

COVID-19 testing for employees, community, extended at all three campuses

Dec. 11, 2020

Employees and their families as well as community members are encouraged to use the free rapid-results COVID-19 testing at our three UW-Stevens Point campuses in December and January.

Testing will continue to be available through Wednesday, Dec. 23, then will resume Monday, Jan. 4, for several weeks. Testing is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on this weekly rotation:

• Wausau - Mondays and Thursdays – UWSP at Wausau fieldhouse at South 7^th and Garfield avenues – park in Lots D, E, F or on the street.
• Marshfield - Tuesdays – UWSP at Marshfield fieldhouse – park in south lot by the marauder statue. Enter the PE door.
  

• Stevens Point - Wednesdays and Fridays – Champions Hall (fieldhouse) Multi-Activity Center – park in Lot F West at Fourth Avenue and Isadore Street. Enter through Door #9 from west lot. 
  

UW-Stevens Point is partnering with all UW System institutions and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make these screening tests available. This federal "surge testing" operation uses Abbott BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care tests that provide results within 15 minutes.

More than 5,600 screening tests have been administered since this service began Nov. 9 for the public and UW-Stevens Point employees and students.

Advance appointments are required for these free tests and must be made at www.doineedacovid19test.com. Because of high demand for this service, same-day appointments cannot be guaranteed.

Here is the process:

• Schedule a free test in advance online at www.doineedacovid19test.com. Print your voucher and bring it with you, if possible.
• Go to the testing site selected on your appointment day.
• The test is a self-administered light nasal swab under the supervision of medical professionals.
• Results take 15 minutes.
• Participants will receive an email when results are ready. They can retrieve results by logging into the web portal where they registered. (Bring your user name and password with you.) 
• Individuals will receive instructions on next steps, depending on test results and symptoms.
  
• PCR test will be available onsite to confirm the diagnosis for those who meet certain criteria. PCR test results will be available in 3-5 days.
• Face coverings and physical distancing are required.

Appointments are listed only one week in advance and fill quickly. If no appointments are available, check back the morning after a testing is held at a given location. Appointments cannot be scheduled by phone or in-person.

The testing sites are operated by eTrueNorth under contract with the federal government. Testing is available at no cost to anyone ages 5 and older. Individuals do not have to be experiencing symptoms or be considered a close contact of someone with COVID-19 to get a test, nor do they need to live in the community where the testing site is located.

While COVID-19 cases are low on UW-Stevens Point campuses, they have soared in Wisconsin. This free service helps identify people who may have the novel coronavirus so we can slow the spread of COVID-19.

The BinaxNOW tests are in addition to antigen screening tests already offered students at the Stevens Point campus. These tests, in the Science Building, are for students only.

For questions, please contact the COVID Hotline at covid@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2619.

Additional information will be provided next week on how UW-Stevens Point will implement a UW System testing directive announced today.

Update on Spring Classes

Dec. 4, 2020

Dear Students,

As UW-Stevens Point nears the end of the fall 2020 semester, we're eager to welcome you back next spring with changes in place aimed at transitioning to a more familiar way of teaching and learning.

Over the past month, the university conducted several surveys of students, faculty, and staff members to gather information on how people experienced the fall semester. We organized a faculty and student workgroup to review this data and make recommendations for improvements in the spring term. We plan to implement many of these suggestions, including:

• Improving communication through consistent Canvas practices
• Asking instructors to provide more frequent check-ins with students regarding course content and workload
• Ensuring that students have ample lead time in knowing assignments, and flexibility when circumstances related to the pandemic make coursework difficult.
  

Among the biggest challenges both students and faculty identified was connecting with one another while shifting between the online, in-person, and hybrid course formats required by the pandemic. Based on this experience, we want to transition back to a more familiar classroom experience. To achieve this, the workgroup recommended that students participate in class sessions as listed in the timetable, which means at their scheduled times and in their scheduled modalities (in-person, scheduled-time virtual classroom, or online). What does this mean in practice?

• Faculty will still provide flexibility for students who need to be absent from scheduled classes due to illness or because they need to quarantine.
• Students who are living far from campus or do not wish to attend in person because of the pandemic should contact instructors in advance—as soon as possible—to discuss options. We will encourage instructors to make virtual/online accommodations; however, this may not be possible for all courses.
• Students needing maximum flexibility should register for 100% online sections, when available.
  

This change will help to foster a more familiar and consistent learning experience and greater opportunities for students and faculty to work together during what we hope is one final semester of pandemic challenges. Be assured that we will work with you to complete necessary degree requirements that may be impacted by this change. Students should contact their advisors if they need to adjust their schedules.

Finally, as we look ahead to registration for the fall 2021 semester, I'm happy to report we are tentatively planning a more normal fall at UW-Stevens Point. Given the promising news regarding vaccines that provide immunity to COVID-19, we will plan a fall 2021 schedule of classes that assumes we will need less of the physical distancing that so transformed our current academic year. We will make appropriate adjustments next fall if necessary. However, we are genuinely hopeful that an end to the pandemic is in sight and our continued perseverance through the months ahead will be rewarded.

I wish you a successful conclusion to your fall courses, and we look forward to seeing you return this spring.

Greg Summers
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Addressing our challenges together

Nov. 20, 2020

This semester has been challenging for all of us. I applaud the extra efforts each of you are making to adapt to the pandemic.  I also applaud and support the efforts of leaders among our faculty, students and staff members to listen and learn about these challenges. They have developed a joint statement below with steps we can take now and plans for the future. By working together, we will complete this semester and make the next one better.  

Wishing you a safe, restful, happy Thanksgiving,

Bernie Patterson, Chancellor

Joint statement on meeting challenges

We have heard from many students about how hard this semester has been and actions students would like to see now and next semester. We are aware that the typical college experience has been disrupted and many are struggling to keep up this semester, to remain engaged, to stay motivated, and to feel connected with peers and with professors. Instructors have been directed to seek feedback from students and make changes to their courses if appropriate, and in many cases this has been sufficient to address students' concerns.

To address the problems that remain, through several meetings with faculty governance, administration, and SGA leadership, we have devised some recommendations to put in place for the remainder of this semester and for the spring semester and beyond. The full recommendations will be adopted and communicated in the next two weeks, but there are things we can do now.

What faculty can do now:

1. Work on Canvas concerns that have been raised by students to see if problems can be alleviated. This includes putting upcoming graded work in the Canvas calendar and using the "To Do" list for graded work.
2. Address specific problems that have been raised regarding Honorlock. Consider carefully whether camera-related features are necessary. These features assume students are in environments where they are alone and in a quiet space.  As an alternative, the Tab Lock feature is an unobtrusive but successful feature.
3. Ensure faculty have set office hours via zoom, phone, or using Canvas Scheduling (or other scheduling tools) to ease student scheduling

What students can do now:

1. Meet with faculty outside of regular office hours. Students can schedule an appointment to meet with faculty one-on-one to discuss any issues with coursework.
2. Take advantage of available reporting procedures if they don't feel comfortable reaching out to their instructor. Students may talk to the chair of the department or dean of the college, talk to their advisor, the dean of students, or use the Ask A Question link on the UWSP COVID-19 page. If students have concerns about how a specific instructor may react, they may request that their identity not be reported to the instructor and be confident that the request will be honored.
3. Look at the modules in Canvas as well as to-do list or assignments tab. There may be useful information and resources that your instructor has provided to support your success on the graded assignments.
   

What planning is underway:

We have conducted surveys of students, faculty, and staff, held a Town Hall, received feedback and a statement from SGA regarding problems from this semester, and have formed a working group of students and faculty who have met to discuss experiences this semester. Based on this information, the working group is discussing the following:

• Shared understandings
• Workload easing for faculty and students
• Reporting processes
• Improved Canvas standards and training
• Increasing engagement and fostering connections

We are sympathetic to the difficulties many students are having and understand the frustration some feel that their specific problems have not yet been addressed. We also encourage students to keep in mind that this semester is challenging for instructors as well.  We hope students and instructors alike approach these problems in a spirit of collaboration. We can work together to take action now and make the spring semester more productive.

Given recent news about COVID-19 vaccines, we know that the pandemic will end and we will get to return to a more normal campus experience. We are committed to working together to make it through and will do so in conversation with each other. Most importantly, we hope to restore our sense of community and connection--essential aspects of the UWSP experience.

Respectfully and in collegiality:

Academic Affairs             Student Affairs
Greg Summers                  Al Thompson

Common Council             Student Government Association
Nerissa Nelson                 Collin McNamara

Increased COVID-19 testing required before, after Thanksgiving

Nov. 13, 2020

Dear students,

With public health officials calling COVID-19 cases “out of control” in Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers and UW System President Tommy Thompson highly recommend no travel for Thanksgiving. Gathering only with your household is strongly encouraged. 

To help protect your family, friends and communities you may visit during the Thanksgiving break, increased COVID-19 screening tests will be required. UW President Thompson has directed that students who plan to return to campus after the holiday commit to even more frequent testing. 

Students should continue to have screening tests regularly. In addition:

• On-campus students who plan to return to residence halls after the holiday must be tested once before leaving (by Nov. 25) and twice within the first week of returning to campus (Nov. 30-Dec. 4). 

• Stevens Point students who live off-campus and plan to travel for Thanksgiving should be tested before and after the break, too, especially if planning to participate in any in-person labs, studios or activities on campus after Thanksgiving. 

Stevens Point students can schedule screening tests at https://uhs.uwsp.edu. These antigen tests are available daily in Science Building Room C124 and take 15-20 minutes. If no appointments are available, schedule screening at www.doineedacovid19test.com for the campus-community testing in the Multi-Activity Center. 

• Students at Wausau and Marshfield campuses should schedule rapid-results testing on your campus through this site: www.doineedacovid19test.com. This free testing is available to employees, families and community members as well. 

UW-Stevens Point testing centers will be closed Nov. 26-27. 

If you do travel or host for Thanksgiving, please follow this CDC guidance on safe holiday celebrations.

This year especially, good health is a good reason to be thankful. Please continue to be safe, strong and well. 

Bernie L. Patterson

Chancellor

COVID Update #53 - Campus operations remain the same until Thanksgiving

Nov. 12, 2020

With COVID-19 cases and deaths continuing to spike in Wisconsin, the governor and public health officials are urging everyone to limit travel, stay home except for work and essential supplies, to avoid gatherings and be vigilant about safety precautions.

Based on guidance from UW System leaders, UW-Stevens Point will continue to operate as we have been through the fall semester. Thanks to your efforts, our campuses have done better than our broader communities in following health protocols and minimizing the spread of the coronavirus. Our hope is that we can continue in-person and hybrid instruction until Thanksgiving as planned. 

As previously announced, after Thanksgiving, courses will be offered virtually for the remaining two weeks of the semester and the winterim period. Staff members who can work from home should continue to do so, while meeting minimal office staffing. 

With two weeks until that shift, everyone is encouraged to be extra careful. Whenever you are outside of your home or around others, wear a face covering, maintain physical distancing and wash hands frequently.  For more on the governor's recommendations, see here.

We can help further in two important ways:

• If you have been notified you are a close contact, follow instructions. You may be contacted by someone who tests positive or by a county public health representative. Return phone calls. If you are instructed to self-quarantine, stay home. Do not go to class or work or the dining facilities. Do not socialize in establishments or with others. Following this guidance is essential to slowing the spread of this deadly virus.
• Have screening tests regularly. Stevens Point students living in residence halls should continue with antigen testing in the Science building or contact Student Health Service if they have COVID-19 symptoms. Students who live off campus may participate in either antigen testing or the new rapid-results testing available at all three campuses.

Stevens Point employees, students and employees at Wausau and Marshfield campuses as well as family and community members are encouraged to have free rapid-results testing on our campuses 1-2 days each week. Register in advance at www.doineedacovid19test.com. Print the voucher and bring it to the testing site. Be sure to remember your username and password to get your results in 15 minutes.

 

Thank you for your efforts to stay healthy and keep our campus and communities safe!

COVID-19 testing options expand to all three campuses

Nov. 5, 2020

Another COVID-19 testing option will soon be available to employees, students and the community at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses. Everyone is strongly encouraged to take advantage of the no-cost screening tests available on campus.

In partnership with the University of Wisconsin System and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, UW-Stevens Point will make rapid-results COVID-19 tests available beginning Nov. 9. It is part of a federal "surge testing" operation that uses Abbott BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care tests.

Employees

Faculty and staff members at all UW-Stevens Point locations are encouraged to be tested weekly. There is no limit on the number of times individuals can be tested. Please encourage family members and friends to participate as well. Testing is available to anyone ages 5 and older.

The BinaxNOW testing will be available for approximately six weeks beginning Nov. 9. Testing will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as follows:

• Mondays and Thursdays – UWSP at Wausau fieldhouse.

• Tuesdays – UWSP at Marshfield fieldhouse. Enter the PE door.

• Wednesdays and Fridays – UW-Stevens Point, Champions Hall Multi-Activity Center – park in Lot F-West, if driving, and use west entrance to building.

Face coverings are required, and physical distancing must be maintained at these sites.

Individuals do not have to be experiencing symptoms or a close contact of someone with COVID-19 to get a test, nor do they need to live in the community where the testing site is located. The testing sites will be operated by eTrueNorth under contract with the federal government.

To register for the new screening, please follow this process:

• Schedule  a free test at www.doineedacovid19test.com.

• Go to the testing site selected. Each individual will receive a voucher at check-in.

• The test is a self-administered light nasal swab under the supervision of medical professionals.

• Please wait at the testing site for results, which will be ready in 15 minutes.

• Participants will receive an email when results are ready. They can retrieve results by logging into the web portal www.doineedacovid19test.com. 

• Individuals will receive instructions on next steps, depending on test results and symptoms.
  

Stevens Point students

• Students living in residence halls in Stevens Point are required to complete antigen testing in the Science Building every two weeks. This will continue. Students may schedule BinaxNOW tests in addition.

• Students living off campus in Stevens Point are encouraged to do either of these screening tests – or both – regularly. There is no limit to how often the BinaxNow test can be done.

• Students who have COVID-19 symptoms should continue to contact Student Health Service to schedule a PCR test and further instructions.

Wausau and Marshfield students

• Students at Wausau and Marshfield campuses will now have easy access to this new BinaxNOW screening test.

While cases continue to be manageable on UW-Stevens Point campuses, UW leaders are leveraging an opportunity to enhance testing in our communities in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The goal is to identify people throughout Wisconsin who may have the novel coronavirus.

This community partnership is in addition to other community testing sites available in Stevens Point, Wausau and elsewhere that offer PCR tests.

COVID Update #52 - Take care as cases rise

Oct. 30, 2020

As COVID-19 cases statewide set new records weekly, testing has expanded in many counties and is ramping up at UW institutions. Additional details will be provided soon. In the meantime, please note:

• Public health officials and government leaders are citing pandemic fatigue, irregular mask wearing and physical distancing, small gatherings indoors and larger gatherings like weddings and events as the main causes of COVID-19 spread throughout Wisconsin. 
  

• The UW testing program has effectively mitigated spread of COVID-19 on campuses by identifying asymptomatic carriers and isolating them while quarantining close contacts. This was recognized by Drs. Robert Redfield, CDC director, and Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force in Madison last week. 
  

• UW-Stevens Point is actively managing cases on our campuses, which have continued to range from 17 to 42 per week on the Stevens Point campus since mid-September. 

• Screening tests have expanded to students who live off-campus, which make up nearly 75 percent of UW-Stevens Point. Take advantage of this quick, no-cost test regularly. Make appointments at https://uhs.uwsp.edu.

Reminders:

• Change your face coverings each day. Wash cloth coverings in warm water after each daily use. Do not reuse disposable face coverings. Please follow these care instructions.
• Complete the online COVID-19 Daily Screening every day before coming to campus. If you live on campus, complete it every day.
• Get a flu vaccine, if you haven't already. Students in Stevens Point may contact Student Health Service to schedule one. Employees (and students) can get free vaccines at local pharmacies or their health care provider. 

Please take care on and off campus as cases continue to spread in our communities. Wearing face coverings, physical distancing, washing hands frequently and limiting activities to your household are proactive steps we all can take to reduce the risk of COVID-19.  

Thanks to students, faculty and staff for following these precautions and being part of a culture of responsibility. Our campuses are some of the safest places in the state.

COVID Update #51 - COVID-19 cases continue to soar, testing to expand

Oct. 30, 2020

As COVID-19 cases statewide set new records weekly, testing has expanded in many counties and is ramping up at UW institutions. Additional details will be provided soon. In the meantime, please note:

• Public health officials and government leaders are citing pandemic fatigue, irregular mask wearing and physical distancing, small gatherings indoors and larger gatherings like weddings and events as the main causes of COVID-19 spread throughout Wisconsin.
  

• The UW testing program has effectively mitigated spread of COVID-19 on campuses by identifying asymptomatic carriers and isolating them while quarantining close contacts. This was recognized by Drs. Robert Redfield, CDC director, and Deborah Birx, head of the White House coronavirus task force in Madison last week.
  

• UW-Stevens Point is actively managing cases on our campuses, which have continued to range from 17 to 42 per week on the Stevens Point campus since mid-September.

• Screening tests have expanded to students who live off-campus, which make up nearly 75 percent of UW-Stevens Point. Take advantage of this quick, no-cost test regularly. Make appointments at https://uhs.uwsp.edu.

Reminders:

• Change your face coverings each day. Wash cloth coverings in warm water after each daily use. Do not reuse disposable face coverings. Please follow these care instructions.

• Complete the online COVID-19 Daily Screening every day before coming to campus. If you live on campus, complete it every day.

• Get a flu vaccine, if you haven't already. Students in Stevens Point may contact Student Health Service to schedule one. Employees (and students) can get free vaccines at local pharmacies or their health care provider.

Please take care on and off campus as cases continue to spread in our communities. Wearing face coverings, physical distancing, washing hands frequently and limiting activities to your household are proactive steps we all can take to reduce the risk of COVID-19.  

Thanks to students, faculty and staff for following these precautions and being part of a culture of responsibility. Our campuses are some of the safest places in the state.

Antigen screening is for students without symptoms

October 27, 2020

UW-Stevens Point students who have no symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to take advantage of COVID-19 screening on the Stevens Point campus. This antigen screening test identifies the coronavirus early, before symptoms occur, reducing the risk of an outbreak.

Students with symptoms should contact Student Health Service to schedule a PCR test.

UW-Stevens Point has been conducting COVID-19 antigen testing to screen students who live in residence halls every two weeks since the beginning of the fall semester. Screening was recently expanded to students living off campus and is especially recommended for those who are student teaching, learning in health care facilities or other educational, volunteer or work environments where they are in close contact with others. 

The screening is quick and easy. Students without symptoms are invited to follow these instructions to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 antigen test through the Student Health Service web portal every two weeks:  

1. Go to https://uhs.uwsp.edu and sign in with your campus username and password. 
2. Click on "Appointments."
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to schedule your COVID-19 testing appointment.

Please plan to arrive 5 minutes early for your appointment. Antigen testing takes place in the Science Building (#6 on map), Room C124. Enter from Fourth Avenue and follow the signs. Please bring your UW-Stevens Point student ID for registration/identification purposes. You will be notified of your test results while there. The entire process takes approximately 20 minutes.

If you have questions about COVID-19 screening , please contact the UWSP COVID Hotline: 715-346-2619 or covid@uwsp.edu.

By expanding COVID-19 testing to all UWSP students, everyone on our campuses and in our local communities will benefit. Thank you for your participation and all your efforts to stay safe and healthy.

Antigen testing now available to all students

October 22, 2020

Dear students,

All UW-Stevens Point students are now invited to take advantage of COVID-19 screening on the Stevens Point campus. 

UW-Stevens Point has been conducting COVID-19 antigen testing of students who live in residence halls every two weeks since the beginning of the fall semester. This screening testing is an important part of the university's plan to identify COVID-19 infection early and decrease the risk of having an outbreak on campus. 

By opening COVID-19 testing to all UWSP students, everyone on our campuses and in our local communities will benefit. 

The screening is quick and easy. Follow the instructions below to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 antigen test through the Student Health Service web portal.  

1. Go to https://uhs.uwsp.edu and sign in with your campus username and password. (Use only the first part of your username, omitting "@uwsp.edu.")
2. Click on "Appointments."
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to schedule your COVID-19 testing appointment.
   
4. We recommend testing at least every two weeks.
   

On the day of your scheduled test, please plan to arrive 5 minutes early for your appointment. Antigen testing takes place in the Science Building, Room C124 – this is in the northeast corner of the first floor of the Science Building. Please enter from 4^thAvenue. 

Signage will direct you to the entrance door for UWSP COVID-19 Screening. Bring your UW-Stevens Point student ID for registration/identification purposes. You will be notified of your test results before you are dismissed from the testing location. The entire process takes approximately 20 minutes.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus, in the event you test positive, Stevens Point students  will be directed to go immediately to Student Health Service in Delzell Hall to have a PCR COVID-19 test. These tests are processed through Marshfield Clinic, and results are available in 24-48 hours. After a PCR test, you will be directed to isolate until your test results are known. Student Health Service staff will provide you with further guidance. 

Positive results are reported to public health officials, as legally required. Your positive results will also be shared with university officials who need to know, including Dean of Students office personnel who will make additional campus notifications as indicated (such as your in-person instructors, Residential Living, Dining, Facility Services) to ensure appropriate measures are taken to reduce the risk of exposure to others on campus. DOS personnel also assist in coordinating the isolation process for those who live on campus and ensuring they receive the support and services needed. 

The attached Patient Facts sheet from Quidel provides more information about the specific antigen test we are using for this screening process.  

If you have questions about COVID-19 screening , please contact the UWSP COVID Hotline: 715-346-2619 or covid@uwsp.edu.

Thank you for your participation in our campus screening process and all your efforts to keep you, our campus and our local community safe. We are in this together!

Al S. Thompson Jr.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

COVID Update #51 - Take precautions as cases rise in state

October 15, 2020

Your vigilance needed as COVID-19 cases soar in Wisconsin

COVID-19 cases statewide are rising with record deaths in recent weeks, making it all the more important we all continue to take precautions to stay safe on and off our campuses. Please note:

• University leaders are monitoring the situation closely. They are reviewing cases on campuses and in our communities daily. Since early September when more than 100 cases were reported among students in Stevens Point, the number of cases per week has varied from 14 to 32. Eleven cases have been reported so far this week. See chart below for how cases at UW-Stevens Point and Portage County compare on a daily basis.
  

• Cases have soared to record levels in Wisconsin, straining hospitals in the Wausau and Green Bay-Appleton areas. This is a serious situation. Cases doubled in the past month. The goal of state and local precautions is to maintain adequate health care worker and hospital ICU capacity to care for patients.
  

• Students in residence halls, please be sure to schedule your antigen test every two weeks. This rapid screening test is key to detecting COVID-19 early, before symptoms show. Make appointments at https://uhs.uwsp.edu.

• Antigen testing has recently expanded to additional student groups who live off-campus. University leaders are looking at expanding antigen testing further in the near future.

• Students, faculty and staff, remember to complete the online COVID-19 Daily Screening every day before coming to campus. If you live on campus, complete it every day.
  

• Everyone is encouraged to get a flu vaccine this fall. Employees who are on a state health plan may sign up for free clinics on Stevens Point (Oct. 20, Nov. 5) and Wausau (Nov. 4) campuses. Students at the Stevens Point campus may get a free flu shot Oct. 20-22 at the indoor track in Champions Hall. No appointment is needed. Students and employees at Wausau and Marshfield, take advantage of free vaccines at local pharmacies or your health care provider.

• Free community testing has expanded in Stevens Point. It is available Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for those with at least one symptom or who were idenitified as close contacts. Be sure to self-report if you've had a COVID-19 test off-campus.
  
  
• For more information on COVID-19, what to do if you've been in contact with someone who tested positive, cases on campus and much more, visit our website.

Thank you for helping reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Your efforts are needed more than ever.

COVID Update #50 - New dashboard shows cases trending in right direction

October 8, 2020

Our COVID-19 website has an updated dashboard with more information about cases at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses. The dashboard is updated daily with a weekly case total. 

Only eight positive cases have been reported among employees since April. Our student cases peaked at 111 one week in early September. The following week student cases dropped significantly to 32 cases the following week and to 14 last week -- definitely a trend in the right direction! Thanks for taking the precautions needed to keep our numbers down.

The dashboard also shows the number of students testing positive on and off campus, and the university's capacity to isolate and quarantine students who test positive (isolate) or have been exposed (quarantine for 14 days). This capacity is a key factor in determining whether the university can continue to offer in-person classes and continue "normal" operations this fall. 

While cases are declining on campus, they continue to rise in our communities, and many hospitals are at or near capacity. For your own protection, please make every effort to wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing, wash your hands frequently and avoid large gatherings when you are off campus as well as on. Limiting nonessential travel and errands, keeping social interaction to a small circle of friends and family protects you and them. 

Also, remember to:

• Complete the online COVID-19 Daily Screening every day before coming to any campus or leaving your residence hall. This symptom monitoring is key. 
• Self-report if you've had a COVID-19 test by a health care provider off-campus or at a community testing site. Free community testing is available Tuesdays and Thursdays in Stevens Point.
• Respond to queries from contact tracers. They are working to protect you and those you care about by limiting the spread of the coronavirus. 
• Follow guidance for isolation if you test positive or are awaiting test results and for quarantine for 14 days if you have been exposed to COVID-19. These steps are critical to slowing the spread. 
  

At UW-Stevens Point, we have been able to manage our cases on campus and have not needed to pivot to online learning or residential restrictions – so far. Screening residence hall students every two weeks helps identify possible cases early, before symptoms show, so the virus does not spread. This regular testing is the cornerstone of the UW System strategy to remain open and safely provide our education mission. Appointments may be made at https://uhs.uwsp.edu.

Thank you for your continued vigilance to keep coronavirus from spreading on campus and in the community.

COVID Update #49 - Keep up the good work – keep the case numbers low

September 30, 2020

Thank you for your continued diligence in wearing masks on campus, physical distancing from others and washing your hands frequently. It is making a difference – keep up the good work!

Here are a few reminders that will help our positive case numbers stay low:

• Please use the COVID-19 Daily Screening to monitor any symptoms you may have.
• If you don't feel well, stay home or in your residence hall room. Students with symptoms, call Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 to speak to a nurse who will help determine whether you need an appointment for further evaluation, possible testing for COVID-19 or other medical advice as appropriate. 
• Residence hall students, please schedule an antigen test every two weeks. This helps identify potential COVID-19 cases early and contains the spread on campus. Appointments may be made at https://uhs.uwsp.edu.
• If you've had a COVID-19 test by an off-campus health care provider or community testing site, be sure to self-report.

There have been some questions raised about quarantine. Those identified as a close contact, even those with negative tests, need to quarantine for several reasons:

• It can take up to 14 days to test positive or show symptoms.
• You can spread COVID-19 to others beginning two days before symptoms start until several days after symptoms start and about one day after you recover. You can spread the virus even if you never develop symptoms - not everyone with COVID-19 will get sick.
• By remaining in quarantine, you are helping stop the spread.
  

Working together, we can keep the number of positive cases down and stay on our campuses as planned through Thanksgiving.

Student consequences for dangerous behavior in COVID-19 era 

September 23, 2020

"With the start of the school year, Wisconsin is seeing a surge in cases, especially among young people. In fact, 18 to 24-year-olds have a case rate five times higher than any other age group. This significant increase has only occurred within the past month and appears to be driven by in-person social gatherings."  

Dear students,

These words from Gov. Tony Evers Tuesday serve as a sober warning about the "unprecedented, near-exponential growth of the COVID-19 pandemic" in Wisconsin.  

If you are not taking COVID-19 seriously, consider this a wake-up call. Students must follow UW-Stevens Point COVID-19 policies – on and off campus -- or face disciplinary action. As the Dean of Students has previously shared, potential policy violations include:  

• Not adhering to the face covering, signage or residence hall guest policies when on campus.  
  

• Hosting or attending an event that disregards public health guidance about event size, physical distancing and face coverings, when off campus. These actions can be considered violations of UWSP CH 17, and Wisconsin Administrative Code, UW System Chapter 17. These chapters outline potentially dangerous off-campus behavior and possible sanctions, up to suspension or expulsion.  
  

All students must follow these guidelines so everyone has the opportunity to pursue their education on campus. Those who do not adhere to these guidelines will be held accountable for their behavior.    

 Large gatherings hosted on or off campus are considered the responsibility of every student living in the room, apartment or house. Students who host social gatherings may potentially lose the ability to complete their courses if they are suspended. There is no refund for a student under these circumstances. Students who do not wish to share that responsibility with roommates hosting a gathering should contact the Dean of Students or their residence hall director.  

Your actions affect you, other students, your faculty and support staff and those in our communities. If you work or socialize off campus, your actions affect even more people in central Wisconsin and beyond. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and away from others. If you are told to isolate or quarantine, do so. Spreading this infectious disease can have deadly consequences. 

Behavior that jeopardizes public health will have serious consequences at UW-Stevens Point.  

To the majority of students who are complying with university guidelines, thank you for doing your part to keep our campus and community safe and healthy. To those who aren't, it's time to take this seriously. We need EVERY one to be part of the solution.  

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

COVID Update #48 - Extra vigilence required to keep COVID-19 cases manageable

September 11, 2020

As several universities take serious steps to contain COVID-19 on their campuses, we need your help to slow the spread at UW-Stevens Point. UW-Madison announced it is moving all classes online for two weeks, beginning Sept. 10, and quarantining students in two residence halls because of a spike in COVID-19 cases.

UW-Stevens Point hopes to avoid similar action. That depends largely on you. By completing the daily symptom screening, wearing a face covering, physically distancing from others and washing your hands frequently, you are helping keep our positive cases manageable – so far.
Please follow these measures on and off campus. Most positive cases appear to stem from social gatherings when distancing and face covering rules are not followed. To keep our campuses open this fall, limit the size of gatherings – ideally to less than 10. Meet friends outdoors, rather than inside. 

Testing
One important way to detect possible COVID cases and slow the spread is through screening tests of students living in residence halls. Thanks to our students for adding these antigen tests into their schedules every two weeks. More appointment times are now available, so if you live in a residence hall, please schedule your tests at https://uhs.uwsp.edu. 

Students who feel ill should call Student Health Service at 715-346-4646 for evaluation. Student Health Service provides COVID-19 tests for students who live on and off campus between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.  If you have symptoms in the evening or on weekends, please contact one of these after-hours clinics or your health care provider for guidance and possible COVID-19 test. Stay home if you are sick. 

Training
Everyone is required to take a 10-minute online training on the novel coronavirus, precautions to prevent it and steps if cases occur. If you have not completed the training, do so this week:

COVID-19 Student Training Module           COVID-19 Employee Training Module

Fifty positive cases were reported among students this week. We need your help to keep this number down. For questions, please call the COVID Hotline at 715-346-2619. 

Thanks for doing your part!

COVID Update #47 - What if I've been exposed to a person with COVID-19?

September 8, 2020

Thanks for all you are doing to control the spread of COVID-19 on and off UW-Stevens Point campuses, from wearing your face covering and practicing physical distancing to monitoring yourself for COVID symptoms and washing your hands frequently.

However, there may a time when you are exposed to someone with symptoms of the virus, or you may find out that a classmate or acquaintance has tested positive. What should you do if you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19?

Next steps depend on whether you are identified as a close contact by local public health professionals, who would then contact you. Find the steps here and learn what it means to be a close contact. Student Health Service is available to help guide students through this process. Employees, please contact your health care provider for guidance. By monitoring your own symptoms and quarantining if needed, you can help stop further spread.

Whether you are a student or employee, UW-Stevens Point cares about your well-being as we all work together for our health and safety.

COVID Update #46 - New dashboard will monitor COVID-19 cases

September 3, 2020

Despite UW-Stevens Point's great care and diligence to protect our students, faculty, staff and communities at our three campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be positive cases.

UW-Stevens Point is committed to balancing individual privacy with transparency in communicating information about positive cases on our campuses. Notification will be made as appropriate for cleaning, student health and support, academic and other departments, and for contact tracing as outlined in the COVID notification flowchart.

A new dashboard, posted on our COVID-19 site, will be updated daily, Monday through Friday, to share the number of reported cases from our student, employee and guest populations.

It will align with a UW System dashboard, which will go live next week.

More details, including test numbers and cases by campus location will be added to the UW-Stevens Point dashboard in the future.

All students are required to report COVID-19 cases to UW-Stevens Point, and should contact Student Health Service for medical and COVID questions and possible testing. Employees must report positive COVID-19 cases if they were on campus within seven days of symptoms beginning, or seven days prior to testing if asymptomatic. We will not identify those who test positive for COVID-19.

UW-Stevens Point is actively monitoring and reviewing a range of health, safety and resource metrics to guide our decisions on university operations. In addition to these metrics, we are consulting and following the recommendations of state and local health officials and the UW System to determine how to best respond to any changes in operations for the health of our campus communities.

Although these are challenging times, UW-Stevens Point will persevere. We are all in this together.

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #7

September 2, 2020

As classes begin, you may have questions about the new practices to follow. While not always easy, these necessary steps are being taken because we care about you and everyone on our campuses. We appreciate your continued efforts to protect yourself, fellow students, faculty, staff and community members from serious illness – and to stay on campus.

• If you haven't already done so, please complete the 10-minute COVID-19 Student Training Module and take the pledge to participate in reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread on our campuses and in the community.
  
  
• Please practice the following on and off campus. What you do off campus matters on campus.
• Use your 2 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer. Stations will be available across campuses to refill your container, see this map.
• Use warm water and soap to wash your hands for 20 seconds, in addition to using hand sanitizer throughout the day – especially after you encounter touch points, such as door handles.
• Wear your face covering on and off campus – whenever it's difficult to maintain physical distancing of six feet.
• Do not touch your face. Cover your mouth when you cough. Sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm.
• Minimize touching non-personal items. Use your shoulder or elbow to push through doors, and a paper towel or other disposable item to turn doorknobs or push buttons.
• Assist in wiping down commonly used surfaces after use, such as cooking areas, computers, tools and equipment. Cleaning kits are placed in specific areas, such as residence hall kitchens and meeting, locker and computer spaces.
• Use water fountains for bottle filling only. Drinking from a fountain is not allowed. Run the water 10 seconds before filling your own bottle. Consider carrying a refillable bottle.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #6

September 1, 2020

• Before leaving your residential hall or off-campus residence each day, complete UW-Stevens Point's quick COVID-19 Daily Screening If you have any of these symptoms, please stay in your residence hall, or at home! Contact campus Student Health Service by phone at 715-346-4646. You will speak with a nurse who will help determine whether you need an appointment for further evaluation and possible testing for COVID-19 or will provide other medical advice as deemed appropriate.Students who have symptoms may be told to follow these next steps for care: Isolate from others when ill, manage symptoms and other care needs. Either Student Health Service, or your own physician, will provide this guidance as applicable. This may include identifying your close contacts and asking them to self-quarantine for 14 days. 

• For more information on this process, go to this flow chart. 

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #5

August 31, 2020

• Be sure you are getting plenty of rest. Find time to refresh and relax, and try your best to practice patience and thoughtfulness with yourself and others. 
  

• The Student Counseling Center is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 715-346-3553. SilverCloud, an online behavior health tool, is also available. Learn more at  https://uwsystem.silvercloudhealth.com/signup. 
  

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

How we'll handle COVID-19 cases on campus

August 29, 2020

Dear students,

My warmest welcome to you as our new semester begins. UW-Stevens Point faculty and staff are excited to see you, whether in person or online, and we're here to support you through your academic journey.

Many have worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure we all have a gratifying and safe year. Each of us has a role and responsibility in this. I hope you've seen our daily messages on safety measures, such as wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing and the COVID-19 training program. Each day on campus will begin with a COVID symptom screening tool. If you have symptoms, stay in your residence hall room or at home. These important steps will help protect your health and keep us on campus this fall. Whether on campus or in the community, following these precautions will protect you and others.

In spite of our efforts and extensive precautions to prepare our campuses, COVID cases are likely to occur during the year. While we work to reduce the impact, I want to assure you that we have thorough plans in place if someone tests positive for COVID-19.

Our Student Health Service is a resource for testing and care for all students. If you have symptoms or think you may have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, contact Health Service at 715-346-4646 for further guidance.

If there is a positive incidence of COVID-19 on campus, this flowchart outlines our notification process.

Those identified as close contacts of a person who tests positive will be called by a public health department contact tracer. Close contacts will be told to monitor symptoms while self-quarantining for 14 days. A quarantine location will be available to students who live on campus, where they can continue to live and learn comfortably. Meals will be delivered, and support services are available.

When a person with COVID-19 is cleared by public health officials to return to class or work, the individual is safe to return. Please trust our public health officials. They follow state and national health guidelines, as does UW-Stevens Point. With physical distancing and other precautions in place, being in the same classroom does not make you a close contact, based on CDC guidelines.

We are committed to providing you a rich educational experience, in every course delivery format, and to minimizing the impact of the coronavirus on our campuses. We will be most effective when we are all in this together. I encourage you to make wise choices on and off campus.

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #4

August 28, 2020

• If you're a returning student, you may notice furniture and room spaces across campus have changed. Some rooms are closed, others have limited seating or use. You'll also notice that entries, exits and traffic patterns are posted with signs and floor markings across campus. Facilities usage information can be found here.
  

• The Dreyfus University Center and the Allen Center will continue to operate within COVID space guidelines for use of our University Store, the Food Court, Allen Fitness Center and meeting spaces. Our recreation and fitness facilities will be open, with distancing to provide a safe environment that meets space and activity requirements.
  

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #3

August 27, 2020

• Students will wear a face covering when arriving in all UW-Stevens Point Dining facilities. Please sanitize your hands on entering and before you eat. All foods will be served to order or packaged.  Avoid touch points along the way. All sales are cashless. Green on the Go containers are available as part of our Sustainable Dining Program. Upper DeBot and the DUC Food Court will have limited dine-in seating available. Please be considerate of others and use dining spaces for meals only, not other activity. For the most recent COVID-19 dining updates, go here.
  

• Residential Living employees and students living on campus can enter residence halls, but off-campus students and visitors are not allowed. See the front desk receptionist in your building for more information. Think about fun places to meet your friends elsewhere on campus. In residence halls, spaces are marked for available sinks and bathroom stall spaces. For the most recent COVID-19 Residential Living updates, go here. 

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #2

August 26, 2020

Our most effective protection against coronavirus when around others is a face covering. A face covering protects you against infection from others, and others from infection by you. 

Everyone is required to wear a face covering in all UW-Stevens Point buildings, and outdoors when physical distancing is difficult to maintain. Students with conditions that affect their use of a face covering should contact the Disability and Assistive Technology Center (datctr@uwsp.edu, 715-346-3365) to discuss accommodations in classes. Please make your request now to ensure consideration before classes begin

All students are required to wear face coverings in the classroom and will be asked to put one on before entering. Change your face covering daily with a clean one. No matter what type you wear, take care of your needs. Remove your face covering outdoors when you are not near other people. Take a break in a separate room. Try to find your comfort zones with a face covering. Please be aware, others may have differing needs and requirements for their face covering wear.

For more information on face coverings, go to the CDC website. 

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Students Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Student Message #1

August 25, 2020

Whether you are a first-year or a returning student, UW-Stevens Point looks forward to welcoming you to a new semester at our three campuses.

Before you begin attending classes, we ask that all students complete the COVID-19 Student Training Module and take the pledge to participate in reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread on our campuses and in the community. This will take about 10 minutes and will prepare you for new policies and procedures that will be helpful for those studying on campus or at home.

Please view this Canvas course using Chrome or Firefox. You will be asked to use your UW-Stevens Point login, then enroll in the course. It includes an instructional video, a pledge form to finalize the course and a list of UW-Stevens Point's COVID-19 online resources.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

We're all responsible for staying safe, staying in school

August 25, 2020 

Dear students: 

I'm writing to ask for your help. Yes, this might be an odd way to start an official communication from the university but, the Dean of Students office always strives to engage students in caring and honest conversation.  

Before we talk about how I need your help, I first want to recognize that you might have concerns and anxiety about starting or re-starting your college career amid COVID-19. These past six months have been like none other, and this academic year will certainly be different than previous ones.

For our new students who just graduated from high school, you may have missed out on a lot of amazing experiences while completing your senior year. Now you are getting ready to start your first year amid more uncertainties. This was my son's senior year too, and as a family, we have been navigating what was lost and the excitement to come as he starts college.

For students who are transferring to UW-Stevens Point this fall, and for all our returning Pointers, Huskies and Marauders, your spring semester was disrupted with the shift to online learning and for many of you, the need to move home. You missed learning together, eating, socializing and simply being together. My daughter, a college junior, felt this loss too when she had to come home.  

Please know we recognize how difficult these past six months might have been for some of you, and how different this fall semester will continue to be for you as a student. We have invited you to join us this fall, you have graciously accepted that invitation, and we are so excited to get started.  

Our invitation and your acceptance means we are all responsible for making this work. This is where I need your help.

Yes, face coverings are required in all buildings, including the residence halls unless in your own room with only your roommate. Yes, physical distancing is expected; we will remind folks, and you can remind us too. Yes, there will be events and activities for you on campus but with smaller numbers in-person. Yes, a lot of signs are posted to remind everyone about things like hand washing, COVID-19 symptoms, and where to enter and exit.

And yes, I ask you to help make this work by helping us with all the above. There might be a few students who do not want to wear face coverings. Those students will not be allowed to attend in-person classes, will be restricted from entering campus buildings, and if they live on campus, would likely be required to move out. 

Many of you have missed your friends and want to spend time together, or you are looking to make friends at this, your new school. You can spend time with old and new friends, but you need to do so in a way that is safe for everyone. Whether on or off campus, gatherings must follow the guidance put in place by public health experts and our policies about face coverings, group size and physical distancing. For students who choose to do otherwise, the Dean of Students staff will engage them in caring and honest conversations about policy and outcomes.

Again, our invitation and your acceptance, means that we are all responsible for making this work. I promise to do my part and I am asking you to help me by doing the same. The Dean of Students office is part of your support team on campus to help you address concerns, so please contact dos@uwsp.edu when needed.

Thank you and I will see you soon, 
Troy 
#YouMatter #PointCares 

Troy L. Seppelt, Ed.D.  (he, him, his)
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Dean of Students 

Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Employee Message #5

August 24, 2020

As you return to our campuses, here's a reminder to complete the Employee Training Module, as well as the Daily Symptom Screening Form prior to coming to campus. The Daily Symptom Screening Form is not required on days you are not physically at a campus location.

Thanks for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Returning to campus safely, notification process

August 21, 2020

Dear colleagues,

On Monday, many of us will return to our campuses to begin the important work of the fall semester. Although this year brings new challenges, that is when we are at our best. While the way we work may change, our dedication to student success remains strong.

I look forward to welcoming you back to campus as we support each other in meeting several goals during the coming academic year:

• Minimizing the impact and slowing the spread of coronavirus on all our campuses
• Maximizing the rich educational experience UW-Stevens Point provides, regardless of course delivery format
• Taking care of others, as well as ourselves
• Respecting individual privacy and dignity

Many have worked nonstop over the summer to ensure we all have a gratifying and safe year. This intensive planning guides UW-Stevens Point in making decisions about how to best serve the university community while keeping everyone safe. We all have a role and responsibility in this endeavor.

Earlier this week, you received notification about a COVID-19 Employee Training Module. This informative course will bring you up to date on expectations and procedures for the upcoming year as well as provide useful online resources for your daily work. I strongly encourage you to complete this training as soon as possible.

In spite of our diligent efforts and extensive precautions to prepare our campus for a safe return, COVID cases are likely to occur. While we work to reduce the impact, I want to assure you that we have thorough plans in place if someone tests positive for COVID-19.

Our notification process balances the privacy of individuals with transparency to notify our employees and students.

Before detailing what we will do, I want to tell you what we won't do. We will not blame or shame members of our campus community. We will not judge, assume or ostracize. We will not identify individuals who test positive.  Any of us could get COVID-19 through no fault of our own. We are in this together.

If there is a positive incidence of COVID-19 on campus, the flowchart here outlines our process well for both students and employees.

If working on campus, our day will begin with the COVID symptom screening tool. Anyone experiencing COVID symptoms should stay home or go to their local home or residence hall.

Those identified as close contacts of a positive person will be contacted by a public health department contact tracer. With physical distancing and other precautions, being in the same classroom does not make you a close contact based on CDC guidelines.

Close contacts will be told to monitor symptoms while self-quarantining for 14 days. If they live on campus, a quarantine location is available. Testing may be recommended by one's health care provider.

When a person with COVID-19 is cleared by public health officials to return to class or work, the individual is safe to return. Trust our public health officials. They follow state and national health guidelines, as does UW-Stevens Point.

If you have questions, please see our revised COVID website for resources, frequently asked questions and communications. You may also call the COVID Hotline at 715-346-2619.

We are all in this together. We will take care of our students and each other, those who test positive and those who fear they may. Be sensitive and kind. Offer to help someone who appears to be struggling. Ask for help if you need it.

Thank you for your continued diligence to staying well, protecting each other and following the processes that give us all the best chance to remain healthy and safe.

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Employee Message #4

August 21, 2020

Making sure we can do our work in a clean and sanitized area is an important goal as we return to our campuses.

University units and personnel are required to monitor, clean and disinfect their worksite surfaces and equipment regularly, between uses or as needed. Primary building contacts have been identified to assist departments in safely reopening. They are coordinating supply needs, assisting with signage and ensuring spaces are prepared to make sure everyone is protected.

Employees received a 2 oz. bottle of sanitizer. Refilling stations are located across campus (see map) for your convenience. These locations include: 

Stevens Point campus

• 601 DIV - Side entrance in vestibule area
• ALB - First floor near pillar across from circulation desk
• DUC - University Information and Tickets, west wall
• M&M - Corridor 115 on south wall
• TNR - Corridor 180, next to ice machine

Field stations/branch campuses (one each at each location)

• CWES
• Treehaven
• Marshfield
  
• Wausau

Facility Services has provided information on classroom setups, sanitizer refills and cleaning procedures at www.uwsp.edu/facsv/Pages/covid19-training.aspx.

 Thanks for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Employee Message #3

August 20, 2020

As we return to our campuses, we are taking extra precautions to stop the spread of coronavirus. One of these is the requirement for everyone on campus to wear a face covering. You can find instructions on wearing a face covering here.

If an employee is not wearing a face covering, gently ask them to do so, following university policy. Be aware that some may need an accommodation, may need frequent breaks from wearing a cover or they may wear a different type of covering. If an employee refuses to comply, refer them to the university guidelines, particularly the COVID-19 page. Please report non-compliance to your supervisor, not Police and Security Services.

If a student refuses to comply, resources are available. See Guidance to Faculty and Instructors Regarding Face Coverings in the Classroom for suggested language and steps on enforcing the mask requirement. 

Thanks for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Employee Message #2

August 19, 2020

As we prepare to return to our three campuses, we want everyone to be aware of new work practices that comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. We all have a role and responsibility to be diligent in our efforts to be as safe as possible.

To ensure that all employees have reviewed and acknowledged these important guidelines, UW-Stevens Point has created the COVID-19 Employee Training Module, to be completed by Monday, Aug. 31.

Please view this Canvas course using Chrome or Firefox. You will be asked to use your UW-Stevens Point login, then enroll in the course. It includes an instructional video, pledge form and a list of UW-Stevens Point's COVID-19 online resources.

Employees who have limited or no access to the Internet will be required to complete the training when they return to work. We are also asking that employees who are not working on campus to view and acknowledge the training to better understand the requirements of working onsite and current CDC guidance and safety practices. We kindly ask that supervisors work with their employees to complete this training by Aug. 31.

Thanks for doing your part to keep our campuses safe.

Working Together for a Safe Return to Campus - Employee Message #1

August 18, 2020

On Monday, we welcome employees back to campus! As we prepare to return, we will be sharing some safety tips and to-dos throughout the week.

• Work with your supervisor to determine if you're coming back to campus or working from home.
  

• All campus buildings will return to "open" status beginning Monday, Aug. 24. 

• All personnel are required at the beginning of the day to use the Daily Symptom Screening Form. The screening tool will help you assess whether or not you have symptoms that may be signs of coronavirus illness. If you report Yes on any of the screening questions, stay home. The tool will automatically report your positive response to your supervisor. Then, call your doctor. If you do not have a medical provider, consult with Ascension (1-833-981-0711), Aspirus (1-844-568-0701) or Marshfield Clinic (1-877-998-0880). Contact your supervisor once you have sought medical assistance. Be sure to understand your paid leave options under these conditions. The daily screening is not required on days you are not physically at a campus location.
  

Safety, training plans for returning to campuses

August 13, 2020

As our campuses prepare for safely returning this fall, please note:

• A notification process for communicating positive COVID cases on campuses is being developed. Recognizing that cases will occur, UW-Stevens Point is committed to balancing the privacy of individuals with transparency to inform our employees and students.
  

• Protocols for a safe return to campus are in place and outlined in the Pivot Point appendices. Facility Services is working with contacts in each building to ensure precautions are followed and regular cleaning and disinfecting occurs.
  

• Employees have received, or soon will, a kit to help protect them and others while on our campuses. The kit includes five cloth face coverings, a tension relief band and 2-ounce, refillable bottle of hand sanitizer. These complementary items will help us follow the precautions recommended by health professionals to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
  
  Students will also receive kits. Face coverings are required at all UW-Stevens Point locations, and a clean one should be used each day. 

• All employees and students will be required to complete a COVID-19 education module that outlines efforts and expectations for a safe return to our campuses. Details will be provided next week.
  

• Many offices will open on or by Aug. 24, in a limited way. Division heads are working with unit supervisors on staffing and reopening plans to ensure a minimum threshold of coverage. Supervisors are encouraged to work with employees to address concerns and provide flexibility for those whose job duties allow continued remote work.
  

• FAQs are being updated on the COVID webpage and the Human Resources COVID resources page to address employee and student questions. Please check these sites for more information about furloughs and other topics.
  

• Remember to complete the COVID symptom screening tool every day you intend to be on campus.

Thanks to each of you for your extra efforts to ensure a safe working and learning environment for our colleagues and students. 

COVID hotline available, next town halls scheduled

August 5, 2020

• The university's new COVID hotline is now live. Students, parents and others may call 715-346-2619 with questions about UW-Stevens Point's preparations for a safe return to campuses. Student Affairs staff will answer and triage questions. An email box is also available for questions, covid@uwsp.edu. For students' convenience, this hotline appears on our homepage as well.

A vast amount of information is available anytime at the university's COVID website.

• A Virtual Town Hall for students and parents Thursday, Aug. 6, will provide additional information about the fall planning and answer questions. Details are here. 
  

Mark your calendar for a Virtual Town Hall on inclusion, equity and social justice Thursday, Aug. 13, at 2:30 p.m. Details will be provided later this week.

Clarifying distance education, segregated fees 

August 5, 2020

Dear students,

We've received several inquiries about the distance education fee assessed for online classes, especially from students who would have preferred in-person courses. This fee helps cover the cost of instructional design, instructor training, technology needs and support, as well as other instructional resource support for students in online programs that regular tuition does not cover.

This year, many additional courses will be taught through online instruction as UW-Stevens Point balances the safety and health of our students and faculty with our ongoing commitment to provide a robust educational experience.

To ensure that our pricing remains balance with actual costs, UW-Stevens Point has reduced the distance education fee by half. A fee of $25 per credit, rather than $50, will be assessed for the 2020-21 academic year to lessen the impact on students. The fee applies to all classes with an instruction mode of "online" or "scheduled time online" at all three campuses.

For more, please see definitions of the instruction modes. Additional details about these changes will be included in a letter accompanying the fall student bill.

In addition, segregated fees are also assessed, regardless of course delivery method. These fees cover vital student services, programs, and facilities that support the mission of UW-Stevens Point, such as student health services, counseling and the student union, many of which are accessible to students both virtually and in-person. The fees are billed based on the number of credits taken. More information about segregated fees can be found here.

UW-Stevens Point continues to be a great value, offering high quality education at an affordable price. We appreciate your patience and hope this clarifies these fees.

Additional questions are welcome at our Virtual Student Town Hall Thursday, Aug. 6. Please join us from 5-6 p.m. for more details on fall planning and extra efforts to ensure your health and safety.

Sincerely,

Greg Summers, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Al S. Thompson, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

COVID hotline available, next town halls scheduled

August 5, 2020

• The university's new COVID hotline is now live. Students, parents and others may call 715-346-2619 with questions about UW-Stevens Point's preparations for a safe return to campuses. Student Affairs staff will answer and triage questions. An email box is also available for questions, covid@uwsp.edu. For students' convenience, this hotline appears on our homepage as well
  
  A vast amount of information is available anytime at the university's COVID website.
  

• A Virtual Town Hall for students and parents Thursday, Aug. 6, will provide additional information about the fall planning and answer questions. Details are here. 
  

• Mark your calendar for a Virtual Town Hall on inclusion, equity and social justice Thursday, Aug. 13, at 2:30 p.m. Details will be provided later this week.
  

Intermittent furloughs continue through June 2021

July 30, 2020

As UW-Stevens Point continues to respond to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we continue to incur unbudgeted costs while revenues have declined. In addition, our share of the state budget lapse is $2.1 million in FY20 and approximately $3.3 million in FY21 at this time. One of the tools to help address these financial challenges has been furloughs over a four-month period from May through August.

Workforce-wide furloughs will be used again during the academic year to reduce the financial impact of the pandemic by $2.3 million. These furloughs will involve more than 700 employees who earn salaries of $30,000 or more annually. 

To balance compensation reductions across the university in the most equitable way, those with higher salaries will incur a greater number of intermittent furlough days than those who earn less. The furlough days, to be taken between September 2020 and June 2021, are detailed here:

Annual Salary  ​		# of Furlough Days Assigned	% Reduction
$130,000	Or more	20	7.5%
80,000	$129,999	12	4.6%
50,000	79,999	9	3.5%
30,000	49,999	5	2.0%
Less than	29,999	0	0%
9-month term "C"	​	9	3.5%

Three days are fixed furlough days for almost everyone: day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27; Dec. 28 (winter break); and March 26, 2021 (during spring break).

Employees in less than full-time positions will have intermittent furlough proportionate to their FTE based on annualized compensation.

This furlough plan was developed with feedback from shared governance groups, including Common Council, Faculty Council, Academic Staff Council and University Staff Council.

Employees are asked to work with their supervisors in determining furlough days to ensure continued operations. Only one intermittent furlough day may be taken per biweekly pay period. There are 20 biweekly pay periods during this time, so 20 furlough days is the maximum. Departments may propose consecutive day furloughs and work share plans to Human Resources.

This plan will help address the financial impact of our coronavirus response and projected state budget lapse, which is likely to increase. Furloughs help our institution partially meet financially challenges while preserving positions.

These disruptions have been incredibly challenging for all of us. My deep and sincere gratitude goes to each of you for your flexibility in working remotely, your dedication to developing alternative course delivery, your tireless efforts to reconfigure classrooms, labs and add extra precautions, to provide additional advising and counseling to meet student needs and learn how to serve them better and ensure they have a meaningful learning and living experience.

As we turn to August, our work is not done. All our actions aim to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members, and to continue meeting our education mission. Thank you in advance for literally doing more with less. Thank you for your commitment to persevere. 

Bernie Patterson
Chancellor

COVID protection kits distributed, August reopening plans

 July 29, 2020

As our campuses and offices prepare for safely reopening this fall, please note:

• Many offices will open on or by Aug. 24 - in a limited way. We are committed to meeting our students needs while balancing campus safety and employee concerns. Units that have direct student traffic and provide in-person service may require higher levels of in-person staffing than those with lower student traffic.

Division heads will work with unit supervisors and departments on staffing and reopening plans to ensure a minimum threshold of coverage. Supervisors are encouraged to work with employees to address concerns and provide flexibility for those whose job duties allow continued remote work. Zoom continued to be a good alternative for group meetings.

More details will be provided as parameters are developed by the university's leadership team. Human resources will also provide further direction to supervisors this week.

• All employees will receive several items to help protect them and others while on our campuses. Each faculty and staff member will receive five cloth face coverings, a tension relief band and personal, refillable bottle of hand sanitizer.

These complementary items will help individuals follow the precautions recommended by health professionals to reduce the risk of COVID-19. Students will also receive kits. Face coverings are required at all UW-Stevens Point locations, and a clean one should be used each day. Each kit includes instructions on the use and care of face coverings.

During the next few weeks, primary building contacts will make arrangements with departments and units to deliver these employee kits. Supervisors or their designee will distribute the kits to employees or place them in workspaces so they are available when faculty and staff return to campuses. If you have questions, please contact your supervisor. If you need a special accommodation for a condition that precludes wearing a face covering, please contact Human Resources.

For more information on preparing for a safe return to campus, please see the Pivot Point appendices on the university’s COVID webpage.

Virtual Town Hall July 30, fall sports canceled

July 28, 2020

Town Hall: Faculty and staff are invited to submit questions for the next Virtual Town Hall meeting, Thursday, July 30. It will be held from 1-2 p.m. A panel of UW-Stevens Point leaders will provide information about required face coverings and on cleaning and disinfecting practices to safely return to campuses.

Questions are welcome in advance or during the one-hour town hall meeting. For virtual access to the meeting, go to the Town Hall website.

Athletics: The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) announced Monday, July 27, that fall sports conference seasons and championships will be canceled for the 2020-21 academic year. This includes Pointers football, volleyball, women's soccer and cross country programs. WIAC women's tennis and golf seasons are postponed to the spring term.

Like many difficult decisions made during the pandemic, canceling fall sports competitions is heartbreaking for our student athletes, coaches and fans. The decision keeps the health and safety of our students and staff a priority. Despite the circumstances, Pointers student athletes will continue to pursue competitive excellence, academic achievement and community impact. 

As of Monday, 28 of the 44 Division III conferences have postponed or suspended fall sports. Determinations about winter sports will be made later, likely by the end of August.

For more information, visit Athletics FAQ (PDF).

Update on fall classes

July 24, 2020

Dear students,

As I mentioned earlier this month, faculty have been developing courses in a mixture of in-person, hybrid and online formats. The details should be finalized by Monday, July 27. The course delivery formats will be posted for students to review and make registration adjustments as needed.

Here are a few reminders:

• View your updated schedule in accesSPoint. For information on how to understand the terms used in the Fall Timetable to describe mode of instruction, please click here.
  

• We have asked all faculty members to prepare online options for all courses that will be taught completely face-to-face or as hybrids with some in-person experiences. With few exceptions, any student who wishes to take classes completely online will be able to do so. There is no separate process for signing up for these online options. Simply contact the instructor teaching the course and explain your intent to participate online.
  

• If you have questions concerning your course schedules, you can contact your instructor. Or, because most faculty members are not yet on their academic year contract:
  

• Students with faculty advisers may contact the advising center for their majors or their department chairs who are most available to respond during the summer months.
• Incoming students or those assigned to the Academic and Career Advising Center may contact their adviser listed in AccesSPoint.  If you are uncertain who your adviser is, please contact the Academic and Career Advising Center at 715-346-3226 or acac@uwsp.edu for the Stevens Point campus and Solution Centers for the Wausau and Marshfield campuses, uwspwausau@uwsp.edu and uwspmarshfield@uwsp.edu.
• For other questions, please visit the student FAQs.
  

• The fall cancellation deadline for Residential Living and Dining contracts has been extended to July 31, 2020.
  

• Finally, I want to reiterate that everyone will be required to wear face coverings in all UW-Stevens Point buildings, including classrooms, and to maintain six feet of physical distancing. (A different expectation will apply in the residence hall rooms and some specialized instructional spaces.)

Students with conditions that affect their use of a face covering should contact the Disability and Assistive Technology Center to discuss accommodations in classes. Please make your request now to ensure consideration well before classes begin.

Regardless of the course format, please know that our faculty and staff members are working hard to ensure the quality of the educational experience you'll receive this fall. We look forward to seeing you, in-person or online, in September! 

Proactive measures to reduce risk of COVID-19

July 22, 2020

UW-Stevens Point has taken proactive measures to reduce the risk of the novel coronavirus on our campuses for most of 2020. As we begin to carefully return to our campuses this summer and fall, our commitment to protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff members, and our communities is heightened. We have increased precautions in numerous ways as we prepare our facilities and our people for this new environment.

You've received prior communications about efforts to monitor and protect your health including:

• Requiring daily symptom screening before coming to any UW-Stevens Point location
  
• Encouraging physical distancing of six feet from others
• Requiring face coverings in all buildings and whenever physical distancing of six feet is difficult to maintain
• Rearranging classrooms, labs and collaboration spaces to allow adequate distancing using a bubble diagram and a radius of 4.5 feet in most circumstances (the most conservative standard in the UW System)
• Encouraging alternatives to in-person meetings of 10 or more people.
• Working remotely, when possible
• Increased cleaning and disinfecting
• Placing sneeze shields in key service areas
• Encouraging frequent, thorough hand washing

In addition, required COVID-19 training for employees and students is being developed.

These precautions are recommended by public health professionals at the state and national level. We continue to follow the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American College Health Association guidelines to proactively reduce the risk of COVID-19 and identify individuals who may show no symptoms of the disease. Neither organization nor the state Department of Health Services or UW System support mass testing of any population. 

We will be able to test symptomatic students through our Student Health Service. Students are encouraged to contact SHS at 715-346-4646 for guidance. Symptomatic faculty and staff members should stay home and contact their health care provider for possible COVID testing.

The UW System is not planning to do routine surveillance testing on any of the comprehensive UW institutions at this time. If UW System leaders secure state or federal funding to support mass surveillance testing, this procedure will be reassessed. 

UW-Stevens Point will continue to follow a proactive approach that aligns with medical professionals who recommend symptom monitoring, physical distancing and wearing face coverings, in addition to testing symptomatic students.

Each of us has a role in preventing the spread of any illness. Thank you for doing your part to stay healthy and to stay home if you are ill.

Event exceptions, travel, return to campus info

July 17, 2020

These updates will help employees plan for the months ahead:

• To protect health and safety, UW-Stevens Point campuses and field stations continue to be closed to the public. Students and employees are beginning to return to campuses, prospective students are visiting in small groups, and retail operations are open in the Dreyfus University Center.

However, campus facilities at all locations currently are not available for community groups or individuals to reserve for events. Additional details will be forthcoming regarding student organizations, intramural recreation and other activities on campuses.

A process has been created to consider exceptions for university-hosted events that support our educational mission and have no more than 50 participants. If these and other criteria are met, university leadership may grant an exception for the event to be held on campus this fall. You may request an exception by completing the form available on the Campus Reservations webpage and emailing it to campres@uwsp.edu. 

• At this time, university-sponsored travel continue to be suspended through June 30, 2021. Travel among our campuses and other facilities (including CWES, Treehaven and NADF) is allowed, as is travel for Admissions, Advancement and other essential purposes. Exceptions, including in-state travel may be granted with vice chancellor approval. The interim travel exception request form, used across the UW System, is available at the bottom of the Travel Services webpage.
  
  
• Coming soon: The third virtual town hall forum, an updated webpage, educational materials and tools to support your return to campus, and a hotline for student and parent questions.
  

Response to ICE rule affecting students

July 10, 2020

Dear students, faculty and staff members,

UW-Stevens Point supports international students at our campuses, and we are working with them to address uncertainty that occurred this week. New guidance Monday, July 6, 2020, from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has created confusion for these important members of our local and national academic communities.

As we understand the regulations, international students will be able to maintain their immigration status provided they enroll in at least one face-to-face course this fall. However, if UW-Stevens Point is forced to move courses entirely online, ICE will require all international students to depart the country or transfer to other U.S. institutions offering face-to-face classes. Read more here.

University leadership and our Office of International Education (OIE) are in close contact with our international students and with UW System as we try to understand this rule and its potential impact on our students' course of study.

OIE staff is also actively working with individual students on their immigration status and class schedules to ensure their degree progression continues with a minimum of disruption. Faculty and staff members who receive queries from international students should direct students to OIE for guidance at isss@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2717.

Our 84 international students are valued members of UW-Stevens Point. Representing 20 countries, their contributions to the university and northcentral Wisconsin communities enrich all of us. We object to any policy that prevents any of our students from accessing an education.

We will continue to support and advocate for international students.

Bernie Patterson
Chancellor

Additional details provided on a safe return to campuses

July 8, 2020

As UW-Stevens Point continues to prepare for safely returning to campuses, university leaders and the Emergency Operations Center team are carefully following the health guidelines from local, state and national resources. An appendices to the Pivot Point document, which was distributed in early June, includes additional details about the extensive preparations being implemented on campus.

These appendices detail efforts of many people on our campuses, including Student Health Services, Emergency Management, Facility Services, department managers, faculty and key building contacts. This information will be the basis for a new web resource being developed. 

The appendices provide helpful guidelines for our new work environment and expectations for employees, such as requiring face coverings. That policy states:

On UW-Stevens Point campuses, field stations and the aquaculture facility, everyone is required to wear a face covering. Face coverings are required indoors in public spaces, including classrooms, laboratories, studios and other instructional spaces, and outdoors when physical distancing is difficult to maintain. Limited exceptions for specialized academic instruction must be approved by the provost. A face covering is not required when working alone in an office but must be worn when others are present. Face coverings are not required in residence hall rooms unless the students assigned to a room are joined by other students.   

Please review these materials and checklists and contact your supervisor or key building contact with questions. Supervisors, please use the checklists (Appendix 3) and employee staffing plan template when readying your space for employees to return to work.

Operational activities under way to prepare for fall

June 30, 2020

The coronavirus has resulted in numerous changes in today's work environment. As UW-Stevens Point prepares for the fall semester, here are some of the Facility Services/Operational activities that have been put in place to ensure physical distancing and other precautions. This is a partial list of the comprehensive planning efforts underway and coordinated by the Emergency Operations Center to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff members.

Among the significant operational activities taking place: 

• Classroom layouts (sometimes called bubble diagrams) have been created using physical distancing guidelines. These layouts have been shared with Academic Affairs and the Registrar's office to aid in determining COVID classroom occupancy / utilization.
  
  
• To assist with the collection and dissemination of operational information, primary building contacts (PBCs) have been determined for each building. They are the main points of contact for Facility/Operations as plans are developed for the fall semester.  These contacts serve as the liaison between Facility/Operations and the building occupants.  Please see list below.  
  
  
• These contacts will work with departments in their building to determine:
• Sneeze guard requirements for the building (the total quantity of sneeze guards will be determined and shared with Facility Services for fabrication).
• Office disinfecting (cleaning) kit needs. In addition to cleaning and disinfecting that will be done by the custodial staff, kits are being offered to assist department members with daily disinfecting needs.  These kits contain basic disinfecting supplies: disposable masks and gloves, hand sanitizer, sanitizing spray, paper towels, etc., for use by employees in the unit.
• Classroom disinfecting kit needs. In addition to cleaning and disinfecting that will be done by the custodial staff, disinfecting kits will be placed in each functioning classroom and lab.  Students will have the opportunity to disinfect their work surfaces before class begins. 
  
  
• Office checklists will be provided to all departments so they can adequately prepare for the fall semester. The checklists include a basic list of responsibilities, in addition to a list of optional office related signage that departments can order and install as needed. 

• Facility/Operations staff will work with the building contact to ensure the signage in public spaces meets building needs most appropriately.  A signage layout drawing will be created for each building, and Facility/Operations will order and install signs accordingly.
  
  
• Hand sanitizer will be supplied. Each student, faculty and staff member will receive a free two-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer (distribution TBD). This bottle is to be carried daily by each person and used as needed for hand sanitizing. When the bottle is empty it can be refilled for free at one of the many refilling stations across campus. In addition, each building will have free standing, touchless sanitizer stations at the main entries. Also, the office disinfecting kits will contain a 12-oz pump bottle of hand sanitizer that can be reordered when depleted. 
  
  
• Training programs are being developed by Risk Management to address a wide range of health, safety and operational topics. More information will be provided to students, faculty and staff members prior to the beginning of the fall semester. 
  

For questions about your unit, please contact your primary building person listed below.

	NAME	CONTACT
	OLD MAIN	CINDY MARCZAK
	STUDENT SERVICES CENTER	JAMIE BEDNAREK/LAURA BELL
	COMMUNICATION ARTS CENTER	MARY LIEBE
	MARSHFIELD CLINIC CHAMPIONS HALL	TONY BOURESSA
	SCIENCE BUILDING	REBECCA SOMMER/MARY CLAIRE SORENSON/ KARYN BIASCA/ROB SPINDLER
	COLLINS CLASSROOM BUILDING	TODD GOOD
	ALBERTSON HALL	HEATHER SPRINGER
	NOEL FINE ARTS CENTER	MARY LIEBE
	NELSON HALL	TAMMY LARSON/JOHN KLUCK
	COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES	JACKIE DURIGAN
	TRAINER NATURAL RESOURCES	JOHN OESTREICH
	SCHMEECKLE VISITOR CENTER	JIM BUCHHOLZ
	WOOD UTILIZATION LABORATORY	JOHN OESTREICH
	GEORGE STIEN BUILDING	WALTER CLARK
	MAINTENANCE AND MATERIEL	ALLISON HENKE
	WASTE EDUCATION CENTER	JOHN OESTREICH
	DREYFUS UNIVERSITY CENTER	SUSAN LEBOW
	ALLEN CENTER	SUSAN LEBOW
	DEBOT CENTER	SUZETTE CONLEY/HOLLY BLESER
	CHEMISTRY BIOLOGY BUILDING	KEITH TURNQUIST
	601 DIVISION STREET	TOM GARTON
	DELZELL HALL	BECKY HELF/HELEN LUCE/STACEY GERKEN
	RESIDENCE HALLS	TOM GARTON/JULIE ZSIDO
	NEWMAN CENTER	LAURA BELL
	CWES	TOM QUINN
	TREEHAVEN	SCOTT JOHNSON
	UWSP-MARSHFIELD	BRIAN PANZER
	UWSP-WAUSAU	GARY RADUNZ

Monitor your health symptoms daily

 June 29, 2020

As we work to protect the health and safety of our faculty, staff members and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all in this together.

Early detection is key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. That is why we are asking everyone to monitor for symptoms every day they are physically present on any UW-Stevens Point campus or field station. Everyone will be expected to complete a quick online symptom screening daily before coming to campus. It's easy, takes only seconds and is key to safely returning to our campuses this summer and fall.

The daily screening tool is here. It will also be on the COVID banner of the UWSP homepage. Please bookmark it and start your day with it whenever you will be on any campus.

Employees and students who have even one of the 11 symptoms will be asked to go or stay home. Faculty and staff members should contact their medical provider, and students should call Student Health Service for further evaluation. The individual may need to be tested for COVID-19. If COVID-19 is confirmed, local public health officials will be responsible for contact tracing, the process of determining with whom each infected person might have been in contact.

Employees directed to stay or return home may work remotely as job duties allow. Otherwise, available paid leave may be used. Please notify your supervisor. A training tool will be provided to supervisors.

While on campus, we require everyone to wear face coverings and maintain six feet of physical distancing. These simple actions are shown to be effective. They are needed to help you stay healthy – and to help you help others stay healthy.

We look forward to returning to campuses and want to assure you, safety remains our top priority.

Bernie Patterson
Chancellor

We'll be back on campuses in fall

June 10, 2020

Dear students, faculty and staff,

We are pleased to welcome you back to our UW-Stevens Point campuses this fall. While many details are being developed to ensure a safe learning and living environment, we want you to know now that we will be here for you as the fall semester begins Sept. 2.

Our new environment will be different, with increased precautions, from physical distancing, personal protections and sanitizing to reduce the risk of COVID-19. The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members has been our top priority and will continue to be as the new academic year begins. 

You can expect the following during the fall semester:

• Classes will be taught in a mixture of in-person, hybrid and online formats, with as much face-to-face learning as health and safety guidelines allow.

• Classes with more than 50 students will be delivered online.

• After Thanksgiving, learning will transition to online delivery methods. This will continue through Winterim in January.  We anticipate that spring semester will follow a format similar to this fall.

• Everyone will be required to wear cloth face coverings in all UW-Stevens Point buildings when others are present and wherever physical distancing of six feet is difficult to maintain.  A different expectation will likely apply in the residence halls, but those details are in development.

• Standard residence hall occupancy will be maintained, generally two students per room. Single room options are available. 

• On-campus residency requirements for first- and second-year students will be waived for those who prefer to live off-campus. Contact Residential Living at housing@uwsp.edu for details. Costs will be adjusted for students who choose to remain at home, a savings of approximately $3,500 per semester in housing and dining.

Students, you have our unwavering commitment to help you continue your education and pursue your purpose. There has never been a more important time for a new generation of leaders to help solve the world's challenges. We each have a role in a rich learning experience that follows health guidelines and protects our students, faculty and staff members and communities from the risk of COVID-19. Together, we will persevere and succeed. 

Additional details will be provided as the start of the fall semester nears. For more on UW-Stevens Point's response or to submit questions, visit our COVID webpage. 

Bernie L. Patterson
Chancellor 

June 3, 2020

As we focus on how to safely and gradually return to our campuses, this guide addresses the summer months. It will be updated regularly to include new information. We are developing additional plans for the fall semester that balance health and safety with meaningful learning experiences.

You will likely have questions that are not addressed here. Please know many people are working to assess various scenarios, make decisions and prepare for a safe return to a new work environment. This guide will be updated as those plans are developed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed situations rapidly. Using this guide, we will pivot as needed to respond quickly and safely to that dynamic.

Bernie L. Patterson
Chancellor

Steps outlined to reopen campus in phases 

May 26, 2020

Here is a recap of key points made during the May 20 Virtual Town Hall with UW-Stevens Point leaders:

Several workgroups are developing plans to safely reopen campuses in a gradual, phased approach during the summer. The intent is to allow some faculty to return for research and creative work and for Dreyfus University Center businesses to open in the weeks ahead.

Various scenarios are being planned for how to offer the full range of courses in fall, as well as how to provide housing, dining and campus life experiences that protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members.

More details are expected to be shared with our campuses the week of June 1.

The coronavirus is expected to be here for a long time. To safely reopen, six areas need to be addressed. We must:

1. Be able to regularly test our students, faculty and staff members so we can identify and trace potential outbreaks in a timely fashion.
2. Safely manage likely outbreaks of COVID-19 among our students, faculty and staff members.
3. Consider how best to influence the interactions of our student populations with our off-campus communities.
4. Recognize that not everyone will be able to participate in in-person activities for valid personal reasons.
5. Maintain appropriate physical distancing within instructional settings to limit the risk of spreading the virus.
6. Maintain appropriate physical distancing outside the classroom, especially in our residential, dining and recreational facilities.
   

Each faculty and staff member will be given two cloth face coverings. It is strongly recommended that everyone wear a cloth face covering on campus, especially in areas where physical distancing is difficult to maintain.

The university is assessing where protective shields are needed across campuses.  Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will occur.

Additional intermittent furloughs are being planned, probably in fall. Leaders are working on creative solutions to reduce or eliminate possible layoffs.

Many faculty and staff, including those in the Emergency Operations Center, have provided thoughtful, innovative input to ensure our campuses reopen safely and continue providing meaningful learning experiences for our students. Thank you for your creativity, dedication and perseverance.

All of the questions asked at the Town Hall will be posted to the webpage this week. A recording of the session is here. 

Rescheduling spring commencement 

May 20, 2020

Dear graduates,

Congratulations on completing your college journey. I hope you were able to celebrate your accomplishments with the UW-Stevens Point social media graphics and fun last Saturday, May 16. I am so proud of you!

Our spring commencement ceremonies are tentatively being rescheduled to the weekend of Dec. 12, 2020. This is the weekend of our winter ceremony. Many details need to be worked out yet, including times and number of ceremonies, based on how many graduates participate. Watch for additional details via email and the commencement webpage. For now, please save this December weekend as your special time to be recognized as you cross the stage.

Keeping the health of our graduates and families, our employees and communities as our top priority, we have chosen a later date. While we hoped to reschedule in late summer or fall, gatherings the size of commencement seem unlikely in a few short months. We will err on the side of safety for you and your family.

More information will be communicated as details for December are determined. The Chancellor's Leadership and Albertson Award ceremonies will occur then too.

Thank you for your understanding and your perseverance through these times. If you haven't already seen it, please watch your commencement video.

With sincere congratulations, 

Bernie Patterson
Chancellor

Continue working from home

May 13, 2020

Today, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' "Safer at Home" order that closed some businesses to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will know more once a legal analysis is made available and we hear from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).

For UW-Stevens Point, nothing has changed. Employees who can work from home are required to continue doing so until further notice. Those who need to come to a campus must limit your time spent to only what is required to complete your task. 

We strongly recommend anyone on our campuses wear cloth face covering, especially in settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff members and communities and to slow the spread of coronavirus. We continue to follow guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Wisconsin DHS.

Bernie

Nearly 5,200 UWSP students receive emergency aid

 May 5, 2020

Recognizing the significant effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on our students, we are pleased to report nearly 5,200 students began receiving emergency financial assistance May 1. This is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding awarded to universities across the country.

At UW-Stevens Point, we identified a process to quickly assist as many students as possible. Through our Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, we have awarded $2,088,550 to 5,182 students to date.  

All eligible students received assistance to meet technology needs resulting from disruption to campus operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional assistance was awarded to students eligible for Pell grants to meet personal expenses and to eligible graduating seniors as they navigate the last semester of their college career.

To be eligible, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The 2019-2020 FAFSA can still be completed until the end of the spring semester. Additionally, the 2020-2021 FAFSA is available to receive financial aid assistance for the summer and the next academic year. 

UW-Stevens Point's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships already began adding CARES emergency funds to student accounts May 1, which do not apply to any outstanding balances.  Student Financial Services will issue refunds to students within 5-7 business days once added to the financial aid award.

Additional funds are available through an emergency grant process, administered by the Dean of Students staff. To apply, see the UWSP CARES Act Emergency Funds Application.

So far, 47 students have been awarded a total of $25,995 in CARES Act emergency funds to assist with personal expenses, such as food, housing and educational materials. Another 35 students received a total of $17,518 from the Baxter Fund, a donor-supported emergency fund. More than 20 students who attend our Marshfield or Wausau campuses have also received emergency grants totaling $11,000 through a program specific to the branch campuses.

We care deeply about our students and want to support you in navigating the challenges of your educational journey. Please visit the Dean of Students Virtual DOS page for other services.

Troy Seppelt 

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

and Dean of Students

Our COVID-19 response requires difficult decisions

April 22, 2020

Dear faculty and staff members,

Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have touched every aspect of what makes our university special. Our response has been swift and necessary to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members. The cost of that response is significant, unbudgeted -- and necessary. As mentioned previously, the disruptions will result in an estimated $13.5 million negative impact through August.

In consultation with shared governance groups, UW-Stevens Point has carefully examined options to minimize the impact on our campuses without compromising student learning. We are enacting measures to reduce costs, both short-term and over the next year, to maintain solid financial footing. These actions must be undertaken in a thoughtful, strategic and compassionate manner. Our decisions will profoundly impact our colleagues and friends across campus, their families and their way of life.

Furloughs, or temporary unpaid time, are part of our cost-reduction plan. The first phase primarily will involve areas of the university that are not currently providing services or generating revenue. Beginning May 4 and continuing throughout the month, about 200 employees will be placed on consecutive-day furloughs. This represents 15 percent of our workforce. Notifications to these individuals began Monday.

Furloughs will vary in length, depending on the unit's mission. Many of these consecutive-day furloughs will be through August. We anticipate returning to campus with some form of face-to-face classes in the fall and will need our valued employees to serve our students.

In addition, workforce-wide furloughs will likely be implemented in the weeks ahead. The goal is to offset financial losses, minimize disruption to services, preserve jobs and balance compensation reductions across the university. 

Those furloughed will remain employed by the university and retain benefits, including health and life insurance, vacation, sick leave and retirement. Employees with continuous furloughs may be eligible to receive unemployment compensation immediately. UW System's new furlough policy ishere, and its frequently asked questions document has additional details.

Like many businesses across the country that have temporarily closed, we are not positioned to pay salaries without generating revenue.

These are difficult decisions for us all. I am deeply aware of the effect this will have on your lives. I appreciate your dedication and the work you do every day to support our students. These measures aim to spread the impact as equitably as possible, as compassionately as possible, while preserving our educational mission.

Despite these challenges, UW-Stevens Point has positive trends, including promising first-year admissions for fall. We are confident we will persevere through this difficult time.

While we do not know what lies ahead with COVID-19, we know we are in this together. Be safe. Be strong. Be kind.

Sincerely,

Bernie L. Patterson

Chancellor

Examining options, including furloughs to reduce costs

April 16, 2020

Dear faculty and staff,

Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic has kept the safety and health of our students, faculty and staff members as our top priority. Encouraging students to return home, shifting to online classes, halting campus activities and events and changing the way we work all have had a significant negative financial impact on our operations – we estimate this to be $13.5 million by August.

We are faced with difficult decisions to reduce costs.

Thursday afternoon, the UW Board of Regents Executive Committee amended the University Personnel policy to permit UW System to develop a policy to furlough employees. We anticipate some UWs will outline plans to implement furloughs in the coming days.

At UW-Stevens Point, we are thoughtfully examining options to minimize the impact on our university community without compromising student learning. Our goal is to craft an equitable solution that preserves our educational mission, controls spending and complies with the new furlough policy.

We are consulting with the Common Council Executive Committee, Academic Staff Council and the University Staff Council in anticipation that furloughs will be needed in the weeks and months ahead. More information about cost reductions will be shared with faculty and staff members as it becomes available. 

A virtual town hall meeting for faculty and staff members is being planned for noon Wednesday, April 22, to share details we know thus far, including a brief update on the budget. It will also provide an opportunity to ask questions. Watch for details by Monday. 

While our valued colleagues and friends are personally coming to terms with the realities of this pandemic, our university must also carefully consider controlling costs to preserve the university for generations to come. UW-Stevens Point has stood strong in the face of adversity throughout its history. Together, we will persevere.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

Events canceled through June, additional steps taken

April 14, 2020

Dear faculty and staff,

Our top priority during these challenging times is to protect the health and safety of our students and university while preserving the quality learning experience for which UW-Stevens Point is known. As we continue to take precautions to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), UW-Stevens Point is also exploring cost-savings measures to reduce the impact the pandemic has on student learning and university operations.

The following steps are being implemented:

• All in-person campus-sponsored events are canceled through the end of June. Departments may pursue alternative delivery of programs and activities, including camps. A decision on campus-sponsored events scheduled for after July 1 will be made by May 15.
  

• University-sponsored international and all domestic travel continues to be suspended through June 30.
  

• All summer courses beginning prior to July 1, 2020, will be offered through online or alternative delivery methods. The College of Natural Resources May-June field experience will be moved to later in the summer, in the hope that current restrictions will be relaxed by then.
  

• Campus initiated compensation adjustments, excluding the approved pay plan, will be paused until further notice.
  

• Discretionary spending has been suspended. This includes expenditures not critical to the operations of the university or not used for immediate program needs. This will affect department credit card purchases.The Purchasing office will provide additional information soon.
  

• Nonessential hiring activities are temporarily paused. Some essential searches will proceed. The vice chancellor of each division will review, on a case-by-case basis, searches that are already underway.
  

The UW System is expected to provide additional guidance this week on workforce reductions and other cost-reduction measures all UW institutions will need to consider. We will provide additional information as it becomes available, including details on the budget impact of coronavirus on UW-Stevens Point.

A virtual town hall meeting for faculty and staff members at Stevens Point, Wausau and Marshfield campuses will be scheduled to discuss these measures in the days ahead.

Also, for your information:

• UW-Stevens Point's portion of the federal CARES Act is expected to be $6 million. Half of that will go toward supporting student needs. The Financial Aid office will work with our students to disburse these funds over several months as the funds become available. The remaining $3 million will partially offset UW-Stevens Point's costs and loss of revenue related to the pandemic.
  

• Students who work on campus, both through federal work study and as regular hourly student employees, received information Monday about the temporary income continuation plan UW-Stevens Point is providing.
  

• Those who can work from home must continue to do so until further notice.
  

Thank you for helping slow the spread of the virus, with special thanks to the front-line workers on our campuses. We are in this together, and together we will persevere.

Sincerely,

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

UW-Stevens Point cancels events through June 30

April 13, 2020

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is taking further precautions to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus (COVID-19) by extending its event cancellations through Tuesday, June 30.

All in-person campus-sponsored events are canceled through the end of June, following CDC guidelines. A decision on campus-sponsored events happening after July 1 will be made by May 15.

All summer courses beginning prior to July 1, 2020, will be through online or alternative delivery methods. The College of Natural Resources' May/June field experience will be moved to later in the summer in the hope that current restrictions will be relaxed by then. This information will be updated as warranted.

Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/cwes, is canceling week-long residential camps, adventure trips and day camps for this summer, and will fully refund any participants who have already registered. 

All UW-Stevens Point athletic camps set for June have been postponed. Find updated information on athletic camps at https://athletics.uwsp.edu, contact your camp coach through the website directory or email Tony Bouressa at tony.bouressa@uwsp.edu.

Some programs and events may be shifted to alternative delivery methods, so please check with Continuing Education, www.uwsp.edu/conted, or specific departmental or college webpages for more details.

Spring commencement ceremonies, as well as the Chancellor's Leadership and Albertson Award ceremonies, are postponed until August, early September or a later time, depending on the spread of COVID-19.

UW-Stevens Point's three campuses remain closed to the public, with limited access for students. See Campus Building Hours for updates. Faculty and staff are providing teaching, student support and university operations services remotely. Schmeeckle Reserve walking trails remain open.

All university-sponsored international and all domestic travel continues to be suspended until further notice. The U.S. State Department Level 4 "do not travel" outside of the United States global health advisory remains in effect.

Ticket refunds for events through June 30 are being processed. Online purchases will be refunded directly back to the original credit card, while in-person, mail and phone orders paid by credit card, check or cash will be refunded by check. Refunds should be completed by May 15.

For the most current information or to ask questions regarding COVID-19 precautions at UW-Stevens Point, go to www.uwsp.edu/covid19. 

Student Message - Student Worker Income Continuation

April 13, 2020

Dear students,

We are pleased to provide you with the details for an Income Continuation payment to all active student hourly workers at UW-Stevens Point.

UW System President Ray Cross announced the Student Worker Income Continuation plan on March 31 where each institution was instructed to provide an income continuation payment plan for its students.  

We understand how this pandemic has disrupted many lives and jobs.  We thank you for the work you have provided to UW-Stevens Point and want to support you through these trying times.  Please see the details of our plans as we will be providing payments to both regular student workers and those paid on federal work study (FWS) who have actively worked since winter break (Feb. 2 payroll).

Federal Work Study (FWS) Students

• Students who have a remaining unearned FWS award balance will be paid an amount based on average work hours at an average pay rate, up to award allocation. FWS study students average nine hours per week with an average pay rate of $8.50; the biweekly pay calculates to $153. This payment is similar to the work study earnings students would have received had they been able to complete their work obligation the remainder of the Spring 2020 term.
• No action is needed from you, FWS hours will be submitted through a template and uploaded through Student Payroll.
• Students with unearned work study awards may continue to receive payments over each of the two pay periods in April and May (4 remaining pay periods).  
• FWS students that no longer have a remaining work study balance will receive the one pay period from the regular pay student's payment plan below.
  

Regular Pay Students

• All remaining student workers will receive a lump sum payment amount of $75 per week, initiated through payroll.  No action is needed from you.
• Payment will be provided for two weeks and will cover the week of March 29 and April 5, which is the April A payroll with a pay date of April 23, 2020. (March 15-28 was spring break.)
• Students who continue their employment will not be eligible for a lump sum payment but will continue to be paid their time worked at their normal pay rate.

Our Payroll staff have been working hard and will notify students soon of which payment option applies to them.  Students who may have jobs in both categories will receive the FWS payment option only. 

If you have questions, please contact the Payroll office at payroll.office@uwsp.edu.

Christina Rickert
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Director of Financial Operations/Controller

Update on summer classes, financial aid

April 8, 2020

Dear students,

As the parent of two college students, I know how frustrated you may be by now. If you're anything like my kids, you're dealing with all kinds of unexpected events: lost jobs and financial worries, athletic seasons that have been cut short, an unwelcome isolation from friends, and disappointment at plans now delayed.

UW-Stevens Point can't resolve all these uncertainties, but we can promise to help you continue toward earning your degrees and graduating on time. Toward that end, I'm writing with several important updates:

• Given the likelihood that the COVID-19 disruptions will continue into May and perhaps June, we have made the decision to move all summer courses beginning prior to July 1, 2020 to online/alternative delivery. The CNR's May/June field experience will be moved to later in the summer in the hope that current restrictions will be relaxed by then. We will keep you updated as the situation continues to change.
• Looking ahead to the fall semester, UW-Stevens Point will offer our full slate of courses no matter what happens with COVID-19. Hopefully, we will be able to resume in-person teaching. But if disruptions continue, we are already at work on contingency plans to ensure that we can deliver your classes, and you continue to move forward academically.
• Given the current economic situation, we understand that you and your families may be experiencing financial hardships. Please know, we are here to help. A financial aid adjustment may be possible if you or your family experience changes in the household that differ from when you last filed your FAFSA. The 2020-2021 online financial aid appeal application is available at this link.  Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to speak with our staff or schedule a telephone appointment if you have questions. (You can email finaid@uwsp.edu or call 715-346-4771.) You can also explore whether any change in your financial situation may be applicable to the current academic year. Students must receive an award offer before an appeal will be processed. Continuing student financial aid offers for 2020-2021 will be sent beginning the first week of May. Review of appeals will begin in mid-May. Students will be contacted regarding any changes to their financial aid offer.

There will always be uncertainties about what lies ahead, but now more than ever our world needs people like you to push boundaries in search of a better tomorrow. No matter what, UW-Stevens Point is here to help you achieve your educational goals.

Best,

Greg

Greg Summers

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

COVID-19 update at UW-Stevens Point

April 7, 2020

Dear faculty, staff and students,

We hear daily updates on the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, the nation and world. Today, I write with an update about how COVID-19 is affecting UW-Stevens Point.

We learned Monday night that an employee was confirmed with COVID-19. This is UW-Stevens Point's first case. The person is recovering at home, and the isolation period has passed. To protect the privacy of the individual's health information, no further details will be shared.

When an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19, county health officials are notified by the health care provider. Portage County public health officials are contacting those who may have been in close contact with the individual and providing guidance to those people.

UW-Stevens Point is taking immediate steps to respond. Appropriate notifications have been made, and the affected areas are being thoroughly cleaned. The procedures we have in place for this and any subsequent cases aim to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff members. We follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Portage County Division of Health.

With the rapid and widespread community transmission of the coronavirus in our state and nation, it continues to be vital that each of us takes precautions to slow the spread. Stay home, as the governor has ordered. Those who can work from home are required to do so, avoiding coming to campus unless your job duties require you to be on-site.

Physical distancing is vital to slowing this outbreak. Do not gather in groups and maintain six feet of distance from other people when you have to be in public areas. Thank you to our students and employees on campus who are following this expectation.

In spite of these uncertain times – indeed, because of them – please be kind to each other. We are committed to protecting our university community as well as the confidential health information of individuals. 

Sincerely,

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

Student message - Expanded pass/fail grading policy

April 2, 2020

Dear students,

I’m writing to update you on new flexibilities UW-Stevens Point has added to its existing Pass/Fail (P/F) grading policy for the Spring 2020 semester. These additional options may help manage extenuating circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the request of the student, and with permission of the advisor, instructor, and chair of the department offering the course, students may change the grade basis of courses to P/F. For Spring 2020 courses only, several restrictions on this policy have been removed: 

• Current policy limits the number of P/F credits each student may take in a semester to five. This restriction has been removed. 
• Current policy notes that P-graded courses will not count for fulfillment of GEP requirements. This restriction has been removed. 
• Current policy imposes a deadline for making such requests as the 11th day of the semester. This deadline has been extended to 11:59 p.m. May 1, 2020.

There are several points to note about this policy change:

• Any change to a student’s grading basis will come at the request of the student. No change will be imposed by the university or by a course instructor.
  

• There are potential ramifications associated with changing a course grade to P/F. Students are strongly encouraged to confer with advisors, instructors, and department chairs to understand the implications prior to requesting any change. Moving a course to P/F may have unintended consequences on a student’s major or future career, especially where course prerequisites, minimum GPA thresholds, or professional licensures are concerned.
  

• Exploring all the possible consequences is important because all approved requests to change the grade basis of a course to P/F are final and cannot revert to the A-F grade basis.
  

• Current policy still suggests that a course graded on a P/F basis cannot count for majors, minors, or certificates. Department chairs maintain the authority to waive this restriction. Thus, if a student wishes to change a course in their major, minor, or certificate to P/F, they should first consult with their department chair.
  

• Under P/F grading, a course assigned a P will not impact a student’s GPA, but the student will earn credit. A course assigned an F will count as a zero in the GPA calculation and will earn no credit. These GPA implications are especially important for students on academic warning or probation, so please be sure to discuss P/F grading implications with your advisor.
  

• Students wishing to request to change the grade basis of a course to P/F will do so through an electronic form found in the Forms tile in accesSPoint. When submitted, the form will be automatically routed to the appropriate advisor, instructor, and department chair for approvals.
  

• As noted above, the deadline for students to initiate requests to convert courses to P/F will be 11:59 p.m. May 1, 2020. (Note that the deadline to withdraw from a course has already been extended to April 10. Withdrawals will not result in any refunds of tuition.)
  

Anyone with questions regarding this revised P/F policy should contact the Registrar’s office by emailingregistrar@uwsp.edu or calling 715-346-4301.

Best wishes for the remainder of this semester.

Greg Summers

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Student message - Pointers standing tall

March 26, 2020

Dear students, 

We are living in extraordinary times. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we are living our lives and interacting with each other.

While you have received many emails from us about all the changes going on at UW-Stevens Point, this communication is not about more changes – it's about you. On behalf of the entire UWSP administration, faculty and staff, I'm writing to express our sorrow for the upset this has caused. While we work to keep everyone safe and healthy, adjusting to new information coming in every day, it is not lost on us that your college experience has been disrupted. 

Our hearts go out especially to our seniors. You have worked so hard for years to earn your degrees, and it is your right and our privilege to celebrate your accomplishments in a ceremony in front of your friends and family. This year, graduates will receive their diplomas through the usual process: by mail four to six weeks after the semester ends, and we will offer you a commencement opportunity in late summer if the virus situation allows. You may also walk in the December commencement.  But we recognize that some of you may not be able to participate in these ceremonies as you already will have started the next phase of your lives.

Your final semester is special for so many reasons, socially and academically. Being unable to create those memories and hug your friends goodbye is a disappointment none of us imagined a few weeks ago. Whether this is your first or final year at UW-Stevens Point, spring held promise of theater and music performances, athletics competitions, art and research symposiums, field trips, time with friends on campus, hikes through Schmeeckle Reserve and much more. 

I am so proud of the resilience you have shown throughout this difficult process. The COVID-19 situation has disrupted your lives and your education, and you have demonstrated nothing but understanding and compassion as you have adapted to the new order. While times are trying, I want to assure you that we can overcome this, and we have complete confidence in you and your will to persevere, to succeed. You will complete the next semester, and you will go on to do great things in the world. 

Our Pointer family is strong. We have been impressed by the creativity and ingenuity of students and faculty, who are supporting each other and finding new ways to connect.  Next week begins a new way of learning for all of us. We encourage you to embrace the challenge, but also to reach out should you experience difficulties or if you can offer help to a fellow student. While you may not see us in person, all of us – the administration, staff, faculty, dean of students, student health service, counseling center and academic advisors– are available to help. Call us if you need us. We are here to help you succeed and provide you with the education you expect. Together, we will get through these extraordinary times.  Be kind, be compassionate, be supportive.

With great respect, 

Chancellor Bernie Patterson

Attackers taking advantage of COVID-19 by launching scams

March 26, 2020

Students, Faculty, Staff,

The UWSP Police Services and Information Security Office departments have received information that members of the UW community have received fraudulent phone calls about COVID-19 testing. The fraudster knew that our community member was associated with a UW institution, and stated that they needed to be tested for COVID-19 right away. Our community member was threatened with being jailed if they did not agree to the testing. This unsolicited phone call was an attempt to steal money and gather sensitive personal information. 

Please be aware that these scams are on the rise, and do not give out personal information on the phone or by email. The ultimate goal of these scams is to get credit card information. Currently, there isn't a cure for COVID-19 and no home test kits. If you receive a phone call regarding COVID-19 regarding testing or treatments, hang up and block the number. If you receive an email regarding COVID-19 testing or cures, delete the email and do not click on any links or attachments. Report all incidents to the UWSP Police Services departments and/or the UWSP Information Security Office. 

Some examples of COVID-19 scams include: 

• Treatment scams: Scammers are offering to sell fake cures, vaccines and advice on unproven treatments for COVID-19
  
• Supply scams: Scammers are creating fake shops, websites, social media accounts and email addresses claiming to sell medical supplies currently in high demand, such as surgical masks. When consumers attempt to purchase supplies through these channels, fraudsters pocket the money and never provide the promised supplies.
  
• Provider scams: Scammers are also contacting people by phone and email, pretending to be doctors and hospitals that have treated a friend or relative for COVID-19, and demanding payment for that treatment. 
  
• Charity scams: Scammers are soliciting donations for individuals, groups and areas affected by COVID-19.
  
• Phishing scams: Scammers posing as national and global health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are sending phishing emails designed to trick recipients into downloading malware or providing personal identifying and financial information. 
  
• App scams: Scammers are also creating and manipulating mobile apps designed to track the spread of COVID-19 to insert malware that will compromise users' devices and personal information.
  
• Investment scams: Scammers are offering online promotions on various platforms, including social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly traded companies can prevent, detect or cure COVID-19 and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result. These promotions are often styled as "research reports," make predictions of a specific "target price" and relate to microcap stocks, or low-priced stocks issued by the smallest of companies with limited publicly available information.
  

Campus Announcements - Resources to support students

March 24, 2020

Campus message - Please heed governor's 'Safer at Home' order 

March 24, 2020

Dear faculty, staff members and students,

To slow the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Tony Evers has announced a "Safer at Home" directive for the entire state. His goal – like ours – is to protect the health and safety of our communities and health care workers. "Folks need to start taking this seriously," Evers said today.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, and until April 24, all non-essential businesses must close. Nonessential travel is prohibited, and individuals should stay home. Residents may continue to buy food, essential supplies and tend to health needs.

I join the governor in urging our students and employees to heed this directive. To those who may feel they are not in a high-risk category because they are young or healthy, think about your parents, grandparents, mentors and others in your communities. Follow precautions, including social distancing of six feet or more, to slow this pandemic.

Many of our faculty and staff members already are working from home, so not that much will change on our campus. The governor gave higher education institutions latitude to continue operating and offering distance learning, which UW-Stevens Point will begin March 30.

Here's what has changed in recent days:

• Most campus buildings are now locked. Faculty and staff members with keys may access their buildings temporarily to facilitate distance learning and to pick up materials needed to work remotely. See an updated building list.

• Those who need access to buildings who do not have keys may contact University Police at 715-346-3456. Please bring your driver's license or UWSP ID for entry.
• Those who can work remotely are doing so. They continue to serve the university via phone and email, and many are using Zoom for meetings.

• A limited number of employees will continue to work on campus to provide security, custodial services, essential business services, select student services, such as Residential Living and dining, childcare, essential research and animal care.
• Students who live on campus will continue to have access to their residence halls and DeBot Dining Center. In addition, computer labs are available in Albertson Hall and the Noel Fine Art Center.

This is an unsettling time for all of us, particularly employees who cannot work remotely. Please see the work-related FAQs on our COVID-19 information site or contact human resources to learn about options, including the 80 hours of COVID-19 leave, announced by UW System last week.

While social distancing and remote work prevents us from standing shoulder to shoulder, please stand united in our commitment to each other. Take care of yourself. Be kind and please give extra attention to colleagues and students who need you.

Stay healthy,
Bernie

Bernie Patterson
Chancellor 

Employees who can work remotely should do so

March 22, 2020

With Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' urging the public to stay home as much as possible, UW-Stevens Point has moved into phase 3 of our telecommuting plan:

Work remotely. As the situation warrants, all employees who canwork remotely should do so. Discuss in advance with your supervisors. Department supervisors, work with directors and vice chancellors to determine minimal staffing levels, if needed, to handle varied circumstances and communicate to your customers. 

If your job requires campus equipment, resources or onsite presence, or if working remotely presents challenges, please talk discuss this with your supervisor.

For employees who continue to come to campus to fulfill their job duties, ensure you maintain social distancing of at least six feet from others. Wash hands frequently and cover coughs and sneezes. Stay home if ill.

Use Zoom or other technologies for meetings. Please see IT resources outlined in Campus Announcements March 18-20 or here for various work-related information. Note that face-to-face gatherings cannot exceed 10 people, per the governor's emergency order.

Gov. Evers on March 21 reminded Wisconsinites to follow the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), urging the public to stay home as much as they are able to help protect the health and safety of Wisconsin's health care workers.

To underscore the urgency of this situation, please take two minutes to watch this message from  Dr. Michael Ryan of the World Health Organization, urging quick action to slow the spread of the virus: https://youtu.be/AqRHH6e-y6I?t=31

For complete, frequently updated information about UW-Stevens Point's response, visit our COVID-19 webpage regularly.

Stay healthy,

Bernie Patterson

Chancellor 

Spring Commencement ceremonies postponed

March 20, 2020

Dear students and colleagues,

The spread of the coronavirus has compelled us to make choices to keep the health of our students, their families, our employees and our communities a top priority. With a directive from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to restrict gatherings of more than 10 people, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has made the difficult decision to postpone our Saturday, May 16, spring Commencement ceremonies. 

As a dad and grandfather, I understand the importance of this milestone to our graduates and their families. I always enjoy seeing our students walk across the stage, many being first in their families to do so. Our supportive faculty and staff applauding our graduates before the ceremony, our student speakers reflecting with their peers and the pure joy of parents and loved ones make Commencement a remarkable occasion.

Consulting with our Student Government Association, we are planning on holding an in-person ceremony in August, early September or a later time, depending on the spread of COVID-19.

We will communicate more with students, faculty and staff members as soon as a date can be determined. Chancellor's Leadership and Albertson Award ceremonies will be rescheduled in tandem with Commencement.

Degrees will be conferred at the end of the spring semester regardless, so it's important to apply for graduation through accesSPoint. The approval of spring degrees will follow the same timeframe as in past years. We anticipate diplomas will be mailed to the student's home address four to six weeks after final exams.

For the latest information, please see our commencement website for updates and the UW-Stevens Point coronavirus webpage.

Thank you for your understanding, as well as your perseverance through these trying times. We are proud of your dedication to complete your degree despite this disruption to your lives and your learning. 

Sincerely,

Bernie L. Patterson

Chancellor

Campus Announcements - Updates to travel, self-quarantine

March 20, 2020

Dear faculty, staff and students,

Our guidance concerning travel continues to tighten in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases, both internationally and domestically. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands have confirmed cases of the illness.

The following is effective immediately:

• All university-sponsored international and all domestic travel is suspended until further notice. The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 "do not travel" outside the United States global health advisory.
  
• Anyone returning from personal travel either internationally or from a state with sustained community transmission of COVID-19 is required to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus or field station. Please scroll below the map on this site and click on the "state +" symbol below the map for the growing list of states with sustained community transmission. Please this site as the list will expand.
• If you need to self-quarantine, visit this Wisconsin Department of Health Services site and scroll to the self-quarantine FAQ for instructions on how to self-quarantine at home for 14 days and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. This requirement to self-quarantine is effective at the time a state is identified as having sustained community transmission.
• Students who are returning to campus to move out of their residence hall between March 19-28 do not have to self-quarantine before vacating their room. Students must follow the Residential Living process for move-out, outlined in a March 19 message. Move-out is limited to a two-hour timeslot.
• Employees who need to self-quarantine, should contact their supervisors. Students, please contact the Dean of Students.

For university-sponsored travel, please note that travel between our three campuses (Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wausau) and other facilities (including CWES, Treehaven and NADF) continues to be allowed at this time. 

Please refer to our website www.uwsp.edu/covid19 for up-to-date information.

Bernie L. Patterson
Chancellor

Student message - Residence Hall Move-Out Plan

March 19, 2020

Greetings UW-Stevens Point resident students, 

As you may already know, all classes are moving to alternative delivery methods rather than face-to-face instruction. With health and safety as our primary concern, UWSP Residential Living has developed a move-out plan to keep everyone as safe as possible. 

Effective immediately, students are expected to plan to move their belongings out of their room between March 19-28. It is important that everyone follow the process outlined below to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus and stay healthy. Please begin to make arrangements for residence hall move-out. 

Move out process 

• Sign up by 1 p.m. Monday, March 23 for a move-out time
• Log into your UWSP Housing Portal
• Select "Emergency Move-out"
• Sign up for a time to move out 
• Follow instructions for check out process / express checkout process
• ALL move-out appointments will be in two-hour timeslots 
• Timeslots will run daily, including weekend days, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
• An email confirmation will be sent, including instructions
• Please stay with the scheduled timeslot you have selected to move out. (This will ensure the health and safety of you and others) 
• Packing your belongings 
• If you are on campus, start packing up items and gathering moving supplies 
• If you are not on campus, bring boxes and other moving supplies with you to campus at your assigned time
• You should anticipate spending no more than 2 hours packing and moving your belongings
• To reduce human contact, please limit the number of people who come to help you pack up and move out. (We recommended you bring no more than two people to help you move out.)
• We also recommend you bring your own cleaning items, as we are not able to provide those.
• Take all trash and recycling out to their proper locations 
• Remember to empty all mail from your mailbox 
• Grab an express checkout envelop from your hall lobby
• Follow the instructions on the envelope to do your express checkout 
• Lock and shut your room door when you leave 
  

If You Need to Stay on Campus 

If you are in a situation where you need to remain living on campus, you will need to submit a request by 1 p.m. on Monday, March 23. The online form will provide you with more information on how you might qualify.

If you are unable to get to campus by March 28

• Complete the "Request to stay/Keep belongings on campus" form and select option "belongings will remain in room while the student will not be here." We will work with you to schedule moving belongings at another time.
  

Process for application:

• Log into your UWSP Housing Portal
• Select "Request to Stay"
• Fill out and submit the online form 
• Please include as much information as possible in the request.
  

Our office hopes to process these requests and respond as quickly as possible. Unless you receive approval to stay on campus, you should plan to move out. 

Access to Residence Halls

Exterior doors remain locked 24/7 and halls are only accessible via the front door with your Saflok.

Parking Details 

Student lots will be available for people to park and load personal belongings (Lots P, Q, and J). No vehicles will be ticketed in permitted lots as move out is occurring.

In addition, hourly parking limits enforced by the city of Stevens Point on city streets adjacent to residence halls (Reserve Street, Isadore Street and Maria Drive) will be suspended until Saturday, March 28. You do NOT need to pay to park on a city street near a residence hall. Avoid blocking fire zones, fire hydrants, driveways and crosswalks.

Returning Loft

College Products will be on campus March 24-26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Lot F (north of Champion's Hall). If you have rented a loft, please try to come and return your loft on one of those days. If you are not able to return on one of the designated days, please contact College Products directly at 1-800-875-0457 or cs@collegeproducts.com for instructions. 

Mail and Packages 

Please change your permanent address in accesSPoint. Only first-class mail will be forwarded. It may take several days for mail to be forwarded to you. You should also contact delivery companies (UPS, FedEx, etc.) to change the delivery location of items ordered.

Text Rental Books 

Rental textbooks will need to be returned at the end of the semester; however, a revised process for this will be communicated to students via their UWSP email after May 1, 2020.

Updated Information 

Refer to UWSP's COVID-19 website with updates about instruction and precautions. Continue to check your UWSP email for additional correspondence.

Common Questions and Answers: 

Will I get a refund for my housing? All that we know about refunds at this time is it is being analyzed and discussed at the UW System level and with the state legislature.

Why do I have to move out? Many campuses are taking these actions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. While college-aged students are generally not in the high-risk group, you live close to each other in residence halls, making precautions like six feet of social distancing difficult. Also, students have traveled during spring break or may have come into contact with an infected person. Our decisions aim to protect the safety and health of our students and community.

What if I can't move out during any of the specified times? We will work with students on a case-by-case basis. Please contact our office with specific details of your situation.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this. We know how much you will miss your Pointer family. We will miss having you on campus and we look forward to seeing you in the fall. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us below.

Residential Living
601 Division St., Stevens Point WI 54481
715-346-3511
housing@uwsp.edu

News release - UW-Stevens Point cancels events, restricts public use of campus facilities

March 18, 2020

To reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus (COVID-19), the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has widened its scope of event cancellations. The university does not have any suspected cases of the virus on campus but is taking precautions to ensure the safety of its students, faculty and staff members and community.

All campus-sponsored events, regardless of number of attendees, are canceled beginning Thursday, March 19, through Sunday, May 24, the end of the academic year. The cancellations follow CDC guidance to restrict events for eight weeks.

Any change in spring commencement ceremonies at UW campuses will be decided with University of Wisconsin System.

While UW-Stevens Point's three campuses remains open, the public should not use campus facilities or services for the next few months. Visitors with official business will be allowed.  UW-Stevens Point's Dreyfus University Center remains open for business – see the website for service hours of operation.

The restrictions aim to protect the community from this pandemic, especially those who are older than age 60 or who have an underlying health condition.

Schmeeckle Reserve walking trails remain open, but the Visitors Center is closed until further notice. The Friday, May 1, Spring Candlelight Hike Festival has been canceled. The Allen Fitness Center and Champions Hall Fitness Center are open to paid members who use social distancing, with groups no larger than 10.

The Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic will be closed effective March 18 for all in-person appointments until further notice. Clients can continue to drop off hearing aids for repair at the clinic office during regular business hours. Clinic staff will contact current clients and their families to discuss treatment options, which may include receiving services via telepractice. Call the clinic office at 715-346-3667 with questions.

The Helen Godfrey University Child Learning and Care Center is closed through March 27 for spring break. A decision about reopening is coming soon. The Gesell Institute is closed.

Placement tests for incoming students at UW-Stevens Point set for March 21, April 4, April 25 and May 9 have been canceled. An email notification will be sent to registered students, who are asked to retain the original appointment confirmation email and follow instructions provided to reschedule. When normal operations resume, UW institutions will be introducing additional test dates to help compensate for those that were canceled. For updates, visit the placement website.

UW-Stevens Point continues to work on the process of issuing refunds for those who purchased tickets for events scheduled through the end of the semester. Information will be shared on the COVID-19 website or by email as it becomes available.

All three of UW-Stevens Point campuses will shift to online and alternate delivery of classes through the end of the spring semester, beginning Monday, March 30, following the extended two-week spring break. Students are highly encouraged to return or remain at their permanent residence after spring break. Those who have no other housing options, no access to technology needed for coursework or special family health circumstances may return to residence halls. Additional details will be provided for those choosing to move out of the residence halls.

For the most current information or to ask questions regarding COVID-19 precautions at UW-Stevens Point, go to www.uwsp.edu/covid19. 

Faculty, staff message - Technology tools to assist on working from home

March 18, 2020

To slow the spread of the coronavirus, the university is encouraging departments to prepare for working remotely as a temporarily option where feasible.  Employees must discuss this work option with their supervisors in advance. For more information, see Work Related FAQs.

To help departments prepare, many technology tools are available to help you stay connected while working from home. Following is a list:

Office 365 - Your personal email, calendar, contacts, OneDrive files, Microsoft Teams, and other data is all stored in the cloud. We recommend installing the Desktop apps on home PC/Mac systems.

• https://office.uwsp.edu  (To install the Desktop Apps, click on the "Install Office" button.)
• Information on how to use UWSP Office 365 (additional FAQ)
• Tutorials
• Support links: https://support.office.com/ Or IT Service Desk

Zoom - Easy to use video conferencing solution allowing you to connect with people via a computer or phone. It can be used to share your computer screen, or to host a virtual meeting. Many meetings will be conducted via Zoom during this period.  Be sure to download the app today.

Note:  Zoom can be used with a phone instead of a webcam and microphone. 

Contact the IT Service Desk to purchase a webcam if needed. 

• https://zoom.uwsp.edu
• Information on how to use UWSP Zoom
• Tutorials  (daily training sessions)
• Support links: https://support.zoom.us/ Or IT Service Desk

Phone calls

• Telephone office information - https://www.uwsp.edu/infotech/Pages/Telephone/Default.aspx
• Update your voicemail message to reflect how to best contact you (leave cell number, home phone, etc.).  Instructions are at: https://www.uwsp.edu/infotech/Pages/Telephone/Unity-Messaging-Voicemail-Instructions.aspx
• Remember that voicemail messages are delivered to your email.

Taking UWSP-owned laptops or desktops home

• If you have a UWSP laptop and it is running Windows 10, it will connect to UWSP automatically.
• If your laptop is not running Windows 10, or is an Apple Macintosh,  contact the IT Service Desk for assistance. You may have trouble accessing our systems. 
• You may not take a desktop computer home without first contacting IT and getting written permission. Configurations for this arrangement are complicated, and the desktops aren't designed for this scenario.
• Regardless of whether you are using a university laptop or a personal computer from home, you can access your Department Share Drive files by going to https://files.uwsp.edu.

Submit IT help requests online

We will continue to provide IT support but ask for your patience as the volume of requests associated with this increase in telecommuting is stretching us thin.

• For phone inquiries, use the information provided at the IT Service Desk web page. 
• For all other inquiries, use https://itselfservice.uwsp.edu/footprints/servicedesk to fill out a workorder request.  Log in to the site using your UWSP Username and password. Please provide the phone number where you can be reached, the best time to call, and provide as much information as possible about your problem so we can better assist you.  

Special security notes from IT:

1. Do not use email for transmission of sensitive information. Use OneDrive or email links to team members. Links can be shared with people outside of UWSP, as long as the share settings allow.
2. Be careful of the share settings. Determine who can access the link, and whether they can edit the document. As a general rule, only share with people who need to access the document and limit those who can edit. If you share something broadly, take advantage of expiration dates for the link, and/or a password for access.
3. Be wary of possible attacks. Working remotely means you have no face-to-face interaction, which attackers can take advantage of with phishing attacks. Make sure you verify any unusual requests by contacting the person directly with a new email, not by replying to the original email. For example, if you receive an email asking for your username and password from someone you know, do not reply to that email asking for confirmation, but rather call the person at the number listed in the directory OR open up a new email and ask for confirmation.
4. Take advantage of remote IT services. Don't use your personal email to conduct business. Don't save university data to your personal device. We have cloud storage, and plenty of remote IT services to use.
5. Contact the Information Security Office if there are any questions, concerns, or issues. We are still here and working, as is all of IT. In fact, we are working overtime and available 24/7 as always to address concerns or respond to incidents. Working from home means we can't make house calls, which is why it is so important to follow the rules. We need you to help us help you by using systems that we can protect, monitor and manage.
   

Thank you,
Information Technology

Faculty, staff message - Coronavirus Update #10: Guidelines for working remotely

March 18, 2020

As part of UW-Stevens Point's commitment to meet the public health challenges posed by COVID-19, we have created guidelines to temporarily work remotely as jobs allow. While the university remains open, many services will need to be provided differently in the weeks ahead to slow the spread of the coronavirus on our campus and in the community.

Here is UW-Stevens Point's four-stage approach, as the situation escalates:

1. Prepare. Outline plans for telecommuting, including processes, hardware and software needs. Supervisors, discuss this with your director, if you haven't already. Complete your plan by Friday morning, March 20. Vice chancellors must approve department plans.
2. Address special circumstances. Employees who have immediate childcare needs, social distancing concerns, their own health or a family member's may work remotely if their job duties allow. Discuss this with your supervisor in advance.
3. Work remotely. As the situation warrants, all employees who can work remotely should do so. Discuss in advance with your supervisors. Department supervisors, work with directors and vice chancellors to determine minimal staffing levels, if needed, to handle varied circumstances and communicate to your customers.
4. Close campus. If the county or state mandates this action based on confirmed cases of COVID-19, one or more campus locations would close.

Human Resources guidance

Working remotely or telecommuting is a temporary work arrangement in which some or all work is performed from home or another off-site location. Working remotely is an option for those who have technology and internet access at home, without needing additional resources from UW-Stevens Point.

Work with your department head and vice chancellor to determine the minimal staffing level your department needs on campus. This could include plans where no one is physically present, provided that such plans are clearly communicated with appropriate messaging, signage and websites. Some services can be provided remotely, through videoconferencing, phone and other alternative methods. Information Technology has additional resources, and you will receive a separate communication on those shortly.

We recognize not everyone can work from home. Jobs involving food preparation, custodial service and security are among some of the key positions needed onsite.

The work-related section of our coronavirus webpage provides more details about working remotely. Human Resources offers additional guidance. Please ask your supervisor or email hr@uwsp.edu with questions

Thank you for continuing to serve our students and university community.

UW System Guidance

The UW System has provided additional guidance about working remotely and has created an 80-hour leave bank for employees who are unable to work because of COVID-19. Please review these guidelines and talk with your supervisor and HR representative if you have questions about your qualifications for these benefit provisions. President Cross' message is attached, and more information is here and at FAQs.

Self-care, Prevention

Please take care of yourself and be kind to each other. Stay home if you are ill. See our website for tips on self-care and managing stress. Practice social distancing: Stay six feet away from others to prevent viral transmission. This is a good practice in every aspect of life to protect you and others.

Please know, it's normal to feel anxious about uncertainty related to COVID-19. Our Employee Assistance Program is free to you and completely confidential. If anxiety, financial decisions and even legal questions arise from circumstances like these, we encourage you to take advantage of this benefit.

Eric Roesler
Chief Human Resources Officer

Faculty, staff message - Online, alternative delivery continues through spring semester

March 17, 2020

Faculty, Staff and Students,

As we continue monitoring COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, state and national health guidelines have changed rapidly. To mitigate public health risks to our university and community, UW-Stevens Point will shift to online and alternate delivery of courses through the end of the spring semester.

Faculty are developing those instructional plans now, and students will receive information about course instruction by March 29. Courses will resume March 30 and will conclude as scheduled in May.

Students who left UW-Stevens Point campuses during spring break, which continues through March 29, are strongly encouraged to return to and remain at their permanent homes. Those who live in residence halls may return to campus if needed for housing, technology needs or family health issues. For those who choose to move out of their residence hall, additional details will be provided on a process that is designed to protect the health and safety of all involved. Residential Living will outline an orderly plan, which students are required to follow.

This is disappointing for all of us, especially our students. Our commitment to protecting students, faculty and staff, as well as the community, must be our highest priority. While the remainder of the semester will be different, we are also committed to ensuring a high-quality academic experience.

Employees will be given additional details Wednesday about temporarily working remotely, where job duties allow. No cases of COVID-19 are suspected at UW-Stevens Point. These precautions are designed to reduce the rapid transmission of this illness.

Today, the governor announced emergency order #5 closing restaurants and prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people. While this initially included higher education institutions, we have received word from UW System that higher ed will be exempt from this. K-12 schools will remain closed. The message is clear that we all need to take seriously efforts to control the coronavirus spread. 

While the university continues to operate, all facilities at the Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wausau campuses and all field stations are closed to the public. Those with appointments for official business may visit campus.Hiking trails at Schmeeckle Reserve and Treehaven field station remain open.  

Please note these additional changes:

• All events on campus are being canceled, regardless of crowd size, through May 24, the end of the academic year.
• No decision has been made about commencement. Any announcement is being coordinated through UW System.
• With fewer students returning after spring break and courses taught through alternative delivery methods, hours of operation for several buildings will likely be reduced. Watch for more information as it becomes available. 
• The Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic will close, effective Wednesday, March 18, for the semester.
• The Helen Godfrey University Child Learning and Care Center is closed through March 27 for spring break. A decision about reopening is coming soon.

We will continue to update you on this rapidly changing situation. Please stay healthy and check our COVID-19 webpage for more information.

Bernie L. Patterson

Chancellor

Faculty, staff message - New travel and event guidance, self-quarantines

March 13, 2020

Dear colleagues,

State and national health officials have provided additional travel advisories.

University-sponsored international travel is suspended until further notice. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 global health advisory today. It advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel outside of the United States. Anyone who travels abroad personally will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days when returning to this country and before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus or field station. Monitor travel.state.gov for individual travel advisories during this rapidly changing situation.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services advises not traveling to states with sustained community transmission of COVID-19. University-sponsored travel is suspended to those states. As of March 13, California, New York and Washington have been identified as states with sustained community transmission. Please monitor these state travel guidelines as this list will expand.

For all travelers returning to Wisconsin from U.S. states where the CDC has determined that sustained community transmission is occurring, DHS recommends self-quarantine at home for 14 days and monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19. This includes traveling to airports in these states. Self-quarantine is required before returning to a UW-Stevens Point campus or field station if you have traveled in a state with sustained community transmission. This requirement to self-quarantine is effective at the time a state is identified as having sustained community transmission.

For university-sponsored travel, please note that travel between our three campuses (Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wausau) and our other facilities (including CWES, Treehaven and NADF) will be allowed as usual. Travel to UW System meetings is also permitted, but you can anticipate many of these meetings will move to videoconferencing or some other appropriate delivery methods. Travel that is part of your daily job responsibilities, as it is for admissions counselors or development officers, for example, is permitted in consultation with your supervisor. Travel is not permitted to states identified as having sustained community transmission of COVID-19. Other travel will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Discuss travel plans with your supervisor and secure divisional vice chancellor approval before traveling or to make modifications needed for your safety and health. Essential travel does not include research presentations or conference attendance.  Also see UW System guidance.

Events with more than 50 people attending at any of our three campuses or field stations are canceled from March 16 through April 15. You should not interpret this as assurance that events scheduled after April 15 will actually take place. Our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and university leadership are evaluating the situation daily, and it is possible, if not likely, the April 15 date will be extended. We will try to give you as much advance notice as possible. We appreciate the help of the many faculty, staff and students who have been working to notify event participants of cancellations. Ticket sales have been suspended for spring performances on all campuses. Staff members are working on how to handle ticket refunds and will provide updates as information becomes available.  No decisions about commencement have been made at this time.

Please be aware university leaders and the EOC are working to address numerous aspects of these changes in the weeks ahead, including concerns of students living on campus. During this time of uncertainty, please help reassure students where appropriate. You play a key role in sharing accurate, current information. Please refer to our website www.uwsp.edu/covid19 for up-to-date information and direct others there with questions.

Thank you for your compassion and care for the university and our community.

Bernie L. Patterson
Chancellor

Student message - University open, questions addressed

March 13, 2020

With the changes announced for campus life and classes after spring break, you may have questions. We do too, and we are working to address them.

UW-Stevens Point remains open, as do residence halls and DeBot Dining Center. Dining options will be available beginning for dinner March 22. Students do not need to move out of the halls or take belongings. Hours may be reduced in University Centers and academic buildings, so please check the building or its webpage. For your health and safety and to slow the spread of COVID 19, students are encouraged to remain at or return to their permanent residence where social distancing can help protect you and others.

Classes will resume March 30. Watch for additional information by March 29 about online and other alternative formats which will be implemented to protect your health. The semester is expected to conclude on its current academic calendar.

Many of you who live in residence halls have asked about refunds for housing and meal plan charges. We hear your concerns. UW-Stevens Point is consulting with UW System on options and implications. When more information is known, including how long these adjustments are in effect, we will communicate further with you.  Please watch your UWSP email for specific announcements

As a reminder, we strongly encourage you to curtail travel. Additional travel advisories were issued today:

• The U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 global health advisory, recommending U.S. citizens reconsider travel outside of the United States. Anyone who travels abroad personally will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days when returning to this country before returning to any UW-Stevens Point campus or field station. 
•  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services advises not traveling to states with sustained community transmission of COVID-19. California, New York and Washington have been identified as states with sustained community transmission as of March 13. Please monitor these state travel guidelines as that list is expected to grow. Anyone who travels to a state identified as having sustained community transmission will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to a UW-Stevens Point campus or field station. This requirement goes into effect at the time the state is identified as having sustained community transmission.
  

Lastly, we have launched a new COVID-19 website where we have answered a number of additional questions. We appreciate your patience and flexibility, and your help in keeping fellow students, faculty and staff members and all of our communities safe.

Have a safe spring break, take care, and please let us know if you need something.

Troy L. Seppelt, Ed.D. (he, him, his)
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

News release - COVID-19 precautions taken at UW-Stevens Point will affect university events

March 12, 2020

While the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has no suspected cases of COVID-19, the university is taking precautions to reduce to risk of the novel coronavirus spreading on campus or in the community. 

These difficult but important steps include canceling events that draw more than 50 people in the next month.

"We are doing what needs to be done to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff," said Chancellor Bernie Patterson. "We appreciate the community's understanding and ask everyone to join us in taking extra precautions as a safeguard to protect our communities."

Cancellations include:

• Regularly planned events at the Noel Fine Arts Center, Dreyfus University Center, Museum of Natural History, Allen F. Blocher Planetarium, Schmeeckle Reserve and other facilities at UW-Stevens Point, including Wausau and Marshfield campuses. Events are canceled at least through April 15. Watch www.uwsp.edu and departmental Facebook sites for updates.
• Theater and music performances and other ticketed events at all three campuses. University Information and Tickets is working on a process for issuing refunds for those who purchased tickets for large events scheduled for March 16-April 15. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available through email and the university's main COVID-19 site. Or call 715-346-4100 to leave your name and contact information to process your refund as efficiently as possible.
• 90FM's annual trivia contest, "Raid on Trivia 51," scheduled for April 17-19, has been postponed, according to co-coordinator Jim "The Oz" Oliva, out of concern for student staff and for those who play the contest. The event will be held Oct. 23-25, instead. The student-run radio station plans a "Retro Trivia" event for April 17-19 during which trivia questions from past years will be broadcast on 90FM daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with different years featured each hour. No phone calls will be taken, rather players can listen from wherever they are and create their own competitions.
• Schmeeckle Reserve is tentatively holding its annual Spring Candlelight Hike Festival on Friday, May 1, but all of its family nature programs are canceled through the end of the semester. Students will present their nature programs via You Tube videos. Checkwww.uwsp.edu/schmeeckle for updates.

Because of increased uncertainties around coronavirus, UW-Stevens Point campuses in Stevens Point, Wausau and Marshfield will shift from in-person classes to online and other alternative delivery methods starting March 30. This will follow a two-week spring break, giving faculty additional time to develop alternative instruction methods.

Students are encouraged to remain at their permanent residences after the break to reduce the spread of germs in close quarters. They may return to university residence halls if needed for housing or technology access.

The university remains open.

To learn the most current information or to ask questions regarding COVID-19 precautions at UW-Stevens Point, go to www.uwsp.edu/covid19.

Campus Announcement - Spring break extended, alternative instruction

Sent to students, faculty, staff - March 11, 2020

With increased uncertainties around the spread of the coronavirus, UW-Stevens Point is extending spring break by one week. Classes will resume March 30, at which point we will suspend in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery methods. This applies to all three UW-Stevens Point campuses and field stations.

Our top priority continues to be protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. This includes taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to our campuses. The goal of the two-week break is to give faculty additional time to develop alternative delivery methods for their classes, which may be needed for the remainder of the spring semester.

 Please note the following:

• Students should take all instructional materials for their classes as well as essential personal items and prescription medications with them when they leave for spring break.

• Spring break will take place from March 14-29, 2020.

• Classes will resume March 30 with alternative delivery methods. No face-to-face classes will be held on campus after this date until further notice.

• More information about alternative delivery methods of class will be communicated to students via email by March 29.

• Students are strongly encouraged to return to their permanent residence after spring break until further notice. This will assist with social distancing in halls where students live close together and share facilities. Those who have no other housing options or no access to technology needed for coursework may return to residence halls.

• Residence halls remain open to students. Limited dining options will resume for dinner March 22. Additional information will be communicated in the next week to students who live in residence halls.

• All university sponsored travel is canceled for students, faculty and staff, except for NCAA Athletics until April 15. Additional guidance will be provided as it becomes available.

• Events with more than 50 people in attendance at any campus facility are canceled from March 15 through April 15. This includes events at all three UW-Stevens Point campuses, Treehaven, Central Wisconsin Environmental Station and Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility. Information about ticket refunds will be provided soon.

• Check your UWSP email and our coronavirus webpage for updates regularly.

The university remains open, and employees are expected to report to work unless they are ill. Those who are ill should stay home. Monitor your symptoms and call your health care provider if you have a cough and fever.

We strongly discourage any unnecessary personal. Please be aware that if you do choose to travel you may be advised to self-quarantine at home for 14 days prior to returning to campus. Students should contact the Dean of Students office and employees should contact their supervisor if they self-quarantine.

Please monitor travel advisories from the Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Be prepared for travel restrictions to go into effect with little or no advance notice.

University leaders and the Emergency Operations Center continue to closely monitor this rapidly changing situation. Additional information will be communicated as decisions are made.

Some students may feel COVID-19 won't affect them if they are young or healthy. As members of the larger community, please help us take extra precautions as a safeguard to protect our university and community. Thank you for your cooperation.

Bernie Patterson
Chancellor

Campus Announcement - Coronavirus update: Travel, UW-Stevens Point preparations