Western Carolina University’s COVID-19 metrics have declined considerably since late January and that trend continues both on campus and in our broader community. In wake of recent guidance from the NC Governor’s office and from UNC System leadership, WCU will no longer require face coverings indoors effective Saturday, Feb. 26, with the exception of University Health Services operations (in the Bird Building and in Madison Hall) and on Cat Tran consistent with current federal regulations regarding public transportation.
The University recognizes that personal responsibility must become the priority as we modify campus protocols and procedures to meet this phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. Each person should decide at their own pace what is best for their health and personal risk. Those who feel more comfortable or safe while wearing a face covering are encouraged to continue doing so at their discretion. All members of the campus community are reminded to be patient and show respect for the personal decision each person makes with respect to face coverings.
Vaccination remains the most effective tool to combat COVID-19 and all members of the campus community are strongly urged to get vaccinated. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated should continue wearing a face covering in all situations when in close proximity to others.
WCU will monitor data and safety protocols and will make adjustments as needed. This may include a reinstatement of mitigation measures, if warranted.
Faculty, staff and student workers should continue to report their COVID status to their supervisor should they test positive. Students should also continue to report their COVID status through MY WCU COVID19. In addition, the campus community should continue to follow the updated Catamounts Care guidelines.
WCU Health Services will prioritize symptomatic COVID-19 testing. Any faculty, staff or student experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should seek a testing appointment. Asymptomatic individuals seeking a surveillance test may still request one, however, general surveillance testing under the ‘Get Vaccinated or Get Tested’ program will be discontinued.
Employees with 30 or more years of service to WCU and the state of North Carolina were honored at a luncheon today. Two of those being honored were Karen Woody and Brian Railsback, both of whom have 30 years of service.
Woody joined the Chancellor's Office in 1983 as an office assistant and has served as a business officer in the office for the last 11 years.
Railback has served as an instructor, department head, dean and professor in the English Department. During that time, he has published newspaper articles, scholarly essays, short stories, scholarly books and one novel. He has given lectures on John Steinback throughout the U.S. and in Japan, Mexico, Portugal and the Republic of Georgia. Railsback founded the Spring Literary Festival and the Honors College, and is the founding director of WCU's Office of National and International Awards.
The final vaccine incentive $500 cash award winners have been announced. Winners of the faculty/staff drawing held last week include: Kevin Stephens, Facilities Management; Michael Wheatley, Facilities Management; Tabatha Springer, IT; and Brenda Henkel, Residential Living.
Winners of the $500 student awards are: Grayson Hall, Madeline Heaton, Haley Veals, Alex Allen, Ian Waugh, Alexandra Bryan, Alyssa Collins, Brandon Childress.
WCU Health Services has available Pfizer booster shots for individuals that meet the CDC’s eligibility requirements, which include:
AND
Appointments are available through self-scheduling in the Health Services’ Patient Portal. Patients will be asked to self-attest that they meet CDC criteria. If you have questions regarding COVID vaccines, visit COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing and Resources for updates, or call Health Services at 828-227-7640.
WCU is in the process of updating its 2014 Campus Master Plan and will hold two virtual forums to allow for public feedback.
Faculty, staff, students, neighbors and other interested parties are invited to learn more about this important revision to the university’s planning document that guides the physical development of its Cullowhee campus.
Two forums will be held to share WCU’s need for an update to its campus master plan, and allow for public feedback.
The dates for the forums are:
The latest campus master plan can be seen by visiting info.wcu.edu/masterplan. Those who attend the forum will be able to access and provide feedback after the event via a link that will be provided at the forum.
Protect yourself. It is more important than ever that you get a flu shot this year. Health experts recommend getting the flu vaccine early. While the COVID-19 pandemic is still impacting the country, health experts are concerned about an unpredictable flu season. Flu cases have already been reported across North Carolina.
PLEASE REVIEW THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. The process for scheduling, paperwork completion and arrival has changed. WCU's Flu Clinic vendor this year is Walmart Pharmacy for the Cullowhee campus at the following times:
A.K. Hinds University Center, Room 309 - Illusions
Unfortunately, we have not been successful in coordinating with a partner pharmacy for the Biltmore Park instructional site; however, CVS Pharmacy at the entrance to Biltmore Park is accepting patients for flu vaccinations now.
Walmart Pharmacy is a participating provider in most major health plans, including the N.C. State Employee's Insurance, Medicare and state employee's retiree coverage. Participants in the flu clinic must be age 10 or older, per Walmart corporate policy.
An appointment is required. Please adhere to the schedule and your appointment time. The flu clinic staff will adhere to physical distancing and facial covering requirements on campus. Visit the registration website at Walmart Flu Clinic Registration.
Register for an account if you do not already use the Walmart Pharmacy app. Once your registration is complete, choose the option to schedule a service. Choose flu shot and the WCU location.
You can also complete your consent form online and have all the paperwork completed before your appointment time.
For more information regarding flu shots and flu activity, visit the CDC's website
For more information regarding the Flu Clinic, contact Pam Buchanan, director of health services, at 828.227.3475 or pmbuchanan@wcu.edu; or Katie Williams Lanning, business officer, at 828.227.3473 or kwilliams@wcu.edu.
A host of activities and events are planned for Homecoming Week for students, alumni, faculty and staff, leading up to Saturday's 3:30 p.m. football game against Mercer at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field. Visit homecoming.wcu.edu to see a list of scheduled events and updates.
To date, 62% of resident credit students (those living on and off campus) have submitted proof of being fully vaccinated.
In addition, 95% of permanent faculty and 84% of permanent staff have attested to being fully vaccinated. Also, 86% of ALL employees (permanent, temporary, and part-time) have attested to being fully vaccinated. University staff are working to validate the attestations, and currently 78% of all employees have submitted proof of vaccination.
Employees who have attested they are fully vaccinated, but have not yet uploaded proof of vaccination, are urged to do so as soon as possible. Those employees who do not submit proof of vaccination in addition to the attestation will be subject to regular testing. See information below on how to upload vaccination status.
The Staff and Faculty senates recently held a Fall Open Forum, giving faculty and staff across campus the opportunity to address their concerns with campus leadership. Read more about the responses to those questions.
**Important NOTE: Comparing only to 2020 can be misleading as our turnover rates were the lowest they have been in 20 years (COVID related – limited hiring, limited movement by the workforce)
|
Total |
Retirements/Other |
Voluntary (Excluding Retirements) |
||||||
|
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2019 |
9.3% |
11.6% |
11.1% |
2.7% |
2.4% |
3.1% |
5.2% |
6.9% |
6.0% |
EHRA Non-Faculty |
13.1% |
18.5% |
17.2% |
1.8% |
2.0% |
2.7% |
9.3% |
13.0% |
10.9% |
Faculty |
6.9% |
8.9% |
6.0% |
2.8% |
3.7% |
1.5% |
2.3% |
2.9% |
2.2% |
SHRA Staff |
9.5% |
10.8% |
10.8% |
3.1% |
2.5% |
4.3% |
5.7% |
6.7% |
5.9% |
Apodaca Science Building Grand Opening - Parking and Traffic Impact
The official grand opening of the new Apodaca Science Building will take place this week on Friday, Sept. 3, at 2 p.m. The ceremony will be held near the main west entrance to the building on Memorial Drive. We expect many external visitors and guests to attend this event. A number of parking spots behind Killian Building and the University Center along Memorial Drive will be reserved for campus guests, so please be aware of parking and traffic congestion in that area of campus on Friday afternoon.
New deadline for "Get Vaccinated or Get Tested" – Sept. 15
Campus leadership has revised the deadline for faculty, staff, and students to get vaccinated or be subject to regular testing. Initially, a deadline of Oct. 1 was established to accommodate testing capacity and provide individuals time to become fully vaccinated. Updates to testing availability and staffing will now allow the campus to move that deadline up to Sept 15. Any faculty, staff or student who has not submitted proof of full vaccination by Sept. 15 will be subject to regular testing, which will begin the week of Sept. 20. Additional details on testing protocols will be forthcoming next week.
WCU Health Services continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccines. Please call 828-227-7640 to make your appointment.
Vaccination Rates
To date, 50% of resident credit students (those living on and off campus) have submitted proof of being fully vaccinated.
In addition, 90% of permanent faculty and 80% of permanent staff have attested to being fully vaccinated. Also, 81% of ALL employees (permanent, temporary, and part-time) have attested to being fully vaccinated. University staff are working to validate the attestations, and currently 57% of all employees have submitted proof of vaccination.
Employees who have attested they are fully vaccinated, but have not yet uploaded proof of vaccination, are urged to do so as soon as possible. Those employees who do not submit proof of vaccination in addition to the attestation will be subject to regular testing. See information below on how to upload vaccination status.
Upload Vaccination Status
All faculty, staff and students should update their vaccination status as soon as possible on the Fall 2021 Operations and Procedures web page. Select the appropriate link under Vaccine Status Submission.
Vaccine Incentives
The first vaccine incentive cash awards to employees and students will begin this week. As a reminder, you can submit proof of vaccination through Sept. 30 to be eligible to win.
To encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated and to express our appreciation to those who have already taken this important step to protect our community, WCU will hold random drawings for 16 $500 awards to employees and 32 $500 awards to students.
COVID-19 and Catamounts Care
All faculty, staff, students and visitors should continue to follow the Catamounts Care protocols against the delta variant of COVID-19.
Face coverings remain a requirement in all public indoor spaces and on the CatTran. Face coverings are required in campus dining facilities when not actively eating or drinking. In addition, face coverings are strongly encouraged in high-density outdoor settings, such as sporting events or other campus events where social distancing is difficult.
FAQs about COVID-19 testing at Health Services, student absence notification and student quarantine protocols.
Please visit FAQs for more information about COVID-19 this fall, including contact information.
Employee COVID-19 Reporting
Any faculty or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19, or who must quarantine due to a close contact exposure, should not report to work (or if at work, go home immediately) and should contact their supervisor as soon as possible. Once notified, supervisors are required to complete the COVID-19 EXPOSURE SUPERVISOR REPORTING FORM, which can be found on the Employee Resources page, and inform the employee that a University Return to Work Coordinator will be contacting them.
Vaccination Rate
To date, 88% of permanent, full-time faculty and 76% of permanent, full-time staff have attested they are fully vaccinated. Additionally, 44% of resident credit students (which includes those who live on campus and off campus) have attested they are fully vaccinated. Staff continue to validate the attestations and we continue to urge students to report their vaccination status and, if not yet vaccinated, to do so as soon as possible.
Coach Peacock Memorial Service
Catamount Athletics will host a memorial service for offensive line coach John Peacock Friday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.
Haywood County Flood Impact
The severe flooding last week that resulted from the remnants of tropical storm Fred has devastated many of our surrounding communities. You have seen and, I am sure, heard that some have lost their homes, property, and lives as a result. If you are aware of any employees that have been impacted, please let Human Resources know as soon as possible. WCU is exploring what possible leave options, if any, may be available to these individuals.
In addition, the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning is organizing a drive for donations through Monday, Aug. 30. Please see this link for more information for items needed, suggested monetary donations and drop off locations. For more information contact Lane Perry (laneperry@wcu.edu).
Parking Update
The following parking spaces have been added for faculty/staff.
In addition, 360 spaces (of the roughly 1,000 total) in the new Parking Garage are now open and we expect the remainder to open up later this week.
COVID-19 and Catamounts Care
The following includes updates and reminders as faculty, staff and students are urged to continue to follow the Catamounts Care protocols against the delta variant of COVID-19.
FAQs for COVID-19, Fall 2021
Please visit FAQs for for more information about COVID-19 this fall, including contact information.
Employee COVID-19 Reporting
Any faculty or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19, or who must quarantine due to a close contact exposure, should not report to work (or if at work, go home immediately) and should contact their supervisor as soon as possible. Once notified, supervisors are required to complete the COVID-19 EXPOSURE SUPERVISOR REPORTING FORM, which can be found on the Employee Resources page, and inform the employee that a University Return to Work Coordinator will be contacting them.
Get Vaccinated or Get Tested Regularly
All faculty, staff and students are strongly urged to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. Those who do not upload valid proof of vaccination by Oct. 1 will be subject to regular COVID-19 testing. Details on testing protocols will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. WCU Health Services continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccines. Please call 828-227-7640 to make your appointment.
Upload Vaccination Status
All faculty, staff and students should update their vaccination status as soon as possible.
Vaccine Incentives
To encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated and to express our appreciation to those who have already taken this important step to protect our community, WCU will hold random drawings for $500 awards from the list of those who are fully vaccinated.
Hello Catamounts!
I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2021-2022 academic year! We have a robust, in-person experience planned for this fall. Our campus in Cullowhee and our instructional site in Asheville are open and our faculty and staff are ready to welcome students back for face-to-face instruction. The WCU community is here to support you every step of the way in your academic journey and career development.
This fall, we are excited to offer in-person classes for residential students, fall sports with fans in the stands, campus events and activities, community engagement, and a return to full occupancy residential living. Campus buildings and facilities, including dining operations, the library and the recreation center have returned to normal hours and increased capacity.
We are all in this together as we continue to navigate through a global pandemic. As a reminder, any changes to campus operations, including modality of instruction, will be communicated via our website, an official email from me, and on our official WCU social media accounts.
Your lives are about to change in a positive way as we help to grow your minds here at one of the preeminent regional comprehensive universities in the Southeast. We are totally committed to engaging you so that you have the best educational experience while you are here.
Let’s have a wonderful fall semester!
The following includes updates and reminders as faculty, staff and students are urged to continue to follow safe protocols against the delta variant of COVID-19.
Any faculty or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 OR who must quarantine due to a close contact exposure should not report to work (or if at work go home immediately) and should contact their supervisor as soon as possible. Once notified, supervisors are required to complete the COVID-19 EXPOSURE SUPERVISOR REPORTING FORM, which can be found on the Employee Resources page, and inform the employee that a University Return to Work Coordinator will be contacting them.
All faculty, staff, and students are strongly urged to get vaccinated as quickly as possible. Those who do not upload valid proof of vaccination by October 1 will be subject to regular COVID testing. Details on testing protocols will be forthcoming. WCU Health Services continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccines. Please call 828-227-7640 to make your appointment.
All faculty, staff and students should update their vaccination status as soon as possible. Links to report your vaccination status can be found on the Fall 2021 Operations and Procedures page.
To encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated and to express our appreciation to those who have already taken this important step to protect our community, WCU will hold random drawings for $500 awards from the list of those who are fully vaccinated.
Dear WCU Campus Community,
As senior campus leaders, we continue to refine the University’s plans around the “get vaccinated or get tested regularly” UNC System guidance. Following are several updates on our preparations. Further information on the testing and follow-up protocols, procedures and frequency will be forthcoming as our plans mature.
Any faculty, staff or student not fully vaccinated by Oct. 1 should expect to be subject to regular testing protocols after that date. Individuals may report their vaccination status by going to the Fall Operations and Procedures site and selecting the appropriate link under Vaccine Status Submission.
All full and part-time students who will attend any portion of their coursework or other university activity in person in Cullowhee or at Biltmore Park will be expected to get vaccinated for COVID-19 or be part of a regular testing regimen.
All full and part-time faculty and staff who will conduct any portion of their work in person and on campus in Cullowhee or at Biltmore Park will be expected to get vaccinated for COVID-19 or be part of a regular testing regimen.
We realize that most, if not all of you, would like to have firm guarantees and immediate answers to what the future holds with respect to this pandemic and the University’s response to it. We want that, too. Unfortunately, the facts of the pandemic evolve quickly, resulting in the development and redevelopment of the answers that support our University.
We have accomplished so much over the past 18 months and will continue to do so in the months ahead. The journey has not been easy and your efforts have not gone unnoticed. We see the work, the preparation and the grace and kindness you continue to show each other. We’ve also seen (and experienced) the impatience, the frustration and the exhaustion that has come to us in these uncertain times. The way ahead may appear a little less smooth than we hoped just a few short months ago, but the resilience that we know each of you possess will see us through the challenges ahead.
We remain excited and committed to a robust campus experience this fall. We can, and will, deliver on our promise to provide the best education to our students both in and out of the classroom. Thanks to each of you for your efforts to get us there. We are grateful.
Sincerely,
Kelli R. Brown
Chancellor
Mike Byers
Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance
Shea Browning
General Counsel
Richard Starnes
Provost
Jamie Raynor
Vice Chancellor, Advancement
Craig Fowler
Chief Information Officer
Jessica Woods
Assistant to the Chancellor
Sam Miller
Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
Melissa Canady Wargo
Chief of Staff
Alex Gary
Director of Athletics
Dear WCU Campus Community,
I have received new guidance from the UNC System to establish a “get vaccinated or get tested” expectation for all faculty, staff and students at UNC System institutions. Campus
leadership is reviewing the guidance and will be developing plans for ensuring all
eligible faculty, staff and students are vaccinated or subject to a regular testing
regimen.
I understand there will be many questions related to the details and logistics around
the expectation of “get vaccinated or get tested." Campus leadership and I are working
diligently to prepare an implementation plan in a manner appropriate to the needs
and resources of Western Carolina University. More information will be forthcoming
soon.
Faculty and staff will be asked to report their vaccination status beginning tomorrow,
Aug. 6, when they log into myWCU. Students received communication earlier this week
on how to report their status.
Catamounts, it is clear that we are not yet out of the woods with respect to COVID-19.
It is equally clear that vaccination remains our best path forward in defeating this
virus and ensuring a robust campus experience for all. I continue to strongly urge
that all faculty, staff and students who have not yet done so, get vaccinated as quickly
as possible. Our WCU Clinic is offering free COVID-19 vaccines. Please call 828-227-7640 to make your appointment.
Sincerely,
Kelli R. Brown
Chancellor
Dear Campus Community,
We are moving forward with plans to resume as close to normal operations as possible this fall, while continuing to monitor the relevant scientific recommendations on COVID protocols. The resumption of normal operations will include in-person classes, fall sports, campus events and activities, community engagement and a return to full occupancy residential living. All buildings and facilities, including dining operations, the library and the campus recreation center will return to normal hours and increased capacity.
If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, I strongly and urgently encourage you to do so at your earliest opportunity. See the FAQ below for more information on the WCU Vaccine Clinic. We are closely evaluating the recent CDC recommendations and the uptick in positive tests and COVID-19 case numbers due to the delta variant spreading primarily among the unvaccinated throughout North Carolina and the nation. Vaccination of all eligible faculty, staff and students is the MOST effective strategy to ensure that our on-going processes to resume normal operations remain on track.
Below, I’ve provided responses to several frequently asked questions received over the last several days. You can also find this information on the website at fall 2021 operations and procedures, also available at info.wcu.edu/fall2021:
Face coverings will be required during instructional activities (during classes, labs, etc.); in health services, clinics, and isolation and quarantine facilities (Bird, Madison, etc.); and in the university’s public transportation vehicles.
WCU will continue to emphasize its Catamounts Care community standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout the academic year. We also encourage faculty, staff, and students to follow current CDC guidance with respect to recommendations on face coverings in other circumstances and locations. Current CDC guidance recommends face coverings in indoor locations for ALL individuals in areas with high or substantial transmission of COVID-19. CDC guidance is subject to change based on current conditions and the University may alter its face covering requirements as needed.
Students, faculty and staff will be asked to report their vaccination status to the University. This information will be used to inform WCU’s on-going preparations and planning.
Centralized collection of vaccination status data will be handled via an online reporting tool. Information on when and how to submit vaccine status will be communicated directly to faculty, staff and students beginning early next week. Subunits (Residential Living, Health Services, Athletics, etc.) may also collect student vaccination status on an as-needed basis.
We do not plan to share individual vaccine status information. We plan to share only aggregate group percentages of vaccine status for faculty, staff and students.
YES. The WCU Vaccine Clinic will continue to operate regular hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for free vaccination appointments. The clinic will serve faculty/staff/students and will continue to offer Pfizer and J&J vaccines. Please call 828-227-7640 for an appointment.
Surveillance testing will be handled on-demand. Athletics will offer surveillance testing per NCAA guidelines. Residential Living may utilize targeted testing in the residence halls.
We will use PCR and rapid antigen testing. We do not plan to use saliva testing or waste water sampling.
Contact tracing will be handled by the Jackson County Public Health Department.
We will follow CDC protocols to determine isolation/quarantine recommendations for students based on vaccination status.
Currently, we have 125 beds for isolation and quarantine (residence hall spaces at Madison and spaces at the Village).
Individual PPE kits are available in the University Center for all faculty, staff and students. Departments may also request PPE kits for faculty and staff through Facilities Management.
As we continue to navigate the global pandemic, I extend my most sincere thank you to our dedicated faculty, staff and students for your hard work, dedication and patience as we prepare for an exciting fall semester.
Sincerely,
Kelli R. Brown
Chancellor