Healthy Campus

CAMPUS COVID UPDATE

COVID-19 has required adjustments to university life and out of due caution the campus calendar and many events have been modified to limit spread of the virus and the complication of crowds or large group gatherings. Several important decisions have been made for the remainder of Fall 2020 and for the Spring 2021 term. These modifications are important as we continue to do all we can to complete the school year in an on-campus format.  

HOMECOMING 2020

Many homecoming events scheduled for October 16-18 will be conducted virtually this year for our alumni and friends. Our alumni office has developed creative and innovative alternatives to our normal gatherings and events. Athletic events and other student activities are scheduled to be “live.” Faculty, staff and students are especially encouraged to participate, support these events and each other. All established COVID-19 precautions will be fully observed at each event.   

FALL SEMESTER SCHEDULE

The university will continue to offer traditional on-campus classes until the Thanksgiving break scheduled for November 25-27. Following the break, traditional classes and final exams will be offered via the on-line distance format until the completion of the semester. Faculty and staff will continue to report to campus and all university offices will be open until the scheduled Christmas break. All SPGS on-campus and on-line classes will continue to observe their currently established schedules.

RESIDENCE HALLS

Following Thanksgiving break, all residence halls will be open and meal plan services will continue for all residential students who desire or need to return to campus. Students who need to remain on campus during the Thanksgiving break may arrange to do so; however, meal services will not be provided during the break. Residential Life will offer a registration process for students who choose to remain on campus during or after the break. All residence halls will close, and meal services will conclude on December 17. Move in for spring semester will begin January 10, 2021.

FALL 2020 MEAL PLAN CREDITS OR REFUNDS

Meal services will continue for all resident students who choose or need to return to campus for the remainder of the semester through December 17. Students who were required by university officials to quarantine at home for a designated period of time and students who choose not to return to campus following the Thanksgiving break may be entitled to a meal plan credit to their account for Spring 2021 or a refund. All meal plan credits or refunds will be calculated individually based on the specific meal plan, total meal plan days missed, the student’s financial aid profile and account status. Meal plan credits for second semester or refunds will vary greatly from student to student and will not be credited or distributed until after December 17th.  

SPRING BREAK 2021 RESCHEDULED

The Spring 2021 semester will follow the established calendar and schedule; however, out of due caution for campus health and safety, traditional classes will continue to be held March 15-19, which was previously scheduled as Spring Break. Spring Break has been rescheduled to coincide with Easter Break. Easter Break will begin March 29 and end April 5. Traditional classes will resume Tuesday, April 6. All SPGS and online classes will follow their current class schedules. In observance of Good Friday and Easter all university offices and facilities will be closed April 2-5.

FITNESS CENTER AND OPEN GYM

Challenges this school year have required many adjustments and some inconvenience to our normal programs and activities. Our fitness center, gymnasiums and other spaces have traditionally provided places for students to gather informally, work-out or exercise.  Unfortunately, these spaces are extremely vulnerable for the spread of the virus and are unavailable for open use until we have confidence that the virus issues are resolved. We know it is an inconvenience, however, this is a necessary precaution for the good of the entire campus and will remain until further notice.

PIONEER SPIRIT

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue on-campus classes and events and we cannot take this for granted. I appreciate the cooperation, diligence and heroic actions of faculty, staff and students to get this done together. Lack of respect or willful negligence regarding safety guidelines will be taken seriously and can quickly and negatively impact the community, athletic teams and a variety of program or activities.

It is imperative that we all continue to follow the prescribed cautions in support of the health and welfare of our campus community. Our situation can change rapidly if we become careless or negligent in our practice. Pioneer Spirit takes many forms and we can accomplish much together, but at its best it is manifested by patience, unselfish acts, mutual support and respect for one another as good neighbors.

Together we can do this.

David J. Spittal
President

1. MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) submitted the signed Certification and Agreement for the student portion of the HEERF grant to the Department of Education on April 10, 2020.  
2. MNU was scheduled to receive $599,857 for the student portion.  However, $703,200 was received on April 28. The excess of $103,343 was returned on May 12, 2020.
3. As of this date, none of the funds have been distributed to students.  However, the distributions are to begin next week.  
4. The estimated number of MNU students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program: 1,085.
5. As of this date, no students have received the emergency grants.  However, that distribution will begin next week.
6. The methodology used to determine the amount of the distribution was an equal distribution to all eligible recipients.  All MNU students have suffered financial hardship as a result of the COVID pandemic. MNU will also hold back approximately $100,000 of the $599,857 student portion to be distributed on a case-by-case basis to students that have special needs above and beyond the initial funds delivered to them. A committee of appropriate managers will determine and oversee that distribution.
7. An email from the President, that included a discussion of the upcoming HEERF distribution, was sent to students and parents on May 11. Two separate emails from the CFO/VP Finance, discussing the HEERF distribution were sent May 12, the first to undergraduate students and their parents, the second to eligible graduate students.  Finally, an email with instructions on setting up ACH information in MNU’s payment system, will be sent this week or early next week from the Bursar to all eligible students, to facilitate a quicker distribution of the funds.

MNU Commencement Ceremonies are rescheduled for August 1, at College Church of the Nazarene. Details are being finalized and will be shared with graduates as soon as possible. Please be aware that plans are subject to change based on conditions regarding the pandemic. MNU will continue to work with public health officials and comply with restrictions for the health and wellbeing of graduates, their families, the public and MNU employees. 

Please read this letter for an update from the Community Counseling and Play Therapy Centers. 

This is an update regarding MNU’s change in operations to online course delivery and the reduction in residential services due to the COVID-19 situation. Many difficult decisions have been and will continue to be made affecting our constituents. Please know the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, families and community is our primary concern.

We know you have been anticipating an announcement regarding Commencement. MNU is committed to celebrating graduates’ accomplishments with students, families, and university personnel.  For this reason, and to maintain compliance with CDC guidelines, the May 2 commencement ceremony is postponed.  Our public health agencies advise that the likelihood of having a large gathering while protecting public health by that date cannot be determined. It would be irresponsible to continue to plan as if that will happen. The university is thinking creatively about what the rescheduled celebration will look like and will share those plans with you as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience as we seek to do what is in everyone’s best interest and to honor our human need for community and milestone recognition.

Additionally, all events, whether MNU sponsored or held by an outside entity, have been canceled or postponed through May 2. As the situation unfolds, additional events (largely for Bell Center) may need to be canceled.

Employees, except for on-campus essential personnel, will transition to working remotely immediately, with the goal of having this move complete by Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Employees will receive separate, comprehensive communication regarding these plans.

Questions about refunds of room, board and fees will be answered going forward. Please allow significant time for university personnel to work through a variety of issues to make these determinations before expecting an answer.

Residence halls will be open for students to move out through April 1. We ask residential students to observe this schedule.

• Students whose last names begin with the letters A—G may move out between now and Sunday, March 22
• Last names beginning with the letters H—N may move out between Monday, March 23 and Friday, March 27.
• Last names beginning with the letters O—Z may move out between Saturday, March 28 and Wednesday, April 1.

If you are unable to return to move your belongings by April 1, they will be locked in your dorm room until Friday, May 1.

We know technology issues can be a concern in a virtual environment. Our IT team has created processes to address these issues. Please see the information at the end of this communication for accessing help.

To students, please be assured that our highest goal is to help you complete this semester successfully. We are committed to work with each of you—traditional, professional, graduate, certificate and continuing education students—ensuring everyone will finish their program strong.

We will share all current information available to us as we are committed to continued communication with you. It is not possible to put everything in one communication so please prepare for several emails per week. Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate all the issues that come up and change based on government and public health advisories.

Don’t forget to access our regularly updated FAQ section on the Safety and Health section of mnu.edu. If you have a question that is not addressed there, please see the information at the end of this communication for whom to contact with inquiries.

Information Technology                      913.971.3333

Registrar                                             913.971.3626

Student Accounts                               913.971.3504

Student Financial Services                913.971.3298

Residential Life                                  913.971.3297

Dear Students, Colleagues and Parents,
 
I want to thank the Pioneer Community for your patience, questions, and understanding in recent days as the COVID-19 situation changed life as we know it. This unprecedented situation has required many quick and difficult decisions in the context of constantly changing information from public agencies as they adjust to changing circumstances.
 
Our first concern is the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and families. Second is our effort to continue the spring semester so that students may graduate, credits may be completed, and academic progress can continue.
 
Today we are announcing that beginning March 30, all MNU courses will be conducted online for the remainder of the semester. All Summer 2020 classes will also be moved online. Many School of Professional and Graduate Studies (SPGS) classes are already offered online. Given the availability of remote learning and continued guidance from state and federal officials, we have also made the difficult decision to close residence halls, with limited exceptions.
 
We know that living near others during a pandemic increases the possibility of transmission of a virus. Therefore, all MNU students who live in the residence halls are encouraged to return home as quickly as possible and no later than April 1. Since this transition extends to the end of the semester, students must take all personal items with them so that they can be fully engaged and ready for the academic remote learning experience. Residential Life staff will follow up with residential students to provide additional details and support for the move out process, including a schedule, as well as support for those students who need to remain on campus.
 
We understand there are some students who may have personal and financial hardships, or employment reasons to stay on campus, so we are preparing for a limited number of students to remain on campus for the foreseeable future and we will work closely with these students in the transition. Students wishing to apply to stay on campus should complete the application at this link. These will be approved on a limited, case by case basis.
 
This is a significant change for our residential community. No doubt this will prompt questions regarding refunds for housing and meal plans.  Our team in Student Accounts is already hard at work, but this will take some time. Please allow several weeks for the institution to receive guidance on these issues and process individual accounts.
 
For Traditional Students only, the spring semester is being extended until May 15, 2020. The Traditional summer school semester will be postponed by two weeks and will start May 18, 2020. There are no changes to the SPGS summer semester.
 
Regardless of where our students reside or how they learn, we remain committed to shaping students’ academic, personal, and spiritual growth, even in this unusual time.
 
This week and next, faculty are developing means of instruction and course delivery for this change. I’m deeply appreciative of their work and of all the work faculty will be doing in the days and weeks ahead to provide instruction and care for students. Additionally, our teams in Student Development and Spiritual Life are currently identifying and creating opportunities for student engagement throughout the end of the semester. 
 
To understand student/staff/faculty needs during the transition to online learning, we ask that you take this four-question survey. This will help us address any concerns. Online Learning Survey.
 
In addition, if you need to familiarize yourself with Moodle, this link will take you to all applicable tutorials.
 
These announcements will likely prompt many questions from students, parents, employees and all constituents. We wanted you to know about these changes as soon as the decision was made. Faculty will receive additional information from Academic Affairs and staff will receive information from Human Resources.  We are continuing to work through the ramifications of these changes and will continue to post regular updates and answers to frequently asked questions on MNU’s website as well as communication through email and the RAVE alert system.
 
Finally, let us remember that God the Father gave us his Word for times just like this. May we keep in mind these words.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:3-5
 

With Faith for the Future,

David J. Spittal Ed.D., President

CAMPUS COMMUNICATION From Dr. David J. Spittal, president
Coronavirus (COVID-19)  
         
University leadership is closely monitoring the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to monitor the situation and follow the guidance of the CDC and other health agencies. This virus spreads rapidly and includes increasing contamination rates requiring reasonable efforts but decisive action be taken to contain its spread and the potential impact on vulnerable populations.

At present, the university has not identified any cases of the virus within our community and is operating “as usual” based on the guidance we are receiving. Because of the rapid spread of the virus in the U.S., the situation may change quickly, and we will initiate appropriate action as necessary to protect our campus community. We will continue to exercise caution for all concerned and will be mindful of the needs of our faculty and staff. We especially want to assure students that their academic programs, university services and support needs will be fully considered as we move forward.

Out of an abundance of caution and to limit exposure to the virus, MNU leadership has decided to extend Spring Break, scheduled for March 14-22, by an additional week from March 23-27 to provide additional time for faculty and staff to prepare a move to distance learning for all face to face classes, should it be necessary to do so. This will provide a two-week break to permit continued monitoring of the virus situation and provide time for additional preparation and response to these issues. 

The traditional undergraduate student population will be welcome to return to residence halls on Sunday evening, March 29, 2020, with classes resuming on Monday, March 30. Students leaving for Spring Break should take textbooks, supplies and materials necessary and be prepared to return to classes on March 30. Should classes be moved to an online format, the university has computers located across campus that are accessible for students who do not otherwise have computer access. Additional communication will be provided prior to the return of students regarding class format, preparation for return and other instructions.

All members of the campus community should monitor their MNU email as the primary source for further instructions. This page will provide the most updated information along with information regarding events, program cancellations or rescheduling. 

Any student who has experienced a cough or shortness of breath or has traveled to a high-risk area(s) should NOT return to campus on March 29 and should contact their health provider before returning to campus. All university-sponsored or reimbursed travel by faculty, staff and students is immediately suspended unless specifically approved by university officials in advance.

All current online distance classes, accelerated nursing programs, graduate counseling or other professional and graduate classes may continue to meet or may be converted to a distance-learning format and function as scheduled, unless it is determined that circumstances require changes approved by the designated cabinet member, dean and department chair.

We recognize select students may need to remain on campus for the extended Spring Break due to athletics, as international students, those in clinical rotations, student teachers, employment or for students who may not have off-campus options. Residential Life will identify and must approve, all requests for students desiring to remain as residents on campus. During the break, visitors, family and non-residential guests will not be allowed to visit residence halls without the approval of Residence Life.

During the extended portion of Spring Break, all university facilities and offices will remain open for regular hours including the Campus Center and Mabee Learning Commons. Faculty and Staff will receive internal communications and updates regarding operations and functions within their areas. Faculty or staff who become ill should not report to work and should utilize university PTO provisions and may be required to provide physicians clearance prior to reporting for work.

Dining services will be available to resident students on meal plans and to those who are approved by their sponsor and Residential Life to be on campus during the extended week of break. Pioneer College Catering services will implement its action plan and will modify its operational and serving processes during this period. Maintenance and custodial staff will initiate additional disinfecting or cleaning procedures in all occupied buildings and hand sanitizer will be distributed to all classrooms, offices and common areas.

The university will continue to monitor the situation and further announcements will be issued as necessary. During the extended break all scheduled campus events, public events and use of campus facilities by outside groups may be canceled, rescheduled or reviewed on a case by case basis to minimize the potential spread of this virus on campus or with the public. The sponsoring group or department will be responsible for the communication of canceled or rescheduled events.

I want to assure the campus community that there is no immediate threat or cause for alarm. Current information has indicated that our area is not at immediate risk, but definitive action is necessary out of a serious need for caution and care. Students can be assured that the university will keep them fully informed and that their classwork and academic progress will be a high priority consideration, especially for our seniors and those contemplating graduation. They should not be alarmed or have undue concern. 
These are exceptionally challenging times and as a Christ-centered community, we have a unique responsibility to demonstrate compassion, long suffering and patience during these difficult circumstances. I am confident that as Pioneers we can work together to be resolute and deal with these issues as we become even stronger in our commitment to serve and support each other.   

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6  

Leaning Forward with Passion and Purpose,

Dr. David J. Spittal

The safety and wellbeing of our students and employees is our highest priority. MNU is actively monitoring the developments of (COVID-19). As the situation unfolds, we are working with Johnson County Health and Environment (JCHE) to provide our community with the most up-to-date information. Our Emergency Response Team meets to monitor the situation and implement established protocol as needed. While the progression of COVID-19 is still emerging, the CDC is reporting that for the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.

In the meantime, the campus continues to operate normally. We are increasing sanitation throughout campus and educating the campus community on practices to help mitigate the spread of germs. We will continue to update the communication here as new information is learned about COVID-19.