University of South Florida

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Resumption of Operations Update (5/1)

Dear USF community,

I hope that you and your families are safe and well. Over the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted society and altered our normal university life. We are all eager to know what the future holds and when our lives will regain some normalcy. I share your concerns, and I want to take this opportunity to provide some insights into our decision-making process moving forward.

As our state and national leaders introduce plans to re-open our economy in phases over the next weeks and months, my leadership team and I are developing similar plans to resume face-to-face instruction and other activities as soon as deemed appropriate. As the USF leadership team has done at every stage of this crisis, we will prioritize the health and safety of our campus community. Normal resumption of operations will only be carried out when community transmission of COVID-19 has diminished and the threat to the university can be safely mitigated.

For now, our previous guidance about remote instruction over the summer and employees working remotely until further notice remains in effect. On-campus events, including athletics events and summer camps, will remain suspended through at least July unless you are notified otherwise.

We have every intention of resuming face-to-face instruction and some activities during the fall, with modifications and precautions designed to support high-quality academic instruction and student success while maintaining health and safety. These precautions will include but may not be limited to: requiring face coverings, limiting the number of individuals gathered in any one area, enhanced cleaning, and leveraging available testing and contact-tracing resources. We will also likely continue to provide some instruction or operations remotely.

Our residential students will receive further guidance regarding fall housing plans from USF’s Housing and Residential Education leaders, once we have more clarity. Our international students should also expect to hear from USF World about how our decisions may impact them.

The University of South Florida is and will always be a beacon for optimism and hope. Solving problems and shaping the future is central to our mission. This current challenge has illuminated our mission more clearly than ever.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and innovative thinking of so many of our experts, physicians, nurses, scientists, researchers, and staff members who are on the front lines of understanding and fighting this virus. We should not take for granted how fortunate we are to be part of such a strong ecosystem that thrives on collaboration and creativity. Moreover, we should take comfort knowing that we will not simply endure this crisis, but that USF is playing an integral role in its solutions.

There is one thing that we know with absolute certainty: the University of South Florida community will emerge from the current circumstances stronger than ever!

We will provide more updates as soon as we have them. Please visit usf.edu/covidquestions with any additional questions.

Steven C. Currall
President and Professor
  

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Coronavirus Updates

This is an evolving situation. Please refer to the most recent information presented.

USF students, faculty and staff: Please check your USF email frequently. Your email will be used to convey targeted information.

The University of South Florida continues to closely monitor the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as university leaders work closely with local, state and federal agencies to share the most updated information.