Keep informed about recent decisions and plans being made as UD gears up for the fall semester. Current information is always available at www.udel.edu/return, Have a specific question? Check the FAQs. which are updated regularly as questions come in to coronavirus@udel.edu. 

Coming up:

• Aug. 27-Sept. 6: 1743 Days will kick off the academic year with a full slate of virtual events.
• Aug. 31: Carpenter Sports Building opens. Face coverings are required while in the facility, and access is by reservation only. Learn more
• Aug. 31: Involvement Fair 2.0, a special online event will give all Blue Hens -- particularly first-year students -- the chance to get involved, build connections and make friends outside their virtual classroom. Nearly 400 Registered Student Organizations will help students find their niche.
• Aug. 31: Blue Hens Now will be broadcast virtually from 8-9 p.m. on Facebook Live. Designed for UD’s newest Blue Hens, the event will feature students, faculty, staff and alumni talking about what it means to be a Blue Hen.
• Sept. 1: Bus service begins; four buses will run on a continuous north/south route from the Laird Campus to the STAR Campus, from 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Face coverings will be required at all times, and bus capacity is limited to eight passengers to allow for appropriate physical distancing. Learn more.
• Sept. 1: Fall classes begin.

Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7, is Labor Day, and University offices will be closed. Since classes will be meeting this year on Labor Day, some offices needed to support students will be open. Employees with questions should contact Human Resources. 

Academic regulations for graduate students: On Aug. 24, 2020, the Graduate College announced updated academic regulations for graduate students for the fall 2020 semester. These regulations are in addition to previously announced academic regulations for undergraduate students, which were announced in July. Details for both are posted online. 

Limits on size of social gatherings: The city of Newark passed a temporary resolution on Aug. 24, 2020, limiting the size of gatherings in the city. Indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 12 attendees, including the residents of the home, and outdoor gatherings at private residences may have no more than 20, including the home’s residents. Those found hosting or attending an unlawful gathering may be fined up to $500 and required to perform up to 20 hours of community service. Details of the ordinance may be found here. 

Academic Affairs Town Halls for faculty and staff: Faculty and staff are invited to register for the next Academic Affairs Town Hall, scheduled from 1-2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28. This week, Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki will be joined by:

• Provost Robin Morgan, who will give a general welcome to the beginning of the semester;
• Executive Director for Undergraduate Admissions Doug Zander, who will provide an update on incoming students;
• University Registrar Amanda Steele-Middleton, who will present a summary of returning students; and
• Dean of Students Adam Cantley, who will give an overview of activities planned for students who will be on campus.  

To join the Zoom session, faculty and staff must register in advance here. Please submit questions in advance via this form to allow panelists time to gather answers and respond during the webinar. Faculty and instructional staff are encouraged to visit https://sites.udel.edu/provost/continuity/ for more information about the town halls, including the recordings of past presentations, and for specific resources for faculty regarding online teaching and classroom protocols. 

Research reactivation: The next Research Town Hall, presented by Charlie Riordan, vice president for research, scholarship and innovation, will be held from 1-2 p.m., Monday, August 31. Guest panelists will include Velia Fowler, chair of biological sciences, who will share the department’s experiences and lessons learned bringing research back online this summer; and Lou Rossi, dean of the Graduate College, who will speak about graduate and professional education during the fall semester. Register here. The town halls are recorded and archived on this webpage.

Testing before returning to campus: All faculty, staff and students coming to campus this fall must first get a COVID-19 molecular diagnostic test (PCR) within 14 days of arriving on campus. They can obtain a test by contacting their healthcare provider, going to a testing center or using a home health screening kit. In Delaware, testing sites throughout the state are listed at coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing. Once on campus, everyone needs to complete a daily health questionnaire and periodic COVID-19 testing. Additional details are available at UD’s coronavirus website. 

The Testing, Tracing and Screening page has been updated with additional information about testing locations, the quarantine process and more, based on questions that have been asked and answered in the last week. Faculty and staff are encouraged to read through the Additional FAQs for Faculty and Staff on the coronavirus website. 

Fall dining on campus: Dining Services has adapted its operations this fall to provide safe dining environments. Reopening plans have been developed in accordance with guidelines provided by the CDC, the state of Delaware and the University, along with Aramark’s EverSafe platform with Jefferson Health, designed to provide a new level of safety excellence aimed to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and provide the most hygienic, safe environments for employees, customers and guests. A variety of dining options are available for students living on and off campus, as well as faculty and staff. Learn more here. 

Counseling and support are available: Students in need of counseling and support may call UD’s Center for Counseling and Student Development at 302-831-2141 or the UD Helpline, which is available at any time, day or night, for students feeling anxious, overwhelmed, depressed or otherwise in need of counseling. Students can call 302-831-1001 to get live counseling assistance 24/7. Additional information may be found at the center’s website. All UD employees, their spouses, dependents, parents and in-laws may access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by calling 800-343-2186 or visiting the program’s website. If using the website, UD employees should enter "State of Delaware" as the password.

Questions about Fall 2020? Send an email to coronavirus@udel.edu.