Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

COVID-19 STUDENT FINANCIAL RELIEF FAQs

SPRING 2020 ENROLLED STUDENTS

Residential and Flex MOT, OTD, DPT and SLP

4/30/2020

On April 22, 2020, the University announced its COVID-19 Student Assistance Program to provide financial relief to students enduring financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Program is divided into several categories of relief and students are eligible for various initiatives based on their programs of study and Department of Education guidelines. Please refer to the FAQs below for initiatives relevant to your program.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition and Fees Freeze: Although our costs and investments in faculty, technology and infrastructure have continued and in specific cases increased, tuition and fees will be frozen for the remainder of 2020 which means that the planned increase will now be cancelled.

What does “frozen” mean? Do I have to pay tuition and fees for the rest of 2020?

Yes, all students who are enrolled and actively participating in courses will pay tuition and fees each term based on their enrollment status. The University has “frozen” tuition and fees at the current catalog rates and has canceled the tuition increase planned for the Fall semester.

Release of Financial Holds: To reinforce our commitment to your academic progression during this challenging time, any student on financial hold as of May 1, 2020, with a balance of $2,000 or less, in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs will be able to register for the Summer term. Outstanding balances will automatically roll into the next term.

If I still owe more than $2,000 on my account, do I need to pay it in full in order to register for Summer semester?

You are allowed to carry a balance into the Summer semester not to exceed $2,000. In order to register, you must pay enough to reduce your balance to no more than $2,000. Please keep in mind that you will still owe that balance, but we are deferring up to $2,000 to enable you to continue to progress toward your degree. As usual, all balances must be settled prior to graduation.

If I have other holds, will I be able to register for Summer semester?

If you are on a clinical education hold and are scheduled to participate in clinical work, you will not be able to report to the clinical site until you’ve satisfied all requirements of that hold.

Hardship Fee Relief

To assist you in funding your education during this time of hardship, we will reimburse campus and program fees paid for the entire Spring term and provide a credit for fees for the entire Summer term. You will receive the Spring term reimbursement via direct deposit starting May 1 and the Summer term credit on your invoice. All enrolled Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology students in those corresponding terms are eligible for this relief.

When will I receive my refund for Spring term fees? How will it be paid to me?

Spring program fees will be credited to your account starting on May 1, 2020. This credit will then be disbursed to you via the BankMobile refund process. If you do not have an active BankMobile account, you must first provide your Social Security Number to create an account. Please sign into the MyUSA portal and navigate to My Info > My Contact Info and enter your SSN.

After you enter your SSN on the MyUSA portal, you must wait at least one business day for the system to sync before you can create a BankMobile account. After one business day, sign into the MyUSA portal and navigate to Student Services > Bursar > BankMobile Refund Preference and scroll to the bottom of the page to create a BankMobile account. Refunds will be disbursed via direct deposit to the bank account you designate when you create your BankMobile account.

If you are an international student and do not have a Social Security Number to set up a BankMobile account, your credit will be applied to future term charges.

Will I receive a BankMobile disbursement if I still owe money from Spring semester?

Yes. All students who paid a program fee in Spring 2020 semester will receive an account credit for the amount paid and will receive a disbursement via BankMobile regardless of your account balance. If you are unable to create a BankMobile account, your credit will be applied to future term charges.

Who do I call if I don’t receive my disbursement from BankMobile after May 15, 2020?

Please ensure you’ve created a BankMobile account by May 15, 2020. If you don’t receive payment by May 20, contact the Bursar by emailing bursar@usa.edu from your USA e-mail account and the staff will research the status of your disbursement. Please note that it takes BankMobile up to four business days to establish and activate a new account for funds transfer.

When will I receive my Summer program fee refund?

Your summer program fee will be credited to your account before you pay tuition and fees for the Summer term. You will not receive a refund via BankMobile. Instead you will not incur a net charge for the fee.

CARES Act Payment – Fully Passed Through

The University has been allocated Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds under the CARES Act totaling $993,092. Under the CARES Act, we are permitted to award HEER emergency student grants to first professional Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology.

We have decided to pass 100% of these funds directly through to students using the same methodology applied by the US Department of Education to determine the grant amount. Though the CARES Act permits the University to maintain up to 50% of the funds to cover its own higher costs incurred due to the COVID-19 crisis, USAHS will absorb these additional costs and pass all funds directly through to students. With the 100% pass through decision, your portion of the relief funds is currently calculated to be approximately $260 per student. These funds will be disbursed directly to you by the University upon receipt from the US government.

Who is eligible to receive the emergency student grant?

To be considered for the emergency grant, you must be enrolled in a campus-based degree-granting program of study as of March 13, 2020 when the CARES Act was proclaimed and you must be eligible to participate in Title IV programs under the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965. The U.S. government’s criteria to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA include but are not limited to the following: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen; a valid Social Security number; registration with Selective Service (if the student is male); and a high school diploma, GED, or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting. If you filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then you have demonstrated eligibility to participate in programs under Section 484 of the HEA.

If I meet the criteria for eligibility, but have not filed a FAFSA, will I still be eligible to receive the emergency student grant?

You must first file a FAFSA to be considered for eligibility for the emergency grant. If you currently receive Title IV student loans, you’ve previously completed a FAFSA and don’t need to complete another. The University has identified a group of students who have not filed a FAFSA and will be communicating separately with those students to provide instructions for filing a brief portion of the FAFSA that will allow us to determine eligibility. We estimate it will take no more than 30 minutes to file the relevant portion of the FAFSA and request that all students file by May 15, 2020 so we are able to distribute funds upon receipt from the Department of Education.

I am graduating at the end of the Spring semester. Will I receive the emergency student grant?

Yes, if you were an active student as of March 13, 2020 and meet the eligibility criteria established above, you will receive the emergency grant payment via BankMobile.

If I do not meet the CARES Act criteria to be eligible to receive the emergency student grant, will I still be able to receive any financial support?

Yes, if you do not meet the criteria to receive a CARES Act grant, such as not being a US citizen or legal resident of the United States, the University has decided to extend you the grant using its own funds. The grant will be credited to your account and applied to future term charges.

When will I receive my emergency grant payment?

The University will disburse grant payments to students upon receipt from the Department of Education. We have submitted the necessary application to the Department of Education for grant funds and are pending a response. We will notify students once funds are available to disburse. Payments will be processed and disbursed to students through BankMobile, the University’s third-party processor that issues student refunds. If you do not have an active BankMobile account, please refer to the instructions above in the Hardship Fee Relief section to create a BankMobile account. Remember that you must first submit your Social Security Number in the portal in order to create a BankMobile account.

Who do I contact if I don’t receive my grant payment?

Once we notify students that funds have been disbursed, please first check your BankMobile account and personal bank account to verify you did not receive the disbursement. If you did not receive your disbursement and have created a BankMobile account, from your USA e-mail account, please contact the Bursar at bursar@usa.edu.

Until when will courses be delivered virtually?

All instruction, including labs, residencies and exams at all campus locations, is being delivered virtually through July 5th. This includes all students in all programs. We are adjusting courses to ensure students continue to progress and meet all program requirements. For students in Flex programs or programs that require or offer a residency, those residencies will begin on or after July 6, as will be communicated to you by your Program Director.

When can faculty and staff return to campus?

The decision to start the summer term virtually with a planned return to campus on July 6 impacts students only.  The date for faculty and staff to return to campus, as well as the date the campus opens for student activities, will be based on state and local mandates and CDC guidelines.  Faculty will continue to have essential video support and access to necessary equipment using the established protocol.

How will faculty communicate with students?

Faculty will communicate regularly with students through electronic means such as email and Blackboard where they will provide, for example, announcements, detailed instructions, and virtual discussions.

What about students who are scheduled to be in clinicals during the summer term?  Will that still happen?

As a University priority, the Clinical Education team is working diligently with our clinical partners to place students whose curricular plan includes a clinical experience during the summer term.  Stay in close contact with your clinical faculty during this period.

What support is available to students virtually?

Student support is available by phone, e-mail, and virtual appointment with faculty, faculty advisors, student success advisors, and writing center staff.  Student tutors have started providing services and additional resources will be added. For the summer term, although on-campus classes will not start until July 6, activities such as tutoring, advising, and financial aid services will be continue virtually and will be augmented with direct in-person interaction and a place for student to engage with their cohort and peers, once state and local authorities and CDC guidelines permit.

Students may benefit from counseling or guidance resources and ComPsych is available to provide this support.  Students can access ComPsych at this link, or by calling 844.819.4777 for University-sponsored assistance. More information about ComPsych is available on the MyUSA portal.

We are all making modifications to our courses based on the move to fully virtual delivery.  Is there anything we should be doing to track the changes we are making?

Yes.  Our accreditor WSCUC, the US Department of Education, and many of our state, program, and specialized regulators have indicated that they will be flexible with institutions such as ours in terms of program delivery changes given current circumstances. However, those changes must be documented. Additionally, many accreditors have asked or required that we notify them of any such substantive modifications and that we be in a position to answer specific questions about the changes we have made such as: 1) the timeframe (start and end) of the changes to instructional modality; 2) scope of the instructional modality changes; 3) identification of courses that are temporarily impacted, including the format and frequency of educational delivery; 4) any plans to temporarily partner with another institution to deliver instruction to students; 5) any changes to the academic calendar for the current term; 6) impact on students and how to ensure they can complete their program requirements; 7) quality assurance plans including items such as technical support and course development for distance learning in an accessible and secure manner; 8) communications to students, faculty and staff; and 9) any approvals from relevant professional licensing bodies around temporary adjustments. Substantive change processes apply should we decide to maintain any of these changes on a permanent basis.

To allow us to answer questions of this type, and potentially others now or in the future, we ask you all to keep track of any substantive changes you make to your courses, and to work closely with your program directors and with Dr. Maria Puzziferro to document any such changes.

How can I access my required texts?

First, as a reminder, students are responsible for purchasing their required textbooks. If you do not currently have your required textbook and cannot purchase/rent a copy, you may be able to access a digital copy through the USA library. Check our eBooks page for a list of the textbooks that are a part of the library’s regular eBook collection. Additionally, several publishers have given our library complimentary, temporary access to their eBook collections. You can see those collections here: https://library.usa.edu/keeplearning. You may notice that some eBooks are listed on both pages. In these cases, the version listed on the library’s eBooks page may have limited user licenses (e.g. just one person can view the book at a time), but the version listed on the Keep Learning guide has no such limits.

What digital resources does the library have to support my learning?

The library has thousands of eBooks, journals, and streaming videos available on our website: https://library.usa.edu/. You can also use the search bar at the top of each page of the library’s website to search our library’s search engine, Search USA. If you have not used our website before, I highly recommend watching this brief tutorial video. Remember that we provide access to a set of five anatomy apps from Visible Body. There are also browser versions of each module available if you want to use the software on a larger screen.

I have materials checked out from my campus library. When are they due back?

No library materials will be due back until campuses reopen for students.

How can I get help accessing library resources online if I’m having issues? How can I contact the librarians?

Library support is available to help you 7 days a week. Please email library@usa.edu or chat with us, available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 AM-midnight Eastern (5 AM-9 PM Pacific) and Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8 AM-2 AM Eastern (5 AM-11 PM Pacific).

Can students access the campuses to use equipment?

Campus facilities will not be accessible to students during this time and will be open only to faculty and staff. Student card readers will be deactivated.  Wellness Centers and community clinics are closed.  If students have an emergency requiring access to their personal items, they should contact their Student Success Advisor or Program Director.

I have patients who come to campus for an important research project [or clinic]. Are they included in the restrictions for visitors to campus?

Yes, they are included in the restrictions. You can reschedule clinics or research after restrictions are lifted. Only employees will be allowed on campus during the modified operations to access essential equipment and infrastructure.

What happens to student workers?

Student workers will not be permitted to work on campus until facilities reopen. Student workers should coordinate with their direct supervisors to determine the availability of virtual work during this time in their departments (e.g., student tutors) or on another team. For students who are currently eligible for Federal Work Study (FWS) funding, the University is reviewing guidance from the US Department of Education as to the continuing availability of FWS funds for student workers whose jobs have been impacted by the modified campus operations and the opportunity for continuing employment.

What steps are being taken to prevent the spread of the virus on our campuses?

Campus operations have been modified to prevent coronavirus spread.

• Hygiene: The campus community must make use of healthy hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing, avoiding touching your face, and the use of hand sanitizers which are located at each entrance and throughout the campuses. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be found in hallways and classroom/labs.
• Campus Access
  • Restricted Access: The campus will be accessible to faculty and staff to access essential equipment and infrastructure. No visitors will be allowed to enter the University except for necessary maintenance or emergency situations.
  • Focus on Health: Employees with fever, cough or difficulty breathing should stay home and seek medical consultation.
• Supplies: Disposable paper tissues with spray bottles of cleaning solution have been placed throughout the campuses, classrooms, and study areas for your use. Spray bottles will be refilled during the evening custodial rounds or during the day by the facilities staff when notified.
• Equipment: The facilities team will be vigilant to clean all equipment either between uses or each day, at a minimum.
• Common Space Wipe Down: Facilities management will constantly wipe down all tabletops and stair bannisters with antibacterial cleaning solution during the evening routine custodial services. Routine wipe downs of stair handrails have been increased.

When working on campus what steps are being taken to separate employees?

All employees will be given the option to relocate to a space that provides greater distance from co-workers.  Campus Directors will have alternative spaces for employee use.  IT is also available to help you relocate any necessary equipment.

I need to come to campus to work on essential functions.  What guidelines should I follow?

If your campus presence requires any physical contact with other employees (e.g., lab recording demonstrations, face-to-face meetings or interactions, etc.):

• First Stop: There will be a station at each reception area with thermometers and safety items such as hand wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves and gowns for your use. Please visit this station as your first stop on campus.
• Voluntary Temperature Check: We are providing digital thermometers so that employees can take their own temperature. You may take your temperature in the reception area, or privately using a restroom or campus lactation area. You are under no obligation to report your temperature. This is for your own personal health and safety and that of your colleagues. Lysol and/or alcohol wipes will be available to clean the equipment prior to and after use.
• Social Distancing and Protection:  If you are healthy and do not have a fever and will enter campus:
  • Workspace: Sit at an appropriate social distance, which is at least 6 feet from your colleagues. If your workstation is uncomfortably close, many options including conference rooms, classrooms and labs exist on campus for you to move. If you have any doubt or need access or other areas, contact me or campus operations/facilities manager.
  • Physical Proximity: If your campus presence requires any close interaction, gloves and gowns are available to you. Use of these items is optional, and we suggest that you use them prudently on campus given current supply shortages. Do not reuse or share these items.  Gowns can be dropped in the bins either in the CICP or at the reception desk entrance.
  • Equipment Cleaning: Remember to wipe down all equipment, surfaces, etc. with the disinfectant wipes and solutions that can be found on all campuses.
  • Duration: Remain only on campus for essential functions and only for the required length of time.

If you are uncomfortable with or unable to adhere to these safety procedures, you should not attempt to come to campus. Rather, these employees should work remotely and continue to consult with their supervisors regarding remote work requirements.

We recognize that it is important to have guidelines to follow to ensure continuity and consistency not only within your respective team but also across programs, campuses, and departments. We will be using these guidelines for all full-time and part-time faculty and staff to ensure your team can safely operate in an effective manner while limiting the impact to our students and colleagues:

• Mission: The University will continue advancing its mission of preparing healthcare practitioners through current and prospective students. To this end, teaching, student support and enrollment activities will continue while operating in a safe and healthy environment.
• Authority: Supervisors and Program Directors with work with Associate Deans, Vice Presidents and the Chief Academic Officer to determine the best approach for ensuring essential functions of the team are delivered and disruptions are minimized.
• Operating Coverage: To address any unforeseen issues that require immediate attention and collaborative remediation, departments must implement measures to ensure full coverage; supervisors are responsible for ensuring coverage and adherence to assigned work schedules based on specific deliverables.
• On Campus Activities Limited other than for a Critical Work Necessity: All on-campus presences are limited to critical work necessity and must be coordinated with the Campus Director and facilities team to ensure social distancing requirements are managed. This presence assumes that a virtual alternative is not possible.

Faculty, contributing faculty and lab instructors may have on-campus presence, only as is necessary to support course needs, access required equipment and resources for instructional delivery, and conduct other academic activities to include teaching, advising, and clinical coordination. Faculty should plan to increase their contact with students during this critical time using Blackboard and available tools. The Keep Teaching guide provides resources and support for faculty to maintain instructional continuity: http://tiny.cc/KeepTeaching.

Staff may have on-campus presence only as is necessary to access infrastructure, coordinate mission-critical work, or retrieve material, file or mail that ensures academic quality, provides essential student services, and meets all compliance standards. Please reference the Campus Operations FAQs for further details.

• Remote work options: All employees are eligible for remote work options.  Flexible schedules, including weekend hours and rotational hours in a remote work environment, are to be implemented while maintaining your normal number of work hours. All faculty and staff should coordinate with their supervisor their remote work plan. On-campus time should be utilized only if specific equipment or infrastructure is needed and, only when social distancing requirements are met. Employees may be asked to be flexible with their job assignments in order to ensure adequate coverage of current needs across the University.

How do we prepare for remote work?

Faculty and staff should take home required information and equipment in the event it becomes necessary to work from home for a longer than expected duration. If you are unable to transfer the necessary equipment or obtain office supplies for extended remote work, please contact your supervisor who will work with the corresponding department. Please refer to the Remote Work Guidelines and the Remote Work IT Helpful Hints that can be found on our website.

If I fall into the CDC high-risk category, what steps should I take?

We have faculty and staff that may fall into high-risk classifications requiring special accommodations.  The High-Risk Group (defined by the CDC) includes individuals who:

• Have serious, chronic medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, etc.
• Have weakened immune systems
• Are older adults (age 65 or older)

Action: Faculty/staff falling into this category should confidentially notify their supervisor and local HR Partner to discuss a remote working arrangement.  If an accommodation is being requested, individuals in this category should complete the High-Risk Accommodation form. Healthiest You telehealth service is available as an option for medical diagnosis and treatment. These individuals are not required to report to campus and are approved for remote work. If any faculty/staff are unable to work, they should use available sick time as per the extended policy.

Do I need to self-quarantine and, if so, what are the accommodations?

Individuals requiring self-quarantine (voluntary/mandatory) due to specific guidelines:

• Travel outside of the US (self-quarantine is recommended)
• Travel from countries currently designated as Zone 3 (self-quarantine is mandatory)
• Family member who has been diagnosed or is under quarantine
• Doctor suggested quarantine based on exhibiting symptoms, concerns related to potential exposure or caring for dependent with potential COVID-19

Action: Faculty/staff falling into this category should confidentially notify their supervisor and local HR Partner to discuss a remote work arrangement. Individuals in this category should complete the Medical Accommodations form or Travel Form. Healthiest You telehealth service is available as an option for medical diagnosis and treatment. These individuals are not to report to campus and should continue their regular responsibilities while working remotely. If you are unable to work in any capacity, sick time should be used as per the expanded sick leave policy.

Why would faculty and staff be allowed to come to campus when students went home for virtual instruction?

The University would like to continue operating to fulfill its mission of developing health care practitioners by graduating exceptional current and prospective students. Flexible schedules, including weekend and rotational hours in a remote work environment, are to be implemented. On-campus attendance is limited to critical work necessity and must be coordinated with the Campus Director and facilities manager to ensure social distancing and managing participant requirements.  This access assumes that a virtual alternative is not possible.

What special accommodations are being made for faculty and staff?

All faculty and staff are expected to continue fulfilling their responsibilities and will be allowed to do this remotely.  Employees will have various remote work options, depending on their individual circumstances. If an employee is sick and unable to work in any capacity, they should use available sick leave as per the expanded sick leave policy. Visit the University website or contact Human Resources for the required forms for each type of accommodation.  Please coordinate with your supervisor the most appropriate work option that allows you to fulfill your responsibilities while being safe.

How are we protecting employees who choose to come on campus for critical work?

Appropriate measures have been undertaken that modify our operations and facilities to ensure safety for our community members who choose to come to campus for critical work: social distancing measures, restricted campus access with no visitors or students, and increased cleaning. All faculty and staff are expected to adhere to the guidelines and requirements of their local government authorities with respect to safety and health, as those requirements are continuing to evolve.

What medical support services are available?

Employees have access to our telehealth services through Healthiest You (www.healthiestyou.com / P: 866-703-1259), Best Doctors (https://members.bestdoctors.com / P: 866-904-0910)  and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through ComPsych (www.guidanceresources.com / P: 844-819-4777)

My elderly parents are being sent home from their nursing home or my child’s school is closing, and I don’t have access to any care. Can I work from home?

Yes. Flexible work options are available for employees. Please refer to the Temporary Hardship Accommodation form found on our website and coordinate with your supervisor.

Are faculty or staff who are concerned about contracting the coronavirus allowed to work remotely?

Yes.  Flexible work options are available for all employees.  Please refer to the established guidelines and coordinate with your supervisor.

If I am a contributing faculty or lab assistant, will I still be required to work?

Contributing faculty and lab assistants will still be necessary for teaching students even in the virtual environment.  Please contact your lead instructor or program director to discuss your responsibilities and assignments.

How do we report any cases of the coronavirus, or anyone that we suspect may be contaminated with the coronavirus?

Confirmed cases of the coronavirus occurring among faculty and staff should be reported to Human Resources by email to HR@usa.edu or by calling (904) 770-3600.  Confirmed cases among students should be reported by calling the Student Administration Office at (760) 410-5407. All reports will be treated as confidential to the extent possible under FERPA and other privacy regulations.  As an institution of higher education, it is our obligation and commitment to ensure that all students and employees are treated with respect and without bias.  Accordingly, we are confident that the USAHS community will demonstrate the compassion of health care professionals, and tolerance for all students, faculty and staff.

What should faculty and staff do if they have been exposed to coronavirus?

Faculty and staff who think they may have contracted or have been exposed to coronavirus, or who may have encountered a person carrying the virus, should call ahead to their health care provider as soon as possible to determine next steps including testing if recommended.

Can I still have an on-campus event?

All USAHS events are canceled until further notice. The Spring Commencement ceremonies are postponed until a later date.

Can I invite visitors to campus during work hours?

No external groups or visitors will be permitted on any campus (e.g. tours, meetings on campus) unless related to a maintenance issue or required by an emergency.

I have off-campus events planned. Can I still attend those? What about students who have signed up to volunteer at events?

All University-endorsed, off-campus events are canceled until further notice. No students or faculty members should attend. If this is personal and not endorsed by the University, please use your judgement regarding community spread and legal notifications and consider that the communities where USAHS operates have banned large gatherings.

Should I be booking future conferences?  What do I do if my conference has canceled?

Many conferences and other group meetings in which University faculty, staff and students participate have been canceled.  As a result, many trips will also be canceled. We are internally tracking cancellations and ask that you follow these guidelines when canceling travel.

• Check the then-current cancellation policy of the airline or hotel chain prior to booking. Some are waiving cancellation fees for travel booked and/or to be completed during certain periods.
• Purchasing travel insurance does not necessarily guarantee a refund of fares, fees, or reservation charges, and is not required as part of the University’s typical travel booking process.
• Please ensure that travel is booked with World Travel/Concur so we can count on their assistance with reusing canceled tickets and working with our hotel partners to waive cancellation fees where possible, should future travel need to be canceled. Any travel that was booked with World Travel/Concur, should be canceled via World Travel/Concur.
• Any travel that was booked outside of World Travel/Concur, should be canceled directly with the airline/ hotel/car rental agency.
• Any out-of-pocket expenses that have been reimbursed and are associated with a canceled trip will be addressed directly with the traveler by the Finance/Procurement team

Should I be traveling?

The University has enacted guidelines limiting University travel until the coronavirus outbreak has been stabilized, and the Public Health Emergency has been lifted.  All non-essential business travel should be avoided by utilizing teleconference technology which is available to all employees through Ring Central. If you have a trip planned, please consult with your supervisor to determine if that travel is necessary. As a reminder, all employees must book travel through the Concur portal.

Do I need to report my travel history to be allowed on campus?

Yes. If you have traveled by air, either domestically or internationally, in the last 30 days or if you have plans to travel, please complete and submit a confidential Travel History Form.  Please review USAHS Travel Guidelines. If you have traveled outside the country, other than a Level 3 risk country, it is recommended that you self-quarantine for 14 days.  If you have traveled outside the country to a Level 3 risk country, you are required to self-quarantine.

What do I do if my conference was canceled?

Many conferences and other group meetings in which University faculty, staff and students participate have been canceled.  As a result, many trips will also be canceled. We are internally tracking cancellations and ask that you follow these guidelines when canceling travel.

• Any travel that was booked with World Travel/Concur, should be canceled via World Travel / Concur.
• Any travel that was booked outside of World Travel/Concur, should be canceled directly with the airline/ hotel/car rental agency.
• Any out of pocket expenses that have been reimbursed and are associated with a canceled trip will be addressed directly with the traveler by the Finance/Procurement team.

What if I want to get tested for the virus?

If you feel that you should be tested, please call your health care provider for instructions.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide a comprehensive overview of the coronavirus at this website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html. If you have symptoms that you suspect may be related to coronavirus, please contact your health care provider as soon as possible to determine next steps including testing if recommended.

What do I do if I am not feeling well?

If you are not feeling well, please stay home and work with your supervisor to arrange coverage of your duties. Please consult the employee handbook or faculty handbook regarding sick policies. These policies apply to all employees.

What is the best way to protect yourself against contracting coronavirus?

Based on guidance from the CDC:

Wash your hands frequently

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash them with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• The University provides alcohol-based hand sanitizer in hallways and in classroom/labs and in general gathering areas.
• Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain clean work surfaces.

• As with your hands, keep your work surfaces clean. The University is providing wipes for classrooms tables and spray bottles filled with cleaning solution for lab classrooms so you can wipe down all surfaces prior to and after use.  Disposable paper towels are also provided.
• Cleaning your work surfaces with alcohol-based solutions kills viruses that may be on the work surface.

Maintain social distancing

• Maintain at least a 6-foot distance between yourself and others.
• When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

• Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Practice respiratory hygiene

• Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. The University is providing tissues throughout the campuses for your use.
• Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

• Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
• National and local authorities will have the most up-to-date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

Stay informed and follow advice given by your health care provider

• Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your health care provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
• National and local authorities will have the most up-to-date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

Protective measures for people who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading

• Follow the guidance outlined above.
• Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover.  Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
• If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers.  Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

June 9, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Students,

We eagerly anticipate our Reentry to campus on July 6 and are looking forward to seeing you on campus again!  In preparation, we have outlined further details of the Phase One Reentry plan to provide flexibility for your personal planning.

What are our guiding principles for the return to campus?

• Providing students with the skills necessary to graduate, meet accreditation requirements, and become exceptional clinicians is balanced with regulatory restrictions and our ability to provide a safe and secure campus environment for students, faculty and staff.  Our plans will always accommodate local safety and health considerations and remain in line with CDC guidelines.
• The plan is phased as state and city requirements evolve and student outcomes and campus safety are evaluated.  Our Day 1 is still targeted for July 6.
• The plan will be adjusted as required, understanding that flexibility and contingency planning are the keys to long-term success.

How were programs and courses decided?

Our Reentry plan returns students, faculty and staff to campus in phases that are prioritized to deliver skills-based lab experiences to meet graduation and accreditation requirements. Phase One, targeted to begin July 6, includes students at specific junctures in their program where campus-based lab activities are necessary to meet accreditation requirements. These students require in-person instruction to attain full competency in skills that involve a particular level of psychomotor skill, impact on patient safety, and/or need for specific equipment.

Who returns in Phase One?

Students returning in Phase One include:

• DPT Resident 

• • Students in terms 2, 3 and 5 will return the week of July 6
  • Students in terms 1, 4 and 6 will return the week of July 13

• DPT Flex

• Students in term 8 will return the week of July 6
• Students in terms 1 – 7 and term 10 will return the week of July 13

• Nursing – FNP Students in terms 3 and 5 will return the week indicated by their plan of study.

How do returning students get screened to enter campus?

Required Health Screening Protocol:  Students must complete a self-reported health screening assessment for 14 days prior to arriving on campus.  A mobile/web-based application will be used for this screening which involves taking your temperature daily and answering questions related to COVID-19 symptoms and any potential for exposure to the virus.  Based on the information you provide, the app will confirm your ability to come to campus.  This same screening process will be used daily to ensure the health and safety of those who will be on campus each day.  Anyone exhibiting the following symptoms or conditions will not be allowed on campus:

• Fever of 100.4 or higher
• Two or more suspected symptoms of COVID-19
• Recent international or cruise ship travel
• Recent contact with COVID-19 under-investigation, presumed, or positive cases (including self)

More details on the mobile/web application and instructions for completing the required health screening will be provided.

What safety measures are being taken?

• Limited class sizes: To comply with health and safety guidelines for social distancing, class sizes will be limited, and cohorts will be divided into ‘sections’ that will attend campus at different times, usually the same day each week.  DPT Flex and nursing students will attend campus on consecutive days during the weekends their lab classes are scheduled. Specific course schedules, including day and times on campus and room assignments, are being developed and will be distributed as soon as they are available.
• Personal Protective Equipment:  You will need to bring a cloth, procedural, surgical, KN95, or N95 mask to enter campus.  Additional PPE for lab use will be provided by the University and distributed in the lab including procedural masks, gloves and face shields. Training for use of these items and instructions for safely maintaining them will be provided prior to the first day of class.

• Facilities:  Deep cleaning of classrooms, labs, equipment, and common spaces is being done and will continue uninterrupted. You will notice that chairs, tables, and other equipment in classrooms and hallways have been arranged to ensure social distancing.  In addition, specific doors have been designated as entrances and exits, and hallways and stairs have been marked with directional signage.  Per health and safety guidelines, common areas, including the library, lounge areas and study rooms, will remain closed until group gatherings are deemed safe. Lockers will not be available. Be sure to bring a bag or backpack to accommodate your belongings.

What services are being offered on campus during Phase One?

• Student Services:  To safeguard the health and safety of the campus community, only instructors, direct instructional support staff (such as IT), and safety personnel who support facilities operations will report to campus in addition to students.  Student services will continue to be available virtually until safety protocols allow for greater interaction.

• Food and Beverages:  Food service will not be available on any campus and vending machines and refrigerators will not be operational per health and safety guidelines. Please plan to bring your own non-perishable food items, snacks, and beverages which you will be able to consume during breaks in your assigned classroom. Informal gatherings before, during or after class will not be permitted based on guidelines.

When will additional Phases be decided?

Our guiding principles will continue to prioritize the skills you need to graduate and meet accreditation requirements while complying with regulatory restrictions to ensure the safety of all who return to campus. Phase One will continue throughout the summer term, and as local health and safety regulations ease, we expect to be able to implement additional phases of the Reentry plan beginning in the fall term.

Thank you for your continued commitment to education and vison of becoming an exceptional practitioner during these historically trying times. We will share specific information regarding classes, schedules, and student processes for Reentry as soon as they are available.  Please watch your email, the MyUSA portal, the USA.edu website and other communications channels for updates.  In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact your faculty advisor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Goldstein
Executive Dean of the College of Rehabilitative Sciences
and Chief Academic Officer

June 3, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Students,

It has been nearly three months since we began our journey addressing the COVID-19 crisis. During that time, we have pivoted to online instruction and made adjustments to our personal lives including wearing masks, washing hands, taking temperatures, and social distancing. Our lives were changed, and we all anticipate a return to “normal”.

Until recently, states and cities where the University operates had not issued guidelines that would allow us to initiate even limited educational activities on our campuses.  Though regulations continue to evolve, we are ready to begin a carefully planned return to campus in accordance with current health and safety guidelines. We are making required accommodations at our facilities – and in instructional scheduling – to safely return you to face-to-face, hands-on instruction. Our Reentry plan will roll out in phases and will be flexible enough to respond to any changes in the regulatory environment.

Our cross-functional return-to-campus team has been working to address academic, legal, regulatory, workforce, facilities, safety, procurement and other issues related to safely returning to all USAHS campus locations.  The scope of this plan is complex — from securing personal protective equipment for students, faculty and staff to scheduling labs that maintain social distancing to comply with CDC requirements and health regulations.

What does Reentry mean for you?

• Gaining Necessary Skills:  Our determination to return to campus is focused on providing students the skills necessary to graduate, meet accreditation requirements, and to become exceptional clinicians. This has been carefully balanced with regulatory restrictions and our ability to provide a safe and secure environment for students, faculty and staff.  Reentry plans will always accommodate state safety and health considerations and remain in line with CDC guidelines.  This means some campuses may initiate a return to campus before others and not all students will begin activities at the same time.

• Multi-Phased Plan:  Only students, faculty, and essential support personnel required for certain lab classes and skills will be permitted on campus during the early phases of the Reentry plan.

• • Phase One (targeted to begin July 6): This phase includes students who must have face-to-face interaction to meet accreditation requirements due to competencies that cannot be adequately met in a virtual environment. Most of the Physical Therapy and some Nursing students fall into this category. Only instructors, direct instructional support staff such as IT, and safety personnel who support facilities operations will report to campus.  This minimizes your exposure to people not required to safely deliver your instruction. Student services will continue to be available virtually through Phases One and Two.

• • Phase Two (date TBD): This phase welcomes students who could attain skills virtually but require a certain level of psychomotor skills, access to equipment, and/or group work that is better accomplished on campus.  All Physical Therapy, all Occupational Therapy, most Speech-Language Pathology, and some Nursing students are included in this phase.

• • Phase Three (date TBD): This phase includes the return of remaining students who have developed skills and are able to achieve course learning outcomes through virtual instruction.  Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology students who already attended in Phases One and Two will have added courses and lab practice hours.  Remaining students, which include all Speech-Language Pathology students, will participate.  In-person student services that have been offered virtually will be available on campus and common areas will open under strict restrictions. All post-professional immersion experiences will return to the campus-based delivery model.

• • Phase Four (date TBD): This phase will initiate once health and travel restrictions are eliminated. At this point, all students, faculty and staff will be allowed on campus.  External visitors and community partners will be welcomed on campus.
• Facilities: Since fully virtual instruction began, our Facilities team has been deep cleaning classrooms, labs, equipment and common spaces, and preparing for the return to campus. They are arranging chairs, tables, and other equipment in classrooms and hallways to ensure social distancing; designating specific entrances and exit doors; marking hallways and stairs with directional signage; setting cleaning schedules; and increasing hand sanitizer stations.
• Scheduling: On-campus lab sessions focused on skill and competency development will be prioritized for students in all phases. A complete list of labs with specific coursework and learning activities, along with times, days and assigned rooms, will be published soon.
• Communication and Training: As we fully define all elements of Reentry, we will let you know what to expect and what you can do to prepare for your return to campus. Look for informational emails, web-site content, videos and a virtual walk-through of the new campus experience. We will provide information and virtual training related to safety protocols on each campus, such as using required personal protective equipment (PPE), building entry instructions, and social distancing guidelines. You will see signage at each building entrance, throughout the facilities, and across campus to make it easy to navigate and understand new procedures.
• Timing:  We continue to monitor changes in federal, state and local regulations.  At this point, the University will be initiating Phase One on July 6 which consists only of the instruction needed to meet those accreditation requirements which cannot be met virtually.

I look forward to seeing our campuses come alive and initiating lab activities in just a few short weeks. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your faculty advisor.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brian Goldstein, Executive Dean of the College of Rehabilitative Sciences
And Chief Academic Officer

This message is only applicable to students who did not receive a clinical placement.

May 27, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Students – DPT, MOT, OTD and SLP Prelicensure Programs:

Clinical experiences are an essential part of your education and development as an exceptional practitioner. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present multiple challenges including mobility limitations, clinics and health care settings that remain closed or restricted from student placements, and safety concerns. In addition, we are bound to provide experiences that meet accreditation standards and comply with state requirements. The good news is that we have implemented processes that have quickly secured placements for as many students as possible in a manner that provides a safe clinical experience while complying with accreditor requirements for graduation.

Despite our endless efforts, the environment may not allow us to identify placements for all students in the Summer 2020 term. Like you, we are disappointed and frustrated at the continued difficulties presented by the pandemic. Students who do not have a placement by May 31, 2020, will need to request a Leave of Absence. Students on LOA will be withdrawn from their current courses and will not incur tuition charges for the Summer term. Any work you’ve done in online courses at that point will be saved and transferred to Fall term courses. We remain committed to continuing to work toward identifying a clinical placement and supporting your academic growth to help you keep learning and advancing as a practitioner during this leave.

Continued Access to Current University Support: Students on Leave of Absence will continue to have access to all University Services including student success advisors, online library material, prior term courses, and IT support.

New Academic Opportunities: We are pleased to provide details on complimentary, non-credit bearing academic opportunities designed to support those students who are on a Leave of Absence while awaiting clinical placement through the Summer 2020 term. These opportunities have been developed to enhance your professional success and provide learning opportunities to prepare you for licensure examination and clinical practice.

University Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) Webinars
Students on a Leave of Absence will have full, free access to the University’s CPE Webinars. You can take courses on topics that include telehealth, ergonomics, dissection, gait, geriatric care and many more. To review the catalog and sign up to access courses, click this link to view the catalog, register and use the coupon code for your profession as this will allow you to register for content applicable to your profession and receive a certificate of attendance upon successful completion. If you have any questions, contact Ouida Howell (ohowell@usa.edu or 904-770-3566).

Coupon Codes: KeepLearningSPT, KeepLearningOTS, or KeepLearningRN.

Important: Please don’t use the cart option at checkout—register for each offering individually

Expert Exchange @USAHS
An interactive workshop will be held weekly with expert faculty speakers presenting on topics such as licensure preparation, test taking strategies and clinical practice that will prepare you for a strong start to supervised clinical practice. The objective is to enhance your practitioner skills and strengthen your confidence for the licensure exam.

LinkedIn Learning
The University has provided access to LinkedIn Learning, an online educational platform with more than 6,000 self-paced courses, for all students through the Summer term. At LinkedIn Learning, you will find interesting videos on academic, personal, financial, technology, and business topics to enhance your professional success. You should have already received an email invitation from LinkedIn, or you can get started here with your University email and password to log in. Once you log in, a great place to start is at the How to use LinkedIn Learning Course. We hope you enjoy this resource through the Summer 2020 term

USAHS Keep Learning Website
In order to stay engaged with your learning community, the Keep Learning website has been developed to provide students with abundant resources to support learning in a fully virtual format. In addition to foundational information, you can also access recommended online learning strategies from experts, technology toolkits, knowledge spotlights, and other ‘hot off the press’ free learning opportunities that will allow you to keep learning and stay connected.

I hope you will take advantage of some, if not all, of these learning tools to further your development into an exceptional clinical practitioner. Please also take note of the new COVID-19 Working Scholars Program that is designed to help support your financial needs while you do not have access to financial aid and private lending channels. Everyone on the USAHS staff – from faculty to advisors to the leadership team – is behind you and will continue to work tirelessly to help you succeed.

Dr. Brian Goldstein, Executive Dean of the College of Rehabilitative Sciences
and Chief Academic Officer

May 22, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Students:

Welcome back and congratulations on your first fully virtual start for the Summer term!  Thank you for your extraordinary commitment and participation in making this a successful event – one that will forever serve as a testament to our collective conviction, perseverance, and excellence.

First Week of Summer Term

As we receive both new and returning students to the Summer term, we remain focused on delivering excellent educational experiences and supporting students in multiple ways through the coming weeks:

• Clinical Education Placements Progressing:  The Clinical Education team continues to make advances to secure required clinical placements for the Summer term.  Each day brings additional confirmations, but any student who does not receive a placement by May 31, 2020, will need to request a Leave of Absence for the Summer term.  Please refer to additional details included in the “Clinical Education Plan” communications available on the University’s COVID-19 web page.

It is essential that students undertake their clinical experiences in a safe environment.  Each site is committed to following required safety protocols for their patients, staff and our students.  If any student observes a site that has not created a safe environment, he/she must immediately contact our clinical faculty.

Student Financial Support:

• Students’ financial hardship payments have been processed.  A refund and credit for campus/program fees for the Spring and Summer terms respectively were processed for each enrolled first-professional student.  In addition, these eligible students received through their Bank Mobile account the CARES Act grant.  As previously mentioned, the University did not retain any portion of the US Government funds and instead, passed 100% through to address student financial needs.
• Last week, USAHS introduced the COVID-19 Working Scholars Program through which students who need to take a Leave of Absence due to lack of clinical placement can assume jobs at the University.  If you are interested in applying for a Working Scholars position, please complete this form.  Additional information about the program is included in the “Financial Resources for Students” communication housed on the University’s website.   You can also email WorkingScholars@usa.edu with any questions.

Learning Resources Expanded:

• LinkedIn Learning, an online educational platform with more than 6,000 self-paced courses, is available to all students through the Summer term. At LinkedIn Learning, you will find interesting videos on academic, personal, financial, technology, and business topics to enhance your professional success. You should have already received an email invitation from LinkedIn, or you can get started here with your University email and password to log in. Once you log in, a great place to start is at the How to use LinkedIn Learning Course.
• The Keep Learning website has been developed to provide you with resources to support learning in a fully virtual format and to help you stay engaged with your learning community. At this site, you can access recommended online learning strategies, technology toolkits, knowledge spotlights, and other ‘hot off the press’ free learning opportunities that will allow you to keep learning and stay connected.

Our Return to Campus Plan

A cross-functional task force is working on a return to campus plan.  This team, comprised of USAHS academics and support staff as well as external advisors, is addressing academic, legal, regulatory, workforce, facilities, safety, procurement and other issues related to safely relaunching on-campus instruction at all USAHS campus locations.  Some important points and critical dates:

• We Are Planning to Resume Campus Instruction on July 6 (Day 1) if Permitted by Local Authorities:  The task force is monitoring federal plans along with guidance from health experts and local authorities to develop an on-campus instructional plan that will comply with all requirements.  Current local guidelines are inconsistent across the country and at this moment, do not allow for initiating instruction on all our campuses. The safety and health of our students, faculty and staff is our first priority and will continue to guide our decisions. We are balancing this priority with the benefits of in-person coordination with faculty and colleagues.
• We Expect to Complete our Return to Campus Framework by June 1: This framework will outline the focused activities that will take place on campus and the steps required for direct instruction, if permitted by local authorities.  To adhere to CDC requirements, on-campus activity must be limited.  To that end, our priority is on specific areas of instruction which means that all pre-pandemic activities will not be allowed on July 6^th. Additional details will be communicated after June 1 once an implementation plan is completed.  Considering the continued evolving environment, we will all need to be flexible and understand that the plan needs to contain contingency scenarios.

We are focused on delivering an exceptional education regardless of the uncertain environment in which we live. Our approach to welcoming you back to campus is purposeful and cautious. USAHS’ exceptional progress and successes will continue thanks to the entire University’s collective effort.

With enormous appreciation and recognition of your continued resilience and commitment to be excellent practitioners,

Brian Goldstein, PhD
Executive Dean of the College of Rehabilitative Sciences and Chief Academic Officer

Dawn Werling,  Vice President, Student Administration

May 15, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Students – DPT, MOT, OTD and SLP Prelicensure Programs:

I hope that you, your family, and your loved ones remain safe and healthy.  We continue our commitment to offering students financial relief as part of the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In addition to providing an update to initiatives previously announced, we are excited to launch the new Working Scholars Program, designed to support students on a Leave of Absence while awaiting clinical placement.

• Tuition and Fees Freeze: As a reminder, a previously planned tuition increase for the Fall semester has been cancelled.  Current tuition rates remain in effect through 2020.
• Spring and Summer Program Fees Refunded or Credited:  Spring term program fees were credited to your student account on Thursday, April 30 and a cash refund processed on Friday, May 1 via BankMobile.  If you didn’t receive your refund, please contact the Bursar by e-mail at bursar@usa.edu.  Summer program fees were waived and do not appear on your balance.  You can view your account detail by logging into the MyUSA portal.
• CARES Act Funds Distribution: The Higher Education Emergency Relief grants received from the US Department of Education under the CARES Act were posted to all confirmed eligible students via Bank Mobile accounts on Thursday, May 14. The remainder of eligible students will receive their Cares Act grant once all eligibility requirements are confirmed.  Per the US Department of Education, all students not currently receiving Title IV funds must complete questions 1-30 of the 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility. If you have not already created a Bank Mobile account, follow the instructions on the MyUSA portal. If you did not receive your Cares Act grant and have already created your account, please contact the Financial Aid team by email at financialaid2@usa.edu.   The University did not retain any of the approximately $1 million provided by the CARES Act, but rather allocated 100% of the relief funds directly to students, calculated at $268 per student.
• Leaves of Absence (LOA) and Eligibility for Student Loans:  Federal and lender guidelines require that students must be actively enrolled and participating in a half-time schedule or more in order to receive federally guaranteed student loans (Title IV) or private student loans. If you are on a Leave of Absence due to not having a clinical placement assigned by May 31, the University is unable to disburse student loans until you participate in clinical work.  Please contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid2@usa.edu if you have questions about your eligibility and processing your LOA.
• NEW COVID-19 Working Scholars Program: To support students in the Summer term who are taking a Leave of Absence while awaiting Clinical Education placement, the University has created the new COVID-19 Working Scholars Program. This program aims to provide funds to assist with cost of living expenses while students are unable to access financial aid and private student loans.
  • Students in this program will work directly with USAHS faculty and staff to support a variety of University academic, research, student support and administrative projects.
  • Participants will be paid hourly, working up to 20 hours per week based on the needs of the project.
  • If you are interested in applying for a Working Scholars position, please complete this form.  Additional information regarding the available projects will be provided by May 22.  Please refer to the attached addendum for details, and email WorkingScholars@usa.edu with any questions.

Students in the Summer term who are taking a Leave of Absence while awaiting Clinical Education placement will also receive complimentary, full access to the University Continuing and Professional Education webinars and non-credit bearing academically related activities.  These webinars include topics such as telehealth, ergonomics, dissection, gait and many more that will help you build your resume and prepare for future licensure examination. Information regarding the academically related activities such as virtual certifications, telehealth courses, post-professional courses and licensure prep courses will be available early next week.

• Online Learning Resources for all students:  The University is proud to offer unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning resources through the Summer 2020 term. Access thousands of learning resources on academic, personal, technology, and business topics to enhance your professional success. Get started here with your University email and password.

At USAHS, our greatest asset has always been and remains the positive spirit, innovative approach and strength of our University community. Please know that everyone on the staff – from faculty to advisors to the leadership team – are working tirelessly to help you succeed.

Dawn M. Werling, Vice President, Student Administration

ADDENDUM COVID-19 WORKING SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Program Objective: The goal of the COVID-19 Working Scholars Program is to provide students who are ineligible for financial aid due to Leave of Absence status the possibility of generating funds by undertaking meaningful work assignments at the University. The program focuses on students who have not been placed on clinical experiences.

Eligibility: All students on Leave of Absence due to lack of available clinical placements may apply. Once a student receives a clinical placement, a mutually agreeable date is determined that allows for a smooth transition of work responsibilities and work product and grants enough time for the student to prepare for his/her clinical experience.

Program Duration: The COVID-19 Working Scholars Program will be in effect for the Summer term. Maximum number of hours per week: 20. Additional hours may be required to complete deliverables and must be mutually agreed by the student, supervisor, and Human Resources. Maximum duration of assignment: June 1, 2020 – August 28, 2020

Work Assignments: Jobs will vary based on departmental need and may range from research, academic support, student support, strategic planning, and campus operations. Applying Process: Students will demonstrate their interest in obtaining a job prioritizing their preferred type of assignment. The Working Scholars project team will attempt to assign students based on preferences and will notify students of their assignments. A supervisor will be responsible for actively providing oversight and direction. Assignments may be undertaken alone or within a team. All projects will be listed on the student job site.

Work Location: Most assignments are designed to be completed remotely. Based on health guidelines and safety protocols, a few assignments will require on-campus presence. In such cases, details will be provided in the position announcement and description. A student may decline on on-campus assignment due to safety or logistics concerns and will be reassigned.

Position Information: All available projects will be summarized on the student portal. Interested students should complete the Working Scholars application form. All questions can be directed to WorkingScholars@usa.edu.

May 2, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Speech-Language Pathology Students:

First, thank you for your ongoing understanding and resilience as we continue to make progress and support one another during these unprecedented times.  We hope you and your family remain safe and healthy.

Clinical experiences are an essential part of your education and development as an exceptional speech-language pathologist. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has presented several challenges, clinical placements are among our top priorities for fulfilling our mission and keeping you on track toward completion of your degree.

Today’s Challenge:

We want to share the steps we are taking to secure Summer clinical placements. Though some state authorities are demonstrating flexibility in restrictions, mobility limitations and stay-at-home orders persist stemming from the COVID-19 crisis.  We continue to encounter clinics and health care settings that remain closed or restricted from student placements due to changing health and safety concerns from the pandemic.

Many sites that have initiated operations and have been responsive to student placement remain hesitant to provide firm dates for accepting those students. When willing to offer placements, they express strict preferences for the experience levels of students that will be permitted in their facilities. Additionally, we are bound to provide experiences that meet accreditation standards and comply with state requirements. Therefore, we have been limited in addressing the current challenges with creative solutions. We are implementing processes to quickly secure placements for as many students as possible in a manner that ensures student safety while complying with accreditor requirements for graduation.

Clinical Placement Plans:

The good news is that many students have already been placed and the number of placements continues to increase.  Students already placed will keep their assignments, assuming no changes by the site and the state regulatory requirements.

Timing to Maximize Your Placement:

We will demonstrate the greatest flexibility possible, while adhering to regulatory guidelines, regarding the date students will need to start their clinical experiences within the Summer term.

What This Means if You Have Been Placed:

If you have a confirmed placement, you will begin your Summer term courses on May 11 as scheduled and will also begin your clinical experience as planned.  Since you will continue to carry the same amount of credits for the Summer term, you will incur normal tuition and receive Financial Aid disbursements you previously elected, per federal eligibility guidelines.

If you have a confirmed placement, but have concerns about attending that placement, you may submit for a Leave of Absence (LOA) for the Summer term.  Please recognize that a Leave of Absence will delay your graduation date by one semester.

What This Means if You Have Not Yet Been Placed:

You will begin your online coursework on May 11 as scheduled.  Since you will continue to carry the same amount of credits for the Summer term, you will incur normal tuition and receive Financial Aid disbursements you previously elected, per federal eligibility guidelines.

You will await a confirmed placement and begin clinicals at the time of placement. This may occur at any time during the Summer term and may continue into the Fall term.

• If you have not been placed in a clinical experience by the end of the Summer term, you will receive an “I” for your clinical course and clinical hours will be completed in the Fall term.
• If you were placed and are missing necessary clinical hours at the end of the Summer term, you will receive an “I” in your clinical course and complete the needed clinical hours at the beginning of the Fall term.
• If you are scheduled to graduate at the end of the Summer term and have not completed your clinical hours, thereby resulting in an “I” grade in the course, you will not be eligible for financial aid in the Fall term while you complete your remaining hours.

Our goal with this approach is to provide the clinical experiences required to allow as many students as possible to graduate on time, but it also carries a commensurate responsibility to monitor the delivery of safe and academically appropriate clinical placements by setting as well as location. We will continue to monitor state regulations and the actions taken by each clinical site.  Additionally, we will do all we can to fully leverage remote clinicals, telehealth and simulation as permissible by the accreditors.

We continue to work diligently within the challenges of the health care environment, clinical partner restrictions and state regulations.  Together, we will meet this challenge and continue to work tirelessly to ensure your success. We encourage you to talk with your clinical faculty should you have additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kathy Wheat, PhD, CCC-SLP
MS-SLP Program Director

Brian Goldstein, PhD
Executive Dean of the College of Rehabilitative Sciences and Chief Academic Officer

May 1, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Physical Therapy Students:

First, I hope you, your family and loved ones remain safe and healthy. Thank you for your ongoing understanding and resilience as we continue to make progress and support one another during these unprecedented times.

Clinical experiences are an essential part of your education and development as an exceptional physical therapy practitioner.  Although the COVID-19 pandemic has presented several challenges, clinical placements are among our top priorities for fulfilling our mission and keeping you on track toward completion of your degree.  We want to share the steps we are taking to secure Summer clinical placements.

Today’s Challenge:

Though some state authorities are demonstrating flexibility in restrictions, mobility limitations and stay-at-home orders persist stemming from the COVID-19 crisis. We continue to encounter clinics and health care settings that remain closed or restricted from student placements due to changing health and safety concerns from the pandemic.

Many sites that have initiated operations and have been responsive to student placement remain hesitant to provide firm dates for accepting those students. When willing to offer placements, they express strict preferences for the experience levels of students that will be permitted in their facilities. Additionally, we are bound to provide experiences that meet accreditation standards and comply with state requirements. Therefore, we have been limited in addressing the current challenges with creative solutions. We are implementing processes to quickly secure placements for as many students as possible in a manner that ensures student safety while complying with accreditor requirements for graduation.

Clinical Placement Plans:

The good news is that many students have already been placed and the number of placements continues to increase. Students already placed will keep their assignments, assuming no changes by the site and the state regulatory requirements.

For students who have not yet received clinical assignments, we are focused on those with incompletes in clinical courses from the Spring term and keeping students on track and graduating in Summer.

Timing to Maximize Your Placement:

We will demonstrate the greatest flexibility possible, while adhering to regulatory guidelines, regarding the date by when students will need to start their clinical experiences within the Summer term.

• If you require a 12-week placement, you can begin your clinical assignment up to August 14^th. At the start of the Summer term, you will begin with online coursework allowing you to remain in active status.
• If you require a PT ICE 6-week placement, you can begin clinical assignments up to July 27^th. You will begin the Summer term on May 11^th with your normal coursework. The maximum permissible date for starting your clinical assignment allows you to continue into the next term on a timely basis.

What This Means if You Have Not Yet Been Placed:

During the Summer term, if you are a PT ICE student and have not been placed, you will take courses that are advanced from the subsequent term instead of going to a clinical assignment.  This allows you to remain in active status and continue advancing toward your degrees.

If you are a PT TCE1 or TCE2 student who still requires a placement at the commencement of the Summer term, and depending on your Summer term start date, you must either be placed or take a Leave of Absence for the Summer term by no later than May 31, 2020.  You must be enrolled and actively participating by this date to be eligible to receive Title IV funding for the Summer term.

• If a placement becomes available prior to August 15^th, you can decide to come off Leave of Absence to accept the placement. There will be no penalty for refusing the offered placement.
• Based on the U.S. Department of Education regulations, while on Leave of Absence, you are in inactive status and will not have access to financial aid. During the Summer term, you will have the option at no cost to engage in non-credit bearing academically related activities such as virtual certifications, telehealth courses, post-professional courses and licensure prep courses. If you have significant financial hardship, please contact the Financial Aid Office to explore options for support.
• All students on Leave of Absence will have access to University resources and work assignments.

If you have significant concerns about completing the clinical experience once assigned, you should submit for a Leave of Absence for the Summer term.

Our goal with this approach is to provide the clinical experiences required to allow as many students as possible to graduate on time, but it also carries a commensurate responsibility to monitor the delivery of safe and academically appropriate clinical placements by setting as well as location. We will continue to monitor state regulations and the actions taken by each clinical site.  Additionally, we will do all we can to fully leverage remote clinicals, telehealth and simulation as permissible by the accreditors.

We continue to work diligently within the challenges of the health care environment, clinical partner restrictions and state regulations.  Together, we will meet this challenge and continue to work tirelessly to ensure your success. We encourage you to talk with your clinical faculty should you have additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jackie Crossen-Sills, Associate Dean of Physical Therapy

Dr. Brian Goldstein, Executive Dean, College of Rehabilitative Sciences and
Chief Academic Officer

May 1, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Students:

First, I hope you, your family and loved ones remain safe and healthy.  Thank you for your ongoing understanding and resilience as we continue to make progress and support one another during these unprecedented times.

Clinical experiences are an essential part of your education and development as an exceptional occupational therapy practitioner.  Although the COVID-19 pandemic has presented several challenges, clinical placements are among our top priorities for fulfilling our mission and keeping you on track toward completion of your degree.  We want to share the steps we are taking to secure Summer clinical placements.

Today’s Challenge:

Though some state authorities are demonstrating flexibility in restrictions, mobility limitations and stay-at-home orders persist stemming from the COVID-19 crisis. We continue to encounter clinics and health care settings that remain closed or restricted from student placements due to changing health and safety concerns from the pandemic.

Many sites that have initiated operations and have been responsive to student placement remain hesitant to provide firm dates for accepting those students. When willing to offer placements, they express strict preferences for the experience levels of students that will be permitted in their facilities. Additionally, we are bound to provide experiences that meet accreditation standards and comply with state requirements. Therefore, we have been limited in addressing the current challenges with creative solutions. We are implementing processes to quickly secure placements for as many students as possible in a manner that ensures student safety while complying with accreditor requirements for graduation.

Clinical Placement Plans:

The good news is that many students have already been placed and the number of placements continues to increase. Students already placed will keep their assignments, assuming no changes by the site and the state regulatory requirements.

For students who have not yet received clinical assignments, we are focused on those with incompletes in clinical courses from the Spring term and keeping students on track and graduating in Summer.

Timing to Maximize Your Placement:

We will demonstrate the greatest flexibility possible, while adhering to regulatory guidelines, regarding the date by when students will need to start their clinical experiences within the Summer term.

If you are an OT IIA or OT IIB student, you can begin your clinical assignment up to August 14^th.  At the start of the term, you will begin with online coursework allowing you to remain in active status.

What This Means if You Have Not Yet Been Placed:

If you have not been placed and confirmed by May 31, 2020 you will need to take a leave of absence.   You must be enrolled and actively participating by this date to be eligible to receive Title IV funding for the Summer term.

• If a placement becomes available prior to August 15^th, you can decide to come off Leave of Absence to accept the placement. There will be no penalty for refusing the offered placement.
• Based on the U.S. Department of Education regulations, while on Leave of Absence, you are in inactive status and will not have access to financial aid. During the Summer term, you will have the option at no cost to engage in non-credit bearing academically related activities such as virtual certifications, telehealth courses, post-professional courses and licensure prep courses. If you have significant financial hardship, please contact the Financial Aid Office to explore options for support.
• All students on LOA will have access to University resources and work assignments.

If you have significant concerns about completing a clinical experience once assigned, you should submit for a Leave of Absence for the Summer term.

Our goal with this approach is to provide the clinical experiences required to allow as many students as possible to graduate on time, but it also carries a commensurate responsibility to monitor the delivery of safe and academically appropriate clinical placements by setting as well as location. We will continue to monitor state regulations and the actions taken by each clinical site.  Additionally, we will do all we can to fully leverage remote clinicals, telehealth and simulation as permissible by the accreditors.

We continue to work diligently within the challenges of the health care environment, clinical partner restrictions and state regulations.  Together, we will meet this challenge and continue to work tirelessly to ensure your success. We encourage you to talk with your clinical faculty should you have additional questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Brian Goldstein, PhD
Executive Dean, College of Rehabilitative Sciences and
Chief Academic Officer

Dear USAHS Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Students:

I hope you and your loved ones continue to be very healthy and safe.

It has been five weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic required us to make an unprecedented pivot to a societal and educational environment that none of us could have anticipated.  We know that many of you did not choose your program to be delivered entirely in a virtual format, but you did choose USAHS because of your confidence in the University’s ability to help you achieve your career goal of becoming an exceptional physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist.

We believe that despite our current reality, you will be fully prepared to achieve your goals. In fact, we are excited to celebrate with nearly 500 Spring term graduates who will have their degrees conferred together with their cohort this week at eleven virtual events.  Graduation ceremonies will still be scheduled once safe, allowing us to commemorate your achievement together in person.

We are extremely proud of what we have achieved together to make continued learning possible during this difficult time. A few highlights include:

• Keeping each other safe.  This was our primary concern for all of you, our faculty and staff. Adhering to CDC and government authority guidelines has kept our University community safe and healthy.
• High quality educational continuity. All courses and lab classes were transitioned to virtual delivery while maintaining accreditation compliance and the teaching schedules required to ensure your continued learning and academic progress toward graduation.
• Student resolve. You immediately adjusted, adapting with flexibility and dedication, immersing yourselves fully into this new educational environment to continue learning necessary content and skills.
• Innovative technology approaches. New technologies and educational platforms were implemented to support virtual labs, exams and skills assessments. Creative approaches allowed you to actively engage with your colleagues and faculty.
• Commitment to practitioner skills. Changes were made that enabled you to complete labs at home with faculty feedback where you gained necessary clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills. Additional labs will be scheduled once we can return to campus to reinforce these skills.
• Student support network.  Access to support resources continued and were enhanced to meet the new needs of the virtual environment and any emotional distress caused by the pandemic.

While these advances have addressed the need to keep you learning, we recognize there is additional support you may need to meet the challenges of progressing your education during this period of continuing uncertainty.

COVID-19 STUDENT FINANCIAL RELIEF

Recognizing the financial burden that individuals are experiencing across the country, we want to provide support to help you continue advancing toward your degree. To that end, we are pleased to offer the COVID-19 Student Assistance Program which will provide you with ways to ease your immediate financial burden.

Tuition Assistance

• Tuition and Fees Freeze: Although our costs and investments in faculty, technology and infrastructure have continued and in specific cases increased, tuition and fees will be frozen for the remainder of 2020 which means that the planned increase will now be cancelled.
• Release of Financial Holds: To reinforce our commitment to your academic progression during this challenging time, any student on financial hold as of May 1, 2020, with a balance of $2,000 or less, in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs will be able to register for the Summer term. Outstanding balances will automatically roll into the next term.

Hardship Fee Relief

To assist you in funding your education during this time of hardship, we will reimburse campus and program fees paid for the entire Spring term and provide a credit for fees for the entire Summer term.  You will receive the Spring term reimbursement via direct deposit starting May 1 and the Summer term credit on your invoice.  All enrolled Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology students in those corresponding terms are eligible for this relief.

CARES Act Payment – Fully Passed Through

The University has been allocated Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds under the CARES Act totaling $993,092.  Under the CARES Act, we are permitted to award HEER emergency student grants to first professional Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology.

We have decided to pass 100% of these funds directly through to students using the same methodology applied by the US Department of Education to determine the grant amount. Though the CARES Act permits the University to maintain up to 50% of the funds to cover its own higher costs incurred due to the COVID-19 crisis, USAHS will absorb these additional costs and pass all funds directly through to students.  With the 100% pass through decision, your portion of the relief funds is currently calculated to be approximately $260 per student. These funds will be disbursed directly to you by the University upon receipt from the US government.

Excessive Hardship

We understand that some of you may be experiencing financial hardship brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, requiring support beyond the University financial relief effort and your financial aid funds.  Please contact the Financial Aid office starting on April 27 at (904) 423-2010 to discuss your unique hardship circumstance and to explore options.

IMPORTANT: We will continue to work through the administrative details of the COVID-19 Student Assistance Program and post them to the COVID-19 University website as soon as they are available.  The Financial Aid office can help answer questions after those details are posted.

From faculty commitment to investments in new technologies that have enabled a high-quality, fully virtual learning experience that keep students on track, to the unprecedented COVID-19 Student Assistance Program, USAHS is taking a leadership role in supporting, encouraging and facilitating your success. Your resolve and educational commitment are commendable. Together, we will not waiver in our mission and your dream to make you an exceptional practitioner.

Sincerely,

Vivian A. Sanchez, University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

Dear USAHS Students Enrolled in EdD, MSN, DNP, MHA, MHS, PP-OTD and tDPT Programs:

I hope you and your loved ones continue to be very healthy and safe.

It has been five weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic required us to make an unprecedented pivot to a societal environment that none of us could have anticipated.  While you have been able to continue your studies as before with the virtual delivery format, we recognize the extraordinary commitment this has required given the personal and professional challenges posed by the pandemic.

We believe that despite our current reality, you will be able and fully prepared to achieve your educational goals. In fact, we are excited to celebrate the virtual conferral of degrees this spring with our graduates. Graduation ceremonies will still be scheduled once safe, giving us the opportunity to commemorate these achievements in person with the entire University community.

We are extremely proud of what we have achieved together to make continued learning possible during this difficult time. A few highlights include:

• Keeping each other safe.  This was our primary concern for everyone. Adhering to CDC and government authority guidelines has kept our University community safe and healthy.
• Innovative technology approaches. New technologies and educational platforms continue to be implemented to enhance virtual learning, exams and skills assessments.
• Virtual immersion experiences. Although state and local mandates prohibited us from hosting residencies and campus immersion experiences, technology, together with the commitment of faculty and students, enabled opportunities for virtual student and interprofessional collaboration.
• Student support network.  Access to support resources continued and were enhanced to meet the needs of all students and to address any emotional distress caused by the pandemic. A link to these services is found on the MyUSA page.

While these advances have addressed your academic requirements, we recognize there is additional support you may need to meet the challenges of progressing your education during this period of continuing uncertainty.

COVID-19 STUDENT FINANCIAL RELIEF

Recognizing the financial burden that individuals are experiencing across the country, we want to provide support to help you continue advancing toward your degree. To that end, we are pleased to offer the COVID-19 Student Assistance Program which will provide you with ways to ease your immediate financial burden.

Tuition Assistance

• Tuition and Fees Freeze: Although our costs and investments in faculty, technology and infrastructure have continued and in specific cases increased, tuition and fees will remain the same through the end of 2020 and the planned increase normally effective in the Fall semester is cancelled.
• Release of Financial Holds: To reinforce our commitment to your academic progression during this challenging time, any student on financial hold as of May 1, 2020, with a balance of $1,000 or less, in EdD, MSN, DNP, MHA, MHS, PP-OTD and tDPT programs will be able to register for the Summer term. Outstanding balances will automatically roll into the next term.

CARES Act

Although the University has been allocated Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds by the US Department of Education under the CARES Act, that allocation of funds excludes students enrolled exclusively in distance education programs.  You are enrolled in a program that is considered to be exclusively distance education.  The government was instead focused on supporting campus-based students whose educational process was disrupted by the need for social distancing. Therefore, the University has allocated 100% of these relief funds as determined by the US DOE to the campus-based students which is calculated to be approximately $260 per student.

Excessive Hardship

We understand that some of you may be experiencing extraordinary financial hardship brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, requiring support beyond the University financial relief effort and your financial aid funds.  Please contact the Financial Aid office starting on April 27 at (904) 423-2010 to discuss your unique hardship circumstance to explore options that allow you to continue advancing toward your degree.

Your resolve and commitment are commendable. We especially want to express our appreciation for the sacrifices many of you who are on the front line of this pandemic and working within health care systems that are treating Coronavirus patients and their families are making for our society and improving the public’s health.

Please know that your faculty, advisors and the entire University staff are available to provide support in these unique times. Together, we will not waiver in our mission to enable and encourage your educational achievements and future successes.

Sincerely,

Vivian A. Sanchez, University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

Message to First Professional Students, April 15, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Students,

I hope you, your family and loved ones are staying safe and remain well.

Like you, I am adjusting to our new lifestyle and being separated from students, faculty and staff. We all miss specific aspects of our energized and collaborative learning environment. Despite these circumstances, together, we have collectively created positive momentum and achieved success in the virtual world that is leading to remarkable results across courses and the entire University. Our enormous University-wide effort during such an evolving series of circumstances is commendable. Through this crisis we have proudly observed the many ways in which you depict the core values of the University that will undoubtedly guide you in becoming compassionate and effective caregivers.

There is so much going on, and we know you are being bombarded with information. From your cellular telephone provider to your bank, everyone is reaching out to you with specific details on how this pandemic is affecting everything in your daily life. With such a large volume of information and constantly changing circumstances, the bigger picture can lose focus. I wanted to take a moment to provide the broader perspective of the University which can be helpful and reassuring.

First, we hear you.

From praise for your faculty’s commitment to concerns over lab learning and receiving continued value for the tuition and fees you pay, you have told us that you place tremendous importance on the entire USAHS experience. So do we, and so do your future patients and employers. As you were accustomed to do before the pandemic, keep communicating to your faculty, Program Directors and advisors allowing us to address issues and provide support.

Secondly, we are acting.

As is expected by you and by government authorities, we have adapted the University to today’s new reality and requirements. For the safety of our entire University, we cannot have on-campus classes or labs at this time. However, we are leveraging the best teaching approaches as well as existing and new technologies, to create engaging, hands-on lab activities and classes virtually.

You will complete most hands-on labs at home, and using both recorded and real-time video, you will be fully engaged with your faculty and peers online. When permitted to return to campus, we will invest in new opportunities to have supplementary labs for those students needing or wanting additional lab time to practice and review techniques. These labs will take place in specialized areas on campus using necessary equipment.

We will continue investing the additional funds and personnel needed to support your educational advancement. We have added and expanded new capabilities including GoReact and Respondus while creating the “Keep Learning” site to provide you with support and helpful hints for virtual classes, labs and exams.  To facilitate virtual learning, support services continue, and some have expanded, such as IT Virtual Kiosks and Ask A Librarian virtual chat.  We are constantly working toward solutions to ensure not only the high quality of your education, but that you master skills, graduate and become exceptional licensed practitioners.

Third, we will succeed.

We all will get through this together. So much is changing, every day. For you they range from not being with your cohort on campus to the challenge of moving all coursework and labs to a virtual format and shortened clinical experiences. None of us could have thought three months ago that we would be at this point. Our power has always been in the strength of our community.  Reach out to one another. “Embrace” and invigorate your cohort.  Please know that everyone on the staff – from faculty to advisors to the leadership team — is working tirelessly to help you succeed.

In the days ahead, watch for messages from me, Chief Academic Officer Brian Goldstein, and your Program Directors. They will provide overviews of the approach we are taking to maintain and improve the academic experience and provide guidance with financial planning.

You can also find more information on the USAHS Coronavirus website. Feel free to send me an email at CEO@usa.edu or contact Dr. Goldstein at CAO@usa.edu, your Program Director, faculty or advisors via email or phone.

I will keep you updated as we meet the challenges of today and tomorrow – together.

Sincerely,

Vivian A. Sanchez
University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

A total of two (2) references from any combination of the following will be accepted: Licensed therapists, educators or employers.

Please submit your application even without the full amount of observation hours.  Our program directors have agreed to make the following concessions for applicants to the summer and fall trimesters:

• DPT – a minimum of 40 observation hours
• OT – a minimum of 20 observation hours
• Applicants with less than the above-mentioned observation hours will be reviewed individually.  Please contact your enrollment advisor or enroll@usa.edu for more information.

Yes, you can still submit your application for the summer or fall trimester.  Our Admissions Office will use your unofficial transcripts to review and evaluate your application.  Official transcripts will be required by 30 days after the start date of your first trimester.

Yes, students graduating in May but experiencing delays in conferral of their undergraduate degrees may matriculate upon receipt of written confirmation from a school official (dean, registrar, etc.) on university letterhead that they have met all requirements to graduate.

Educational Testing Service has provided an option for students to take the GRE from home beginning March 27 until test centers can reopen.  More information and answers to frequently asked questions about this option are available at this link: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/at-home/

The Summer 2020 trimester will begin as scheduled on May 11.  Because of the ongoing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will be delivered in our virtual format through July 5.  At this time we request that residential students arrive on campus on July 6. Students in Flex programs or programs that require or offer a residency will begin on or after July 6, as will be communicated to you by your Program Director.

Although on-campus classes will not start until July 6, activities such as tutoring, advising, and financial aid services will be provided virtually and will be augmented with direct in-person interaction and a place for student to engage with their cohort and peers, once state and local authorities and CDC guidelines permit.

As a leader in health sciences innovation for the last 40 years, USAHS has built strong capabilities in digital and virtual learning, allowing us to deliver high quality education in multiple formats. Our faculty leverage the expertise of their colleagues across our five campuses and our extensive technology systems to ensure that students achieve required learning outcomes through all forms of educational delivery.

The University requires that all pre-requisite courses be completed prior to the start of classes.  If you have unfulfilled pre-requisites, please contact your enrollment advisor for virtual options that may be available. If you are applying to the Summer trimester and received a Pass/Fail grade on a pre-requisite course due to accommodations made by your university because of the COVID-19 pandemic, USAHS will accept the course if it was completed with a Pass grade.

If you have concerns about paying your deposit on time, please contact your enrollment advisor for options.

You must register with CastleBranch and EXXAT but will have up to 30 days after the Summer term start to complete your background check and drug screening. In the event that any of these screenings result in an adverse report that is not satisfactorily resolved, your admission will be withdrawn.

All other clinical education requirements, including physicals, immunizations, and BLS, must be completed by the end of the first term.  This is required for you to register for 2nd term classes.

ComPsych EAP COVID Resource

COVID-19 Hiring Guidelines & HR FAQs

Remote Guidelines

Working Remote Tips

Working Remote FAQs from I.T.

Temporary Hardship Accommodation form

Medical Accommodations form

Travel History form

June 9, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff,

We eagerly anticipate our Reentry to campus on July 6 and are looking forward to seeing you on campus again! We are on a thoughtful and deliberate path to bring our students back and to beginning our new way of engaging. Thank you for all the assessment, programming and creativity that has gone into developing our multi-faceted Reentry plan. We will need to continue proactively monitoring the regulatory environment and campus health and safety to swiftly make warranted adjustments. This week, we have outlined further details of the Phase One Reentry plan.

What are our guiding principles for the return to campus?

• Providing students with the skills necessary to graduate, meet accreditation requirements, and become exceptional clinicians is balanced with regulatory restrictions and our ability to provide a safe and secure campus environment for students, faculty and staff.  Our plans will always accommodate local safety and health considerations and remain in line with CDC guidelines.
• The plan is phased as state and city requirements evolve and student outcomes and campus safety are evaluated.  Our Day 1 is still targeted for July 6.
• The plan will be adjusted as required, understanding that flexibility and contingency planning are the keys to long-term success.

How were programs and courses decided?

Our Reentry plan returns students, faculty and staff to campus in phases that are prioritized to deliver skills-based lab experiences to meet graduation and accreditation requirements. Phase One, targeted to begin July 6, includes students at specific junctures in their program where campus-based lab activities are necessary to meet accreditation requirements. These students require in-person instruction to attain full competency in skills that involve a particular level of psychomotor skill, impact on patient safety, and/or need for specific equipment.

Who returns in Phase One?

• Students returning in Phase One include:
  • DPT Resident 
    • Students in terms 2, 3 and 5 will return the week of July 6
    • Students in terms 1, 4 and 6 will return the week of July 13
  • DPT Flex
    • Students in term 8 will return the week of July 6
    • Students in terms 1 – 7 and term 10 will return the week of July 13
  • Nursing – FNP Students in terms 3 and 5 will return the week indicated by their plan of study

• Faculty and Staff: To safeguard the health and safety of the campus community, only instructors, direct instructional support staff (such as IT), and personnel who will support safety and facilities operations will report to campus in Phase One in addition to selected students.

Access will also be granted to those faculty and staff who have been using campus infrastructure for virtual instruction or those who find it difficult to work from home. This group must coordinate their campus presence with their supervisor and with Facilities Managers to secure a workspace and times that ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations.

What is the screening process to enter campus?

Required Health Screening Protocol:  All faculty, staff and students must complete a self-reported health screening assessment for 14 days prior to arriving on campus.  A mobile/web-based application will be used for this screening which involves taking your temperature daily and answering questions related to COVID-19 symptoms and any potential for exposure to the virus.  Based on the information you provide, the app will confirm your ability to come to campus.  This same screening process will be used daily to ensure the health and safety of those who will be on campus each day.  Anyone exhibiting the following symptoms or conditions will not be allowed on campus:

• Fever of 100.4 or higher
• Two or more suspected symptoms of COVID-19
• Recent international or cruise ship travel
• Recent contact with COVID-19 under-investigation, presumed, or positive cases (including self)

More details on the mobile/web application and instructions for completing the required health screening will be provided.

What safety measures are being taken?

• Class Sizes: To comply with health and safety guidelines for social distancing, class sizes will be limited, and cohorts will be divided into ‘sections’ that will attend campus at different times, usually the same day each week. DPT Flex and nursing students will attend campus on consecutive days during the weekends their lab classes are scheduled. Enough lab sections for each course have been scheduled to limit attendance to 10 individuals, including faculty and students. Specific schedules, including day and times on campus and room assignments, are being developed and will be distributed as soon as they are available.
• Personal Protective Equipment: You will need to bring a cloth, procedural, surgical, KN95, or N95 mask to enter campus.  USAHS will provide two reusable, cloth masks for office work. Additional PPE for lab use will be provided by the University and distributed in the lab including procedural masks, gloves and face shields. These supplies will only be available for students, faculty and staff who are participating in lab skills.  Training for use of these items and instructions for safely maintaining them will be provided.
• Facilities: Deep cleaning of classrooms, labs, equipment, and common spaces is being done and will continue uninterrupted. Chairs, tables, and other equipment in classrooms and hallways have been arranged to ensure social distancing.  In addition, specific doors have been designated as entrances and exits, and hallways and stairs have been marked with directional signage.  Per health and safety guidelines, common areas, including the library, break rooms and study rooms, will remain closed until group gatherings are deemed safe. Lockers also will not be available to students.

What services are being offered on campus during Phase One?

• Food and Beverages:  Food service will not be available on any campus and vending machines and refrigerators will not be operational per health and safety guidelines. Faculty, staff and students need to bring their own non-perishable food items, snacks, and beverages to consume in their assigned workspace and classrooms.
• Student Gathering or Meetings: Students will not be allowed to have informal gatherings before, during or after class based on safety guidelines.
• Student Services:  Student support will continue to be available virtually.

When will additional Phases be decided?

Our guiding principles will continue to prioritize the skills students need to graduate and meet accreditation requirements while complying with regulatory restrictions to ensure the safety of all who return to campus. Phase One will continue throughout the summer term, and as local health and safety regulations ease, we expect to implement additional phases of the Reentry plan for students beginning in the fall term.  Please note that additional phases of the Reentry plan for faculty and staff may initiate prior to the fall term.

We will share specific information regarding classes, schedules, and processes for Reentry as soon as they are available. Thank you very much for your unyielding commitment to our students and your inspiring strength during these historically trying times.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Vivian A. Sanchez
University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

June 3, 2020

Reentry: The Return to Campus Plan

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

Until recently, states and cities where the University operates had not issued guidelines that would allow us to initiate even limited educational activities on our campuses.  Though regulations continue to evolve, we are comfortable that the current status and trends allow us to communicate a framework for our return to campus.  As has been our practice, we must remain flexible and swiftly respond to changes presented by the regulatory environment and the pandemic.

Our cross-functional task force charged with leading the return-to-campus initiative has developed a framework that will guide our approach.  This team has been addressing academic, legal, regulatory, workforce, facilities, safety, procurement and other issues related to safely returning to all USAHS campus locations.  This comprehensive plan represents a multifaceted and detailed planning process — from securing personal protective equipment for students, faculty and staff to scheduling labs that maintain social distancing to comply with the latest CDC requirements and guidance, as well as local health regulations. All this while always delivering exceptional educational experiences for each of our students. This team has worked expeditiously with input from across the organization, the support of external consultants, and the expertise of USAHS board members to design a multi-phased Reentry plan. Feedback from academic leaders and faculty from all professions contributed to the decision-making process for the phases of Reentry. Though some implementation details are still being determined and the regulatory environment continues to evolve, which could necessitate changes, we feel it is important to share the current framework as it stands today.

The significant guiding principles for all aspects of Reentry include:

• Providing students the skills necessary to graduate, meet accreditation requirements, and become exceptional clinicians drives our determination to return to campus. This is balanced with regulatory restrictions and our ability to provide a safe and secure campus environment for students, faculty and staff.  Our plans will always accommodate local safety and health considerations and remain in line with CDC guidelines.
• The plan must be phased as state and city requirements evolve and student outcomes and campus safety are evaluated.  To that end, the full rollout of the plan will take time and will be phased responsibly. Our Day 1 is still targeted for July 6 when specific students, faculty and staff will be coming to campus to satisfy focused skill and competency requirements. During each phase, we will carefully evaluate student progress toward learning outcomes and the achievement of clinical skills and competencies.
• We will adjust the plan as required, understanding that flexibility is the key to long-term success.  As such, the plan will include a contingency to address actions to be taken in case someone on campus is diagnosed with COVID-19 or federal, state and/or local regulations require a tightening of restrictions. Additional details will be communicated as finalized.

The key elements of the Reentry plan are as follows:

• Multi-Phased Plan:  Students, faculty and staff will return to campuses in phases that have been prioritized to deliver skills-based lab experiences to meet graduation and accreditation requirements.
  • Phase One (targeted to begin July 6): This phase includes students at specific junctures in their program where campus-based lab activities are necessary to meet accreditation requirements. These students require in-person instruction to attain full competency in skills that involve a particular level of psychomotor skill, impact on patient safety, and/or need for specific equipment. These competencies cannot be adequately met in a virtual environment. Most of the Physical Therapy and some Nursing students fall into this category, accounting for approximately 55 percent of all returning students. Only instructors, direct instructional support staff such as IT, and safety personnel who support facilities operations will report to campus. Access will also continue to be granted to those faculty and staff who have been using campus infrastructure for virtual instruction or those who find it difficult to work from home. This group will be required to coordinate their attendance and workspaces within the increased campus population to comply with all relevant health and safety regulations.
  • Phase Two (date TBD): This phase welcomes students who could attain skills virtually but require a certain level of psychomotor skills, access to equipment, and/or group work that is better accomplished on campus.  Students who are nearing clinical education experiences and will thus benefit from improved self-efficacy and confidence through face-to-face practice and simulation will be included. All Physical Therapy, all Occupational Therapy, most Speech-Language Pathology, and some Nursing students fall in this phase.  An additional 40 percent of students will participate in this phase resulting in approximately 95 percent of all returning students. Incremental faculty will be required in this phase, but no additional staff will return beyond those outlined in Phase One.
  • Phase Three (date TBD): This phase includes the return of remaining students who have the developed skills and were able to achieve course learning outcomes through virtual instruction.  Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology students who already attended in Phases One and Two will have added courses and lab practice hours. The remaining approximately five percent of total returning students, which includes all Speech-Language Pathology students, will participate.  Phase Three will result in the greatest number of returning staff as in-person student services that have been offered virtually will become available on campus and common areas will open under strict restrictions. Minimal additional faculty will be required for this phase, but a greater on-campus presence is expected. All post-professional immersion experiences return to the campus-based delivery model. Community participants for research and labs may be considered in this phase based on space availability and an assessment of safety risk based on current regulations and guidance.
  • Phase Four (date TBD): This phase will initiate once health and travel restrictions are eliminated. At this point, all students, faculty and staff will be allowed on campus and all COVID-19 related accommodations will cease.  Staff members who are scheduled to return to campus in Phase Four may return in Phase Three if their effectiveness will be enhanced by using campus workspace. External visitors and community partners are welcome on campus.

• Work Accommodations: Phases One through Three include accommodations for high-risk employees and those experiencing hardship which could qualify for remote work, flexible hours and rotating on-campus schedules. The same policies and forms created at the start of the pandemic will apply.  For all those employees requesting a hardship accommodation during Phases One through Three, the Remote Work Policy will apply.
• Facilities: Since fully virtual instruction began and we started working remotely, our Facilities team has been deep cleaning classrooms, labs, equipment and common spaces, and preparing for the return to campus. They are actively arranging chairs, tables, and other equipment in classrooms and hallways to ensure social distancing; designating specific entrances and exit doors; marking hallways and stairs with directional signage; and setting enhanced cleaning schedules. Additionally, during Phases One and Two, common areas will be closed to prevent group gatherings.
• Scheduling: On-campus lab sessions focused on skill and competency development will be prioritized for students described in the phases above. A complete list of labs with specific coursework and learning activities, along with times, days and assigned rooms, will be published when finalized next week.
• Communication and Training: As we fully define all elements of Reentry, we will communicate through multiple channels. Look for informational emails, website content, videos and a virtual walk-through of the new campus experience. We will provide information and virtual training related to safety protocols on each campus, such as using required personal protective equipment (PPE), building entry instructions, and social distancing guidelines. We will have signage at each building entrance, throughout the facilities, and across campus to make it easy to navigate and understand new procedures.
• Timing:  We continue to monitor changes in federal, state and local regulations.  At this point, the University will be initiating Phase One on July 6 which consists only of supervised, hands-on lab activities deemed necessary to satisfy accreditation standards that cannot be met virtually.

We take our responsibility seriously of providing students with the necessary skills to be exceptional practitioners and meeting accreditor requirements while creating a safe environment for the entire University community. Our plan presents a thoughtful phased approach that constantly assesses performance and makes necessary adjustments to manage student outcomes with safety.

I look forward to seeing you as USAHS campuses are energized with returning students in just a few short weeks. Much hard work remains before we are fully ready for Phase One of Reentry. With your individual and collective efforts, our exceptional progress and successes will continue.

With enormous appreciation,

Vivian A. Sanchez
University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

May 19, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

Congratulations on our first fully virtual term start! We welcomed new students at orientation on Friday, May 8, with 100% attendance across all campuses, and on the following Monday the first day of classes for continuing students effectively launched.  Thank you for your extraordinary contributions to making this a truly successfully effort and event – one that will forever serve as a testament to our conviction in providing all students access to an education while ensuring academic excellence.

First Week of Summer Term

As we received both new and returning students virtually to the start of the Summer term, we achieved some truly significant accomplishments:

• Continued Access for New Students:  More than 550 excited new students started across all campuses in first- and post-professional programs combined.  Our appreciation extends to the enrollment, admissions, marketing and student success teams which, together with faculty, collaboratively worked to guide prospective students during this difficult time.  Our focus now turns to ensuring these new students develop a strong sense of community and quickly engage in their courses to avoid attrition and achieve strong academic performance.
• Student Readiness Orientation Course Proved Popular:  Nearly 90 percent of new students for the summer term logged into the optional new student readiness orientation course and were able to experience USAHS’s approach to fully virtual learning prior to the start of the term. Our efforts will continue to prepare new students to effectively initiate and undertake graduate studies at USAHS.
• Clinical Education Placements Progressing:  Efforts to secure clinical placements for the Summer term continues with assignments confirmed for more than 75 percent of students.  The team continues to make advances and your ideas and relationships are encouraged.  If you can help, please contact Mariesol Wallace. Students who do not receive a placement by May 31, 2020, will need to request a Leave of Absence for the Summer term.
• Student Financial Support:
  • Financial support payments have been processed.  A refund of campus/program fees for the Spring term and a credit for the Summer term were processed for each enrolled first-professional student.  In addition, these students received through their Bank Mobile account the CARES Act grant.  As previously mentioned, the University did not retain any portion of the US Government funds and instead, distributed 100% to address student financial needs.
  • Last week we unveiled the COVID-19 Working Scholars Program through which students who need to take a Leave of Absence due to lack of clinical placement, can assume jobs at the University.  The objective is to help address the financial hardship emanating from not having access to financial aid and private loans while on Leave of Absence.  Many of you have been extremely helpful in identifying meaningful projects for students and have offered to provide oversight during the Summer term.

Our Return to Campus Plan

A cross-functional task force has developed a process that will guide our return to campus.  This team, comprised of USAHS academics and support staff as well as external advisors, is addressing academic, legal, regulatory, workforce, facilities, safety, procurement and other issues related to safely reopening all USAHS campus locations.  The following graphic represents that process and questions the team will consider in preparing a comprehensive reopening plan. We are at the first step in the process and are conducting a risk-based assessment with input from University constituents to evaluate health guidelines and determine our readiness and the timeline to opening:

Some important points and critical dates:

• We Are Planning to Resume Campus Instruction on July 6 (Day 1) Although Some Employees May Return to Campus Sooner:  The task force is monitoring federal plans along with guidance from health experts and local authorities to develop a reopening plan that will comply with all requirements.  The safety and health of our students, faculty and staff is our first priority and will continue to guide our decisions. We are balancing this priority with our mission of ensuring students receive the skills necessary to progress toward their degrees and become exceptional clinicians.
• A Preliminary Framework for Opening Targeted for June 1: This framework will outline the focused activities that will take place on campus and the steps required for reopening.  Additional details will be communicated after June 1 once a thorough implementation plan is completed.  Considering the continued evolving environment, the plan will need to be flexible and contain contingency scenarios.

As we progress, we will continue to seek input and update you on the plans.

As always, we are focused on fulfilling our mission and creating a safe environment.  Our approach to reopening USAHS campuses is purposeful and cautious. Our exceptional progress and successes will continue thanks to the entire University’s collective effort. With enormous appreciation for the successful start of the Summer term,

Vivian A. Sanchez
University CEO and Interim President

USAHS COVID-19 Travel Update- May 6, 2020

Due to current and anticipated ongoing travel restrictions, all pre-booked travel needs to be re-approved by the traveler’s functional leader (department head) and finance.  Similarly, no further travel for 2020 should be booked until further notice, unless deemed necessary due to essential function such as confirmed accreditation meetings and/or other compliance-related activities.

In the meantime, USAHS employees should seek to utilize teleconferencing for all meetings, and seek virtual trainings and conferences that do not require travel for continuing education/ enrichment needs.

Should you have travel that needs to be canceled, please cancel in Concur or by contacting World Travel.  If travel was booked outside of World Travel and reimbursed by the company, it needs to be canceled directly with the merchant and reported to Lara Engert via email (lengert@usa.edu).

April 28, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

We did it!  Thank you all for your continued endurance and the successful completion of the Spring Term.  Your extraordinary response to the challenges we faced enabled nearly 500 students to graduate and more than 4,000 students to successfully progress towards their degrees this term.  This is clearly a testament to the collective strength and spirit of our University.

WEEK IN REVIEW

• COVID-19 Student Assistance Program:  A plan to assist students with the financial burdens they may be facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic was developed and communicated to students in both first-professional and post-professional programs. This includes varying elements such as a tuition freeze, elimination of the entire campus/program fees for Spring and Summer terms, and a 100% pass through to students of the nearly $1 million being provided to the University from the CARES Act. Please review these communications on the student section of the USAHS web page, and forward any questions you receive from students but are not able to answer to me or Dawn Werling.
• Register to Join a State of the University Event:  Register now to join me and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Brian Goldstein for one of the State of the University – Start of Term sessions, where we will host several virtual open conversations with small groups of faculty and staff. Various time slots are available on May 5, 6 and 7, 2020. RSVP for one of them at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4FADAE2CA2FD0-information
• Virtual Commencement Celebrations: Eleven different virtual commencement celebrations were hosted to recognize Spring 2020 graduating students. These sessions allowed us to create a very special moment for our graduating students and celebrate their accomplishments. A video was produced of each of the graduating cohorts describing each student’s time at the University and the future professional endeavors they will be undertaking. These videos will be distributed by your program directors.
• Cleaning and Enhanced Sanitation Continues:  The Facilities team continues to provide deep cleaning and enhanced sanitation for those who must come to a campus location for essential work activities. They have partnered with Procurement to develop sustainable supply chains of cleaning, sanitation, and protective products.
• Students Readiness Orientation Course Completed:  The Teaching, Learning and Innovation team has deployed a new 5-module student readiness orientation course to help the incoming cohort succeed in our fully virtual learning environment.  The team also hosted 10 faculty training sessions, administered 8,278 online proctored exams and collaborated with IT for the “Thrive at USAHS” video series.
• Human Resources Cross-Functional Deployment: Twenty-two employees have been successfully deployed to assist with projects throughout the organization and ensure everyone is contributing during these challenging times.  If you have a short term need such as research, scheduling or student coordination, or a longer term need throughout the Fall term and beyond, please contact Laura Kaufmann to explore options.

THE  WEEK AHEAD

• Clinical Education Placement Plan and Progress:  A plan to secure clinical placements for students has been developed and execution of the plan is well underway.  Placements have been prioritized for students whose clinical experience was disrupted during the Spring term and those closest to graduation. Active communication with clinical partners continues to secure placements required for the Summer term. We are conscious of the need to provide a safe working environment for our students and clinical partners.  More details of the Clinical Education plan will be communicated this week to faculty and students.  Additional support, relationships that can be tapped, or creative solutions continue to be welcomed.  Please contact me, Brian Goldstein or Mariesol Wallace.
• Plans to Reopen Campuses are in Development: Discussions are underway to prepare for the reopening of USAHS campuses.  HR, Facilities, and local teams are focused on plans that will address the physical requirements for a safe and careful return to campus.  In addition, we will be leveraging external expertise to help us coordinate a comprehensive University-wide plan including all campuses and functions.  This will take into consideration a phased return and flexible work and class schedules that allow for social distancing and limit large concentrations of individuals.  Academic plans should continue to assume that students will be back on campus on July 6^th but, the timing and interaction will be designed in a way that meets safety standards.  We continue to monitor the development of state plans along with guidance from health experts and local authorities to identify important considerations as we formulate our own plans to reopen our campuses.  Please reach out to me or your manager with any thoughts you may have about areas we should be certain to address in these plans.
• University-Wide Virtual Term Start:  The entire University will gather together virtually to start the Summer term on May 7^th at 11 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT and the Faculty Retreat will continue after the initial 30 minutes (at 11:30 a.m. ET/10:30 a.m. CT/8:30 a.m. PT).  A formal invitation will follow. We will celebrate and recognize those who have worked diligently through the challenges of the last 6 weeks to give our students an exceptional learning experience and support each other during this unprecedented time.  We are also planning a video in which we will share with one another how we endured the spring term, our first fully virtual organizational experience!  Please send shareable pictures to Joe Cockrell by Monday, May 4^th, that depict how you managed to continue working and supporting our students and employees through the remote portion of the Spring term.
• New Resources for Students and Faculty:  The Teaching, Learning and Innovation team has secured University-wide access for LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), which will provide thousands of academic and professional learning modules that will be communicated to faculty and staff this week. In addition, the team is hosting new Student Readiness Orientation for 465 new students and 4 GoReact sessions specifically for lab assistants.

I look forward to seeing everyone (virtually) at one of the State of the University events, the University-wide Term Start Kick-off, and the Faculty Retreat. Our exceptional progress will continue, thanks to the entire University’s collective effort. Congratulations again to everyone!

With enormous appreciation for all you are doing,

Vivian A. Sanchez

University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

April 21, 2020

As we complete this last week of the term, we all look forward to celebrating the achievements of our Spring graduates whose success marks our own in arriving at this significant milestone.  There is still a significant amount of effort required to get to the end of this term but, our combined success is within reach. We are collectively continuing to fulfill the needs of this term while preparing for an unprecedented fully virtual start to a term for both continuing and new students. Your remarkable spirit and relentless drive continue to propel us forward.

Week #5 in Review

• Student Progression Toward Graduation: With the unwavering commitment and support of faculty and staff, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 500 students will be eligible to have their degrees conferred at the conclusion of the Spring Term.  Less than 30 students will require make-up time to complete required clinical education hours before their degrees can also be conferred.  As students achieve these requirements, degrees will be conferred weekly so as not to delay the ability to plan for taking licensure exams.
• USAHS COVID-19 Benefits Update: The HR team conducted an online webinar reviewing changes to benefits to comply with new regulations in response to the pandemic. You can view a recording of the session at: https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/13724eb4-ece6-4c0d-b1c1-0f588effccafIntroducing Students to Virtual Learning at USAHS: The Teaching, Learning and Innovation team developed an introductory video introducing new students to USAHS’s innovative approach to virtual learning.  The video demonstrates our dynamic learning content, collaboration and engagement tools, virtual lab instruction and the Blackboard classroom environment.
• Preparation for Virtual Lab Instruction for the Summer Term: A dozen training experiences for faculty were conducted to ensure course readiness with priority on first-term courses.  These trainings included multiple sessions on GoReact, a virtual platform for teaching performance-based skills.  Videos of recent sessions can be found on the Keep Teaching site. This site is updated each Sunday so check back for the most recent recordings.
• Clinical Education Progress: So far, Clinical Education staff have contacted 721 clinical partners via email and 160 by phone to continue securing student placements for the Summer term. To date the team has secured placements for approximately 1/3 of our First Professional students and 74% of nursing.
• I.T. Support: IT launched its series of Thrive at USAHS videos to promote the holistic growth of USAHS students.  Watch the first video, a student orientation to IT support, at this link: https://usa7417.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047140173-THRIVE-USAHS

The Week Ahead

• Virtual Degree Conferral Celebrations: Student Services is collaborating with Program Directors to prepare virtual degree conferral events during which Program Directors from each campus will host celebrations of their graduating students via RingCentral sessions. University Communications is preparing a video with messages from faculty to share via social media. These events take place this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We remain committed, once it is safe, to organize Graduation Ceremonies for these students and the entire University community to celebrate together in person.

• Clinical Education Placements and Creative Options: Active communication with clinical partners will continue to secure student placements required for the Summer Term. In addition, faculty and academic administration’s creativity for providing students with the necessary experience will be required. We are all aware that securing placements and providing students with necessary experiences is essential to progress our students toward their degrees and give them the skills needed to be exceptional practitioners.  Any additional support, relationships that can be tapped, or creative solutions are welcome.  Please contact me, Brian Goldstein or Mariesol Wallace.

• Student Financial Relief Plan: Recognizing the financial burden that individuals are experiencing across the country, USAHS is committed to providing support to help students continue advancing toward their degrees.  To that end, we are working to develop the COVID-19 Student Assistance Program which will provide students with ways to ease their immediate financial burden.  More information about the plan will be communicated as details are finalized.

• State of the University Events: Join me and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Brian Goldstein for one of the Start of the Term State of the University sessions, where we will host several virtual open conversations with small groups of faculty and staff. Various time slots are available on May 5, 6 and 7, 2020. RSVP for one of them at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4FADAE2CA2FD0-information

• Virtual Summer Term Start: Ongoing preparation for the virtual term start and new student orientation is underway.  Our approach is to undertake Orientation as a process, not a one-day event.  Virtual meet-ups for new students, hosted by current USAHS students, are launching this week at all campuses to drive University affinity and engagement. A Clinical Education Virtual Information Session is being developed for launch on May 4.  Student support sessions continue, and a student housing SharePoint site is scheduled to launch on April 27.

• Helping New Students Succeed: The Teaching, Learning and Innovation team is developing a 5-module new student readiness orientation course to help the incoming Summer cohort succeed in our fully virtual learning environment. This course, which launches on Monday, April 27, will allow new students to experience the USAHS virtual learning approach before starting classes in May.

Just a reminder that technical support is always available through the IT Self Help Portal, which includes technical support articles and support scheduling. IT support is available 24/7 at 1-888-80-USAHS, support@usa.edu, or online chat. Visit the IT Virtual Kiosk or schedule an appointment with an IT specialist at help.usa.edu.

Our exceptional progress will continue as we successfully complete the spring term and then, taking a moment to reflect and celebrate our amazing achievements. With enormous appreciation for all you are doing and for your deep empathy and remarkable resilience,

Vivian A. Sanchez, University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

Due to recent events and changes, the USAHS IT Service Desk team is working diligently to ensure we continue to provide the best possible support to all Students, Faculty and Staff.  The following are just some of our new and enhanced support options to better serve you:

• IT Virtual Kiosk: designed to provide an online meeting room which employees can join for IT Support. When users join, they will be assigned to a breakout room with a dedicated USAHS IT Help Desk technician to work their case. Technicians will troubleshoot your issue to the best of their ability and escalate when necessary. Once escalation has been decided we will end the call and contact you when we are ready to continue troubleshooting. Don’t forget, if you have a USAHS issued device, IT personnel can remote into your device and we can also take control of your machine during the Ring Central session!

o   When: The IT Virtual Kiosk can be accessed between 8:00am – 8:00pm Eastern, 7 days a week

o   Where: Join the Ring Central meeting: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/2113560688

• • • If you’re unable to join the Ring Central meeting due to computer issues you can call in at:

US: +1(773)2319226

+1(623)4049000

+1(720)9027700

Meeting ID: 211 356 0688

• Scheduled IT Support: USAHS IT Service Desk team is introducing an additional virtual option for IT support, Schedule Appointments. Users who prefer to schedule appointments, may now do so via scheduling services
  • Where: https://calendly.com/usahsit/

• IT Self-Help Portal: We’re also excited to provide an improved self-help portal.  This portal is designed to allow users to submit an IT support request and find helpful IT articles and FAQs.
  • Where: http://help.usa.edu

USAHS Guidance on Travel

• All students and employees who have traveled (either business or personal) since February 15, 2020 should complete and submit a travel history form.
• The University has enacted guidelines limiting all non-essential travel until the coronavirus outbreak has been stabilized. All non-essential travel can be replaced by utilizing teleconference technology available to all employees through Ring Central.
• If you have a trip planned, please consult with your supervisor to determine if that travel is necessary.
• As a reminder, all employees must book travel through the Concur portal
• If your travel is deemed necessary, please heed the CDC’s preventative measures to lower your risk.

What is Non-Essential Travel?
Travel is considered non-essential if it can be postponed to a later date and/or can be handled effectively by video or telephone conference.  Employees should use their best judgement as safety and wellness are our primary concerns.  Concern about the expense to reschedule a flight or travel logistics should not impact your decision.  For faculty who plan to attend conferences that have already been booked, please use your own best judgement.  It is suggested that faculty wait to register for conferences happening later in the year.

Travel Abroad
University-sponsored trips to regions identified as a Level 3 risk or above risk by the CDC have been cancelled.  If you have travel plans, be sure to check for travel restrictions that may have been issued as a result of coronavirus.  The situation continues to evolve rapidly.

If you travel internationally, be prepared for delays in return travel, mandatory health screenings, flight cancellations, or isolation measures — including the possibility of a required 14-day quarantine, before returning to campus.

Because we have an obligation to ensure appropriate measures for the health of our campus communities, any employees with business or personal plans to travel abroad within the next 90 days must notify their supervisor with detailed information.  Students are asked to contact their student success advisor. All students and employees are required to submit a travel history form prior to returning to campus after any travel (domestic or international).

State agencies are requiring that all employees and students returning from a region flagged by the CDC as a Level 3 risk or above self-quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to campus. These employees and students are strongly recommended to contact their health care provider for guidance and abide by all local health department guidelines.  Employees should contact their local HR representative to determine the proper course of action if they are returning from one of these regions.  Students should contact Student Services by calling 760.410.5407.

Week #4 in Review – April 15, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

I hope that you, your family, and your loved ones remain safe and healthy.  It is amazing how much progress has been achieved during the last month thanks to our collective effort, innovation and focus.  It has been challenging for all of us to deal with this crisis and the physical separation from each other.  We miss our colleagues, students and the energy created when we are together.  Personally, I also ponder where a BIG piece of the April birthday cake may be?  We will be together to share in those special moments again soon.  But until that point, reach out to each other, have a virtual cup of coffee, continue eating leftovers together via Ring Central, and realize that our strength comes from our collaborative spirit and united vision.  Thank you for overcoming your personal hardships to ignite this spirit and further our vision.

Week #4 in Review

• Clinical Education Outreach: The Clinical Education team worked with faculty to finalize a plan to prioritize clinical site communications, with email messages sent to sites on Thursday and Friday. Direct communications with the sites started with hundreds of emails sent on behalf of all programs.  Training was conducted for staff from other departments who have been reassigned to assist with this critical effort and they will begin making follow-up phone calls this week. Thanks to all the faculty and staff involved and to the additional staff that willingly embraced their new assignments. Extended deadlines for medical compliance also were communicated to faculty and students.
• Clinal Partners Program: The program to support the health care industry and specifically those individuals and organizations that provide clinical experiences for our students was launched.  More than 100 clinicians have signed up to access our complimentary online CPE webinars and conversations are underway for targeted scholarships for post-professional degrees.
• Continuing Support for Virtual Lab Instruction:Last week 11 faculty training sessions were conducted on Respondus, ProctorU, Gradebook, and Virtual Lab Practicals. A remote video editing service for faculty was launched, receiving 10 requests to start, and postproduction was finalized for 125 video recordings created as part of the Keep Teaching Plan. The new Keep Learning site for students is now live and features a 4-minute “Keep Learning” student-facing video introduction.
• “Tech Talks” Go Live:IT launched its first “Tech Talks” which give students the opportunity to join a daily discussion of how to use Blackboard, the MyUSA portal, and other tech tools to study smarter. Please advise students to join these sessions.  IT also is developing “Thrive at USAHS”, a series of videos to promote the holistic growth of USAHS students. The series includes a variety of topics that are chosen to help students excel in the academic, technical, and professional areas of their education.  Thanks to the IT department for its continued creativity in supporting students.
• Digital Student Support Brochure Created:A brochure featuring expanded and enhanced student services and support resources – including virtual tutoring, writing center, advising, financial aid, and technology support – was produced and posted to the MyUSA portal.  The brochure lets students know how to access these services virtually. Please review this extremely insightful brochure which depicts the plethora of services available to students and remind students to actively access this support. If you have any recommendations for improvements to these services or additional support that can be provided, please contact me or the department manager.
• Admissions Decisions: 115 virtual interviews were conducted last week for Summer and Fall applicants with more than 50 interviews scheduled for the week of April 13.  Admissions Committee decisions must continue to be a priority. Thanks to the academic leaders, faculty, admissions and enrollment advisors who continue advancing this process.
• Planning Our First Virtual Term Start: Stephen Cheung, director of product management, is coordinating the components of USAHS’s first virtual term start. The plan will be presented to the Program Director Council meeting on April 16. Academic and student services teams have designed and begun to develop a virtual orientation for new students that, over the coming weeks, effectively builds cohort affinity and prepares students for virtual instruction.  The virtual term start plan will be communicated on April 17.
• CEO Kids in the Kitchen: The creativity of USAHS kids extended to the kitchen where culinary skills of all kinds were demonstrated.  A cookbook of the recipes featured in this week’s Cooking Show video is available to add to your personal collection (the video is password protected, see your usa.edu email for that). Thanks to all who open your homes to us and encourage your kids to engage. They warm our collective hearts and provide much appreciated laughter.
• University Communications: The COVID-19 information site on USA.edu is continuously updated.  All communications distributed to faculty, staff and students are archived there in addition to helpful FAQs and other information. Please let us know if there is any other information that we should include that could be helpful to you or to students.

The Week Ahead

• New Student Readiness Orientation: The Teaching, Learning and Innovation team is developing a 5-module new student readiness orientation course to help the incoming Summer cohort succeed in our fully virtual learning environment. This course will allow new students to experience the USAHS virtual learning approach before starting classes in May.
• Preparation for Virtual Lab Instruction for the Summer Term: Ten training experiences for faculty are planned to ensure course readiness with priority on first-term courses.  These trainings will include multiple sessions on GoReact, a virtual platform for teaching performance-based skills.
• Address Student Uncertainty: Increase your communication with students to reinforce that the new academic experience will meet program and accreditor requirements and that any perceived gaps in skills will be addressed. Acknowledge that we have received many communications regarding the dedication and excellence of our faculty, along with concerns pertaining to the lack of access to necessary equipment and practice. As you know, many students are also anxious about their future and being separated from their family, friends, and cohort members. Please continue to keep this in mind when you engage with them and demonstrate the sensitivity that this state of mind may require. Outreach to students that you know or assume may be struggling would be extremely beneficial.
• Clinical Education Progress: Follow-up emails will continue, and phone calls will be made to clinical partners. Clinical Education staff will be contacting sites over the next two weeks to confirm student placements for the summer term.  This is a critical initiative to progress our students toward their degrees and give them the skills needed to be exceptional practitioners.  Any additional support, relationships that can be tapped, or creative solutions are welcome.  Please contact me, Brian Goldstein or Mariesol Wallace.
• Alumni Respond to COVID-19 Crisis: The University Communications team is working on a special series of articles about how USAHS alumni are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. If you know of an alumni story that should be shared, please email Joe Cockrell jcockrell@usa.edu.

Our exceptional progress will continue next week, and in the weeks ahead, thanks to the entire University’s collective effort.

With enormous appreciation for all you are doing and for your deep empathy and remarkable resilience,

Vivian A. Sanchez
University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

Week #3 in Review – April 7, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

During week three of our modified teaching and campus operations, significant accomplishments continue to be made on behalf of our students and the entire USAHS community:

Spring Conferral of Degrees:  In spite of having to cancel clinical experiences for the spring term, the majority of students scheduled to graduate in April will do so.  All but 35 students who are pending completion of clinicals, will have their degrees conferred. As remaining students complete their clinical requirements, degrees will be conferred weekly beginning April 25.
Clinical Partner Support Program:  Communications to clinical partners introducing the Continuing Professional Education support program were finalized and will be distributed this week. Faculty, contributing faculty and lab assistants are working to expand webinars and online courses that will be provided to our partners at no charge.
Planning for Fully Virtual Lab Instruction:  Twelve workshops for faculty were held on preparing for online proctored exams, virtual labs, and lab practicals.  GoReact, a platform for teaching performance-based skills virtually, was installed and integrated into Blackboard.  This tool allows interactive feedback, evaluation, and assessment of video assignments. Faculty training on GoReact will begin this week.

Student Support:  Virtual access to student services and support resources – including tutoring, writing center, advising, financial aid, and technology support – has been expanded and enhanced.  A flyer was created to inform students about how and when to access these services and was posted to the MyUSA portal.
Virtual Interviews and Admissions Decisions:  59 student interviews were held this week for Summer and Fall applicants.  Admissions Committee decisions should continue to be a priority.
New Hiring Guidelines:  Hiring guidelines were created and distributed to ensure adherence to compliance requirements and advancement of critical strategic priorities.  The communication from Human Resources also included details on merit compensation, promotions, 401(k) match, and temporary reassignment of underutilized employees.
CEOKids: This week we celebrated our Kids’ creativity using recycled materials and shook to the beat of dancing recycling trash cans. Thanks to all who participate for keeping us united and laughing.

The Week Ahead

Clinical Education: The Clinical Education team will begin reaching back out to clinical partners to secure placements for the Summer term for students in all programs. Help is being requested from faculty to identify any clinical partners that can be called on for placements. Please email the campus Clinical Education team or email Mariesol Wallace directly at mwallace@usa.edu with contact information.

Continuing Preparation for Virtual Lab Instruction:  Faculty support will continue for fully virtual lab instruction, including training on GoReact, a new tool for teaching performance-based skills online.  Faculty can visit the KeepTeaching site through the MyUSA portal for updates and resources.

IT Student Support:  IT is launching “Tech Talks”, an opportunity for students to join a daily discussion of how to use Blackboard, the MyUSA portal, and other tech tools to study smarter.  Topics will be come from student suggestions.  IT also is offering “Thrive at USAHS”, a series of videos developed to promote the holistic growth of USAHS students. The series includes a variety of topics that are chosen to help students excel in the academic, technical, and professional areas of their education.  Also, remember that on-campus support is available to faculty and staff on a scheduled basis.  Please reach out to IT support a day in advance if you require physical on-campus assistance.

New Student Virtual Orientation for the Summer Start:  Academic and student services teams will collaborate to design a virtual orientation for new students that effectively builds cohort affinity and prepares them for virtual instruction.  An agenda will be circulated for input.

Benefits and Performance Feedback Training:  Human Resources will be sharing information on many important topics including
COVID-19 Benefits Webinar – Recent laws tied to COVID-19 have resulted in some optional changes in benefits.  Sign up to attend a live webinar Thursday, April 16th at 3:00 pm CT to learn how these changes impact your benefits.  Topics will include flexible spending accounts, medical insurance, 401(k), and qualified life events.

HR Performance Feedback Training – HR will be providing optional webinars for Managers to provide guidelines and best practices for delivering performance feedback. Invitation are forthcoming for sessions on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10.

2019 Laureate 401(k) Match – USAHS employees may initiate a plan transfer for their January 209 401(k) match made by Laureate.  Instructions for doing  so can be found on the HR Announcements Page on Campus Connection.

Our exceptional progress continues in responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We remain committed to our students, to our communities, and to each other as we navigate through uncertainty with empathy, compassion, and resilience.

With enormous appreciation,

Vivian A. Sanchez, University Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

While we may be working at a distance, we have come together virtually to support our students and each other and to continue fulfilling our institutional mission and upholding our core values. Thank you.

We are living in an ever-changing environment and must have an organization that is well positioned, adaptable and agile. This is not new for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.  One of our core capabilities is the way we constantly address changes in our industry, regulations, partners and students.  The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unfolding.  Regardless, we must take immediate deliberate steps that allow us to meet diverse possible scenarios and then adjust as we gain greater visibility.  We believe these actions will position our students and the university for short and long-term success.

Outstanding Offers for New Hires: As of March 25, all approved offers that have been extended and accepted will be honored.  Going forward and until further notice, all verbal and written offers must have prior written approval from the Chief Academic Officer or the Chief Executive Officer/Interim President.

Essential New Hires: The University is committed to meeting and reasonably exceeding all regulatory and compliance requirements.  As such, we will continue to hire positions that are directly tied to accreditation, federal government, and state authority regulations. To this end and to ensure continued academic excellence, faculty hiring will proceed with a focus on meeting terminal degree requirements, as well as our student-to-faculty ratios. Faculty recruiters and external search firms will continue their efforts.  At the time of approving offers, workload assessments must be presented including the role of contributing faculty and lab assistants.

Hiring for all non-faculty positions will be prioritized based on their direct alignment to delivering academic excellence and student outcomes such as quality assurance, instructional design, clinical education, and student services.  All other positions not meeting these criteria will be placed on hold.  However, searches may continue for those positions that require long candidate identification lead times.

Compensation – 401K Match: In alignment with making thoughtful decisions to positively impact our faculty and staff financially, we recently approved funding for the discretionary match of the 2019 401(k) contributions for eligible employees. Also, we are pleased to confirm that we were able to work with Laureate to ensure that the January 2019 match prior to the change of ownership was honored. You should now see these funds in your Fidelity accounts.  It is our hope that as the economy recovers from COVID-19 ramifications, our faculty and staff could benefit from potential gains in investments acquired with these funds. Our goal is to continue matching future contributions and encourage all faculty and staff to participate in the plan to assist with achieving individual long-term financial goals.

Compensation – Merit: Given the uncertain duration of the COVID-19 crisis, we believe it is best to defer merit increases until we have greater visibility into the Summer and Fall terms.  We value each of you and want to ensure that we support your continued professional development by proceeding with annual performance and feedback discussions. We are also maintaining funds for professional development that may come in the form of online trainings, virtual sessions or even conferences later in the year.

Promotions: All faculty and staff promotions, salary adjustments and awards as part of a 2019 process will be honored.

Reassignments: During this remote work period, some staff have work assignments that do not transfer effectively to a virtual environment.  We are working with these staff members and their supervisors with the goal to reassign them to teams that have increased workloads.  If you or your department require additional support, or if you have availability for a short-term project or longer-term assignment, please submit a COVID-19 Special Projects Request and contact your supervisor, Human Resources partner or Laura Kauffman who will be managing a University-wide placement process.  Our goal is to ensure that all current employees feel that they are effectively contributing to the advancement of our organization during such a critical time.

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to each of you for the creative and collaborative ways you have stepped up to support our students, our overall USAHS community and each other during this crisis.  Please know that the executive leadership team continues to prioritize the personal and financial wellbeing of you and your families along with the health of the University as a whole. As we continue to fulfill our mission and vision, we will closely monitor our progress to ensure we are taking the appropriate measures to safeguard our future and our workforce. 

Susan G. Waugh

Executive Director of Human Resources

Advisory #6 – March 28, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

We hope that you and your families continue to be safe and healthy. The University continues to closely monitor information about COVID-19 from federal, state, and local authorities.  As the date of the Summer Trimester draws near, new and returning students, faculty and staff require guidance and increased certainty about plans for the start of the term.  For prospective residential PT and OT students, this means finding housing and moving to their new location when travel is currently restricted.  Over 50% of our new students move from outside the state where they intend to study.  For Flex and SLP students, this includes the difficult task of making travel plans.

Summer Start: To guide new and continuing students and because of the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, classes for the Summer 2020 trimester will begin as scheduled on May 11 and will be delivered in our fully virtual format through July 5.  At this time, we request that residential students arrive on campus on July 6. Students in Flex programs or programs that require or offer a residency will begin on or after July 6.  Program Directors will communicate the schedule for these residencies as soon as details can be confirmed.

Campus Opening and Services: Although on-campus classes might not start until July 6, in-person campus activities such as socials, tutoring, advising, and financial aid services will resume, once state and local authorities and CDC guidelines permit. These activities will continue to take place virtually and will be augmented with direct in-person interaction and a place for students to engage with their cohort and peers, as soon as possible. 

Excellence in Academic Delivery: The decision to continue delivering courses virtually is based on positive student feedback and confidence in our ability to continue to deliver an exceptional educational experience in order to advance students towards their degrees. We will be launching student surveys to validate their academic experience and identify areas that may require additional support.

Return to Campus of Faculty and Staff: Please note, this decision of a physical return to campus on July 6 for classes impacts students only.  The date for faculty and staff to return to campus as well as the date the campus opens for student activities will be based on state and local mandates and CDC guidelines. Faculty will continue to have essential video support and access to necessary equipment using the established protocol.

As further information becomes available and if state and local mandates evolve to impact these dates, we will communicate a change to the schedule with ample time for both students and faculty to plan their return to an on-campus class delivery format.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and for providing an exceptional learning experience in any format, especially during these unprecedented times.

Advisory #5 – March 23, 2020

Dear University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Faculty and Staff:

So much has been accomplished in one week since the University initiated virtual learning and we began our remote work options.  Let’s look at the week that has passed and the key initiatives for the week ahead.

The First Week in Review

• Regulatory Compliance: Implemented fully virtual instruction and modified operations to comply with ever-changing accreditor, and federal, state and local mandates.
• Virtual Learning Excellence and Collaboration: Prepared and implemented an instructional continuity plan; launched the “Keep Teaching” website for faculty, which provides a hub of essential information for teaching fully online, training resources, and best practices showcase.
• Instructional Media Creativity: Faculty and Instructional Media staff partnered to create teaching media, including lab demonstrations, digital lectures, and simulations, resulting in more than 80 new recordings, which can be used across the entire University.
• Solution for Exam Proctoring: Implemented and deployed “Respondus Lockdown Browser” and “Respondus Monitor,” to facilitate secure exam proctoring for residential programs.
• Student Clinical Experiences: Deployed timely communication to cancel clinical internships to protect students and allow our clinical partners to focus on the crisis at hand.
• Communications: Issued regular COVID-19 updates to the entire University community, including operations guidance, health and safety guidelines, and FAQs, and archived these communications on the usa.edu website. Program directors and faculty regularly held virtual office hours with students.
• Events Postponed: Canceled or postponed all events and travel, which included the difficult decision to postpone Spring commencement ceremonies.
• Prospective Student Engagement: Maintained engagement with prospective students by proactively moving all activities to virtual including completing 81 interviews online.
• Safe Campus Environments: Preventative measures were enhanced to clean and sanitize campus facilities; initiated sanitation of classrooms/labs and other spaces not being used by essential personnel or teaching; new on-campus procedures established to include temperature check protocols for all essential staff and faculty.
• Work Flexibility: Remote work guidelines were immediately implemented to enable employees to maintain essential work functions while minimizing campus presence, and also flexibly accommodate personal circumstances.
• Financial Assistance: USAHS 401(k) match for 2019 approved and applied for all eligible employees.
• Launched One University Initiatives: CEOKids to “Create, Entertain and Organize” our kids from coast to coast and the Gratitude blog on Campus Connection were launched.
• IT Solutions: IT staff proactively and creatively implemented study and work from home solutions, including equipment deployment, as well as Virtual Help Desk for students, faculty, and staff.

So much was accomplished in just one week’s time with the collaboration and support of the USAHS community.  As we look to the week ahead, the following areas will be high priorities and require continued University focus.

The Week Ahead – Priorities

• State and Accreditor Notifications: Continue to document modifications and innovations to support anticipated notifications to states and accreditors of necessary updates to instructional delivery.
• Regulatory and Government Mandates: Closely monitor the mandates and actions of state and local authorities to stay indoors and shelter in place and assess implications to University operations.
• Creativity for Virtual Teaching and Learning: Development of a Keep Learning site with resources and strategies to ensure student success learning fully online.
• Student Support Strengthened: Increase virtual tutoring at all campuses and refine cohort-focused retention efforts. This also includes providing student workers with opportunities.
• Prospective Students Clarity: Ongoing prospective student virtual interviews and FAQs issued to address concerns about inability to finish observation hours, obtain transcripts and other admissions requirements.
• Continuing Professional Program Outreach:  Support health care community and clinical partners by offering complimentary CPE courses and facilitate post professional degrees.
• Communications: Ongoing updates and regular communication with the University community.
• Facilities Deep Cleaning: Ongoing, heightened facility “clean and lock” protocol.
• Gratitude Messages: Visit Campus Connection to let your colleagues know how much you appreciate their commitment and amazing work. It is important that we provide positive support to each other.
• Film Premier of CEOKids: A University-wide video will be created and shared joining all the children in the USAHS community. Remember that all videos are due to CEOKids@usa.edu at 5:00 p.m. (PDT) on Tuesday, March 24^th.

We have made exceptional progress in responding to the effects of this global health crisis on our university in just one week. While we continue to face uncertainty, we remain unified, focused, and determined to serve our students, communities, and each other with an innovative spirit, compassion, and resilience.

The commitment and ingenuity of the members of the USAHS community are admirable and will undoubtedly strengthen our entire university and the communities that we and our students serve.

Thank you to all University faculty and staff who have continued to provide the necessary coverage in every department while balancing safety with effective teaching and support services.  All on-campus presence must continue to be limited to critical work and coordinated with the Campus Director and facilities team to ensure compliance with social distancing requirements and meet government restrictions to essential activities. Presence on campus assumes that a virtual alternative is not possible.

Many faculty have been coming to campus to work with the Digital Media and CICP teams for video recordings, and with IT teams for live streaming sessions from a classroom. Given that many of these sessions involve close contact, we are taking additional precautions to ensure the health and safety of our community.

If you need to schedule a video recording, please book as far in advance as possible, but no later than one day in advance by 5pm local time using the Keep Teaching Plan – USAHS Digital Media Scheduling Form. Also, appointments can be scheduled with your campus Clinical Simulation Specialist by emailing: Mechelle Roy for St. Augustine; Victoria Wolfe for San Marcos; Krys Biekiek for Austin; and Maurico Viana for Miami. In your request, please state your simulation support need (room, equipment, recording, consultation, etc.). If you require assistance from IT for a live streaming classroom session, please email support@usa.edu.

For these and all other employees who require access to campus for essential functions, everyone must take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their colleagues.  If you feel ill in any way, please do not access the campus and stay home.

1. Monitor your Health. Monitor your health closely and avoid any campus presence if you have symptoms.
2. Check Your Symptoms: If you have any symptoms, you can visit the CDC’s “self-check” tool: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html
3. Campus Operating Guidelines: If your campus presence requires any physical contact with other employees (e.g., lab recording demonstrations, face-to-face meetings or interactions, etc.):
   1. First Stop: There will be a station at each reception area with thermometers and safety items such as hand wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves and gowns for your use. Please visit this station as your first stop on campus.
   2. Voluntary Temperature Check: We are providing digital thermometers so that employees can take their own temperature. You may take your temperature in the reception area, or privately using a restroom or campus lactation area. You are under no obligation to report your temperature. This is for your own personal health and safety and that of your colleagues. Lysol and/or alcohol wipes will be available to clean the equipment prior to and after use.
   3. Social Distancing and Protection:  If you are healthy and do not have a fever and will enter campus:

• Workspace: Sit at an appropriate social distance, which is at least 6 feet from your colleagues. If your workstation is uncomfortably close, many options including conference rooms, classrooms and labs exist on campus for you to move. If you have any doubt or need access or other areas, contact me or campus operations/facilities manager.
• Physical Proximity: If your campus presence requires any close interaction, gloves and gowns are available to you. Use of these items is optional, and we suggest that you use them prudently on campus given current supply shortages. Do not reuse or share these items.  Gowns can be dropped in the bins either in the CICP or at the reception desk entrance.
• Equipment Cleaning: Remember to wipe down all equipment, surfaces, etc. with the disinfectant wipes and solutions that can be found on all campuses.
• Duration: Remain only on campus for essential functions and only for the required length of time.

If you are uncomfortable with or unable to adhere to these safety procedures, you should not attempt to come to campus. Rather, these employees should work remotely and continue to consult with their supervisors regarding remote work requirements.

As a reminder, Campus Security is available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.

We appreciate the hard work of our campus operations/facilities team in the deep cleaning of spaces and for providing us with necessary supplies to protect our healthy environment.

ADVISORY #4 – March 20, 202

Spring Term Virtual Extension: After assessing the continued advances of coronavirus around the nation and our strong internal capabilities, we believe that it is in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff to continue delivering courses virtually through the end of the spring trimester, April 25^th.  Restricted access to campus by faculty and staff for critical work necessities, including use of required equipment for instructional delivery and infrastructure for mission-critical activities, will continue through April 5^th. Direction from the CDC and local health organizations will guide our decision whether faculty and staff should have increased campus access after April 5^th.

Your motivation and creativity in determining the best ways to deliver quality instruction safely and in compliance with all accreditation and regulatory requirements are a testament to our institutional resilience and industry leadership. We will maintain instructional continuity and minimize disruption to student progress while protecting the safety and wellbeing for all members of the University community.

Accreditors: USAHS has been presented with a unique opportunity to be a leader in how to deliver creative student-centric virtual teaching and learning solutions – and we have met that challenge. University leadership shares accreditors’ confidence in program faculty to deliver innovative online instruction, to adapt quickly to changes in the environment and regulatory guidance, and to focus first and foremost on helping as many students as possible stay on track to program completion. Our accreditors and regulatory bodies are providing flexibility as long as we are focused on student progress without compromising quality and graduate readiness for clinical practice. Our institutional accreditor, WSCUC, defers to institutions to determine optimal pathways for their students if they adhere to all standards. Most program accreditors are allowing short-term flexibility in delivery while adhering to student competence and safety. All entrust program faculty with determining flexible alternatives to established course delivery using established evaluative and assessment measures.

Remote Work: In adherence to state and local protocols in effect in many of our campus locations, only those employees who require access to facilities and equipment for essential functions will be allowed on campus.  Such functions include preparation of instructional content to facilitate virtual learning for students and building operations and maintenance.  All other employees should be working remotely until these protocols are lifted.  If you are uncertain whether you should come to campus, please contact your immediate supervisor.

Equipment: We ask that all lab equipment be used only on campus and in accordance with current safety and cleaning protocols. The Teaching, Learning, and Innovation Team is available by appointment to schedule lab demo videos.

In Gratitude: Celebrating One University: Faculty and staff have repeatedly demonstrated their strong resolve and extraordinary dedication to our students and each other. I have received several messages expressing appreciation for the collaborative efforts we are undertaking on behalf of our students, our colleagues and the University.  Let’s celebrate these moments and express our profound appreciation for each other and for the work we are doing.  We created a site where these gratitude messages can be shared. Join me in expressing gratitude for the small gestures and meaningful contributions you are experiencing.  The In Gratitude: One University blog is now available on Campus Connection for your comments.

ADVISORY #4 – MARCH 20, 2020

The University response team has been closely monitoring information about COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, from federal, state and local authorities. Although we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at our campuses, we remain vigilant in protecting our USAHS community. Based on current and continually evolving conditions, the following modifications to instructional delivery and event schedules have been made.

Extension of Virtual Delivery

On March 13, 2020 the University announced that all instruction, including labs, residencies and exams, would be delivered virtually through April 5, 2020. After careful consideration of your safety and federal and state guidelines, the University decided to continue all instruction via virtual delivery through the Spring trimester ending April 25, 2020.

Your university is extremely well positioned to meet the challenges presented by the health care crisis. During our 40 years, we have built strong capabilities in digital and virtual learning allowing us to continue delivering high quality education in multiple formats. Our faculty are leveraging the expertise of their colleagues across our five campuses and our extensive technology systems to maintain your progress toward your degree. Accreditors and regulatory bodies are focused on student progress without compromising quality and graduate readiness for practice. Our program accreditors are allowing short-term flexibility in delivery while adhering to instructional standards for student competence and safety. Program faculty, using their discretion and expertise, are focused on creating flexible alternatives to course delivery using established evaluative and assessment measures combined with the use of University communications technologies and our learning management system, Blackboard.

We are grateful to the faculty and program leaders who are expertly continuing instruction while meeting all program requirements safely and in compliance with all accreditation and regulatory standards. Their commitment to your education and success is commendable. We plan to resume normal campus schedules for the Summer 2020 trimester starting May 11, 2020. Please continue to monitor your USA.edu e-mail and the USA.edu page for updates.

Cancellation of Clinicals/Fieldwork/Practicums

As you might expect, many of our clinical partners are focused on serving their patients during the current crisis. They want to ensure that they can serve their patients in the safest way possible and protect the health and safety of their staff. While some sites are allowing students to continue their clinical experiences, many have suspended student clinical experiences for everyone’s safety and to give them the time needed to manage through the crisis. In consideration of the current environment and adhering to our steadfast commitment to your safety, on March 18 we made the difficult decision to cancel all clinical experiences for the remainder of the Spring 2020 trimester effective March 20. However, students who are working on projects and other activities that do not require on-site presence may continue those activities. Please consult with faculty advisors for clarification.

We understand that canceling clinical experiences may impact a student’s eligibility to graduate as scheduled and sit for licensure exams. We are working tirelessly to identify all opportunities to complete clinical requirements and award grades at the end of this trimester. While we hope to minimize disruption, some students will receive an incomplete grade and will need to complete remaining clinical requirements as soon as feasible. The University allows up to one full trimester to satisfy course requirements for incomplete grades and we are committed to flexibility in our policies, when possible, to facilitate academic progression. Students are not subject to additional tuition charges for incomplete courses and we will closely monitor progress and award grades as soon as possible.

Student Services and Support

All departments and administrative functions are fully operational in support of students.  You may continue to reach faculty, advisors, and administrative departments by phone, e-mail and virtual appointments. Virtual tutoring is or soon will be available at all campuses and may be scheduled by contacting your Student Success Advisor. We continue to offer ComPsych counseling and guidance resources free of charge and assistance can be scheduled online here or by phone at 844.819.4777.

Graduation and Commencement Ceremonies

Because of social distancing mandates, we are currently unable to announce a specific date for rescheduled commencement ceremonies. We are committed to celebrating this important milestone with you and your families and hope to announce plans soon.  Postponement of the ceremony will not impact your degree conferral date or your eligibility to register for licensure exams per state agency protocol. We will confer degrees as scheduled for students who meet the requirements and will offer test preparation and content refreshers to bolster your confidence prior to licensure exams.

Reporting Coronavirus Concerns and Cases

Please immediately and responsibly report any suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases, including known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed coronavirus, to Student Services by calling 760.410.5407. All reports will be treated as confidential to the extent possible under FERPA and other privacy regulations. As an institution of higher education, it is our obligation and commitment to ensure that all students and employees are treated with respect and without bias while ensuring the health and safety of our community. 

Submit Travel History Form

If you have traveled by air in the last 30 days, either domestically or internationally, or if you have plans to travel, please complete and submit a confidential travel history form. It is suggested that you review USAHS travel guidelines.

We are proud of the solidarity, flexibility, and resiliency of our student body. Together we will persevere through this crisis and be well-positioned to serve our communities as compassionate and competent health care professionals. Please continue to monitor your USA.edu email and Blackboard for further updates.

Guidelines and directives for managing through the COVID-19 situation are being issued constantly by experts, federal and local authorities, and accreditors creating a rapidly evolving environment.

It is essential that we realize that our university is well-positioned academically to continue operating successfully due to our proven online capabilities, institutional resilience and employee commitment. Today, we embarked on our new model with focus and determination.

Although in these times it is difficult to provide definitive clarity, we want to emphasize the importance of your safety as we do our best to keep the organization functioning effectively for our students.  This can be accomplished through many alternatives within the remote work.

Some key points for clarification and to reflect recent developments are summarized below. Also see the FAQ sections on this web page for more information.

• Remote work is available to all faculty and staff allowing employees to continue engaging in a safe, secure environment and with peace of mind. Flexible schedules, including weekend hours and rotational hours in a remote work environment, are to be implemented while maintaining your normal number of work hours. All faculty and staff should coordinate with their supervisor their remote work plan. On-campus time should be utilized only if specific equipment or infrastructure is needed and, only when social distancing requirements are met, and gatherings are limited to established norms.
• On-campus activities are restricted to critical work necessities limiting the exposure and spread of the COVID-19 virus among our employees
  • On-campus attendance is limited to critical work necessity and must be coordinated with the Campus Director and facilities manager to ensure social distancing and managing participant requirements.  This access assumes that a virtual alternative is not possible.
  • Faculty, contributing faculty and lab assistants may access the campus, but only as necessary to use required equipment and resources for instructional delivery, and conduct other academic activities to include teaching, advising, and clinical coordination.
  • Staff may be on campus but only as necessary to access infrastructure, coordinate mission-critical work, or retrieve material, files or mail that ensures academic delivery, provides essential student services, and meets all compliance standards.
• Preparation for the possibility of extended remote work: Faculty and staff should take home required information and equipment in the event it becomes necessary to work from home for a longer than expected duration. If you are unable to transfer the necessary equipment or obtain office supplies for extended remote work, please contact your supervisor who will work with the corresponding department. Please refer to the Remote Work Guidelines and the Remote Work IT Helpful Hints that can be found on our website.

In the best interest of our faculty and staff, we encourage you to make the appropriate arrangements to accomplish your work schedule using remote and flexible options.  Refer to guidelines outlined in the FAQs documents located on the USA.edu website.

The Importance of Completing Requested Forms: Please realize that asking you to complete forms will help us understand the needs of our employees today and accommodations that must be considered once normal campus access resumes. Completing any of these forms does not delay implementing the best approach with your supervisor and team. The High-Risk Accommodation, Medical Accommodations and Hardship forms are also located on the website.

Thank you for your patience as we work to address a truly dynamic and ever-changing situation.  We take our responsibility to you and all our employees very seriously and are making decisions with your health and safety in mind while keeping our institution effectively functioning.

With great appreciation for your continued dedication and support to your colleagues, students and communities. Be well, be safe, be healthy!

The safety and well-being of the USAHS community is our main priority. It has been remarkable to observe our staff and faculty coming together in this challenging time with thoughtful and creative ideas about the best way to support our students, and each other, as we navigate unchartered territory. Thank you!

Our primary responsibility is to ensure a safe and healthy workplace and one that consistently enables our students to successfully continue receiving the exceptional educational experience they expect from USAHS and continue advancing toward their degrees.  This responsibility requires taking appropriate measures that modify our operations and facilities to ensure safety and wellness for our community members:  expanded policies for paid time off, flexible schedules, restricted travel, limited campus access, and social distancing measures.

Guidelines: In this critical moment, the university must remain as flexible as possible which depends on being adaptable, creative, and committed to each other. Given that this is an evolving situation, further updates will be forthcoming as circumstances change and more information becomes available. With this in mind, we recognize that it is important to have guidelines to follow to ensure continuity and consistency not only within your respective team but also across programs, campuses, and departments. We will be using these guidelines for all full-time and part-time faculty and staff to ensure your team can safely operate in an effective manner while limiting the impact to our students and colleagues:

• Mission: The University will continue advancing its mission of preparing healthcare practitioners through current and perspective students.  To this end, teaching and enrollment activities will continue while operating in a safe and healthy environment.
• Authority: Supervisors and Program Directors will with work with Associate Deans, Vice Presidents and the Chief Academic Officer to determine the best approach for ensuring essential functions of the team are delivered and disruptions are minimized.
• Operating Coverage: To address any unforeseen issues that require immediate attention and collaborative remediation, departments must implement measures to ensure full coverage, either on campus or through remote support; supervisors are responsible for ensuring coverage and adherence to assigned work schedules based on specific deliverables.
• On Campus Activities:

• • Faculty are expected to have on-campus presence, as is necessary, to support course needs, access required equipment and resources for instructional delivery, and conduct other academic activities to include teaching, student advising, and clinical coordination. Faculty should plan to increase their contact with students during this critical time using Blackboard and available tools. The Keep Teaching guide provides resources and support for faculty to maintain instructional continuity: http://tiny.cc/KeepTeaching.
  • Contributing faculty and lab assistants are expected to have an on-campus presence, as is necessary, to continue to assist with instruction, design new approaches for instruction, utilize resources and be redeployed in other potentially relevant academic activities.
  • Staff are required to have on-campus presence, as is necessary, to ensure academic quality, provide essential student services, and meet all compliance standards.
• Alternative work options: All employees are eligible for these alternative work options.  Flexible schedules, including weekend hours, rotational on-campus hours, and remote work, may be implemented and are reasonable alternatives while still maintaining a regular schedule. Rotational on-campus time can be utilized to offer flexibility and social distancing, while still having the appropriate department coverage on a full-time work schedule. Work with your supervisor to determine which flexible options may be feasible.
• Preparations for Extended Remote Work:  Faculty and staff should be prepared to take home the required information and equipment in the event it becomes necessary to work from home for a longer than expected duration. Proactively identify an appropriate, quiet, and confidential space at home to work privately should remote work become necessary for a longer period. Please refer to the Remote Work Guidelines and the Remote Work Helpful Hints that can be found on our website.
• Coordination:  The departmental schedule should be documented, published, and maintained to ensure continuity and ongoing collaboration with other dependent teams. Supervisors, in coordination with Campus Directors and Campus Operations teams will make space accommodations as is necessary on each campus and building.

High Risk University Members: We recognize that we have faculty and staff that may fall into high risk classifications requiring special accommodations.

1. High-Risk Group (defined by the CDC)

• Have serious, chronic medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, etc.
• Have weakened immune systems
• Older adults (age 65 or older)

Action: Faculty/staff falling in this category should confidentially notify their supervisor and local HR Partner to discuss a remote working arrangement and the considerations for this type of accommodation, if desired.  If an accommodation is being requested, individuals in this category should complete the High-Risk Accommodation form and obtain medical certification of any health-related conditions. If the certification is not available immediately, we will honor the request with agreement that the certification will be submitted within 10 days. Healthiest You telehealth service is available as an option. These individuals are not required to report to campus and are approved for remote work. If any faculty/staff are unable to work, they should use available sick time as per the extended policy.

1. Individuals requiring self-quarantine (voluntary/mandatory) due to specific guidelines:

• Travel outside of the US and specifically countries currently designated as Zone 3
• Family member who has been diagnosed or is under quarantine
• Doctor suggested quarantine based on exhibiting symptoms, concerns related to potential exposure or caring for dependent with potential COVID-19

Action: Faculty/staff falling in this category should confidentially notify their supervisor and local HR Partner to discuss a remote work arrangement and the considerations for this type of accommodation. Individuals in this category should complete the Medical Accommodations form  and obtain corresponding medical certification within 10 days or complete the travel form. Healthiest You telehealth service is available as an option. These individuals are not to report to campus and should continue their regular responsibilities while working remotely. If you are unable to work, sick time should be used as per the extended policy (refer to Paid Time Off).

Work Schedule Approach: Using the guidelines above, supervisors and executive leaders will work with their teams to establish appropriate coverage.  Faculty and staff with specific personal circumstances who cannot be present at campus at any time should request temporary hardship accommodations based on the following parameters. Approval for this off campus accommodation will be reviewed on a weekly basis.  Employees are responsible for reporting any changes to their circumstances.

Individual requesting special accommodation based on personal, temporary hardships:

1. • Childcare or dependent care
   • Public transit closures
   • Other exceptional circumstances

Action: If faculty/staff have specific circumstances to be considered, they should confidentially notify their senior department manager and local HR Partner to discuss remote work or other arrangement to address the accommodation. Individuals in this category should complete the Temporary Hardship Accommodation form and work with their direct supervisor to determine the appropriate flexible, modified, job share or rotational work schedule if approved. The expectations of the job will not change, and the individual must have the means to work remotely.  If accommodation is not approved, individuals must use available PTO (sick, vacation, etc.)

* Note: The required forms must be completed in their entirety, and require HR, senior department manager, and executive leadership approval. Unfortunately, an email request will not be acceptable. The requests will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis or more frequently based on changing circumstances.

Paid Time Off: To ensure that all faculty and staff have the time needed to address personal situations and concerns, arrange required dependent care, and facilitate personal preparedness, we require the use of any available paid time off (PTO).

Vacation: Those without an available vacation balance will be allowed the advance use of unaccrued vacation (Staff) or break time (Faculty) following the established policies outlined in the employee and faculty handbooks. Please work with your supervisor to schedule this additional benefit.

Sick leave: Employees who are feeling sick should stay home and should use available sick time. If your sick leave is exhausted, you may advance the unaccrued balance of your sick pay for the remainder of the 2020 year.

Facilities Health Protocols for Enhanced Safety: The on-campus measures include:

• Restricted access
• Social distancing to include reducing the density of workspaces in terms of occupancy
• Increased cleaning and sanitation services
• If you see an employee visibly ill in the office, send them home
• Limit any in-person large group/department meetings
• Limit communal food in the office and during meetings

Employee Benefits and Assistance: Please remember that you and your family have access to our telehealth services through Healthiest You (www.healthiestyou.com / P: 866-703-1259) and Best Doctors (https://members.bestdoctors.com / P: 866-904-0910)  and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through ComPsych (www.guidanceresources.com / P: 844-819-4777) to address feelings of stress or anxiety during this tenuous period. Our EAP provides professional and confidential services to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues to include assistance with dependent/childcare options.

Next Steps: Please coordinate with your supervisor to determine the approach your team will take to fulfill its responsibilities.  If applicable, complete the necessary documentation for special accommodations.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been working around the clock to ensure that the University is able to transition to virtual learning while remaining open and operational throughout this critical period. We rely on the good judgment and leadership of every individual across the University, to support our mission, vision, and core values.

Given that this is an evolving situation, further updates will be forthcoming as circumstances change and more information becomes available. Please know that all institution-wide decisions are being made with the safety of our community at the forefront and with the best-available guidance from our local and federal public health authorities.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our USAHS family and our students.

The University response team has been closely monitoring information about COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, from federal, state and local authorities. Although there have been no known cases of COVID-19 reported at any USAHS campus, growing concern about the virus is mounting quickly.

Cities and states across the U.S. have declared public health emergencies, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 illness as a global pandemic.  The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has encouraged state and municipal governments to immediately implement a spectrum of actions to contain spread of the virus. In addition, higher education regulators and state authorities are mandating that institutions consider alternative approaches to teaching to prevent the spread of the virus.

In response to these latest developments and the desire to protect our campus community, USAHS will be modifying operations effective 6:00 p.m. PST on MONDAY, MARCH 16 and remains as follows until at least 6:00 p.m. PST April 5, 2020.  To facilitate the transition, all academic operations remain the same on Monday, March 16, and will transition to online at end of day.

• All instruction, including selected labs, residencies and exams, at all campus locations will be delivered entirely online through at least 6:00 p.m. PST April 5, with students tentatively returning to campus starting on April 6. This includes all students in all programs. We are adjusting courses with the aim of keeping you on track and specific labs may require dedicated time upon your return to campus.  Your flexibility and focus during this time are essential. Your faculty will communicate with you through your Blackboard courses to provide announcements and detailed instruction.
• Student support is available by phone, e-mail and virtual appointment including faculty, faculty advisors, student success advisors and writing center staff.  We are coordinating with student tutors for continued support and additional information will be communicated.
• ComPsych support is available. During this time of change, students who may benefit from counseling or guidance resources can go online here or reach out by phone at 844.819.4777 for University-sponsored assistance. More information about ComPsych is also available on the MyUSA portal.
• Campus facilities will not be accessible to students during this time and will be open to faculty and staff. Wellness Centers and community clinics will be closed starting at 6:00 p.m. PST on March 13. Upon your return, new protocols to enhance the safety of our environment will be implemented.
• All USAHS events through April 30 are cancelled and no external groups or visitors will be permitted on any campus (e.g. tours, meetings on campus) unless related to a maintenance issue or required by an emergency. This includes any university endorsed, off-campus events where students or faculty participate, such as volunteer opportunities.
• Students on clinicals are expected to follow the protocol of their local site and should contact their assigned clinical faculty with any health concerns or operating changes. A communication detailing protocol for current and upcoming clinical experiences will be distributed later today, March 13, from the Clinical Education Department.
• Student workers will not be permitted to work on campus until facilities reopen. Student workers will be contacted by their direct supervisors if virtual work is available during this time (e.g. student tutors).
• Prospective student interviews will transition to virtual interviews.

These decisions have been carefully made based on our guiding principles and values, and most importantly, ensuring the health and safety of our campus communities. We remain firmly dedicated to USAHS’s educational mission and the success of our students, so that you remain on track toward earning your degree and meeting licensure requirements.

Spring Commencement Ceremonies Have Been Postponed

As part of the University’s measures to limit exposure to students and their families, USAHS will be postponing all Spring Commencement ceremonies.  The postponement of the ceremony will not impact your degree conferral date or your eligibility to register for licensure exams per state agency protocol; only the formal event and celebration of your achievements will be postponed.  USAHS is committed to providing students with an exceptional experience to celebrate this important milestone with their classmates, friends and families.  An update with further details will be provided as soon as plans can be arranged.

Reporting Coronavirus Concerns and Cases

Please immediately and responsibly report any suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases, including known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed coronavirus, to Student Services by calling 760.410.5407. All reports will be treated as confidential to the extent possible under FERPA and other privacy regulations.  As an institution of higher education, it is our obligation and commitment to ensure that all students and employees are treated with respect and without bias.  Accordingly, we are confident that the USAHS community will demonstrate the compassion of health care professionals, and tolerance for all students, faculty and staff.

Personal Contact Information

• Ensure your personal contact information is current so you can be informed of any changes quickly.
• Login to MyUSA and select “My Info” from the main menu, then select “My Contact Info” from the menu on the left to update your information.  

Submit Travel History Form

If you have traveled by air, either domestically or internationally, in the last 30 days or if you have plans to travel, please complete and submit a confidential travel history form. It is suggested that you review USAHS travel guidelines.

Useful Links

• What To Do If You Have Symptoms Or Get Sick: https://www.usa.edu/2020/03/taking-precautions-with-coronavirus/ 
• CDC Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

Please continue to monitor your USA.edu email and Blackboard for further updates and faculty communications.  If you have any clarification questions, please contact your program director.

The University response team has been closely monitoring information about COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, from federal, state and local authorities. Although there have been no known cases of COVID-19 reported at any USAHS campus, growing concern about the virus is mounting quickly. 

Cities and states across the U.S. have declared public health emergencies, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 illness as a global pandemic.  The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has encouraged state and municipal governments to immediately implement a spectrum of actions to contain spread of the virus. In addition, higher education regulators and state authorities are mandating that institutions consider alternative approaches to teaching to prevent the spread of the virus.  

In response to these latest developments and the desire to protect our campus community, USAHS will be modifying operations effective 6:00 p.m. PST on MONDAY, MARCH 16 and remains as follows until at least 6:00 p.m. PST April 5, 2020.  To facilitate the transition, all academic operations remain the same on Monday, March 16, and will transition to online at end of day.

• All instruction, including selected labs, residencies and exams, at all campus locations will be delivered entirely online through at least 6:00 p.m. PST April 5, with students tentatively returning to campus starting on April 6. This includes all students in all programs. We are adjusting courses with the aim of keeping you on track and specific labs may require dedicated time upon your return to campus.  Your flexibility and focus during this time are essential. Your faculty will communicate with you through your Blackboard courses to provide announcements and detailed instruction.    
• Student support is available by phone, e-mail and virtual appointment including faculty, faculty advisors, student success advisors and writing center staff.  We are coordinating with student tutors for continued support and additional information will be communicated. 
• ComPsych support is available. During this time of change, students who may benefit from counseling or guidance resources can go online here or reach out by phone at 844.819.4777 for University-sponsored assistance. More information about ComPsych is also available on the MyUSA portal.
• Campus facilities will not be accessible to students during this time and will be open to faculty and staff. Wellness Centers and community clinics will be closed starting at 6:00 p.m. PST on March 13. Upon your return, new protocols to enhance the safety of our environment will be implemented.
• All USAHS events through April 30 are cancelled and no external groups or visitors will be permitted on any campus (e.g. tours, meetings on campus) unless related to a maintenance issue or required by an emergency. This includes any university endorsed, off-campus events where students or faculty participate, such as volunteer opportunities. 
• Students on clinicals are expected to follow the protocol of their local site and should contact their assigned clinical faculty with any health concerns or operating changes. A communication detailing protocol for current and upcoming clinical experiences will be distributed later today, March 13, from the Clinical Education Department.
• Student workers will not be permitted to work on campus until facilities reopen. Student workers will be contacted by their direct supervisors if virtual work is available during this time (e.g. student tutors). 
• Prospective student interviews will transition to virtual interviews. 

These decisions have been carefully made based on our guiding principles and values, and most importantly, ensuring the health and safety of our campus communities. We remain firmly dedicated to USAHS’s educational mission and the success of our students, so that you remain on track toward earning your degree and meeting licensure requirements. 

Spring Commencement Ceremonies Have Been Postponed

As part of the University’s measures to limit exposure to students and their families, USAHS will be postponing all Spring Commencement ceremonies.  The postponement of the ceremony will not impact your degree conferral date or your eligibility to register for licensure exams per state agency protocol; only the formal event and celebration of your achievements will be postponed.  USAHS is committed to providing students with an exceptional experience to celebrate this important milestone with their classmates, friends and families.  An update with further details will be provided as soon as plans can be arranged.

Reporting Coronavirus Concerns and Cases

Please immediately and responsibly report any suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases, including known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed coronavirus, to Student Services by calling 760.410.5407. All reports will be treated as confidential to the extent possible under FERPA and other privacy regulations.  As an institution of higher education, it is our obligation and commitment to ensure that all students and employees are treated with respect and without bias.  Accordingly, we are confident that the USAHS community will demonstrate the compassion of health care professionals, and tolerance for all students, faculty and staff. 

Personal Contact Information

• Ensure your personal contact information is current so you can be informed of any changes quickly.  
• Login to MyUSA and select “My Info” from the main menu, then select “My Contact Info” from the menu on the left to update your information.  

Submit Travel History Form

If you have traveled by air, either domestically or internationally, in the last 30 days or if you have plans to travel, please complete and submit a confidential travel history form. It is suggested that you review USAHS travel guidelines.

Useful Links

• What To Do If You Have Symptoms Or Get Sick: https://www.usa.edu/2020/03/taking-precautions-with-coronavirus/ 
• CDC Information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html 

Please continue to monitor your USA.edu email and Blackboard for further updates and faculty communications.  If you have any clarification questions, please contact your program director. 

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences has been closely following information about COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus.  USAHS has not experienced any reported incidents of coronavirus at our campuses, and all campus operations continue as normal.  All students and employees are expected to adhere to normal hours at their respective campus location.  Students on clinicals are expected to follow the protocol of their local site and contact their assigned clinical faculty with any health concerns or operating changes.

Preventative Measures Happening on Campus
Your health, safety and well-being are a top priority.  The University’s senior leadership has formed a response team that will continuously monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health departments.  At this time, based on expert opinion, the risk for our campus communities is believed to be low.  We must work collaboratively to protect our environment.
To this end, the following preventative measures are in effect:

General Areas

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have been distributed.
• The Facilities team will wipe down all tabletops and stair bannisters with an antibacterial cleaning solution during the routine custodial services every evening.
• Routine wipe downs of stair handrails will be increased.

Labs and Classrooms

• All labs have been supplied with spray bottles of cleaning solution and rolls of paper towels. At the end of each lab class, faculty are being asked to instruct students to wipe down treatment tables and dispose used paper towels in the trash.
• All classrooms will have canisters of disinfecting wipes. At the end of each lecture class, faculty are being asked to instruct students to wipe down their work surfaces.
• Students may also wipe down their workspaces prior to the commencement of class.
• For greatest effectiveness, all surfaces should remain visibly wet for at least 5 minutes prior to drying.

Domestic Travel
The University has enacted guidelines limiting travel until the coronavirus outbreak has been stabilized and the Public Health Emergency has been removed.  All non-essential travel should be avoided by utilizing teleconference technology available to all employees through Ring Central.  If you have a trip planned, please consult with your supervisor to determine if that travel is necessary.  As a reminder, all employees must book travel through the Concur portal.  If your travel is deemed necessary, please heed the preventive tips listed below.

What is Non-Essential Travel?
Travel is considered non-essential if it can be postponed to a later date and/or can be handled effectively by video or telephone conference.  Employees should use their best judgement as safety and wellness are our primary concerns.  Concern about the expense to reschedule a flight or travel logistics should not impact your decision.  For faculty who plan to attend conferences that have already been booked, please use your own best judgement.  It is suggested that faculty wait to register for conferences happening later in the year. 

Travel Abroad
University-sponsored trips to regions identified as a Level 2 or 3 risk by the CDC have been cancelled.  If you have travel plans, be sure to check for travel restrictions that may have been issued as a result of coronavirus. Because we have an obligation to ensure appropriate measures for the health of our campus communities, any employees with business or personal plans to travel abroad within the next 90 days must notify their supervisor with detailed information.  Students are being asked to contact their student success advisor.

State agencies are requiring that all employees and students returning from a region flagged by the CDC as Level 2 or 3 risk self-quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to campus. It is also strongly suggested that these employees and students contact their health care provider for testing and abide by all local health department guidelines.  Employees should contact their local HR representative to determine the proper course of action if they are returning from one of these regions.  Students should contact Student Services by calling 760.410.5407.

Preventative Measures You Can Take
Because coronavirus can be transmitted through the air or by close personal contact, please be extra attentive to the following:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who appear to be or are sick.
• Stay home when sick.
• Cover the mouth and nose with the inside of the elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC also provides a comprehensive overview of the coronavirus on their site – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html.  According to information provided, symptoms can vary depending on the type of coronavirus.  Many symptoms mimic those of colds and flu, but others can be more severe.

What To Do If You Have Symptoms Or Get Sick
If you have symptoms that you suspect may be related to coronavirus, please stay home, avoid contact with others, and call ahead to a health care provider as soon as possible to determine next steps including testing if recommended.  You may also take advantage of our new telehealth service, Healthiest You, to talk to a health care professional.  Watch the video on how to register or view the demonstration on how to use the HealthiestYou app.  Once registered, call 866.703.1259, visit HealthiestYou.com, or use the HealthiestYou app to schedule an appointment.

Employees who are not feeling well should contact their supervisor and utilize paid sick time, which is available to all employees.  You can check your leave balance and request sick days via the DayForce HR portal.  For details about the USAHS sick leave policy, consult the Employee Handbook.

If you have any additional ideas on preventative steps that we can take at this time to continue effectively serving our students while protecting our campus community, please contact your Campus Director, campus facilities managers, or any member of the Executive Team.  Please note that additional contingency plans have been developed and will be deployed as the situation evolves.  Thank you very much for your cooperation in helping to ensure a safe and healthy University community.

Over the past several weeks, the news media have reported on the growing number of people infected with the coronavirus as it spreads from an outbreak site near Wuhan, China.  At this time, the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences has not experienced any reported incidents of coronavirus on its campuses.  However, the University will continue to monitor the situation and communicate to the University community as appropriate through email, the USA.edu website, Campus Connection, and other University channels.

Because coronavirus can be transmitted through the air or by close personal contact, hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing, avoiding touching your face, and the use of hand sanitizers are recommended, especially in public spaces and travel hubs such as airports, train stations, etc.  If you have travel plans, be sure to check for travel restrictions that may have been issued as a result of coronavirus.  Travel advisory information can be found at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province–china.html or at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

The CDC also provides a comprehensive overview of the coronavirus on their site – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html.   According to information provided there, symptoms can vary depending on the type of coronavirus.  Many symptoms mimic those of colds and flu, but others can be more severe.  If you have symptoms that you suspect may be related to coronavirus, please stay home, avoid contact with others, and call ahead to a health care provider as soon as possible to determine next steps including testing if recommended.  Also, please report confirmed coronavirus cases to the University at HR@usa.edu or by calling (904) 770-3600.  Thank you for your cooperation in helping to ensure a safe and healthy University community.