University update on Governor's stay-at-home 2.0

November 11, 2020

This message was sent to students, faculty and staff at the University of Nevada, Reno

Dear Wolf Pack Family,

On Tuesday, Gov. Sisolak announced “Stay at Home 2.0,” asking Nevadans to stay at home as much as possible and to not participate in gatherings with people who do not live in the same household over the next two weeks. Gov. Sisolak made Tuesday’s announcement in an effort to lessen the spread of COVID-19, which for the past several weeks has shown an alarming rise throughout the state.

The University has been doing its part in stopping the spread. Over the past several weeks, we’ve made several adjustments that have made a difference. Thanks to your individual diligence, which has included wearing facial coverings on campus, practicing social distancing, washing your hands frequently and avoiding large gatherings, we’ve managed to make good progress in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.

With our previous efforts to stop the spread, we are already in compliance with much of the Governor’s new directive. Therefore, in the next weeks we will continue to operate following our Reopening Plan with encouraging more remote work as needed. This means:

• Administrative faculty and staff, including those working on campus, should continue with current work schedules and location assignments in their existing manner, unless otherwise directed by their division vice president and/or dean (per our Reopening Plan: Fall 2020 - Office Operations by Division). Student workers should coordinate directly with their supervisors.
• We will continue in our current instruction mode, which includes in-person lab classes, studio classes, HyFlex classes, and a small number of entirely in-person lecture classes. Faculty who are teaching HyFlex classes may switch to remote delivery at their discretion.
• We will implement our post-Thanksgiving plans that starting on Monday, Nov. 30, all University courses will be delivered remotely for the remainder of the semester. For students living in residence halls, we are asking that they do not return to campus following the completion of the Fall Break (traditionally called Thanksgiving weekend), unless they have a hardship or extenuating circumstances and must remain in the residence halls. Our Spring semester schedule will be adjusted to begin one week later (instruction to begin Monday, January 25), without a spring break.

Given how the next two weeks could prove critical for the state in stopping the spread, there are more ways we can all help. To underscore “Stay at Home 2.0,” all University employees and students are encouraged to hold all meetings, no matter how small, virtually. Facial coverings must be worn on campus at all times.

We can also make a difference off campus. For all of our students, faculty and staff, it is essential that all of us minimize interacting with individuals who do not live in the same household with us over the next two weeks. Avoid unnecessary trips other than for essential items and stay at home whenever you can.

Although this means a few more sacrifices on all of our part, such deliberate action could prove pivotal as Nevada pushes back the tide of COVID-19. Thank you for all that you’ve done so far. Let’s keep up our good work through the remainder of the semester. We can do this.

Stay vigilant. Stay safe. Protect our Pack.

Sincere regards,

Brian Sandoval
President