March 2020 Communications

Campus Communications

(most recent listed at top)

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

Go to Mayville State Coronavirus-Related Quick Notes.

March 31, 2020 5:51 p.m.

Hello, MSU Faculty,

Thank you all for your tremendous efforts to date focused on supporting our students and our University as a whole during this time of uncertainty. The flexibility and accommodations you are each providing now and ongoing are greatly appreciated and highly regarded.

In response to COVID-19 and under guidance from the North Dakota University System, modification of our current S/U Grading and Incomplete Grade policies has become necessary to further support our students during this unprecedented time. Below are the updated S/U Grading and Incomplete Grade crisis policies (titled in alignment with other associated policies across the NDUS) that have now been approved by cabinet and are effective immediately through spring semester end. I have noted in bold within both temporary policies key statements focused on providing faculty the right to accept or deny the student request for S/U grading or for issuance of an incomplete grade. Please know that I and our entire Cabinet support faculty decision surrounding both of these academic areas and are confident you will continue to work in partnership with our students to make associated decisions that remain in the best interest of our students and our University. Heather Hoyt will soon be sending email communication to all students to share this updated policy information.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding either of these temporary, spring 2020 policy modifications. Thank you, in advance, for your understanding and support of the need to move forward with immediate implementation of the updated S/U Grading and Incomplete Grade crisis policies.

Best Regards,

Dr. Such

COVID-19 Crisis Policy Regarding S/U Grading Options for Mayville State University

Policy:

All undergraduate students may request the S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) grade option. The deadline to change a course from graded to S/U has been extended to May 8. This is based on the following guidelines:

• Changes applies only to Spring 2020 course that have not yet ended
• The S/U option does not apply to graduate students
• Students can make the decision to change to S/U grading at any time up to 4:30 p.m. on May 8
• Students who receive approval to switch a course to S/U grading understand it is irreversible
• Students must contact their advisor by email, zoom, or phone before making any decisions to ensure they understand the implications of their decision
• Students must complete the online form to change to the S/U grading option, available on the Mayville State University website.
• Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades would apply to all courses included in the major, minor and essential studies
• Letter grades A-C are deemed Satisfactory and D-F’s are Unsatisfactory

Students do not need to take any action to receive the standard letter grade.

Procedure:

Students initiate the conversation with their advisor and instructor to receive permission. The faculty member has the right to accept or deny the students request. If approved, students will complete a Qualtrics form that will be submitted to the Academic Records Office. Once the form is received, the Registrar will update the grading scale for the specific course/s requested by the student from Graded to Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

When faculty grade their courses, they will grade all students accordingly. Grades are due no later than noon on May 19.

COVID-19 Crisis Policy Regarding Incomplete Grade Request Options for Mayville State University

Policy:

Under extraordinary circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor, a student may be assigned a grade of Incomplete (I).

Due to the extraordinary situation that our students have been put in directly related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Spring 2020 course incompletes will be granted a deadline of August 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Courses that include, but are not limited to field experience, internships and/or student teaching are eligible for a onetime extension of December 11 at 4:30 p.m.

Procedure:

1. Grades of Incomplete are initiated by student request. The student must contact the instructor, request an incomplete grade, and, upon instructor approval, make arrangements to complete the work.
2. An Incomplete Grade Form detailing the work to be completed, expected completion date, and grading standard is to be signed and dated by both the instructor and the student. The form is to be submitted to the Academic Records Office by the grade submission deadline for the session in which the course was taken.
3. All grades of Incomplete that are not removed within the specified time are automatically changed to the grade indicated on the original Incomplete Grade Request form submitted by the student and instructor.
4. Students are not allowed to graduate with Incomplete grades on their academic records. Upon graduation, unconverted Incomplete grades will convert to grades of ‘F’. If a course in which Incomplete grade was assigned is required for graduation, graduation will be postponed.

Students are urged to complete their coursework prior to the original deadline of August 21. If the student and instructor agree to an earlier completion date this date should be noted on the Incomplete Grade Form.

Mayville State University Grading Scale

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 31, 2020 4:04 p.m.

Greetings to all faculty and staff,

We’ve made it through our first week of offering all classes online. Congratulations to all! I know this is no small feat and I truly appreciate your efforts! Thank you to all who are working remotely to help in our efforts to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, as well as those who are willing and able to be on campus as needed in essential areas. I couldn’t be more Comet Proud of everyone and how they have stepped up!

Let’s keep in touch!

To help us all stay connected with each other, and with our students, I’m going to be starting a blog. I need your input to make this successful. Will you please share with me any unique or fun and interesting things that are happening with you and your students that I can include as part of this new website feature? With our commitment to personal service as our guide, this is a time for Mayville State to shine, and I want to share our great and inspiring news as far and wide as I can. Please contact Beth Swenson at any time with your thoughts, stories, and ideas as she will be overseeing this project.

Comet Pride Friday expanded

I encourage all who are working on campus to consider every day Comet Pride Friday when it comes to apparel. Please feel free to wear your Comet gear and be professional, but comfortable.

Be active and be well

Release time (two hours per week) for use of the Wellness Center has been temporarily expanded to include activities outside the Wellness Center, since that facility is now closed and many are working from home. Please consider using that time to go for a walk or a run or participate in some other kind of exercise. Being physically active is so important to personal well-being. Let’s not forget about that during these trying times.

Salary Study

In an email to employees on February 10, I let you know that our human resources director, Sarah Gasevic, was working on a salary study. The purpose of the salary study is to provide a benchmark from which to determine appropriate pay levels for employees. The goal for completion was April 1. In the meantime, the coronavirus pandemic broke out and related activities have consumed the greater percentage of time for a number of employees, including Sarah. She now plans to have a draft of the study completed on April 6. The president’s cabinet will review and work to finalize the report in the coming weeks with plans to share information with the campus as soon as possible. The coronavirus situation is changing our daily tasks, but we understand the salary study is important work and will see it through to completion. 

Child Development Programs

Our Child Development Programs employees continue to provide an invaluable service to the communities we serve by providing high quality care for children. I commend the staff for making the best of difficult situations and continuing to make a difference in the lives of young people as their parents are engaged in their places of employment. In many cases, this service is allowing health care professionals to continue their work that is keeping all of us safe. Thank you, CDP staff,  for all you’re doing during these difficult times!

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The state of North Dakota is working hard to provide valuable coronavirus pandemic-related information for its citizens. Click here for information related to the CARES act.

Thanks very much for your patience and understanding as we navigate these unprecedented situations, and thank you for your dedication to Mayville State University. You are appreciated! If you have questions or concerns at any time, please be sure to reach out to your supervisor or a cabinet member. Whether in person or remotely, we are “here” for you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Van Horn, President

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 30, 2020 4:55 p.m.

To faculty and staff

In light of the recent guidance from the Department of Education, ND Governor Burgum, and MSU President Brian Van Horn regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be some changes to the Federal Work-Study program.  According to Federal Student Aid guidance: For students enrolled and performing FWS at a campus that must close due to COVID-19, or for a FWS student who is employed by an employer that closes as a result of COVID-19,  the institution may continue paying the student FWS wages during that closure.

To determine if we have students that fall within this guidance, I would like you, as supervisors, to identify which students this guidance should apply. MSU must document who is being paid and how the amount paid is being determined. We also need to note that the loss of employment is due to the disruption of COVID-19.

Please provide a list of your student employees that would still be working after spring break if they had not been instructed to stay home due to COVID-19. Include with their name the scheduled hours they were expected to work per week. If you can, have this information to Shirley Hanson (shirley.m.hanson@mayvillestate.edu) by the end of April 1.

 Heather Johnson, Financial Aid Coordinator

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 30, 2020 10:03 a.m.

Students,

I hope you are getting settled with online learning and reaching out to the help resources available to you to make the transition. While the physical library is currently closed, the library does have a lot of resources available. If you do not have a lot of experience navigating the library’s website, this Overview of the Library Website video will help.

Help

Our Ask a Librarian Instant Messenger, available on the library website, is staffed from 8AM to 8PM Monday through Friday. Any questions you have about navigating the library’s databases or where to go for information can be asked there. Outside of those hours, send your questions to library@mayvillstate.edu and a librarian will assist you as soon as they are able.

Online Resources

The library subscribes to many online databases proving full-text of articles and books to meet your information needs. You can access these databases through the library’s website. When you are off-campus, you need to login to these databases using your MSU credentials. If you are unable to access the databases, contact the library and we will fix it. When in doubt, I recommend starting with EBSCOhost Research Databases for finding articles.

Physical Resources from the library

If you need a book or DVD from the library, let us know and we can make arrangements to get that material to you. For those of you back home, we are able to send you the material through the mail. It may take up to a week for you to receive it, so try to plan ahead accordingly.

Byrnes-Quanbeck Library Facebook Page

Throughout MSU’s remote learning and working time, we are posting to the library’s Facebook Page. Liking the page will provide you tips and tricks on using the library each day without cluttering up email.

Virtual Library Game Night

I would like to host a library game night featuring trivia. If you are interested, please send me an email so I can see who would like to play and determine the best date/time.

Please contact me or any of the librarians for assistance. We are here to help!

Kelly Kornkven, Library Director

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 24, 2020 12:50 p.m.

Hello to all Mayville State Faculty,

I'm assuming your plans may have changed since online delivery of courses will now continue until the end of the spring semester.

If you decide to use the ProctorU testing platform, please let me know as soon as possible in order for me to prepare to be sure we have enough to meet the needs of both you and our students.  

ProctorU testing codes will be free to students who were enrolled in on campus sections .

If you choose the ProctorU testing option, email me the following information:

Class name and number:

Date of test (or at least the week it is due).  The students need to be sure they are registered and scheduled with ProctorU at least 72 hours in advance of the testing time. 

Length of testing time your student will need: One or two hour. 

To receive the Free Code:

Students  email: Bookstore@mayvillestate.edu to order their code. It will be helpful if they also include the course name or number in their email.  We want to be sure they get the right length code. If they choose to get the code directly from ProctorU, they will be responsible for the cost.

As always, if you have questions, please email or call me. At this time, I am in the bookstore from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thank you again for making the best of unexpected experience. For specific questions concerning ProctorU, Christine Gonnella will be able to answer how it functions as a testing platform.

Pam Soholt, Bookstore Director

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 24, 2020 10:37 a.m.

Campus Update 

Greetings to all faculty, staff, and students,

Yesterday marked a big day for all of us. This was our first day of offering all classes online. Thank you for stepping up to the plate and making this new normal possible. Because of previous innovation and work by our faculty and staff, I believe that Mayville State was well-equipped to make this transition to remote course instruction. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work out the kinks and make this the best possible solution for earning a college education while being safe and healthy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Please be sure to reach out if you need help or have questions of any kind. We’re all here, whether in person or virtually, to help one another.

Amid the uncertainty, great things are happening!

• Mayville State’s Student Senate president, Michael Moen, has been awarded the North Dakota Student Association (NDSA) Legacy Award. This prestigious award is given to a student graduating from the North Dakota University System and who will not be able to vote in future NDSA meetings. The NDSA’s general assembly must believe that this delegate has made a powerful, positive, and reoccurring contribution to the students of North Dakota and higher education throughout their time with the NDSA. Congratulations, Michael!
• The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has recognized two Mayville State student athletes. Senior center Max Cooper was named Honorable Mention for the 2020 Division II Men’s Basketball All-America team. Max is from Minnetonka, Minn. Junior forward Kylee Heurung was named to the 2020 Division II Women’s Basketball All America 2^nd Team. Kylee is from Brainerd, Minn. We’re Comet Proud of you, Max and Kylee!
• Student recruitment continues! Even in these times of working and studying remotely, the football coaches have made eight new offers to students for next fall.
• We learned on Friday that the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission has approved Mayville State’s request to offer the Master of Science in Nursing including the Nurse Educator and Nursing Leadership and Management tracks. We will move forward with offering this graduate-level program and already have two students ready to begin immediately and another group on deck to begin in the fall.
• Dining Services is continuing to operate on a limited basis this week. The cafeteria will be open from 12 to 1 p.m. this week. There will be hot meals available for faculty, staff, and students who stop by. The meals can be taken out. In addition, Bryan and his staff are offering a carry-out plate for evening meals. They can be picked up some time between 12 and 1 p.m. and taken home to be reheated later.

As you are well-aware, plans can change quickly as we work to keep up with the coronavirus situation. When we made the decision to ask many staff and faculty to work remotely last week, we anticipated having face-to-face classes again on April 6. That was also the tentative date when all staff would be back working on campus. As you know, all of that changed Friday afternoon as we made the decision to extend online instruction through the end of the spring semester. We ask staff and faculty who are working remotely to continue doing so until further notice. We will keep you informed as social distancing guidelines change and/or are relaxed. Please be patient with us as we navigate through these times of uncertainty.

Team Mayville State is coming together to facilitate the best possible outcomes in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Even in this time of social distancing, people are communicating, helping one another, and being creative for the good of the whole. It’s all for one and one for all, and I couldn’t be more grateful for your patience and commitment to the Mayville State family. These challenges will make us stronger. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Van Horn, President

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 22, 2020 7:51 p.m.

*Please note that this message is for on-campus students. Online students will continue their courses as usual.*

As you prepare to take your classes online beginning Monday, March 23, please make sure you are checking each of your Blackboard (Bb) courses and announcements to see how each instructor plans to continue each of their on-campus classes. Some classes will be moving completely online to Bb, and others will use a mix of Bb and Zoom to hold synchronous class sessions. These class sessions will be held at the normal time you would have had class on campus.

Remember that the official means of communication is your Mayville State email. Make sure you are checking your MSU email daily to stay updated. Instructors will also continue to use Starfish.

If your instructor requires you to use Zoom to join class remotely, you will need to be connected to the internet, and have your microphone and camera turned on. See the Zoom Quick Start Guide. Please use this to install and connect to Zoom over the weekend. Report any issues you have to your instructor. Please try to join class 15 minutes prior to the regularly scheduled class time for your first Zoom session to allow time for troubleshooting.

Visit the Keep Learning page to find step-by-step ways to keep learning as you transition to online classes. There are also a variety of resources available to you within Blackboard. In your course list you will find the Student/Blackboard Orientation Course which walks you through how to use Blackboard. On the My MaSU tab, you will find a module titled Getting Started in Your Courses where there are tons of guides and tutorials at your fingertips!

Please let me know if you have questions!

Alissa Perkins, Distance Program Support Specialist, 701-788-4645

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 22, 2020 1:26 p.m.

Hello, MSU Faculty,

I would like to welcome everyone back following Spring Break, and to extend my sincere thanks to those who have devoted additional time and effort the past few weeks to prepare for online delivery of on-campus courses. As you continue to plan for online delivery of on-campus courses, I would like to provide you with the following updates and reminders:

• Online delivery of on-campus courses has now been extended through spring semester end.
• Faculty are encouraged to continue synchronous class offerings at the previously established class times utilizing Zoom technology.
• Support staff are available for in-person moderation during Zoom sessions and/or are immediately available for contact should any technology support needs arise during synchronous classes. Please contact Chris Gonnella or Alissa Perkins if you have not yet established a plan and are needing in-person Zoom support.
• “Keep Teaching” and “Keep Learning” resource websites have been created by the Office of Extended Learning inclusive of various faculty and student resources to assist with smooth transition to online and continuous quality in online course delivery: https://www.mayvillestate.edu/student-resources/health-services/coronavirus-related-information/.
• Remain in close contact with your academic division chair and Office of Extended Learning and Information Technology Services support staff to ensure you have the needed resources and support for quality distance instruction and effective work from home.
• All academic and student support services continue as previously provided.
• Most staff members are now working remotely from home. Continue use of email and phone as the primary avenues to remain in contact with staff across campus.
• Continue use of Starfish as you have in the past. Instructors are encouraged to email students who do not attend scheduled synchronous sessions and/or participate in assigned online activities and create a Starfish flag after 24 hours of no response. Katie Richards, with help of other Starfish support personnel, will continue to monitor and respond to Starfish flags.
• Thank you all, in advance, for your patience and encouragement provided to our students as they transition to fully-online courses.
• Communicate any needs or challenges as soon as they are identified so additional support can be provided.
• Campus remains open, however, guidelines of social distancing are to be followed.
• Continue to meet with others as you have in the past via Zoom- i.e. Assessment Day meetings, division meetings, meetings with other faculty, staff, students, etc.
• Anticipate regularly scheduled meetings typically occurring on campus will now be conducted via Zoom.
• Remember our goal for continuity of teaching and learning.
• Watch your email and www.mayvillestate.edu/coronavirus for updates.

Thank you all for your continued hard work and dedication to our University and students. Your focus and determination during this uncertain time is greatly appreciated and highly regarded by our entire MSU family! I wish you all the very best at this time and look forward to our continued partnership as we work together to continue quality teaching and learning experiences for our faculty and students!

Best Regards,

Tami Such, PhDc, MSN, RNC-OB, PHN, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Nursing

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 21, 2020

Message to residence hall students

Yesterday’s announcement by President Van Horn that online instruction for all classes will continue may effect your decision about living on campus for the rest of the semester. 

First, let's say this: students may stay in their residence hall room. The campus is not closing. However, students are encouraged to stay home to complete the spring semester if they are in a position to do so. We realize that may not be an option for all students. Typical students that will continue in / return to housing include:

• International students
• Students without access to distance learning resources at home
• Students who stayed and cannot make travel arrangements home

Do I have to get my belongings out of the residence hall? Is there a deadline? 

You and your family might come to a decision that moving home is safer or has other benefits. You might instead decide that staying in Mayville is what you prefer. 

What if I want to stay? 

No one is being kicked out. It is possible we’ll ask some people to move once rooms have emptied out. While practicing social distancing is important, keeping a building open for very few people isn’t safe or efficient. But our obligation to you, and the contract we both agreed to, is housing until May 14. 

What if I traveled to a coronavirus hot spot? 

Students for whom this applies must have a conversation about their plans and how we help you isolate.

What if I want to leave? 

We’ll respect your choice. I’ve created a google forms survey. This is not a substitute for completing the access form in your housing portal - they do have different purposes. 

We're operating with some differing goals. We want to limit how quickly people come to get their things. It does us no good (from a public health perspective) to have 150 getting their stuff on Monday. We’ll try to limit this to just a few people a day for the next couple of weeks, then re-assess. I’m thinking roughly of Easter weekend (three weeks) for people who are not staying to having their belongings out. If there is something you need (I took my computer but I left a textbook for a class) then yes, I understand coming back more quickly. If you can wait, it’s safer for all of us you do so. 

If that is your choice, then yes – we do want you to collect your belongings, check out with a staff member, and leave your key. 

Can I cancel my time if I’m feeling ill? 

Yes. You should. 

What if I can’t get back? 

This poses a difficulty for both of us. I know students in Canada are frozen at the border and I know students in California are prevented from traveling. Other jurisdictions are figuring out their responses. The first thing is there is no rush for us to resolve this, and the second is we’ll figure it out. Let’s just keep talking. Please contact me to start a conversation on what options may be available.  

Dr. Jeffrey Powell, Director of Student Life

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 20, 2020 4:40 p.m.

Greetings, Mayville State employees,

The coronavirus pandemic situation continues to evolve. Please know how much we appreciate your patience, cooperation, and willingness to adapt to all that is being asked of you during these unprecedented times.

Telecommuting

Many of our staff members are now working remotely and that transition has gone well. Campus is still open and we are committed to maintaining our great reputation as “The School of Personal Service.”

Online and Distance Course Delivery

Next week we will step into new territory. Starting on Monday, March 23, all classes will be offered online and at a distance. We know that not everything will be perfect, but we also know that we are doing everything possible to help make this transition as smooth as possible. There are resources and people ready and willing to help in every way, so please be sure to reach out to your respective cabinet member or supervisor if you need anything at all.

This afternoon, the MSU President’s Cabinet made the decision to extend online and distance course delivery through the end of the semester. We feel this is the best way to comply with social distancing guidelines and to keep our faculty, staff, and students safe and healthy.

This decision was not made lightly, and it will bring up questions with those students who live in the campus residence halls. Mayville State’s residence life staff will be in contact with all of these students very soon. Right now, staff are making plans for how students can get their belongings from the residence halls and more. Rest assured that we will take good care of all of these students, and please watch your university email for further updates that will be available soon.

Commencement

There are a number of other decisions pending, including whether there will be commencement exercises this spring. If at all possible, we want to be able to have this celebration with our graduates who have worked so hard to earn their degrees. A decision will be made in a timely manner that will allow families to make travel arrangements and other plans. Again, watch your university email for an update.

Dining Services

For now, Dining Services will continue to operate on a limited basis, per the spring break schedule.

Child Development Programs

Governor Burgum has extended the closing of K-12 schools through March 31. This means that our Child Development Programs will continue to operate as they have throughout this week. The child care option is available, but Head Start and Early Head Start services are closed.

COVID-19-Related Expenses for Departments and Divisions

If your department or division is experiencing extra expenses related to the coronavirus situation, you are asked to track those expenses and use program code OCOVD when submitting RFPs and P-Card transactions. In addition, any time spent outside the normal work day and related to COVID-19 issues should be tracked and sent by email to Courtney Peterson, controller. Contact Courtney with any questions.

Kudos to You!

Team Mayville State has stepped up in a big way throughout this rapidly evolving situation and I could not be more Comet Proud! Watch your email and www.mayvillestate.edu/coronavirus for updates. Be well and be safe!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Van Horn, President

Mayville State University

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 20, 2020 4:39 p.m.

Greetings, Mayville State students,

The coronavirus pandemic situation continues to evolve. Please know how much we appreciate your patience, cooperation, and willingness to adapt to all that is being asked of you during these unprecedented times.

Starting on Monday, March 23, all classes will be offered online and at a distance.

• We know that not everything will be perfect, but we also know that we are doing everything possible to help make this transition as smooth as possible.
• There are resources and people ready and willing to help in every way, so please be sure to reach out to student.affairs@mayvillestate.edu if you need anything at all.

This afternoon, the MSU President’s Cabinet made the decision to extend online and distance course delivery through the end of the semester.

• We feel this is the best way to comply with social distancing guidelines and to keep our faculty, staff, and students safe and healthy.
• Mayville State’s residence life staff will be in contact with all residence hall students very soon. Right now, staff are making plans for how students can get their belongings from the residence halls and more.
• Rest assured that we will take good care of you, and please watch your university email for further updates that will be available soon.

Commencement

• If at all possible, we want to be able to have this celebration with our graduates who have worked so hard to earn their degrees.
• A decision will be made in a timely manner that will allow families to make travel arrangements and other plans. Again, watch your university email for an update.

Dining Services

• For now, Dining Services will continue to operate on a limited basis.

The campus will remain open.

• Many of our staff members are now working remotely.
• Campus is still open and we are committed to maintaining our great reputation as “The School of Personal Service.”

Kudos to You!

Team Mayville State has stepped up in a big way throughout this rapidly evolving situation, and I could not be more Comet Proud! Each of you is a very important member of the Mayville State family and we want you to be well and safe. We’re optimistic and look forward to the day very soon when living and learning are back to normal. Until then, please watch your email and www.mayvillestate.edu/coronavirus for updates.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Van Horn, President

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 20, 2020 9:47 a.m.

Erin Kunz and Katie Richards have worked out a way for student services to continue to be active throughout this time.  They have included the information below to let you know how you would access the services. 

TUTORING SERVICES:

How do I access Tutoring services when we are not to be on campus?

You have three ways to access tutors:

1. Smarthinking is an online tutoring service that we have had for over 5 years on Mayville State Campus.  You can find Smarthinking in the tools section on Blackboard.  Click on it and away you go with receiving an online tutor 24/7.  Any questions please contact Katie Richards at Katie.richards.2@mayvillestate.edu. 

2. Skype!  I have spoken to the tutors that we have on campus that you would traditionally meet face to face.  Most of them have agreed to work with you as an option through Skype.  To access this you need to go through the process of raising a hand through Starfish. Information below on how to do that.

3. This option is up to you, but you can look for help from someone local as well.  Maybe you have a classmate or a teacher in an area school that can help support you.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to them and ask for some support as well.

How to I access a tutor?

The process is the same as if you were on campus.  You will reach out through Starfish by “raising your hand” and asking for help.  The process is simple, but if you have forgotten how here are the steps.

1. Go to Mayvillestate.edu
2. Right hand corner click on the figure that looks like a starfish
3. Scroll down the page and click on the starfish words
4. Enter your username and password (same as your campus connect)
5. Click login or submit
6. Click on the left hand corner where there is three dash marks
7. Scroll down to raise my hand
8. Then choose in the first box “I need Help”
9. The next box choose the course
10. Then in the details you may ask for help with a tutor
11. Hit submit and I will respond within 24 hours with a tutor

**Keep in mind I do not have tutors for all courses and I will do my best to help you with what I do have!!

Classes we have tutors for:

Math 103, Geog 103, History 103, History 104, HPER 415, Econ 1  and 2, ASC 91, 92, 93, Chemistry, Physics, Kinesology, Anatomy, Exercise  Physiology, Psychology, Sociology, Educ 290, SPED     

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Katie Richards @ katie.richards.2@mayvillestate.edu

WRITING CENTER SERVICES:

The writing center will be moving tutoring to online formats until further notice. You can choose from the following options:

• "Video-Chat Online" appointments meet online at the scheduled appointment time and are done in real time anywhere with a solid internet connection. 

• "E-mail Feedback" appointments will provide you with written feedback within 24 hours of making the appointment.

 You can make, modify, or cancel appointments at mayville.mywconline.com.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 20, 2020 9:27 a.m.

As everyone is preparing to support students from a distance, Library Director Kelly Kornkven has shared a few resources that faculty and staff may find helpful. If you need any physical items in the library's collection, let the librarians know and they will make arrangements to get the materials to you. The library staff is also happy to provide virtual support. 

LibGuides: https://www.mayvillestate.edu/student-resources/library/resources-division/

Libguides is a system to make online research guides. In the library world we use them to make guides for students in researching different topics. Currently, the library has one for many of the different academic disciplines at MSU. As requested, we can add pages in these guides for specific assignments requiring research guidance. This is an online application we pay for and could be useful for different divisions or departments if you want to share links to a large amount of resources with students, faculty or staff. There are lots of different options for who can view the guides. If you are interested in learning more, contact me and we can set up a time to meet virtually so I can show you some of the options.

Faculty Select: http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/facultyselect/access.php?custid=s8459485&group=fac_only&profile=facselect&user=s8459485fac&password=MSuniv@2019

Faculty Select has been shared before but as a reminder, it is a database that you can use to find OER books and DRM-Free ebooks. DRM-Free ebooks allow multiple users at once. Especially with our temporary all online learning environment, the library can purchase and have the book available to you and your students within a few days.

Yuja Library Videos in the All Instructors Folder: https://mayvillestate.yuja.com/P/VideoManagement/MediaLibrary/InstitutionPrivateChannel/AllInstructors

Some of our on-campus students may not be used to accessing the library’s databases off-campus. To assist, I created an Overview of the Library Website video that will remind students how to access materials off-campus. It is available in the All Instructors Folder of Yuja and you should be able to share it with your particular course.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 17, 2020 5:44 p.m.

Greetings to all Mayville State employees,

I am writing today to help keep everyone informed as we navigate through uncharted territory related to the coronavirus pandemic. We are committed to doing everything we can to keep our faculty, staff, and students safe and well.

Please take note of the following:

• The Wellness Center, Lewy Lee Fieldhouse gymnasium, weight room, and swimming pool will be closed starting at midnight tonight (March 17) and until further notice.

• For this week, the Child Development Programs are offering their normal childcare services at all sites, with the exception of the sites at North Dakota School for the Blind in Grand Forks, Central Valley Public School, and Hillsboro Public School. Head Start and Early Head Start program options are closed at all sites. The Central Valley and Hillsboro school sites are closed due to the governor’s mandate to close K-12 public schools. Parents with children enrolled in the Central Valley and Hillsboro school sites have been offered the opportunity to take their children to one of the other sites.

• The university mailroom will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for as long as we continue to operate with many of our faculty and staff working remotely, at least until April 3.

• The employee recognition dinner that had been scheduled for April 2 has been postponed. Information will be relayed when a new date has been established.

• The MSU Bookstore will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, March 18 and 19. The store will be closed for technology upgrades on Friday, March 20. Starting Monday, March 23, the store will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The physical location of the Byrnes-Quanbeck Library will be closed starting on Wednesday, March 18. Many services, including Instant Messaging, will be available on the library’s website. Instant Messaging will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Communications should be sent to library@mayvillestate.edu with the expectation of a reply within one hour during the regular work day.

• If you are working remotely, you are asked to have your office phone either covered by someone who is on campus or forwarded to your home/cell phone. Instructions for how to do this were sent out in an email from Rob Frederick in IT this morning. Also, if you are out of your office, the autoresponder message on your phone should be updated to indicate you are working remotely and that you will respond to the caller’s message soon.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. We know that getting through this takes a big team effort and I want you to know that your dedication to the Mayville State University family is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Brian Van Horn, President

Mayville State University

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 17, 2020 8:59 a.m.

As we move forward with changes to MSU operations, please know that the ITS group is doing its best to accommodate the situation.

• For faculty and staff that indicated the need for certain equipment such as headsets, webcams, etc., we are attempting to source these items.  Unfortunately, demand has dramatically increased causing out of stock situations through many of our normal channels.  We are working to get as many as possible by the end of this week and will be in contact once they arrive to arrange for pickup.
• For staff that will be transitioning to a work from home environment, please consult with ITS as you and your supervisor are determining a work plan.  We want to make sure that you have the necessary access and equipment to perform expected functions. 
• A document was distributed to faculty and staff yesterday with a procedure for configuring your desk phone voice mail to be forwarded as an audio file to your email inbox.  For those that may desire to have phone calls forwarded to a personal cell phone, we have a couple of options:
• Using the Reach Me feature, you can set up your phone to ring to another number upon no answer at the desk (please see the attached procedure for setup).  When using this feature, your desk phone will ring first.  If it is not answered the voice mail assistant will answer and the caller will have the option to press a key to leave a voice mail or do nothing and attempt to connect to the personal device.  If the personal device is not answered, it will transfer back to the voice mail system.  The number you will see on your phone will be the phone system itself, 701-777-5400, not the caller. Click here for information on ReachMe.
• Specific phones can be set up to ring both at the desk and a secondary number simultaneously.  However, a one-time set up must be performed by UND telecom services.  Once set up, you would have the option to toggle the service on and off through your desk phone.  In order to get this set up, we will need you to provide the extension you wish to have ring on your personal device, the name that extension is associated with, and the phone number of your personal device.
• If you would like to check your voicemail remotely, you can dial 701-777-5400, enter your five digit extension and your voicemail password to listen to your messages.
• For those using personal phones to make calls, you have the option to dial *67 prior to the number if you would like to have your caller ID blocked.  This should work for all major carriers, but must be done for each phone call you wish to make this way. 
• Some phones may have an settings option to toggle this feature on or off so that you do not have to dial the *67 option each time, but it varies by phone and carrier.  If you do not have this settings option, you can contact your carrier for further information (be sure to ask if additional charges apply for your carrier to enable this option on your line).

Please also note that all physical and electronic document handling and data privacy compliance rules still apply.  Be mindful of this when working from home on sensitive or protected information.

We ask for your patience as there are going to be a large number of requests and tasks to work through over the next days and weeks.  If you have additional questions, please contact the Service Desk via phone or e-mail.

Thank you,

Robert R. Frederick, Chief Information Officer

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 16, 2020 5:25 p.m.

A message from Dr. Brian Van Horn, MSU President

Dear students, faculty, and staff,

The coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve rapidly. I want to assure you that our cabinet members are in constant communication about how we can best protect the health and wellness of the campus community and take proactive steps to help minimize the spread of this very serious illness.

Governor Burgum has announced the closure of all public K-12 schools across North Dakota and the CDC has issued further guidance stressing the importance of social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. To that end, Mayville State University will change the way it operates.  Although we will not close the university, we will ask many Mayville State employees to begin working from home, rather than coming to the workplace.

• All Mayville State employees (including student workers) who are able to work remotely should plan to do so starting no later than 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. We will continue with this plan for the next week+, or until further notice. As you know, this situation is very fluid and things change quickly. Be sure to watch your university email for further updates.

• Employees should check with their supervisors to determine if they can work from home. Mayville State will be very flexible with these arrangements, but not everyone will be eligible.

• All remote working arrangements should proceed with the agreement of employees’ supervisors. Each telecommuting employee should visit with his or her supervisor to develop a plan of work.

• Faculty should remain in close contact with their academic division chair. Faculty may work remotely but may come to campus for research purposes or to facilitate their virtual teaching.

• Supervisors are asked to be in touch with their teams as soon as possible to communicate plans.

Currently, the Child Development Programs are offering their normal childcare services at all sites, except at Central Valley Public School and Hillsboro Public School. However, Head Start and Early Head Start program options are closed.

Please keep in mind that Mayville State is not closing campus. However, the actions that we’ve taken over the last week are likely to lead to some reduced operations and many questions. We ask for your patience as we work to further clarify updates.

Thank you for your continued patience and commitment.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Van Horn, President

See attached FAQs for employees.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 16, 2020 10:19 a.m.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 13, 2020 3:55 p.m.

Mayville State University is committed to provide faculty and staff with the support you need. The Office of Extended Learning is actively planning resources and support to assist with continuity of teaching, learning, and full business operations. Team members may be contacted by phone, email, walk-ins, or you can attend one of the following drop-in sessions in ED 112:

• Monday, March 16^th from 1:00-4:00pm
• Tuesday, March 17^th from 1:00-3:00pm
• Thursday, March 19^th from 8:30-11:30am
• Other times by appointment

The following recommended tools are available to help you deliver courses, participate in meetings, communicate with co-workers, and continue your excellent personal service to students despite any emergency disruption.

Blackboard Learning Management System

A Blackboard course site is automatically created for all classes. Sites for groups, committees, departments, or organizations can be requested by emailing Alissa Perkins.

Blackboard can be used for the following:

• Posting syllabus and other documents
• Creating/sending announcements
• Submitting assignments
• Taking exams
• Grading
• Taking Attendance

Learn more about posting materials to Blackboard and other ways to effectively manage instruction and interaction with students using the Faculty Resources module on the My MaSU tab in Blackboard.

Live Virtual Classes/Meetings

Zoom allows for interactive classes, group collaboration, and virtual office hours. It can be used synchronously to hold classes/meetings live from a distance, or asynchronously by granting students/participants access to recorded archives.

Record Lectures YuJa

YuJa can be used by instructors and/or students to record audio/video and/or capture the computer screen from any computer/laptop with a microphone headset and/or webcam. Recordings can be shared using Blackboard's integration to post recorded content within a course/organization site.

Proctor Exams

YuJa: Ensures the security of student exams taken from remote locations by recording audio, video, and computer screen. The recording is securely allocated directly to the instructor, avoiding distribution from the student.

Respondus Lockdown Browser: A custom browser that locks down the testing environment within a learning management system.

ProctorU: A human authenticates students’ identities and monitors the exam in real-time. Mayville State University will incur the costs of ProctorU.

Online Interaction

Blogs, wikis, and discussion boards are a few examples of the tools available within Blackboard for online interaction. They provide opportunities for asynchronous group collaboration and course participation.

VoiceThread is a tool for enhancing engagement and online presence. With VoiceThread, instructors and/or students can create, share, and comment on images, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, videos, audio files, documents, and PDFs, using microphone, webcam, text, phone, and audio-file uploads.

Contact Information

For assistance with Blackboard, YuJa, and Respondus Lockdown Browser, contact Alissa Perkins, 701-788-4645.

For Zoom, ProctorU, and VoiceThread questions, contact Chris Gonnella, 701-788-4709.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 13, 2020 4:26 p.m.

The Teacher Education Symposium scheduled for March 24, 2020 has been canceled due to the growing health concerns related to the Coronavirus.  We look forward to seeing you all at next year’s symposium.

Jeni Peterson, Education and Innovation Center Coordinator

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 13, 2020 2:20 p.m.

The North Star Athletic Association is issuing a "pause" in all conference activities until March 30. This hiatus includes all in-season spring sports as well as out-of-season sport activities.  No organized practices will be allowed during that time period.  Teams currently participating on their spring trips will be allowed to complete their schedules at this time. 

"This is an extremely fluid situation and we continue to closely monitor current developments, trends, and mandates, which may dictate changes in our plan moving forward”, stated North Star Commissioner Cory Anderson.

"We have a large footprint and our spring sports cover five states (NE, IA, WI, SD & ND) which obviously requires dealing with a myriad of agencies. Our desire is to discuss the best course of action moving forward in the short-term and to provide time to consider long-term steps.”

Cory Anderson

North Star Athletic Association

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 13, 2020  1:13 p.m.

Information related to Housing and Dining until April 5

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 13, 2020 11:43 a.m.

The spring wellness fair for faculty and staff scheduled for March 26 has been canceled due to the COVID risk. The good news is that we will be able to have a bigger & better wellness fair this fall.

Leann Gilbertson, PHR, HR Specialist

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 13, 2020 10:22 a.m.

Now that students will not be on campus, along with most faculty, I want to share the process for students to complete registration requests. I request that the students still initiate the request with the attached form. If a student makes a request to drop a course, please be responsive and help move the form along through to the appropriate people to assist our students. I will allow students to go through Katie Richards to make contact with faculty if we know they are on campus. Dr. Pflipsen and Dr. Such will also be able to approve the requests for students.

I’ve included the important dates and deadlines for the upcoming weeks below. We normally have the dates posted around campus and scrolling on the TVs as reminders so please save this for your records while students are off campus making requests.

• March 13 – last day to add 2^nd 8 week session courses. Last day to drop 2^nd 8 week session courses without a record.
• March 21 – last day to withdraw from 2^nd 5 week block NURS courses.
• April 4 – last day to add 3^rd 5 week block NURS courses. Last day to drop 3^rd 5 week block NURS courses without a record.
• April 7 – registration for summer and fall 2020 begins.
• April 9 – last day to drop from full-term course with a record or withdraw from school. For a complete withdrawal of all courses, share this link with students: Cancellation/Withdrawal Form

Please let me know if you have any questions about the process and thank you for accommodating our students during this time.  

Heather Hoyt, Director of Academic Records | Registrar

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 12, 2020 6:38 p.m.

Dear students, faculty, staff, and regional friends,

I’m writing to update you regarding temporary teaching and learning practices that Mayville State University will implement beginning March 14 in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Additional details continue to be developed, and more information will be promptly communicated as it becomes available. It will be very important to check your email frequently!

Your health and well-being are our top priorities, and we are taking the actions listed below to help limit the COVID-19 risk on campus:

• All on-campus classes will be moved online, effective March 14 through April 5, 2020

• Mayville State will remain open and operational during this time; however, some offices and services may be provided remotely

• On-campus classes will resume Monday, April 6, 2020, pending further assessment

We will continue to fulfill our mission by ensuring students are able to meet their educational requirements and faculty are able to continue their research and scholarship. All campus facilities will continue to operate.

University Operations: At this time, the University intends to remain open and has no plans of ceasing operations. Hours of operation and services may be modified to meet the needs of faculty, staff, and students. Child Development Programs will remain open and operate as usual.

Remote Teaching and Learning: Again, face-to-face classes will not be held on campus the weeks of March 23-27 and March 30-April 3. Information about specific courses will be communicated via Blackboard and campus email. Faculty will determine how best to use technology at the regularly scheduled on-campus class times to enable students to continue their coursework during these two weeks. Off-campus internships, field experiences, clinical trainings, and the like, will continue at the discretion of the provider organization. Students should check their Blackboard courses and campus email daily for course updates.

Student Services: Student services such as advising, tutoring, and financial aid will remain open. Students who are new to online courses are encouraged to contact the Office of Extended Learning for online course support. https://www.mayvillestate.edu/msu-online

On-Campus Students, Residence Halls, and Dining: Effective March 14, students who are leaving campus for spring break should NOT return to campus for an additional period of two weeks. Residence hall students are asked to take their essential personal belongings (medications, laptops, etc.) and academic materials (laptop, textbooks) home with them as they depart for spring break and not return to campus until April 5. Students unable to leave should contact Dr. Jeffrey Powell, jeffrey.powell@mayvillestate.edu, or Dr. Andrew Pflipsen, andrew.pflipsen@mayvillestate.edu, should they have questions or concerns regarding available residential accommodations.

Student Employment: The contributions of student employees are critical to our ability to continue operations. As such, we will make every effort to continue the employment of students who choose to stay in Mayville rather than leave campus during this time. Because individual departments are best to determine their work needs, department leaders will determine if and how student employees will continue their work. The ability to employ student workers will be based on our ability to do so without risking the health of our students, faculty, and staff, and may be revisited at a future time if needed.

Remote Technology Needs: If you have any concerns about the resources needed to engage in your current classes through remote learning, please call University Information Technology at 701-788-4739 and let your instructor know immediately so we can discuss options. 

Summer or Fall 2020 Registration: You can find contact information for your advisor through Starfish or via email. Students are encouraged to email their advisor for summer and fall semester advisement prior to the registration date of April 7. If you have any questions, your advisor can assist you by phone or email.

Travel: As you consider traveling during spring break, stay informed regarding state emergencies relative to the coronavirus, and consider limiting your domestic travel. We discourage all international travel as you may have difficulty returning to the U.S. without a quarantine period.

Return to regular operations: We expect to resume face-to-face classes on April 6. Any change in the current schedule will be communicated via email.  

The safety of our campus community remains our top priority. We realize that these actions will cause disruption - and that you will have additional questions on the above information - but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. It is important that any students, faculty, or staff who have traveled or otherwise come in contact with the virus use additional time to observe their own health. If symptoms do appear, contact your primary health care provider for evaluation prior to returning to campus.

We acknowledge that these are extraordinary times that require exceptional measures to deal with a health risk that affects all of us. However, at this time the best tactic available to prevent spread of this disease is through social distancing and limiting contact with large groups of people. We are committed to doing everything we can for the safety of our campus community. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation. 

Please continue to refer to www.mayvillestate.edu/coronavirus for regular updates.   

Students, please send any questions to studentaffairs@mayvillestate.edu. Please continue to read your email and log into Blackboard daily. We are committed to ensuring students can complete their courses and get the support they need as we navigate this unprecedented situation. Further, should you have any medical needs, you are encouraged to contact your primary care physician immediately.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Van Horn

President

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 12, 2020 11:45 a.m.

As of 11:45 a.m. Thursday, March 12, the NAIA canceled the national championships and issued the following statement:

Effective immediately, all remaining NAIA winter championship events will be canceled, including those that are currently underway. The health and safety of our student-athletes, as well as all involved in our championship events, is the NAIA’s highest priority. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments and NAIA leadership will work closely with our member institutions to determine the best path forward for future NAIA events, including all spring 2020 championships.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 12, 2020 10:27 a.m.

MSU Faculty and Staff,

As the Coronavirus pandemic begins to move in to our region, MSU is taking a proactive stance, with active NDUS, SBHE, North Dakota Department of Health and CDC guidance, with preparation for the need to move online in instruction and provide continuity of teaching and learning for our students and faculty. 

To plan for continuity of classes and business operations, all faculty who teach at least one on-campus class are REQUIRED to provide your current and anticipated needs to continue instruction within the linked survey by 5pm on Friday, March 13^th.  Staff are also highly encouraged to complete this survey to share your anticipated need should you determine with your supervisor the need to conduct business operations remotely.  If you only teach online classes, you do not need to complete this survey as your classes are expected to continue as normal in the event all on-campus courses are moved online.

Please know that Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, the Office of Extended Learning, Information Technology Services, and other areas are actively planning support and resources to assist you in your needs to ensure continuity of teaching and learning and full business operations moving forward.

Best Regards,

Tami  Such, PhDc, MSN, RNC-OB, PHN

Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dean of Nursing

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 12, 2020 6 a.m.

As of 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, the NAIA announced that starting on Thursday, March 12, there will be fan restrictions on all winter championships. Due to the widespread health risks posed by COVID-19, fans will not be allowed into the Comets men's basketball team opening round game vs. Oregon Tech scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 9:15 p.m., or any subsequent games in which the Comets may play. The Lady Comets were eliminated from national tournament play with their loss to Kansas Wesleyan Wednesday, March 11.

The pre-game social that had been scheduled to be held at the Blue Rock in Sioux Falls prior to the men's game has been cancelled.

See all the latest information related to the Comets at the national tournament at www.mayvillestate.edu/nationals.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 11, 2020 9:45 p.m.

A message from Mayville State President Dr. Brian Van Horn

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

We are all aware of the steadily increasing reports of the new coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) which is causing disease and deaths in most countries. With cases now being reported in MN and SD, it is rapidly approaching our own communities. To better protect our students and faculty, we have instituted a suspension of all university sponsored international travel through March 31. As of now, we are not suspending university-sponsored domestic travel, but all university-sponsored travel will receive ongoing regular assessment as this outbreak progresses. Whether you are traveling domestically for a university-sponsored program, or traveling anywhere for personal reasons, we ask you to thoughtfully take several things into consideration to protect yourselves and others around you. These considerations are particularly important now as many of you have travel related plans over spring break.

1. The risk of acquiring infection increases substantially the more you are around other people. One of the key principles of mitigating serious communicable diseases is to practice social distancing, (i.e. avoiding events and situations that put us in close contact with many people). Travel frequently puts us in close contact with many people, such as in airplanes, airports, restaurants, and large events or gatherings. Please consider if your travel is necessary, and if it could possibly be postponed or altogether canceled.

2. People who are at higher risk of more severe outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 should strongly consider foregoing any travel. This would include people over the age of 60, or those with underlying chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, or immunosuppressive conditions.  

3. If you must travel, try as much as possible to practice social distancing by avoiding large crowds and keeping space between you and others where people congregate. Practice frequent hand-hygiene by washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based product.  Keep watch in your email for further notices regarding measures being taken by the NDUS or your own university.  

4. Once you return home, please be vigilant for the development of any signs or symptoms of respiratory tract infection in yourself.  If you develop any symptoms of fever, cough, or sore throat, please present to your own medical provider as appropriate, and do not come to work or class until you have been evaluated and your symptoms have resolved.

5. As of minutes ago, President Donald Trump announced that no travel from Europe will be allowed after Friday.  United States citizens will have until Friday, March 13 at midnight to return to the United States or will have to wait for 30 days to return.  

6. Our athletic director, Ryan Hall, has just been notified that the NAIA men's basketball national tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. has been closed to any audience members. This audience restriction is effective starting with all games on Thursday, March 12 and throughout the remainder of the tournament. NO FANS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE GAME. 

Thank you for your consideration, and we hope you have a happy and healthy spring break! 

Sincerely,

Brian Van Horn, President

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.

March 9, 2020 3:30 p.m.

This information is being distributed to the Mayville State University campus community on behalf of the MSU President’s Cabinet.

In an effort to bring you the most up-to-date information on the ongoing outbreak of respiratory illness first identified in Wuhan, China, caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, the Mayville State University President’s Cabinet is providing this information. There is significant media attention and public concern regarding the virus. While there are no cases in North Dakota and the chances of the virus reaching our campus community are small, they are not non-existent, so it is important to be informed. The well-being of our campus community is of the utmost importance. For your safety, please review and follow the guidelines listed below.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Person-to-person spread is occurring, although it is unclear how easily the virus spreads between people. As of the morning of March 9, there were a total of 423 reported cases of coronavirus in the U.S. State and a total of 19 deaths. Cases had been reported in 35 states. There were no cases reported in North Dakota, and seven people were being monitored.

• Risk to the general population remains low. The North Dakota Department of Health has provided information to North Dakota healthcare providers to rapidly identify suspect cases with appropriate risk exposure and symptoms.
• Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest information regarding travel:  https://www.cdc.gov.
• The following individuals should be evaluated by a health care professional:
• Ill with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have traveled from China, Italy, Iran, or South Korea in the last 14 days, or
• Ill with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have been identified by public health as a recent close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or had recent close contact with someone who is being evaluated for COVID-19 infections.
• Travelers who identify with the criteria listed above should contact their healthcare provider immediately. They should inform their provider of their travel and call ahead before going to a healthcare facility.

University-Sponsored Travel

The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a top priority. The university is monitoring conditions both domestically and internationally and will follow CDC recommendations regarding travel as appropriate. The situation is very fluid, and the university will get information out as conditions change.

Staff have been in contact with our Mayville State student studying abroad. Discussions are being held regarding upcoming trips abroad and international travel for students. The situation will continue to be monitored and decisions will be made based on the conditions at the time.

Domestic travel is also being monitored. No restrictions are being placed on domestic travel at this time. However, it is strongly encouraged that faculty and staff speak with their supervisors, and students speak with their advisors/trip coordinators if there are questions or concerns with traveling to a domestic or international location.

Campus Activities

Mayville State is not modifying any campus activities at this time. All classes and activities will continue as normal until such time that conditions change and further actions are needed to maintain the health and safety of our campus community.

The president’s cabinet is working with several offices and departments across campus to make sure we are appropriately prepared in and out of the classroom should coronavirus cases become local and more severe. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Updates

Mayville State University officials are monitoring this situation very carefully. It is rapidly evolving, and you are encouraged to watch the university’s announcements closely. Updates will be sent as needed. In the meantime, follow good hand washing practices and be mindful of the guidelines and suggestions given here. The CDC website is an excellent resource for frequently asked questions and up-to-date information regarding coronavirus and influenza: https://www.cdc.gov. Information is also available at the North Dakota Department of Health website: https://www.health.nd.gov. Mayville State-specific information will be available at www.mayvillestate.edu/coronavirus.

Preventative Measures

While the world is focused on coronavirus, it’s important to note that according to the CDC, the influenza season continues and has been moderately severe to date. Preventative measures to maintain health and assist in minimizing risk regarding the flu and coronavirus are encouraged. They include:

• Get vaccinated. Flu vaccine remains available and it’s not too late to be vaccinated.

• Wash your hands often with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Additional GermX machines are being installed around campus. It is especially important to clean hands after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash. Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Return to Mayville State Coronavirus Home Page.