To the University community,

In my effort to keep you informed on our work to stay on course with teaching, learning, research, and service during the COVID-19, here are some brief updates:

STUDENT AID THROUGH CARES ACT

• Newly enacted stimulus legislation, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes money aimed specifically at helping students and their families struggling to cope with negative financial impacts of our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The CARES Act outlines some specific relief related to those students currently paying back student loans. In addition, the CARES Education Stabilization Fund allocates $8.6 million in funds for MTSU to distribute in support of students who experienced disruption to their lives and education due to the outbreak.
• The funds are intended to be used in meeting expenses related to food, housing, course materials, and technology caused by the transition from on-ground to online course instruction, health care, and child care.
• We are awaiting additional federal guidance regarding rules for distribution.
• As soon as we are able to finalize the requirements for students qualified to receive these grants, the students will be notified, and the funds will be disbursed to their MTSU accounts. There will be no action required by our students.

COVID-19 OPERATIONAL TASK FORCE

• I’ve asked Provost Mark Byrnes to chair a task force, with members representing stakeholders from across our community, to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 upon our institution.
• This group’s mission will be to identify and cultivate ideas and suggestions on our operations in the wake of COVID-19; develop and explore operational scenarios for the 2020-21 academic year; and conduct a broad overview of our operations to identify areas of concern or need.
• This group will deliver its final report to me before the end of May. However, if they identify opportunities or concerns that need to be addressed quickly, the Provost can bring those recommendations to me.

SEEKING STUDENT FEEDBACK

• To learn more about how we as a community adapted to this semester's unprecedented teaching and learning challenges, we have created a short survey to get our students’ feedback.
• The survey asks students to consider their educational experience, from the extended spring break through the end of the Spring 2020 semester, as a whole and not each course.
• Enrolled students received a SurveyMonkey link via email asking them to complete the survey. Responses will be kept confidential.

HONORING THE CLASS OF 2020

• The university will hold a virtual commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9, to recognize the members of the Class of 2020. Provost Byrnes and I (plus a few other special guests) will address the graduates.  May graduates will still be invited to participate in a future commencement ceremony.
• You will find the link to this online ceremony here. We’ll send out more reminders about this program as we approach May 9.
• The names of all who have applied for Spring 2020 graduation will be scrolled during the ceremony. Those names will also be featured in a special commencement program that will be included in our True Blue Graduation Box, which will be mailed to graduates later in May.
• The True Blue Graduation Box will include the graduate’s MTSU diploma cover with diploma inside; mortarboard (cap); unique blue tassel with 2020 drop; two commemorative programs; an invitation to a future ceremony; an MTSU special gift; an MTSU Alumni bag, appropriate Latin Honors stole if earned; and a gift from Veterans Affairs for Veteran students. 

STORIES OF HOW WE’RE STAYING ON COURSE

• From WSMV (Channel 4): Our virtual “Finish Now Friday” meetings for students (and those considering MTSU) for online learning.
• From The Daily News Journal: MTSU songwriters “Rise Up” with a poignant song and video.
• From our “Stay On Course” show: Faculty Senate President Justin Gardner spotlights faculty innovation in teaching during COVID-19.

Stay safe and remain True Blue,

Sidney A. McPhee

President

Sidney.McPhee@mtsu.edu

To the University community,

It’s the middle of April, a time when, before COVID-19, we would have been chatting about the recent frost and the deadline for filing federal taxes. I would be planning to attend many of the ceremonies in our colleges to celebrate the successes of our students.

Today, instead, we all spend our days doing things that before were unimaginable. As we conclude this week, our classrooms and offices are almost empty, yet our teaching, learning, and service continues to go forward with impressive vigor. The events and activities that usually mark the end of our semester have given away to Zoom gatherings and virtual connections.

I am sad to see our campus empty, and I miss watching our students out on Walnut Grove and our softball and baseball teams on their diamonds along with the other spring sports. But that sadness is tempered by the great pride I have in our resolve and response to this crisis. We demonstrate daily we will not bow to this virus nor will we let it diminish our True Blue spirit.

Meanwhile, as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, here are some important reminders and updates for your consideration

MT DINING REFUNDS

We have a contract with a food service company, Aramark, to operate MT Dining. Students living on campus are generally required to participate in one of our dining plans. While on-campus dining is still open and available to the more than 500 students still in on-campus housing, we are serving far fewer people than would be typical.

Under the terms of their contract with MTSU, and the terms of their individual contracts with students, Aramark is not obligated to provide refunds for unused meals. However, we announced to students Wednesday that MTSU will absorb the financial cost of offering a refund plan on unused meals. This plan mirrors what we instituted for those students who moved out of on-campus housing

MTSU will offer two refund options:

• Option A: Students who made no further use of their meal plan after 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 5, will be eligible for a refund that represents 60% of the average daily rate for the five-week period of April 5 to May 10.  Amounts will vary depending on the meal plan the student was using at the time.
• Option B: Students who made no further use of their meal plan after 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, will be eligible for a refund that represents 60% of the average daily rate for the three-week period of April 19 to May 10.  Amounts will vary depending on the meal plan the student was using at the time.
• Students who have continued to use their meal plan after 8 p.m. Sunday, April 19, will not be eligible for any refund.

MTSU will fund refunds from university budgets typically dedicated to other purposes. We will do our best to make prudent decisions to minimize the immediate impact on students who will be returning in the fall and all future years.  

CREDITS DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

Our recent decision to move all of our summer session classes to remote delivery of instruction means that we will also continue to have some facilities unavailable for student use during the summer due to our COVID-19 precautions. Accordingly, we will provide a credit to each enrolled student’s account to offset the cost of that portion of the program services fee. 

• The offset will apply to the portion of the program services fee that covers student recreation (including the Campus Recreation Center); postal services; campus access (including parking services); and our international services.
  • The total credit will amount to $17 per credit hour for summer students.
• In addition, MTSU will not be charging the online course fee for the summer sessions.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

• MINIMUM CAMPUS STAFFING: As you may have seen, Governor Lee on Tuesday of this week (April 14) extended his “stay-at-home” order until April 30. However, as a reminder, MTSU’s workforce will remain at minimal levels on campus through Sunday, May 10.
• PASS-FAIL OPTION: Students will be able to indicate their preferences on the Pass-Fail Grading Option on Sunday, April 19. A link will be sent out to students via email. They will have until Wednesday, April 29, to choose. Here’s a link to more information.
• RESIDENCE HALL REFUNDS: Students who vacate their residence hall rooms before 8 p.m. Sunday, April 19, will be eligible for a partial refund. Students who check out after 8 p.m. Sunday, April 19, will not receive a refund.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Look for further details coming soon about a virtual commencement ceremony that we will broadcast via Facebook Live and Livestream on Saturday, May 9, as well as the Graduation Care Package we will be sending to our Spring 2020 graduates.
• We continue to follow federal and state health guidance on how best to resume our usual operations in time for the Fall 2020 semester. We are hopeful that we will be welcoming all back to campus for the Fall semester. However, in the weeks ahead, our executive team will work on varied contingency plans in anticipation of unfolding conditions.

STAYING ON COURSE

Here are some examples of how we continue to keep teaching, keep learning and keep serving during the COVID-19 crisis:

• How an honors biology course has incorporated the nation’s COVID-19 response as part of its remote, experiential learning.
• How we did a social-distancing reboot of our True Blue Pledge video.
• Our newest Goldwater Scholar, rising junior Jared Frazier.
• A Fox 17 story on how one of our students, Cassidy Johnson, keeps up her spirits and dance training while living in one of our residence halls.

Thanks for all you do to keep us moving forward.

Sincerely,

Sidney A. McPhee

President

Sidney.McPhee@mtsu.edu