COVID-19 has become very personal to our campus and many minoritized communities across the nation. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, we are resolutely committed to preventive and proactive measures to keep our students our top priority. In a world that changes rapidly, we are constantly innovating to keep our students and the entire campus community comfortable, safe and healthy in the adaptive strategies that we have had to deploy during this unprecedented time in the life of the university.

Saint Augustine’s University continues to look to the State of North Carolina, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other state and local health and government officials for guidance to determine the appropriate steps to keep students and staff safe. Professionals and departments across the University are working to identify innovative solutions to ensure the health and safety of our campus community, and faculty are working collaboratively to ensure that our academic instruction is delivered with quality in a hybridized format.

The University has formed a working group comprised of members of the University Cabinet and Extended Cabinet to focus on academic delivery, operational planning, policies, training, and structures to ensure successful operations for the educational and residential experience.

From November 30, 2020, until January 22, 2021, the university will move to a remote business operation strategy. The campus will remain operational and all departments and campus office will remain open remotely, with the exception of the university’s published holidays.

• Faculty Staff Institute will be held on January 6th in a virtual format for all university employees.
• Classes will begin on January 11th in a virtual format for all students.
• Faculty, staff and students will return to normal in-person campus operations after the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

Please utilize the university’s website for the most up to date information. We have a dedicated website for all Coronavirus related information here. Also, please reference the communication from the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Human Resources for further instruction on returning to campus dates for students, faculty and staff.

Sincerely,

Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin

Interim President