COVID-19 cancels customary campus events
In a March 11 address to the UHCL campus community, President Ira K. Blake said all UHCL funded and sponsored events and programming are canceled through April 30. These include campus events such as Tell Your Story Week (March 30 – April 3), Family Weekend (April 3 – 4) and Chili Cook-Off (April 4).
“We are just as sad as our campus community to think that our regular programming and more so our annual traditions are being postponed,” said Iliana Melendez, associate dean of students. “We will try our best to continue to offer educational and engaging programming via online formats when and if appropriate this semester, but we ask that our students understand that this will too be limited.”
In light of COVID-19, the latest recommendations from the CDC regarding gatherings are for people to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people with proper social distancing practices in place.
“We in higher education are taking our lead from the CDC, who is taking their lead from the WHO,” said Aaron Hart, vice president of student affairs. “We are looking for direction from state, government and public health officials. We are taking that information and turning it into campus policy.”
Although on-campus events have been canceled, some of them will be adapted for an online format or replaced by events that can be experienced in an online format. The same will be done with student services in order to accommodate students.
“As a collective, we are looking at how we can maintain the services our students are accustomed to receiving from our respective offices, how we can continue engaging our students online and, most importantly, how we can connect our students to resources that will help them remain engaged and successful this semester,” Melendez said.
The cancelation of events on campus has also impacted student organizations.
“We’re very disheartened due to [COVID-19’s] impact on our events,” said Blair Carter, president of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and management major. “We love planning events to help entertain the students, build interdisciplinary networking and support our community. We were looking forward to these next few months. However, we have been planning interactive online activities to continue building a sense of community.”
Students can expect programming from CAB to move online as they develop and adapt events for an online format. Some events being planned include game streams, a podcast and online competitions with prizes.
“It’s important to remain connected now more than ever before, and this is part of CAB’s mission,” Carter said.
Additionally, upcoming events hosted by student organizations include Latinx and Indigenous Students Taking Action’s (LISTA) ‘Allegory of the Chicana’ featuring guest speaker Tina Hernandez. LISTA’s first adult Latinx prom at UHCL, “Baila Conmigo,” has been canceled and postponed indefinitely.
“I am confident that when we start the full transition to online instruction, we will slowly begin to see where we are at, see how it feels, and then start working on plans to keep our members and student body engaged,” said Erica Solis, president of LISTA and social work major. “But we won’t be of any ‘good service’ to our community if we don’t take stock of ourselves and assess the situation first. There is no rush to any of this and no rules. Take time to adjust, focus on yourself, your families and your loved ones.”
Regular events such as weekly Student Government Association (SGA) meetings are also canceled until further notice. In an email to students March 23, the SGA Executive Council said all old and new business items – including constitution revisions and elections – are on hold until students are permitted to return to campus.
In an email sent to registered student organization leaders March 13, Interim Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Patrick Cardenas said students should reach out for assistance with continuing their meetings virtually.
“As an institution, we have asked students to not come to campus unless absolutely necessary,” Cardenas said in the email. “So in an effort to support you and your organization(s) in this endeavor, please reach out to Student Involvement and Leadership staff so that they can assist you in replacing your regular in-person meetings with other possible formats.”
As of March 24, the UHCL campus is only open to essential personnel until April 3. Students are encouraged by UHCL administrators to remain safe at home.
For the latest updates regarding campus events as they move online, keep up with your UHCL email, check GetInvolved and follow your favorite student services offices and student organizations on social media.
