I know that this is a time of confusion, anxiety and worry for most of you. Please know that I am here to support you to the best of my abilities. I am not always the best person to ask questions to but I am working hard to be your voice in this and to find new and creative ways to get support you as this continues to be a changeable situation. 

As we start to get a clearer plan about the campus resources that will be available to you, and return to relative normality when classes begin next week, I will also be implementing new ways to support you even in this time of social distancing. While we may be required to become increasingly socially distant, we are in this together and will be here to support each other.

Below are today's updates, as well as broad answers to some of the questions that I have been receiving, please read through to the end. 

HOUSING UPDATES

As a reminder, any student currently living in university housing is allowed to remain in university housing. I know there was some confusion, (and possible misinformation) about this point earlier in the week but please know that we expect students who cannot return home to remain and you are welcome to do so. 

Of course, if you wish to travel back to your home country or to the home of a relative, friend, or former host family  within the United States, you are welcome to do this. 

Regardless of your plans, please submit the survey on the Housing Gateway so that University Housing can make appropriate arrangements to accommodate everyone.

DINING

More information about dining services available after Spring Break will be coming soon. Please assist our campus offices in making preparations by completeing the Housing Survey on the Housing Gateway as soon as possible! 

For now, the Blue Devil Market continues to serve takeaway dining options.

REFUNDS

Many students have asked me about what refunds will be available, particularly for university housing. There is a committee of people working on making plans for refunds. 

Please understand that the priority at this time is to move many residents out of the residence halls in a safe and timely manner.  Any adjustments to your housing bill will be processed in the coming weeks and more information will be made available when it is ready. 

TEXTBOOKS & LAPTOP RETURNS

I have received quite a few questions about textbook and laptop returns so please let me explain.

If you are an exchange student who is departing Menomonie for your home country and NOT RETURNING to Stout: 
Laptops: Students who are leaving and not returning to Stout can choose to either return or keep their laptops until the end of the Spring semester. The eStout program does allow for students to send their laptop back to Stout via FedEx. Given this, if you require your laptop, you can take it with you; if you do not require your laptop, the best thing to do is return it before you depart. 

Textbooks: Please try to contact your instructors to see if you require textbooks or if digital resources are available. If it is detemined that you do not need the physical books when you return to your home country, you can return them to the Glass Atrium (Library)  between 9:00am-4:00pm until Friday, March 27. If you need to bring your books back with you, you can; options for mailing them back will be provided at a later date. 

If you are a student is staying locally for the remainder of the semester who will NOT be continuing at Stout in Fall 2020:
If you are a student who is staying locally but do will not be continuing through the fall, you should keep your textbooks and laptops for the time being. More information about the return process at the end of the semester will be available closer to the end of the semester.

Students returning in Fall 2020 should keep their textbooks and laptops. It is my understanding that textbooks from this semester will be due on September 8, 2020. This is the day before the start of Fall semester and continuing students should be back on campus by this time. 

More information textbooks and laptops will soon be mailed out from the appropriate campus office(s).

CAMPUS RESOURCES

Like campuses across the country, UW-Stout is working hard to establish clear information about the resources that will be available to students when we return from Spring Break next week. More information will become available as decisions are made.

Please remember to use the COVID-19 page to keep track of important campus updates and information!

If you have not done so already, please also assist me in completing our survey about your plans for the coming weeks. This information is crucial to our ability to best assist you in this time. 

BACK TO SCHOOL

With all that has happed in the last week, you could be forgiven to forget that classes will resume on Monday, March 23. While administrators have been working hard to collect information and revise plans to support students, our faculty have been extremely busy reorganizing their courses to be delivered in an online/distance format. As we make this transition, please work closely with your instructors to ensure that you have the best academic support available to you.