OCU establishes policies for coronavirus response
Oklahoma City University has restricted campus access to all but essential personnel through April 5 and has moved all in-person classes to online platforms through the rest of the spring semester in response to the coronavirus pandemic. All events on campus have been cancelled at least through May 10.
The university’s Emergency Operations Center and administrators have been meeting regularly to discuss the latest developments of the pandemic and make policy adjustments as needed. Updates are posted online at okcu.edu/coronavirus, along with announcements via campus email and social media platforms.
Students still living on campus have been asked to move out by April 5 during pre-designated time slots, but belongings are allowed to remain in their dorms for those who are unable to make it back to campus. The Residence Life staff has been scheduling each student’s move-out time in order to minimize person-to-person contact.
Emergency housing was made available to members of the OCU community who were unable to leave campus by last Saturday.
Meanwhile, classes went online Monday following spring break last week. The university’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Campus Technology Department worked diligently over spring break to help professors transition their classes to online formats.
In a statement to the campus community Monday, President Martha Burger said, “We will make decisions and move forward accordingly as the need arises. And as we’ve been doing, as soon as the decision is made, you will be informed.
These are unprecedented times but OCU has proven our resiliency in the face of challenges time and time again. We will navigate these uncertain times with decisive confidence, remain true to our mission and emerge from this crisis as the strong, vibrant university we have always been.
I urge each and every one of you to listen to health care professionals and maintain the safe practices that will help end the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”