The University of Oregon will allow instructors to temporarily pivot to remote learning if at least 20% of their class is absent due to COVID-19, Provost Patrick Phillips announced in an email to the UO community today.
“Oregon has been on the lagging end of the latest COVID-19 surge caused by the Omicron variant,” Phillips wrote. “However, we now have a much clearer picture of what the next month is likely to look like with respect to incidence levels within the university community.”
The announcement follows the reporting of 154 COVID-19 cases the week of Dec. 27, 2021.
The Oregon Health Authority reported over 7,600 new COVID-19 cases today — the state’s largest daily report since the start of the pandemic.
“This is not how we had hoped to begin 2022,” Phillips wrote. “But we firmly believe that by following these steps we can minimize operational disruptions on campus through this surge while continuing to keep our community safe.”
The Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation sent a letter to UO’s executive vice provost yesterday, requesting that UO move classes online for two weeks in light of the Omicron variant.
Phillips wrote “we continue to emphasize in-person instruction as the best option whenever possible,” even if more than 20% of the class is absent.
Faculty must tell students if classes are being shifted to online at least 24 hours in advance, according to the announcement. If instructors choose to keep classes in person, they must provide materials to those who are unable to attend.
UO will also change its quarantine time from 10 days to five days, per new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite criticism around the CDC shortening its isolation period, “the university has adapted its operations continuously to adhere to CDC, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon OSHA and Lane County Public health guidance for higher education,” UO spokesperson Saul Hubbard told the Emerald.
Phillips said campus remains open and administrative offices will continue working at their current status. Labs, workshops, internships and studios are unlikely to be impacted, he wrote.
Surgical masks are currently available in classrooms, and “we anticipate that a limited number of disposable KN95s may also soon be available,” Phillips wrote. An email to the UO School of Journalism and Communication community discouraged the use of cloth face coverings in favor of surgical and KN95 masks.
The GTFF letter asked UO to provide students and faculty with N95/KN95 masks.
All classes must return to in-person instruction by Feb. 7.
