UH West Oʻahu to temporarily move many spring 2022 in-person courses to online delivery
A message from UH West Oʻahu Chanceller Maenette Benham dated Dec. 29:
Aloha mai UH West Oʻahu ʻOhana!
The UH System COVID-19 Policies & Practices group has been closely monitoring the pandemic conditions here in Hawaiʻi, with particular attention to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the uptick in hospitalizations. This group is informed by our health and wellness professionals who are in constant contact with federal, state, and city and county officials, as well as our hospital systems. While evidence continues to emerge that the Omicron variant may produce lower levels of severe illness than prior variants, we remain concerned about the potential stress on Hawaiʻi’s healthcare systems, given many more active infections and the large numbers of unvaccinated individuals across the state. Our approach continues to place the health of our community as the highest priority.
That said, UH Officers met and on Tuesday, Dec. 28, President Lassner sent a message to all UH community members that stated:
After much discussion, we are announcing that in-person classes that can be effectively taught online will be temporarily shifted to electronic delivery for the first two weeks of the semester. We are not changing course modalities but merely making this adjustment to maximize the safety of our campuses during the expected peak . . . . All UH campuses will remain open . . .
You can read that message at:
https://www.hawaii.edu/news/
We are making this change in part because of the continued uncertainty about the Omicron variant, but primarily because of our concern for our students as they return to campus. Those students who test positive over the holiday break will need to isolate and could miss the first week of in-person classes. Those who are returning to Oʻahu for the start of the semester and test positive upon arrival would miss the first two weeks of in-person classes. Thus, we are making the decision now to do online instruction for the first two weeks of the spring semester in order to minimize possible disruption to student learning, and to give our employees, students, and their families as much advance notice as possible.
There are courses that require in-person attendance. Fortunately we have learned how to safely offer our on-campus, in-person classes employing LumiSight verification, masking, and physical distancing. We will still be able to hold in-person courses, e.g., lab sections, clinical or hands-on learning experiences, studios, and so on, all with the necessary health and safety protocols in place. Determination of which course sections will be held on campus will be made by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
In summary:
All classes will begin in an online modality on Jan. 10. In-person classroom instruction is scheduled to begin on Jan. 24.
Students who are registered for course sections that will begin in person will be notified.
We strongly encourage all employees and students to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you have not already done so. That is your most effective defense against the Omicron variant, and it will significantly improve our chances of having a successful, healthy return to in-person instruction and campus activities.
All other operations of the university are not affected. With our very high rate of vaccination among students and employees, coupled with our mask requirement, we consider UH West Oʻahu workplaces to be as safe an environment as any on Oʻahu. Supervisors should ensure that all essential face-to-face services are provided while also considering the need to accommodate requests for COVID-19 telework to the extent necessary to protect the health of our employees.
Please get tested 3-5 days after returning from any travel. If possible, employees should work from home while awaiting test results. Students should limit exposure to others while awaiting test results.
If you are on campus and end up testing positive, please inform the UH West Oʻahu COVID-19 Response Team at covidwo@hawaii.edu or (808) 689-2525.
Within the next few days, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Jeff Moniz will provide more information to all instructional faculty and staff regarding both online and in-person instruction during the first two weeks of the Spring 2022 semester. During the week of Jan. 3, 2022, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Jan Javinar will provide information regarding the start of the spring session to students and student support staff.
We look forward to seeing you very soon! Until then, we wish you and your ʻohana a safe and joy-filled New Year celebration!
E mālama pono!
Chancellor Maenette Benham