COVID-19 causes UHCL to move campus operations online
UPDATE: 4/3/20 – UHCL has announced all campus operations will remain online through April 30.
As of March 25, the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) has moved all campus operations online through April 3. Additionally, campus access is limited to only essential personnel during this time. This comes on the heels of the continuing spread of COVID-19.
“As we have modified delivery of our curriculum, so too have we modified the delivery of student services,” said UHCL President Ira K. Blake in a March 28 video message to the university community. “Suffice it to say, I am delighted that all campus leaders are going the extra mile in devising the best ways to meet the needs of students and all our university’s stakeholders.”
Currently, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within UHCL. The University of Houston (UH) announced March 24 of two confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“Our own university community has confirmed two positive cases of COVID-19,” said the University of Houston System Chancellor and UH President Renu Khator in a March 24 communication to the UH community. “In both cases, individuals had not been on campus and any person who may have been in contact with them has been notified.”
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Steven Berberich said a March 28 video message to the university that open computer labs would also be closed for the time being.
“Recognizing the challenge of not being able to provide open computer labs, we are providing ways for students without computers or internet connectivity to obtain the needed resources,” Berberich said in the video message. “Be sure to check the university website for available services.”
Following the continuing spread of COVID-19, UHCL made the decision to transition all courses to an online or alternative format beginning March 23. This will continue through the remainder of the semester.
For students living on campus in Hunter Hall, they will be permitted to remain living on-campus. However, Student Housing and Residential Life “strongly encourages all students living in Hunter Hall to stay home with family during this difficult time.”
While the campus remains restricted to essential personnel, on-campus services including Counseling Services, the Writing Center, Veteran Services and the Neumann Library will continue operations online.
“All services within the Division of Student Affairs are available to our students virtually,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Aaron Hart in a March 28 video message. “This includes Counseling Services, the Dean of Students Office and the Student Assistance Center. Be sure to reach out to these units if you are in need of any assistance or if you wish to unitize any of these services.”
For more information regarding campus closure, visit UHCL’s Health Alert page.
