Dear Campus Community

Update September 3, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community,

As the University of Utah Asia Campus will be operating in Level Orange for the Fall semester, we must ensure that we are following all protocols which call for a reduced number in group gatherings and stricter social distancing guidelines.  As a result, we are canceling the following programs:

• Annual US Thanksgiving Dinner
• Annual Alumni Banquet, currently scheduled for Saturday, December 5
• Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremony, currently scheduled for Friday December 4

For those students that had planned to participate in the Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremony, we encourage you to participate in the Spring 2021 Ceremony.  The ceremony is open to all students that graduated in Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020, or Fall 2020 terms and for those that will graduate in the Spring 2021 or Summer 2021 terms.    More information will be shared in the near future regarding the Spring 2021 ceremony.

Please know that we are incredibly disappointed that we will be unable to host these annual traditions this fall and understand that this decision was made in the best interest of the health and safety of our entire community. 

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your understanding.

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update June 28, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community,

We have become aware that a member of our campus community tested positive for the Coronavirus.  The individual had arrived in Korea on Saturday, June 27, and was self-quarantining in their private residence off-campus.  They received notice on Sunday, June 28, that the result was positive, and they were transported to a local hospital.  The individual was never on campus, nor did they interact with anyone who has been on campus since arrival in Korea. 

Based on the recommendations from the Incheon Global Campus Foundation and a precautionary measure, we will be closing the University of Utah Asia Campus building from Monday, June 29 to Sunday, July 5.  Also, all summer school classes will be held online, including those with a start date of July 9.  There are exceptions for courses in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Film & Media Arts, Urban Ecology, and other select courses that require hands-on, in-person learning.  Individual faculty will reach out to students with expectations and updates for their specific classes.

This decision was made out of an abundance of caution and was also based on ensuring the health and safety of our community while preserving student’s academic pursuits.  As necessary, students can still schedule a face to face meeting with their faculty members during this time and continue to study or meet in small groups on campus. To meet individual student needs, online meetings are available for all students.

Withdraw Deadline

At the same time, the University of Utah Asia Campus is extending the deadline for withdrawing from the first session summer course(s) to July 2. Withdrawal will be listed on your transcripts but will not impact your GPA; it will not result in a tuition refund. A withdrawal indication on your transcript can be explained in graduate school applications and to future employers as part of the extraordinary circumstances of the 2020 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic. Students around the world are facing similar situations with accompanying changes to their transcripts as they complete their college educations.

Students, we recognize that this has been disruptive to your education and has been a challenging situation; we appreciate your commitment to your education and to making the UAC a part of this journey.

Faculty and staff, we recognize that this experience has created unique challenges and opportunities; we appreciate your flexibility and steadfast support to each other and our students during these unprecedented times.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely,

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update June 4, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community,

Based on the current recommendations from the Incheon Municipal Government, the Korean Center for Disease Control, and promoting the health and safety of our community, we will be modifying the access to our building.  Commencing Monday, June 8, all guests to the building must enter through the Basement 1 Central Doors.  During regular business hours of 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, there will be an attendant who will check your temperature and who must see the proper University of Utah identification. Non-UAC personnel will be required to provide contact information before entering the building.  Individuals who display symptoms of fever will not be permitted to enter the building and will be asked to visit a local health center immediately. 

During the evening, weekend, and early morning hours, only the University of Utah faculty, staff, and students will be able to access the building through the Basement 1 Central Door using a University of Utah ID.  If you access the building during these periods, you will be required to conduct a temperature check and provide pertinent information in a logbook located by the B1 elevators. 

We are asking that all faculty, staff, and students limit their use of the elevators within the building.  Elevator use is prioritized for individuals with physical limitations and for those that require access above the fourth floor.   We are also asking that we limit the number of riders to less than five per ride.  By following this guideline, we can better support our social distancing requirements. 

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update June 2, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community

As we reach the end of the Spring 2020 term, I wanted to provide an update on our upcoming Summer 2020 Session.  As of today, we are planning for all our summer courses to be held in-person except for COMM1270: Analysis of Argument,  EAE 3690: Concept Art for Games, and EAE 4900: 3D Game Asset Creation.  These three courses are being taught by faculty from the Salt Lake Campus, and due to current travel restrictions, they are unable to join us in Korea this summer. 

To safeguard our campus community, we will be enacting the following guidelines for this summer term.

1. All in-person classes will occur in our largest classrooms on campus, and social distancing will be encouraged through the intentional placement of classroom equipment.
2. Classrooms will be disinfected and ventilated regularly before each session.
3. Hand sanitizer and wipes will be provided in every classroom.
4. Face coverings (cloth masks, scarves, gaiters, bandanas) are expected of students in all classroom settings.  Face coverings are not required outside classrooms if physical distancing is maintained (6 ft.). 

Please remember:

• Do not come to the UAC if you have any flu-like symptoms.
• Do not come to the UAC if you have been exposed to anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. Remember, they may have been contagious for up to 3 days before showing symptoms—Self-isolate for at least 14 days from your last contact.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update April 12, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community

We have been notified this morning that a member of the campus who returned from the United States on Friday, April 10, and was self-quarantining in the residence halls has tested positive for the Coronavirus.  As of this morning, the individual has been relocated to a medical facility where they are receiving appropriate care.  The individual visited no other areas of campus and used private transportation from the airport to campus. This morning at 9:30 am areas of the building were disinfected by the Yeonsu-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. 

For those living in the halls, we ask that you remain where you are until further notice.  Please do not leave the building until the COVID-19 team provides the all-clear; this will be announced publicly over the intercommunication system.   We will provide additional updates as they become available. 

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update March 31, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community,

COVID-19 has evolved globally over the last several weeks, and the UAC Response Team has continued to monitor the situation closely.  In alignment with the recent decisions by the Ministry of Education and the Korean Government, the UAC has decided to extend the distance learning of the majority of courses until the end of the term. There are exceptions for courses in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Film & Media Arts, Urban Ecology, and other select courses that require hands-on, in-person learning.  Individual faculty will reach out to students with expectations and updates for their specific classes.

This decision was made out of an abundance of caution and was also based on ensuring the health and safety of our community while preserving student’s academic pursuits.  As necessary, students can still schedule face to face meetings with their faculty members during this time and continue to study or meet in small groups on campus. To meet individual student needs, online meetings are available for all students.

This email contains information about the following subjects:

• Building
• Computer labs
• Grading Options
• Withdraw Deadline
• Counseling
• UAC Town Hall
• UAC Commencement Ceremony
• IGC Housing
• Emergency Dean of Students Aid
• Salt Lake City Transition Options
• UAC summer term

Please read this email carefully. 

UAC Building

The Utah building will remain open and fully operational during this period.  Classrooms and offices are equipped with hand sanitizers, and the building will continue to be disinfected on a regular basis. 

UAC Computer Labs

University of Utah Asia Campus computing labs will remain open.  Students will be required to practice physical distancing in each lab, and all labs will be disinfected several times throughout the day.

Grading Options

Just a reminder that students can select from two options for each of your courses:

• A Credit/No-Credit (CR/NC) grade or
• A traditional letter grade

This selection can be initiated by clicking here. If you choose the credit/no-credit option, you will receive a “pass” or “fail” mark for the class instead of a letter grade. If you do not wish to change your traditional letter grade to the credit/no-credit option, then no action is needed.

University of Utah Asia students will have until May 22 to designate which course(s) you wish to convert to credit/no-credit. Any courses not designated by that date will receive a traditional letter grade. All courses taken as credit/no-credit this semester will count toward your major and other college or department graduation requirements. Additionally, any credit/no-credit course from this semester will not count against the current limits on the number of credit/no-credit courses students can take (see University Regulation 6-100A).

Withdraw Deadline

At the same time, the University of Utah Asia Campus is extending the deadline for withdrawing from your course(s) to May 22. Withdrawal will be listed on your transcripts but will not impact your GPA; it also will not result in a tuition refund. A withdrawal indication on your transcript can be explained in graduate school applications and to future employers as part of the extraordinary circumstances of the 2020 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic. Students around the world are facing similar situations with accompanying changes to their transcripts as they complete their college educations.

Counseling

The UAC Mental Health staff is committed to supporting the mental health needs of students. All counseling services can be conducted in person, over the phone, or via zoom, and appointments can be scheduled here. More information is available here. 

Zoom Town Hall

I will be hosting a virtual town hall on Wednesday, April 8, at noon.  This town hall is open to all UAC community members and can be accessed through the followingzoom link; for those that would like to attend this in person the meeting will be held in U107.  I will be collecting questions prior to the town hall through the followingform, and there will be time for questions and comments during the session on Wednesday.  

Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony currently scheduled for May 29 is cancelled.  We know this is disappointing for everyone, especially for our 2020 graduates, and their loved ones. While the ceremony that culminates graduates’ hard work and dedication has been cancelled this year, we want you to know that your accomplishments are no less impressive. We are looking into possible celebration options to highlight graduates during the summer.

UAC Housing

For those students living on campus you will be allowed to continue residing in your current room until the end of the term.  For those students who wish to checkout from their current room more information will be provided by Kevn D’Arco later this week.  

Emergency UAC Dean of Student Aid

For students who may be encountering financial emergencies, we have established a single point of contact for emergency aid requests. Please contact Dr. Randy McCrillis at randy.mccrillis@utah.edu to discuss options for assistance.

Salt Lake City Campus Transitions

For those students who are planning to transition this summer or fall term, Anna Yacovone will provide detailed information on all options as well as updated visa timelines by early next week. 

Summer School

Summer course information will be available on April 21, with registration live on May 12. Currently, UAC Summer 2020 is planned to occur as a regular in-person term, and potential changes to this plan will be made by May 2020. 

Please visit the U Coronavirus website for updates, and you will receive emails with more information as details about the impacts of these changes become available.

Students, we recognize that this has been disruptive to your education and has been a challenging situation; we appreciate your commitment to your education and to making the UAC a part of this journey.

Faculty and staff, we recognize that this experience has created unique challenges and opportunities; we appreciate your flexibility and steadfast support to each other and our students during these unprecedented times.

Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update March 27, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear Campus Community,

As the University of Utah Asia Campus is ending our fifth week of distance and online learning, I wanted to provide an upcoming reminder as well as a grading option to create greater flexibility for students. 

This is a reminder that the University of Utah Asia Campus will close Wednesday, April 1 – Friday, April 3, for our Spring Recess and will reopen on Monday, April 6.  During this time, we will be deep cleaning and disinfecting the building to get ready for the return to regular classroom operations.  During this recess, there will be no classes, and the Utah building will be closed. 

For students, we are offering some flexibility in grading for the spring semester. Starting today Friday, March 27, you will be able to select from two options for each of your courses:

• A Credit/No-Credit (CR/NC) grade or
• A traditional letter grade

This selection can be initiated by clicking here. If you choose the credit/no-credit option, you will receive a “pass” or “fail” mark for the class instead of a letter grade. If you do not wish to change your traditional letter grade to the credit/no-credit option, then no action is needed.

University of Utah Asia students will have until May 22 to designate which course(s) you wish to convert to credit/no-credit. Any courses not designated by that date will receive a traditional letter grade. All courses taken as credit/no-credit this semester will count toward your major and other college or department graduation requirements. Additionally, any credit/no-credit course from this semester will not count against the current limits on the number of credit/no-credit courses students can take (see University Regulation 6-100A).

At the same time, the University of Utah Asia Campus is extending the deadline for withdrawing from your course(s) to May 22. Withdrawal will be listed on your transcripts but will not impact your GPA; it also will not result in a tuition refund. A withdrawal indication on your transcript can be explained in graduate school applications and to future employers as part of the extraordinary circumstances of the 2020 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic. Students around the world are facing similar situations with accompanying changes to their transcripts as they complete their college educations.

I appreciate all that everyone has done during this unprecedented situation.

Sincerely, 

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

Update March 19, 2020, from Randy McCrillis, Ph.D., Dean of Students, University of Utah Asia Campus

Dear UAC Campus Community,

In alignment with the Korean Ministry of Education and the Korean Government, we are requiring that all faculty, staff and students who have left Korea in the last 14 days or plan to leave Korea during the remainder of the spring term complete the traveler self-reporting form.  The university will not release personal information. 

Upon return from any country to Korea, we recommend individuals to self-isolate and implement social distancing for 14 days.  I do understand that this may impact your travel plans and may cause you additional inconvenience and expense.  I am very sorry for this and hope that everyone appreciates that our primary goal has to be the health and safety of our campus community.

At this time we are still planning to return to regular in-person classroom operations on Monday April 6.   

Please visit the U Coronavirus website for updates, and you will continue to receive emails with more information as details about the impacts of these changes become available.  Contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Randy McCrillis randy.mccrillis@utah.edu, Office +82-032-626-6006

UPDATE 2/21/2020

UPDATE 2/13/2020