U-SoA COVID-19 Updates

University of Miami School of Architecture (U-SoA) updates are listed below in chronological order, starting with most recent advisory.
COVID header
Drawing by Prof. Salvatore Santuccio, Rome

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Dear Students,
 
I hope you and your families are doing well. In preparation for the Fall 2020 semester we are conducting many facilities related modifications to offer you a safe and secure precinct upon your arrival.

In particular we are adapting our studio spaces throughout the school to respond to the new health guidelines.
 
As we prepare our studios we know many of you have left your belongings since the Spring 2020 semester. We committed to leaving your items untouched while encouraging you to retrieve if possible. As we move closer to our start date, we are obliged to begin clearing the studios and for this we request your participation. If you are away from Miami and not able to pick up your belongings at this time we will place the items of each desk in a box/bag that is numbered with your desk and studio building name, and we will store them in the school until you return.

Please refer to the plans (see links below) which illustrate each studio desk and its identifying number.
 
If your items can be discarded please advise Zoila Lopez, our facilities manager and write your studio building name and desk number so that we are able to identify the location.  Many students have requested for third parties to retrieve their items. We can grant access to the studios to those third parties as long as you coordinate with Zoila Lopez.
 
We will begin the clearing and storage of belongings on Tuesday, July 28. This leaves us with one week for those who are able to return to campus to pick up their items before we pack them up. If you can come to campus this week, please coordinate access to the studios with Zoila Lopez, via email at zlopez@miami.edu.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to your return in August.
 
Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Sunday, July 12, 2020

Dear Students,

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the 2020-21 academic year, with classes beginning on August 17th, as per the revised schedule. As we gear up for a safe and smooth fall term, we will be sending more instructions and regular updates, so please make sure to keep up with UM and U-SoA communications.

An important message sent to you recently by Provost Duerk describes how fall courses will be taught in three instructional modalities this fall:

  • In-person and on-campus;
  • Hybrid or blended, with a combination of in-person on-campus instruction and virtual/remote sessions;
  • Virtual/remote in synchronous (live) and/or asynchronous (recorded) formats.

Given these options, you may choose not to return to campus this fall and opt by July 22 to take classes remotely for the semester. [For more information, please visit https://coronavirus.miami.edu/information-for/students/index.html]

Regardless of how you choose to attend classes this fall, whether you will be present on campus, joining in-person or hybrid classes or attending remotely through virtual sessions, we are committed to helping you keep your education on track and to deliver the distinctive U-SoA learning experience.

Following is an update on the measures we are taking to ensure a safe and productive semester. Our special task force developed them in consultation with other units and UM leadership, and will continue to adjust plans and procedures as necessary:

  • We have reconfigured all studio spaces with layouts that respect physical distancing guidelines. All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in core design studio courses will be assigned dedicated desks for the duration of the term in reconfigured and de-densified spaces—for instance only 1 or 2 students per bay in the historic buildings. In lieu of the “desk critique,” the one-on-one exchange that customarily takes place at the student’s desk, we are reserving spacious rooms for this kind of personalized interaction, including outdoor spaces such as the Miller BuildLab. Students who won’t be able to join in person in fall 2020 will be assigned to an on-line section of their core studio course. The curricula of the online sections will be calibrated to the challenges and opportunities of the virtual environment, diving deeper, for instance, into the digital media and remote collaboration tools that are transforming the profession. As usual, we will offer different options of the Upper-Level Design Studio course to choose from. For Fall 2020 there are 10 options offered in 3 different modalities. We are taking here the opportunity to deliberately mount online studio courses that explore the potential benefits of web-based interaction and remote collaboration, drawing on a vast network of resources and emerging technology. Only the Upper-Level Studio course that are designated for “in person” modality will provide enrolled students with dedicated desks. Options will be presented on July 17th; please make sure to choose what is best suited for your needs and situation—your ranked preferences are due on July 22nd.
  • All courses--design studio courses included--and regardless of their designated modality can be joined remotely via teleconferencing, live-streamed sessions and access to asynchronous content—all class sessions will be captured on video for course use exclusively. We will build on growing online resources and the lessons learned from Spring 2020 to ensure a smooth and rewarding learning experience for students joining online while tailoring the course of study to their individual needs and circumstances when possible.
  • All classes and workshops have been assigned to spaces that comply with safe distancing guidelines. This includes the Watsco Center and Field House for our largest classes.
  • Taking advantage of the unique outdoor areas in our precinct, we are bringing instructional technology and protection from the weather to select spaces to accommodate presentations and events in a safe and de-densified setting. You will see the terraces of the Murphy Studio Building, our courtyard and other open areas utilized in new and exciting ways.
  • The Tecnoglass lecture series will proceed with a very busy program as a live-streaming event. It will be streamed on the big screen in Glasgow Hall to a reduced audience (maximum 40 people) and in other designated safe environments, with an opportunity to engage in discussion with leaders in the field from around the world. Other events will also continue with the same frequency and a reduced capacity on site.
  • Studies have now confirmed that wearing a face covering, washing hands frequently, and practicing social distancing minimizes the risk of COVID-19. Our plans for safety include stringently enforced rules and expect everyone to behave responsibly so as to minimize risk. We are requiring all students to wear face coverings in classes and public areas and to respect distancing rules—we will communicate additional general guidelines for the use of facilities and equipment prior to the beginning of the term.
  • We are providing disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers in all public space, studios, and classrooms.
  • Upon arrival each student will receive a safety return kit that includes a mask, gloves, hand sanitizer and a digital thermometer
  • Traffic flows through buildings, including instructions for ingress/egress will be managed and marked for safety.
  • There will be a minimum of 15 minutes between activities in all indoor spaces to allow for air recirculation and sanitization. Studios spaces will be sanitized after daily closure at 11:00 PM.
  • As we prepare studio spaces for the fall semester we are working on a plan to securely store Items left behind last March. Please look out for an email from Associate Dean Carmen Guerrero that will detail the process of storage and collection.

We look forward to your return, in person or virtually. Meanwhile we are available to hear your thoughts and answer your questions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best Wishes,
Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000

http://arc.miami.edu/ 


Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Dear Colleagues,
 
I would like to share the following library update with you on behalf of Kelly E. Miller, Associate Dean for Learning and Research Services:
 
We are currently providing online services for all and a Library Breezeway Service for UM faculty members. This approach will continue through early August, when we plan on re-opening Richter Library for study purposes. With Gilda Santana, we are also currently exploring options for re-opening the Architecture Resource Center beyond the paging service and are engaged in conversation with campus and school administrators. We look forward to continuing to plan in consultation with Carmen Guerrero and others.
 
Please let us know if you have any questions, and thank you for your patience with us during this period!
 
Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Sunday, May 17, 2020

GENERAL UNIVERSITY

  • A reminder that grades will become available to students on Canelink on May 20,2020
  • Registration for summer remains open until first day of class of each summer term
  • All summer courses will be held virtually

ACADEMICS

  • U-SOA
    • Student Council is conducting Professor of the Year voting online
    • Campus Preparation Task Force was launched on May 11th to work on Fall 2020 return to campus
    • Zoila Lopez will be in the Dean’s office beginning on Monday, May 18 to assist with facilities and campus preparations.
    • Student access to studios for retrieval of personal belongings is being handled on an individual basis through coordination with Associate Dean Carmen Guerrero.
    • AIA summer camp has been suspended.
    • The Summer Scholars Explorations in Architecture program will be offered online.
    • Academic Services is beginning individual advising with Fall 2020 new incoming students over the summer months.
  • Frost School of Music
    • Task forces are submitting reports this week on options for holding classes, performing ensembles, and conducting other one-on-one activities in the fall.
    • Summer engagement activities for new and returning students will begin in June.
  • School of Communication
    • End-of-year student award shows were shared through a variety of online platforms.
  • School of Nursing and Health Studies
    • SONHS will welcome about 750 students to Summer C semester on Monday, May 18.
    • Courses are listed as hybrid, beginning virtually, with move to in-person clinical learning experiences when safe and feasible.
    • Virtual awards and pinning ceremony held for May SONHS graduates on Friday, May 8.
    • Graduate nursing students are assisting with data collection and participant follow up for Dr. Erin Kobetz’s SPARK-C study of COVID-19. 

ATHLETICS

  • 96 Student athletes will start Summer A on Monday, May 18.
  • Internal committee is developing a resocialization plan for athletes when they return.
  • Physical Therapists are treating post op student athletes on limited basis at Hecht Training Room. All Student athletes are screened at Lennar before obtaining treatment.
  • NCAA will not mandate or oversee a uniform return to college sports.

AUXILIARY SERVICES

  • Transitioned to the summer meal plan on Friday, May 8.
  • Brunch and dinner take-out menu at Mahoney-Pearson Dining Hall.
  • Curbside pick-up option available at Campus Store beginning May 14 for prepaid and online orders. Designated parking alongside Guzman on Miller Drive.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

  • Working with executive leadership to finalize University phased reopening guidelines.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

  • Developing COVID-19 online training for faculty, staff, and students.
  • Collaborating with campus partners to prepare expanded vaccination plan for the upcoming flu season.
     

FACILITIES OPERATIONS & PLANNING

  • University Architect in collaboration with University Communications is finalizing a COVID-19 signage package.
  • Procuring and installing wellness (plexiglass) shields at identified points of sale, office entries, and information desks.
  • Increased on-campus staff to ensure buildings are prepared for the future phased reopening of the campuses.
  • Surveying laboratory space on Gables and Marine campuses.

HOUSING & RESIDENTIAL LIFE

  • Completed closure of spring housing.
  • 81 students have applied for summer housing.
  • Students staying on campus this summer will be consolidated into Pearson Residential College.
  • Student belonging retrieval process is scheduled to begin Thursday, May 21.

HUMAN RESOURCES

  • UHealth clinical operations are phasing in services and employees are being notified directly of the deployment timeline.

 
PURCHASING

  • Academy Purchasing and UHealth Supply chain team created an online supply form for the Research community to request PPE supplies. Form is expected to go live by Friday, May 15.
     

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES

  • Working with Housing and Residential Life on self-isolation and quarantine room plans for when students return.
  • Developing expanded flu vaccination program for students.
  • Any student testing positive for COVID-19 who doesn’t require clinical care is encouraged to utilize the self-report form.

UHEALTH

  • UHealth Labs have conducted approximately 8,124 COVID-19 tests.
  • Ambulatory services and elective procedures continue to resume in phases.
  • Medical clinical employees who will be returning onsite will need to complete an online screening tool before returning.    
  • Employees will receive an email with a link to the screening tool no more than three days before their scheduled return. They will then receive instructions on whether they are cleared to return to work or required to call the UHealth Hotline for additional screening and testing, if directed.
  • A special digital edition of the University of Miami Medicine Magazine was released on Friday, May 8. https://magazine.med.miami.edu/
  • A video message from leadership celebrating hospital week and expressing gratitude for hospital employees was sent on Wednesday, May 13.
  • Submit words of appreciation for UHealth employees here: 
    https://www.cognitoforms.com/UniversityOfMiamiHealthSystem1/WordsOfAppreciation
  • Isolation tents set up at facility entrances will begin coming down between May 13-17 as the process of screening patients before they enter facilities is streamlined and moved to a permanent location.
  • The latest updates for UHealth/MSOM continue to be posted at my.med.miami.edu.

STATE INFORMATION

  • Positive Testing Percentage (State-Wide): 7.1% (609,574 tests conducted).
  • Governor DeSantis authorized Miami-Dade and Broward counties to transition into Phase I on May 18, 2020.
  • Access all executive orders issued by the State of Florida https://www.flgov.com/2020-executive-orders/.

COUNTY/CITY

  • Positive Testing Percentage (Miami-Dade): 12.3% (119,639 tests conducted).
  • Mayor Gimenez released guidelines for The New Normal for residents and commercial establishments. https://www.miamidade.gov/information/library/new-normal.pdf
  • Non-essential business may reopen with stringent capacity and safety rules in place on May 18.
  • City of Coral Gables presented their three-phased draft reopening plan to City Commission on May 12. The City of Coral Gables will begin the reopening of the local economy through the safe, responsible and strategic opening of specific businesses, with strict guidelines. Effective Monday, May 18th, retail, office, non-profit museums, public gardens, galleries, and personal grooming establishments are allowed to open. On Wednesday, May 20th, restaurants can open. All establishments are required to maintain health protocols to protect the public health and safety of all employees and residents by adhering to the standards outlined in the Miami-Dade County handbook titled The New Normal.
  • Access all emergency orders passed in Miami-Dade County here: http://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/emergency-orders.page
  • Access all emergency orders passed in the City of Coral Gables here: https://www.coralgables.com/departments/emergency
  • Information on COVID-19 testing in Miami-Dade County is available on their testing location website: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/testing-locations.page

Sincerely,

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program 


Friday, May 8, 2020

Good afternoon Colleagues,

In an effort to keep everyone in the loop, please read the updates below. Please excuse the length of this one which is a bit longer.

ACADEMICS

School of Architecture

  • Created virtual jury rooms for the design studio final presentations and invited the community to join through an online portal and a guidebook with information on student projects and design problems addressed
  • Created task force to work on return to campus space planning and new protocols
  • Audit of spaces in progress to identify physical distancing impact to classrooms, studios, offices and library.
  • Creation of task force to seek online education opportunities for the School

College of Arts and Sciences

  • A special website honoring and recognizing Arts and Sciences graduates went live inviting parents, families, and peers to join them in their virtual celebration

School of Law

  • Academic Achievement Program has transitioned the dean’s fellow program and bar preparation courses online
  • Completed a physical audit of work spaces (law library, classrooms, offices, conference rooms, student spaces) to identify 6ft distancing impact to faculty, staff, students and patron
  • Created a Student Emergency Fund for alumni and members of the law school community to contribute to law students in need during the pandemic
  • Created an Academic/Administrative Continuity Committee to prepare to welcome students, staff, and faculty back to campus in August

Marine Campus

  • Integrated Marine Program and College Training (IMPACT) Summer Program has been canceled
  • RSMAS Facilities and Campus Operations teams are beginning pre-season hurricane preparation
  • RSMAS COVID-19 Working Group continues to meet on weekly basis to coordinate response an reopening efforts

Frost School of Music

  • Identified private lesson and ensemble classes that require wellness (plexiglass) barriers

Graduate School

  • Sent an email communication to deans, program directors, and program coordinators stating that the Graduate School will accept the Duolingo English Test to fulfill the English proficiency exam requirement for admission to fall 2020 and spring 2021 graduate programs

School of Education and Human Development

  • Holding a remote Graduation Awards Ceremony Friday afternoon via Zoom to present their awards in excellence to graduating seniors and graduate students and their families, as well as their inaugural Excellence in Teaching Award to an outstanding faculty member
  • Held a virtual Undergraduate Honors Research Presentation on Thursday, May 7 for SEHD honors students to present their research projects to faculty, staff, and fellow students

Study Abroad

  • Study Abroad programs for the fall are being assessed and a decision is expected to be made in the next month

Auxiliary Services

  • Opened USPS in the University Store from 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM to support move-out
  • Created committee for return to campus retail planning on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses
  • Semester meal plan ends May 7 and the summer dining dollar only meal plan begins after that

Communications

  • President’s end-of-year address was sent to the University community on Thursday, May 07
  • CARES Act Emergency Student Aid messaging was communicated to students on Wednesday, May 06
  • Updates continue to be posted at coronavirus.miami.edu

Emergency Management

  • Continue to coordinate development of University plans for the resumption of on-campus operations

Enrollment Management

  • University has received more than 2,600 first year gross deposits for the fall semester

Facilities & Operations

  • Sent an email communication regarding the University’s institutional guidelines for returning to normal operations on Wednesday, May 06
  • Increasing on-site staffing levels next week to prepare for the phased return of faculty and staff over the summer.
  • Surveying alternative classroom spaces on Gables & RSMAS campuses

Housing and Residential Life

  • On track to close residential colleges on Friday, May 08
  • Students staying on campus this summer will be consolidated into Pearson Residential College
  • Information for students needing to retrieve their belongs has been posted HRL website

Human Resources

  • Please send questions regarding plan suspension to the Total Rewards team
  • Exploring screening tools for the process of returning to campus

Information Technology

  • Exploring COVID-19 contact tracing applications

Student Health

  • Working with Housing and Residential Life on self-isolation and quarantine room plans for when students return
  • Developing expanded flu vaccination program for students
  • Any student testing positive for COVID-19 who doesn’t require clinical care is encouraged to utilize the self-report form

UHealth

  • Ambulatory services and elective procedures began to resume on Monday, May 04
  • Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine will be conducting a series of webinars about COVID-19 testing, the first of which will take place Friday, May 08, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  • UHealth Tower is expecting to maintain COVID-19 units indefinitely
  • Every Tuesday, the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is hosting UM’s top researchers in a virtual presentation and discussion that showcases their ongoing work in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. To participate, please register in advance with CTSI
  • AHCA now prohibits hospitals from discharging COVID-19 positive patients who live in assisted-living

Facilities

  • The latest updates for UHealth/MSOM continue to be posted at https://my.med.miami.edu/
  • Any faculty or staff member experiencing symptoms, or who suspects they were exposed to COVID-19 should contact the UHealth Hotline 305-243-TEST (8378)

University of Miami Actions

  • Camps will not be held on the Coral Gables Campus this summer
  • All summer courses will be held online

County/City Information

  • Dr. Bhavarth Shukla of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Professor Susana Diaz-Alvarez of the Herbert Business School have been appointed to the City of Coral Gables Economic Task Force
  • Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez of the University’s Department of Public Health Sciences has been appointed to the City of Miami Re-Opening Task Force
  • Mayor Gimenez extended the local state of emergency in Miami-Dade County until at least May 14
  • Comprehensive list of municipal emergency orders including local state of emergency, safer-at-home, and curfews are available here https://miami.app.box.com/s/p9elao1mvyf36pc4t653t6mg6r035mvy
  • Access all emergency orders passed in Miami-Dade County here http://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/emergency-orders.page
  • Access all emergency orders passed in the City of Coral Gables here https://www.coralgables.com/departments/emergency
  • Information on COVID-19 testing in Miami-Dade county is available on their testing location website https://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/testing-locations.page

State Information

National Information

  • The CDC updated guidance for caring for someone sick in a non-healthcare setting on May 03. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
  • FDA launched the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) to speed approval of drugs and therapies. 72 therapies are now being tested, including hydroxychloroquine, and another 211 are in active planning for clinical trials

Have a nice weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to all the U-SoA Moms!

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Friday, May 1, 2020

Good morning,

Below you will find the latest updates.

ACADEMICS

  • All summer courses will be conducted online
  • Additional courses have been added to the summer schedule

School of Architecture

  • Identification of spaces that may be converted to instructional spaces to comply with physical distancing once reopen.
  • Creation of task force to seek online education opportunities for the School.
  • Implementing School of Architecture Remote Labs.
  • Continues to participate in University-wide effort to produce medical equipment.

College of Arts and Sciences

  • Created a Congrats Grads campaign to celebrate the class of 2020. Asked graduating seniors and their parents for messages to lead up to a virtual celebration on May 7
  • Hosting virtual interactive learning sessions for alumni, parents, and greater community featuring our world-class faculty. Next session features “Black Death to Coronavirus: Linking Pandemics from History to Today” with Dr. Hugh Thomas, History Professor and Director of the Center for the Humanities on May 6, 12:30pm
  • Lowe Art Museum is offering virtual classroom experiences for students, faculty, and staff including guided interactive discussions, professional development workshops, and informative presentations

Frost School of Music

  • Four faculty task forces are working to plan for teaching scenarios and modalities in the fall

Miller School of Medicine – Executive Dean of Research

  • EDR has submitted an FCC application on behalf of UHealth and MSOM for up to $1 million for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program
  • The COVID-19 Telehealth Program will provide $200 million in funding, appropriated by Congress as part of the CARES Act, to help health care providers provide connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

School of Education and Human Development

  • Started a work team to examine the impact of the online pivot in the short term, as well as ways in which the shift remote to learning may impact teaching and learning going forward

STATE INFORMATION

  • Governor DeSantis held a press conference at 5 PM on Wednesday, April 29, describing Phase 1 of Florida’s reopening plan, which begins on Monday, May 4th
  • Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties are excluded from participating in the Phase 1 rollout
  • A timeline for Miami-Dade entering Phase I has not been established
  • Elective surgeries are permitted to resume State-wide on May 4th

COUNTY / CITY INFORMATION

  • City of Coral Gables is opening up a drive-through testing site on Friday, May 1
  • City of Coral Gables began reopening parks and golf courses on Wednesday, April 29
  • Miami-Dade County began reopening parks and golf courses on Wednesday, April 29

Have a good weekend,
Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Good morning Colleagues,

This week’s updates are:

UNIVERSITY

Academics
  • Message sent about all summer classes being delivered online
Information Technology
  • An email communication was sent on Tuesday, April 28, to remind employees that VPN access to remote.miami.edu will be disabled on Thursday, April 30, and remote.med.miami.edu should be used instead
Student Affairs
  • May 2020 – Hurricane Family Connection Newsletter was sent to parents on Tuesday, April 28, discussing University response to COVID-19 and the plan to reopen campus on-time for the fall semester
UHealth
  • UHealth is conducting a research study of serology testing for COVID-19 for eligible employees working in clinical settings who have not been previously tested by any method
University Communications
  • President Frenk sent an email communication regarding measures the University is taking to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19
  • News@TheU included an article encouraging all to thank healthcare heroes by sending words of appreciation or posting #Hearts4UHealth on social media
  • University Communications Article in News@TheU about Stanford Residential College remaining online for 2021 academic year

CITY/COUNTY

  • City of Coral Gables announced that testing for Coral Gables residents will begin on Friday, May 1. Will test up to 100 patients on Friday, May 1, will be using www.coralgables.com/covidtesting to schedule tests and gauge demand. The site is not yet up and running.
  • Mayor Valdes-Fauli passed an emergency order reopening city parks, golf courses, and tennis facilities this week. The City has placed strict guidelines for the use of these facilities which will be enforced. All individuals are required to maintain social distancing (with exceptions to same household family members) and must wear masks/face coverings at all times.
  • Mayor Gimenez passed Emergency Order 21-20, reopening all parks and recreational facilities, marinas and boat launches, and golf courses in Miami-Dade County for limited use, effective 6:00 AM on Wednesday, April 29
  • Opening Wednesday, April 29: Matheson Hammock Marina, Biltmore Golf Course, Granada Golf Course, Salvadore Tennis Center, William H. Kerdyk Tennis Center
  • Opening Friday, May 1, Coral Bay Park, Country Club Prado, Ferdinand Park, Fred B. Harnett Ponce Circle Park, Ingraham Park, Jaycee Park, Phillips Park (Senior hour: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7-8 a.m.), Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park, Salvadore Park, William H. Kerdyk Jr. and Family Park
  • All other neighborhood parks will remain closed until further notice
  • 81,924 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Miami-Dade County, 11,831 (14.4%) have come back positive

STATE

  • Governor DeSantis held a press conference on April 27 to discuss progress on flattening the curve of COVID-19 infections in Florida
  • 368,651 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Florida, 32,846 (8.9%) have come back positive

NATIONAL

  • Dr. Birx said social distancing in the U.S. must last through the summer
  • Looking for alternate sites for drive-thru testing due to poor weather and hurricane season
  • A non-cellulose N95 mask decontamination unit will be deployed to Hard Rock Stadium on April 30
  • CDC added six new symptoms to the list of what to watch for

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Monday, April 27, 2020

Good morning Colleagues,

This is one of the weekly emails with local and national updates regarding Covid-19 related items. We will send these updates as new information is received in the Dean’s office.

University

  • In addition to Summer A and C, all Summer B courses will be conducted online.
  • Sample UM branded cloth mask is being assessed.
  • Registrar sent an email communication to graduate students regarding the approval of the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading basis for the Spring 2020 semester.

Human Resources

  • COVID-19 policies will be extended until May 15

UHealth

  • Planning for phased recovery is underway
  • Critical surgeries have resumed at UHealth Tower

County

  • Mayor Gimenez hosted a Virtual Town Hall on Friday, April 24, at 1:00 PM, discussing a study involving serological testing conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
  • Parks will be opened when safety and security measures are in place
  • Parks will reopen on a weekday, not on a weekend, to avoid crowding

State

  • A Quinnipiac University poll found that 72% of Floridians believe that social distancing should continue into May
  • Governor DeSantis announced that licensed pharmacists will be able to order and administer COVID-19 tests
  • Governor DeSantis stated during a press conference there is no target date yet on reopening Florida
  • The Florida Keys will restrict non-residents from visiting the islands through May

National

  • Alaska, Georgia, and Oklahoma reopened some businesses with social distancing measures on Friday, April 24, 2020

Have a great week!

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Wednesday, April 23, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

In an effort to consolidate updates from a variety of sources, from local to national , we will be sending a weekly bullet point summary of items we would like to bring to your attention.

U-SoA

  • Identification of graduate students needing relief fund.
  • Implementation of SoA Remote Labs: Students remotely connect to on-campus workstations in SoA computer labs.
  • School continues to participate in a university wide effort to produce medical equipment. Items currently in production in our fabrication labs are intubation boxes and test swabs.
  • A Virtual U-SoA Campus Tour produced for use in an online open house held on April 21.
  • Launching of Architecture and the Great Confinement: A Video-Interview Series
  • Launching of JF’s List

UHealth

  • Lennar Medical Center began receiving non-COVID-19 related patients this week.

County

  • Miami-Dade Task Force held a virtual press conference online to discuss reopening, including a phased approach that begins by reopening with parks and open spaces, then graduates to marinas, and finally beaches.
  • No timeline for reopening has been made public.

State

  • Governor DeSantis announced the members of the Re-Open Florida Task Force. The Task Force has been charged with providing recommendations to the Governor by Friday.

National

  • In close collaboration, the US, Mexico, and Canada have each agreed to extend restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared borders for 30 additional days.

Please feel free to share any relevant items for this weekly summary with me.

Sincerely,

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Thursday, April 16, 2020

Good morning Colleagues,          

With this email I share Covid-19 updates related to the University and Miami Dade County.

  • UHealth – Blood drives scheduled for April 20th & 30th at Jackson Memorial from 10am-4pm. Due to high demand, the employee screening hotline hours have been extended to include 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. The phone number is 305-243-8378. Lennar Medical Center will progressively increase on-site services starting Monday, April 20th. Deerfield Beach will begin drive-thru COVID-19 testing beginning today April 16th, with patients tested 8am to 10am, and UM Employees tested 10am to noon. 
  • Student Employment – Student employees who are unable to work their normal shifts as a result of COVID-19 will be paid through the end of the semester based on their scheduled shifts. This will be retroactive to March 16th.
  • Study Abroad – Summer B Study Abroad session has been canceled as of yesterday. All summer session study abroad programs have now been canceled. No decision has been made on fall study abroad programs.
  • Miami-Dade County – Testing continues at the Hard Rock Stadium testing site using the expanded testing criteria as listed here:
    • Anyone with symptoms, regardless of age.
    • All first responders and healthcare workers, including any staff members of long-term care facilities.
    • Anyone who believes they have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive, even if they are not currently experiencing any symptoms.

Hope everybody is doing well,

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Monday, April 6, 2020

Good afternoon Colleagues,

Hoping you have a good start to the week!

I would like to share the following updates and reminders:

  • MyCareConnection – Implementation of UHealth’s new virtual care platform – it is now live and available for employees of the University of Miami and their family members at no charge. Just use your Miami.edu email address, enter the code  Cane2020 and be sure to hit “apply” on the checkout screen. MyCareConnection is available 24/7, 365 days a year, where board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners can diagnose, recommend treatment, and prescribe medication. Providers also are available to evaluate COVID-19 symptoms. Though you may experience longer than usual wait times, there is an option to request a call back. You may access by visiting: https://patient.mdlive.com/register?id=19637#/step-1
  • Counseling Assistance for Employees –the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program has organized wellness webinars to help us better deal with the pressures of this period. I encourage you to attend a webinar or visit the  FSAP Working from Home webpage to explore some helpful resources to support your well-being. To register for an upcoming webinar, visit  https://fsap.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/events/fsap-wellness-webinars-april-2020-.pdf

FSAP also offers consultation and referral services to employees seeking counseling, especially during this stressful time. For more information please contact FSAP at 305-284-6604 or visit  fsap.miami.edu.  Services are provided Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Employees may also choose to contact Carisk, UM’s mental health insurance plan, at 1-800-294-8642 (available 24/7) for referrals or to be directed to a covered treatment center. Note: The Department of Psychiatry, which offers telehealth sessions, is a covered provider.

Please be well and feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Saturday, March 28, 2020

The following is the updated access policy for our campus.

Starting on Monday, March 30 at 12:01am faculty and staff will need their Cane Cards  for access everywhere. Our buildings will be placed on a “holiday schedule” which means that the exterior doors will be locked even during regular business hours.

There will be very limited access functions for graduate students. Graduate students are to be on campus only to support their faculty in the classroom or on any previously arranged work. They are not to hang out, return to normal functioning, etc. in their offices, despite the access.  

Facility access rights will be revoked for all undergraduate students that are not on-campus residents. Students should coordinate with faculty or staff for any access rights that may be required to support the academic mission. 

Students, faculty and staff, are expected to work remotely to the extent possible.

Please advise if you have any questions.

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Wednesday, March 25, 2020

SoA IT is conducting Zoom training sessions daily for both faculty and staff.  These sessions provide an overview of the Zoom platform and recommended practices.  Please book via the link at the bottom.

Faculty Session
Focus on Zoom features and Blackboard integration to generate effective virtual class meetings.  Sessions provide an opportunity to discuss distance learning with an IT specialist. Topics covered: 

  • Zoom Blackboard Integration
  • Zoom Profile Customization
  • Zoom Features:
    • Annotation
    • Polling
    • Content Sharing
    • Breakout Rooms

Staff Session
Focus on scheduling Zoom meetings through common mail client platforms. Topics covered:

  • Office365 Calendar
  • Outlook Plug-in – (Install)
  • Zoom Desktop Client
  • Zoom Web Portal

BOOK NOW!!!!! If you have any questions or in need of IT assistance/support, please contact UMIT SoA at 305-284-3390 or submit a ticket via arc.miami.edu/itsupport.


Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear Students,

If you have plans to collect belongings that you believe are critical for work continuity, we ask that you do so by Friday, March 27.

Given our social distancing responsibilities, we strongly recommend that you leave your belongings in the locked studios until campus operations are fully restored. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Friday, March 20, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Here is the updated schedule of Final Reviews for Spring 2020.

The reviews will be held online, on the Zoom platform. Links to all sessions will be published in the Final Review Guidebook that Ivonne is preparing so that members of our community may freely visit multiple virtual review rooms and sample the various conversations as they would customarily do in our public venues.

Students will present on Zoom for the public review session at the scheduled time; they will also upload a detailed PDF—at the appropriate resolution—to a designated folder, to serve as a final submission for their coursework.

The reviews will feature guest critics on each jury panel, as usual, with the added advantage of inviting a more international group to potentially join remotely. We will also utilize the virtual conferencing platform’s advanced features, such as parallel commentary—verbal and non-verbal, polling, etc. to compensate with the medium’s unique possibilities for what we lose by not holding a live event.

I’m looking forward to seeing the finished projects and also to the reinvention of the juried review tradition by new means to discover and discuss the work.

U-SoA Spring 2020 Final Review Schedule
(Revision to Remote Online Format - 3.20.20)

Wednesday, May 6

Core Studios

ARC 101 (Correa)

9am - Noon

ARC 204 (Firley)

9am - Noon

ARC 306 (Sarli)

1 - 6pm

ARC 605 (Ceo)

1 - 6pm


Thursday, May 7

Upper Level Studios

ARC 602 (Vasconez/Dover)

9am - Noon

(Riley/Clavel)

9am - Noon

(Victoria/Lopez)

9am - Noon

(Shulman)

1 - 6pm

(Von Moos)

1 - 6pm

(Lamere)

1 - 6pm

(Bradley)

1 - 6pm

Friday, May 8

Graduate Thesis

Thesis

9am - Noon

Thesis

1 - 6pm

Best wishes,

Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000 


Friday, March 20, 2020

MOVING OUT OF STUDIO SPACES - Personal Belongings in the Studios
Students who are currently on campus and/or in Miami are strongly encouraged to take their personal belongings from the studios, however, it is not necessary at this time. We intend to allow students to return to campus to retrieve their items at a later date, which may be several weeks from now.

Students who are currently off-campus and away from Miami are not able to retrieve their belongings until we receive notice from University officials that we are able to re-open. At that time, which may be several weeks away, we will communicate with residents. 

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program 


Friday, March 20, 2020
FW: Student Guidance

Dear Colleagues,

I have been receiving questions from students regarding training on the online platforms for them. Robert Gonzalez has responded to me and I am sharing with you incase you receive the same questions.

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic & Physical Planning
University of Miami School of Architecture

--

Good Afternoon Carmen,

Per our discussion, at the moment, we are focus on assuring faculty are familiarized with the platforms of their choice to conduct their courses remotely.  Depending on how they leverage these solutions, it will be the instructor’s responsibility to communicate and advise students to access/join their virtual courses.  SoA IT recommends faculty use Blackboard are their main student portal, central student communication solution, and configure Zoom integration via the course.

We recommend professor review features within Zoom or Collaborate Ultra at the beginning of their first online class.  The conversion to a virtual environment will generate trial and error at the beginning for all parties.  There is support available to all.

Support

The Learning Platform Team is available for both faculty and students with the Blackboard assistance.  Including the Collaborate Ultra and Zoom integration portion.

Instructor Help Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAIQDmZlmm0XqEc03E-yrvoXCFpk8oXUa

Student Help Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhsnu6x4iJk&feature=youtu.be

SoA IT is available to assist faculty and students with software issues, and any technical inquires they may have.  Overview training and assistance for all platforms as well.

Students may also contact the Student Technology Helpdesk (STHD) with software and hardware matters.

Technical Support

Phone

Email

Web

Hours

Learning Platform Team (LPT) - Blackboard

305-284-3949

learningplatforms@miami.edu

lpt.it.miami.edu

9:00 AM to Midnight / 7 days

UMIT Helpdesk - Account Management / Cloud Storage

305-284-6565

help@miami.edu

uservice.miami.edu

24 hrs. / 7 days

SoA IT - Software / Hardware / Conferencing / Etc.

305-284-3390

arch-it@miami.edu

arc.miami.edu/itsupport

9:00 AM to 6:00 PM / M - F

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly or one of the SoA IT team members.

Thank you, 

Roberto Gonzalez
Sr. Manager
Information Technology
Academic Technologies
+1 305 284 3271
E-mail:  gonzalez@miami.edu


Thursday, March 19, 2020

COMMENCEMENT UPDATE


Thursday, March 19, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

For those of you who may have missed my email below.  Please see the revised Spring 2020 Academic Calendar. I'm resending with the following additional notes:

  • Faculty may have project assignments due on May 7 or 8 if there is a need to decompress the calendar, but there will be no classes, exams or other formal instruction on these days. 
  • The format and schedule of final reviews will be communicated on Monday March 23rd. 

Commencement ceremonies are postponed to December--the announcement was sent out to the community earlier today:

  • Friday, December 18, 2020 for Graduate Ceremonies
  • Saturday, December 19, 2020 for Undergraduate Ceremonies

Thank you all for swiftly gearing up to the transition to remote learning. Reports form the Directors indicate that we are 100% ready. Terrific, let's do this.  

(SECOND NOTICE - Revised Spring 2020 Academic Calendar)

From: el-Khoury, Rodolphe <relkhoury@miami.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 1:17 PM
Subject: Revised Spring 2020 Academic Calendar 

Dear U-SoA Community,

As announced earlier today by UM Communications, the projected timeline for remote learning has been revised in light of the latest instructions from the County and CDC—I remind you to stay closely tuned to the official University channels for regular updates on COVID-19 measures, including access to university facilities and housing.  

Remote learning will proceed until the end of the term with online sessions scheduled during regular assigned times and dates but following the revised academic calendar below:

Revised Spring 2020 Academic Calendar

Instructional
Week #

Dates
(Monday-Sunday)

1

Jan 13-19

2

Jan 20-26

3

Jan 27-Feb 2

4

Feb 3-9

5

Feb 10-16

6

Feb 17-23

7

Feb 24-Mar 1

8

Mar 2-8

--

Mar 8-15

Spring Break

--

Mar 16-22

Extended Spring Break

9

Mar 23-29

Online courses begin

10

Mar 30-Apr 5

11

Apr 6-12

12

Apr 13-19

13

Apr 20-26

14

Apr 27-May 3

15

May 4-10

Online courses end on Wednesday, May 6th

Faculty will be adjusting syllabi accordingly with the final class period potentially used for the last quiz or examination and grading rubrics modified if necessary.

U-SoA will have to exercise some ingenuity in reinventing the design studio courses’ juried review tradition for an online platform that captures its learning and experiential richness—more information on final reviews schedule and format to follow shortly.

I take the opportunity to thank, once again the U-SoA community for the tremendous collective effort in preparing for a smooth transition to remote learning and in insuring a rewarding experience online.

Best wishes,

Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000 


Thursday, March 19, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier today, we all received an update from the Provost’s office regarding the guidelines for critical research activities during this period. I would like to underline a few points from this update which are useful to us, as we continue our research and work activities from our fabrication resources, school offices and or home offices. Please remember that our fab lab and model shop will be open only to faculty engaged in critical research work. Space will be limited to a minimum of individuals working at the same time.  This is subject to change in the event the University orders full closure.

Guidelines

  • When people have to be in the laboratory, flexible non-overlapping shift schedules (different times of day and days of the week) should be used, when safety permits.
  • Follow strict social distancing (maintain interpersonal distance of at least 6 ft.
  • Hand washing will be done each and every time a person enters or exits the lab for any reason
  • No computer work should be done on personal computers in the lab.
  • Leave doors open when possible and limit the use of doorknobs.
  • Clean your phone/cellphone and do not take your cell phone with you to the restroom. Do not leave your phone on surfaces that are in common use.
  • Do not share pens/pencils. Carry a pen with you for your own use.
  • If you need to use a keyboard, other than your own, clean it (as well as the mouse), before and after you use it.
  • If you are using shared equipment clean off the knobs, handles etc.
  • Sneeze/cough into your elbow.
  • Do not reuse tissues; dispose of immediately after single use and wash your hands (preferred) or use hand sanitizer.
  • Use an elbow or a knuckle on elevator or other buttons and leave the light switches on
  • Use the automatic door openers (elbow or knuckle); do not use railings in the staircases.
  • Reduce or eliminate the use of headphones, iPod and cell phones. At home, clean your remote controls.
  • Wear disposable gloves to reduce your propensity to touch your face.
  • Do not put on Chap Stick or makeup outside of your home.
  • Wash your hands, even when you think you do not need to do so.

Sincerely,

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Thursday, March 19, 2020

On behalf of Gilda Santana I share a message and a library update from Dean Eckman, University Librarian:

Dear Faculty,

I take this moment to wish you and your loved ones physical, mental and spiritual well-being throughout this time of uncertainty.

Although we have had to close our physical doors for the health and wellbeing of our community, the UM Libraries are open online.

UM faculty can still request and receive books from the UM Libraries’ collections and from our off-site storage facilities. Please email Glen Wiley g.wiley@miami.edu to arrange pickup.

Additionally, faculty can still place rush orders for books. Unless otherwise specified, an electronic version (available to multiple users) will be purchased.

Finally, I remain available to assist you and your students with your research through research workshops and consultations. Please continue to refer your students to me, and please email me with any questions regarding library services as we move to online instruction at UM.  I am available during regular hours (9am to 5m) at your preference via email (gsantana@miami.edu), online chat, video conferencing, and/or text (305) 490-0365.  Please do not phone as I may not recognize your number and as such will not respond.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best.

Gilda Santana

---

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

The message below from Max Jarosz applies to faculty members engaged in critical research which requires the use of our fabrication resources during this period. 

The fabrication lab and model shop will be indefinitely closed for student and for non-critical staff use.

For faculty engaging in critical research, please limit use of the fabrication lab and model shop to only necessary and required use and if possible try to prioritize other

aspects of the research until the lab is able to fully reopen. Understand that without the help of student monitors, there will be limited availability and hours for equipment use. I can only be in one lab at the time, and must balance that time between other work commitments and responsibilities. All lab spaces need to be monitored during use and therefore faculty will not be permitted to use the fabrication facilities alone or without oversight.

Please email me to coordinate a time to work on all projects in the labs at least one week in advance including the preferred dates of work, type of equipment required, and estimated time of use.

Walk-in use of equipment will not be allowed during this time as I will need to schedule my availability and location based on need. I will try my best to make ensure a smooth transition during this time

but please understand that, there will likely be overlap between faculty needs and I can only monitor one location at a time.

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

Max Jarosz

Be well!

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic & Physical Planning
University of Miami School of Architecture


Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Good evening SoA faculty,

As you are aware, the remainder of Spring 2020 is to be conducted in a distance learning environment under the latest update by the University ( https://coronavirus.miami.edu/updates-and-messages/index.html).  SoA IT would like to provide as much assistance as possible to assure faculty make necessary preparations and testing this week before classes resuming next week.  Information and links below are essential to review by all faculty.

Academic and Business Continuity (Remote Access) - https://www.it.miami.edu/continuity/

Blackboard and Zoom Training - Distance Learning Institute and Learning Platform Team are diligently providing training sessions to all University faculty.  UMIT SoA highly recommends before this weekend, all SoA faculty attend Blackboard 101, Blackboard + Zoom, and Blackboard Assessments training conveniently running three times a day during business days.  Blackboard provides accountability and a single portal for all course materials for students.  SoA faculty are strongly encouraged to leverage this platform for all courses.  These sessions are conducted via Zoom, providing an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the Zoom platform as well.  Please review the webpage below thoroughly.

https://academictechnologies.it.miami.edu/explore-technologies/academic-continuity-guide/index.html 

Note: Click HERE to view last week’s SoA Blackboard training session led by John Orr featuring Announcements, Discussion Board, and Collaborate Ultra

Zoom Training - Additional Zoom training for SoA faculty and staff available via SoA IT’s booking page.

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/UMITSoA1@miamiedu.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

Hardware / Connectivity - Please be mindful of the capabilities of the system you have selected to perform online teaching.  Not all systems have the same hardware specifications, therefore you may or may not have components like a built-in microphone, webcam, or extensive RAM.  If you have concerns about your system’s hardware, please contact SoA IT.  Additionally, internet reliability is of the highest importance, therefore please conduct your remote teachings in a secure and dedicated internet service location.  We highly recommend you simulate your virtual environment with colleagues or a small section of students before Monday.

Computer Labs Closure - Beginning Thursday, March 19, the multimedia classroom and computer labs will be closed.  Courses that relied on specific applications licensed to our lab system (ex. Rhino, V-Ray, SketchUp, etc.) please reach out to SoA IT to discuss possible solutions or alternative software. To view all applications available to students and faculty via enterprise licensing, please visit http://miami.edu/software.  

IT Support Information - SoA IT continues to serve as the SoA community as the primary contact for all IT support during normal business hours.  All IT units are working collectively to assure faculty may continue to teach at the highest level.  Please refer to the list of support teams available: 

Technical Support

Phone

Email

Web

Hours

Learning Platform Team (LPT) - Blackboard

305-284-3949

learningplatforms@miami.edu

lpt.it.miami.edu

9:00 AM to Midnight / 7 days

UMIT Helpdesk - Account Management / Cloud Storage

305-284-6565

help@miami.edu

uservice.miami.edu

24 hrs. / 7 days

SoA IT - Software / Hardware / Conferencing / Etc.

305-284-3390

arch-it@miami.edu

arc.miami.edu/itsupport

9:00 AM to 6:00 PM / M - F

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly or one of the SoA IT team members.

Thank you, 

Roberto Gonzalez
Sr. Manager
Information Technology
Academic Technologies
+1 305 284 3271
E-mail:  gonzalez@miami.edu


Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

This email serves to inform you that our fabrication resources at the School will close beginning Friday, March 20th  at 5:00pm until the end of this semester. The student workers in both the digital fabrication lab and the model shop will be providing remote assistance to the fabrication manager during the closure period. Date of reopening is not known at this time. We are counting on your resourcefulness in adapting your coursework so that it does not rely on our fabrication resources for the rest of this semester.

Sincerely,

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program


Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Dear U-SoA Community,

As announced earlier today by UM Communications, the projected timeline for remote learning has been revised in light of the latest instructions from the County and CDC—I remind you to stay closely tuned to the official University channels for regular updates on COVID-19 measures, including access to university facilities and housing.  

Remote learning will proceed until the end of the term with online sessions scheduled during regular assigned times and dates but following the revised academic calendar below.

Revised Spring 2020 Academic Calendar

Instructional
Week #

Dates
(Monday-Sunday)

1

Jan 13-19

2

Jan 20-26

3

Jan 27-Feb 2

4

Feb 3-9

5

Feb 10-16

6

Feb 17-23

7

Feb 24-Mar 1

8

Mar 2-8

--

Mar 8-15

Spring Break

--

Mar 16-22

Extended Spring Break

9

Mar 23-29

Online courses begin

10

Mar 30-Apr 5

11

Apr 6-12

12

Apr 13-19

13

Apr 20-26

14

Apr 27-May 3

15

May 4-10

Online courses end on Wednesday, May 6th

Faculty will be adjusting syllabi accordingly with the final class period potentially used for the last quiz or examination and grading rubrics modified if necessary.

U-SoA will have to exercise some ingenuity in reinventing the juried review tradition for an online platform that captures its learning and experiential richness—more information on final reviews schedule and format to follow shortly. 

I take the opportunity to thank the U-SoA community for the tremendous collective effort in preparing for a smooth transition to remote learning and in insuring a rewarding experience online. 

Best wishes,

Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000 


Sunday, March 15, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

In response to the questions you shared following our online training last week, here is the information gathered to date:

Most of the questions posed pertained to on campus presence. The message we have received clearly from University leadership is to minimize the number of people on campus. During the period in which we are on online instruction, the School will operate on a reduced on-campus staff. The Dean has reached out to department leaders to arrange a rotational strategy and shifts for staff and student workers. Student workers may work on campus but are not required. Studio spaces will not be accessible during this period. For now, an exception is made for Joel Lamere’s upper level fabrication studio to provide access to the robotic arm on a one to one basis. Our fabrication resources (model shop and fabrication lab) will operate on a reduced schedule with a reduced staff. As per current update the Architecture Research center will remain closed during this period. Please contact Gilda Santana for coordination of electronic material for courses. Research assistants and teaching assistants are encouraged to perform their responsibilities, which may include in the case of TA’s, assisting the faculty with online instruction. In general, with our research and teaching assistants, we should minimize presence on campus and encourage working remotely. We can indeed communicate to our students during the extended spring break time regarding coursework.

Please remember to stay tuned to the official University updates because the instructions continue to evolve in this fluid situation. For instance, the list of flagged countries now includes Spain, France and the UK. The Dean’s office must be notified if you or anybody in your household has travelled to countries on the current travel ban list.

Lastly, all of this can change hourly. We will keep you updated.

Sincerely,

Carmen L. Guerrero
Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives & Physical Planning
Director of the Rome Program 


Friday, March 13, 2020
Fw: Student Employment Safety and Prevention Measures

Dear Colleagues:

Please share this memo with your respective management teams.

We understand the recent developments with COVID-19 and extending spring break may impact operations in your area and student employees that support your teams. Below I have provided some guidelines for you to consider.

Student Employment will reach out to supervisors and student employees directly. This note is intended to provide direction and support for your overall operation and supervisors as they navigate these new challenges.

As mentioned in the latest COVID-19 University update, spring break has been extended through March 22 with classes resuming on March 23, but strictly in online/remote/distance learning environments through at least April 4.

Proposed/Recommended Guidelines:

  • Hourly student employees, should be given the option to work from now until April 4, as they continue to be eligible to work if they plan on returning to campus or reside locally.
  • Housing and Residential Life and the Office of Academic Enhancement will work directly with the Resident and Community Assistants as well as the First Year Fellows to ensure business continuity and if there is potential for job duties to be performed remotely, this is permissible and strongly encouraged. 
  • Managers of student employees can adjust or extend hours worked as long as we continue to follow the Federal Financial Aid guidelines for work study students.   
  • Federal Financial Aid guidelines.
  • Student employees will be directed to work with their supervisors on any modifications to shifts, job responsibilities, or other position specific concerns.
  • If students report any illnesses, please encourage them to stay home and to contact their health provider as needed.

As the University continues to monitor COVID-19 and the related public health guidelines, please refer to the University’s dedicated COVID-19 site (coronavirus.miami.edu) for complete, up-to-date guidance on campus events and meetings.

For any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Assistance and Student Employment at 305-284-6000 or  ose@miami.edu.

Thank you.

John Haller
Vice President
Enrollment Management


Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

I'm re-sending this message to make sure you read it carefully. We have so much email coming in daily and we easily miss important information. I ask that you be on the lookout for such updates from UM Communications in periods of rapidly evolving events such as the COVID-19 outbreak. Our policy is to restrict U-SoA's communications to school-specific information and rely on the official UM channels for general updates. 

We will shortly release U-SoA's Academic Contingency Plan with instructions on how to prepare for the possibility of remote and virtual instruction for regular and studio courses. Also please take notice of item #6 and the expanded list of countries requiring self-quarantine: "Any member of the University community who travels to or from China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, or Spain will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return." There are instructions in that sections pertaining to domestic travel that also require your attention. 

Best,

Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000


Wednesday, March 11, 2020

To the University of Miami Community,

We are writing to keep you updated on new developments in our response to the global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). While there remains a high level of uncertainty, it is absolutely clear that we, along with other universities, have a responsibility to institute new mitigation practices. We recognize that these actions may be disruptive, but our actions are guided by the recommendations of leading health officials and by our priority to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our community.

This email contains critical information and updates. Please take time to review it in its entirety.

Classes will resume as scheduled on all University campuses on Monday, March 16.

We are curtailing large University events and meetings, at least until March 31.

This policy does not pertain to classes or in-person academic instruction. (Additional information regarding classes can be found below.)

Effective Sunday, March 15, through Tuesday, March 31, all campus events or meetings with 50 of more attendees, including external events, are canceled, with the following exceptions:

University athletics events will follow NCAA, ACC, and State of Florida guidelines. At this time no changes have been made to scheduled athletics events.

Election polling on campus will continue. The Florida primary is scheduled for March 17.

Additional information on events occurring after April 1 will be communicated no later than March 25.

At this time, commencement activities to be held May 7, 8, and 9, will proceed as scheduled. Any changes to that schedule will be announced by April 15.

We are preparing for the possibility of moving classes online, if necessary.

At this time, we are in alignment with current public health recommendations, which do not warrant a suspension of on-site learning at our campuses.

We are working with deans and faculty members to prepare for the possibility of remote and virtual instruction for some (or possibly all) courses. As the spread of the virus is fast-changing, we will update the community with more definitive guidance as needed.

Faculty should be prepared to test the delivery of course materials via online learning platforms on Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19.

We are asking employees on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses (who are not part of the UHealth system) to work from home on Friday, March 13, as part of a practice test for staff to work remotely.

While there are no reported cases in Miami-Dade County, the time to prepare is now.

Every major function of the University has contingency plans in place to ensure business continuity if a modified work schedule needs to be implemented in the future. Accordingly, on Friday, March 13, while students are on spring break, we are initiating a preparedness drill on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses to identify any operational issues that may arise so that potential interruptions can be addressed prior to activating these plans.

With the exception of Tier One employees who support critical functions that cannot be performed remotely, all employees not part of the UHealth system who are on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses are encouraged to use this Friday, March 13, as a work-from-home day. Coordination of this drill will be handled at the unit level, and supervisors are encouraged to discuss and set clear expectations with their employees. 

This is a work-from-home day, not a stay-at-home day. The purpose for this exercise is to test systems of communication and other vital functions to ensure business continuity and to identify any issues that arise, so all employees must be working and accessible throughout normal working hours. 

We are asking all units and all researchers to update their continuity plans.

All units, including those engaged in research, are strongly encouraged to review and update continuity plans to minimize the impact to ongoing projects as a result of potential for future changes due to COVID-19. Visit  www.miami.edu/UReady for additional guidance.

All University-related international travel is prohibited. University-related domestic travel must receive prior approval by a supervising dean or vice president.

All travel, both international and domestic, by any employee who operates in or supports clinical care is prohibited to ensure appropriate staffing levels should situations warrant.

Any member of the University community who travels to or from China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, or Spain will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return.

Students returning from these countries or areas must contact Student Health Service at studenthealth@miami.edu; staff, faculty members, or visiting scholars returning from these regions must contact UHealth Infection Control at 786-427-5018 prior to coming to campus.

We also strongly discourage all members of the University community from any personal travel using mass transit (excluding localized mass transit, such as Metrorail or Tri-Rail).

Travel for University athletics will continue to follow NCAA and ACC guidelines.

We are restricting guest access to residence halls.

Effective Monday, March 16, access to University residence halls will be limited to University students, staff, and faculty. Outside guests will not be permitted inside residence halls. 

’Cane Card access will be required to enter outside doors of the residential colleges at 5 p.m. daily, rather than 10 p.m., beginning on March 16.

On Monday, March 9, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida. The designation allows the state to take proactive and effective measures to address the coronavirus outbreak. While there are 21 confirmed cases in Florida, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus among members of the University of Miami community or in Miami-Dade County.

The situation remains fluid and University guidelines may evolve. We will continue to provide regular updates. This information, as well as prior University advisories and links to additional resources, can be found on the University’s designated coronavirus site at  news.miami.edu/coronavirus.

These updates are important not only for you, but also for your family, so we ask that you share this communication with parents and other family members as appropriate.

This email was sent by: University of Miami - Communications
6200 San Amaro Drive, Suite 400 Coral Gables, FL, 33146, United States 


Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Program Directors, Coordinators, and key staff are meeting tomorrow to create an Academic Contingency Plan for delivering course content and instruction online should classes be suspended on campus. We are not there yet but we have to be prepared for this possibility. U-SoA's Academic Contingency Plan will address issues that are specific to studio instruction and other challenges that are particular to design pedagogy but meanwhile I'd like to draw your attention to the Academic Continuity Guide that was prepared by Allan Gyorke, Vice-Provost for Academic Technologies, with more general information for all UM faculty on how to support online instruction. 

The Academic Continuity Guide can be found at:

https://academictechnologies.it.miami.edu/explore-technologies/academic-continuity-guide/index.html

Best,

Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000


Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff,

With Spring Break starting this weekend, I would like to underscore UM's policy on non-essential international travel. I quote a message sent today by the Provost: 

"UM has indicated that UM personnel should not be embarking on non-essential travel; as we approach Spring Break, faculty and students should strongly consider the impact of their travel decisions (i.e., inability to return, potential for mandatory isolation, etc.).  I would ask that any international mission trips be suspended.  UM follows the US State Department and CDC’s guidance.  Enclosed is the most recent communication to Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) from the CDC."

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/student-foreign-travel.html

Here are some recommendations form the CDC's report: 

IHE= Institution of Higher Education

IHEs should consider asking students participating in study abroad programs to return to the United States.

Given the global outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) institutes of higher education (IHE) should consider postponing or canceling upcoming student foreign exchange programs.

IHE should consider asking current program participants to return to their home country.

Those overseeing student foreign exchange programs should be aware that students may face unpredictable circumstances, travel restrictions, challenges in returning home or accessing health care while abroad.

IHEs should work with state and local public health officials to determine the best approach for when and how (e.g., chartered transportation for countries or areas assessed as high-risk for exposure) their study abroad students might return. All plans for returning study abroad students should be designed to protect participants from stigma and discrimination.

The COVID-19 situation is dynamic. Given the speed of spread and the number of countries experiencing human-to-human transmission, IHEs should evaluate the risks associated with choosing to maintain programs abroad and take the appropriate proactive measures. IHEs that continue to maintain programs abroad should monitor cdc.gov/COVID-19 for additional information.

Also, I ask that you kindly notify me or Chanelle of any upcoming international travel programs related to the school. We need this information ASAP and greatly appreciate your prompt cooperation. 

Best,

Rudy

Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean
+1 305 284 5000  


More Information

Coronavirus.miami.edu

CDC.gov/coronavirus

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