July and August Updates

Rockhurst University Companions,

Our preparations for the fall semester are underway and we are getting ready to reopen many of our campus offices and facilities. Today, we write to let you know what to expect during July and August. Here you will find new information, as well as important reminders, that apply to both the main campus and the Westport campus.

July

Beginning July 13, when many University facilities reestablish in-person operations, students, faculty and staff will be able to come to campus. All students, employees and guests will be required to wear a facial covering while inside all buildings (except when in their personal residential or office space, eating or exercising), and while outdoors when social distancing cannot be observed (with the exception of those staff doing physical labor outdoors). Individuals should not wear a facial covering if they have trouble breathing or if they are unable to remove it without assistance. To request an exemption to wearing a facial covering, employees should contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@rockhurst.edu and students should contact the Disability Resource Center. In addition, remember to practice six feet of social distancing between yourself and others and to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer frequently. It is important that everyone remain vigilant about practicing healthy habits and good hygiene to safeguard the health of our community and increase the likelihood that we will be able to finish our semester on campus. The Return to the Rock web page contains additional information about our return to campus as well as a link to all previously issued pandemic updates.

• University offices that provide student serviceswill be staffed in person beginning July 13. Summer hours (through July 31) are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday. Most additional University offices will also begin in-person staffing July 13. Contact individual offices if you have questions.
•  Greenlease Librarywill begin curbside pickups for Rockhurst materials on Wednesdays, beginning July 22. For more information on reserving materials for pickup, contact Robert Powers at robert.powers@rockhurst.edu.
• Beginning July 6, Bourke Field will open to students, faculty and staff for informal recreation. Participants must observe six feet of social distancing between themselves and others. Information about the opening of the Massman workout facility is forthcoming. The MAC (Magis Activity Center) will open closer to when the fall semester begins.
• Dining facilities will NOT be open in July.
• Beginning July 13, the bookstore will open with limited hours of operation: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Before the end of July, we will send at least two emails to all students. The first will explain the rescheduling efforts that have taken place during May and June to create an optimal blend of eight different instructional modalities to offer the fall 2020 course offerings allowing the university to return to campus and engage in as much face-to-face teaching and learning as we safely can under social distancing guidelines within the classroom. This first email will also explain the eight different modalities in detail to students and describe for them how to determine the modalities for each of their classes when they look at their schedules in Rockweb. The second email will be sent shortly after the first and it will encourage students to go into Rockweb and review their schedule, determine what modalities each of their courses now have, and decide if they want to request any changes. A link to an online form for requesting schedule changes will be provided in that second email. It's important to note that until we send that first email, the schedule is not yet set so students should wait until then to check their schedules in Rockweb for modality changes.
• Before returning to campus, all faculty, staff and students will be required to complete a brief virtual course and acknowledge they have read and understand the University’s policies regarding health and safety measures, including those related to wearing facial coverings, maintaining social distancing, staying home when ill and so forth. Information on how to register is forthcoming.
• In late July or early August, faculty will receive detailed guidance on classroom pandemic protocol and updates on additional academic resources.

August

• Beginning Aug. 10, all University offices will have in-person staffing but may stagger schedules to accommodate social distancing. Hours will be 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact individual offices if you have questions.
• The Thomas More Dining Room will open for debit/credit sales starting Monday, Aug. 10. On Tuesday, Aug. 18, the TMDR will be open and accepting meal plans. On Monday, Aug. 24, all dining operations will be open. The limited seating in the Thomas More Dining Room will be primarily for commuter students. A couple of tents will be available for additional outdoor seating near Massman Hall.
• Beginning Aug. 10, the bookstore will resume regular hours: 8:30 a.m. -- 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday.
• Classes begin Monday Aug. 24. Preceding this, new student move-in will take place over four days during assigned four-hour blocks in the morning and afternoon from Tuesday, Aug. 18, through Friday, Aug. 21. Likewise, move-in for returning students will occur Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23, during assigned move-in times. Residential students have been sent room assignment letters and move-in times. 

The Pathway Planning Task Force will continue its work throughout the summer and will make any necessary adjustments based on changing information from local, state and federal health departments. If you have questions about our reopening plans, please submit them to returntotherock@rockhurst.edu. We hope the remainder of your summer is relaxing and refreshing and we look forward to seeing you in July or August!

Sincerely,

Matthew Quick, Ph.D.
Doug Dunham, Ph.D.

Pathway Planning Task Force Co-chairs