Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Reminder: Virtual campus update on Research

The University of Iowa will host a virtual campus update focused on research from 2 to 3 p.m. today (July 22). There will not be a second virtual update on Thursday (July 23) however, those unable to watch it live today may view it at any time on the UI’s coronavirus website at this link.

The update will be presented by Marty Scholtz, vice president for research.

The presentation is the final of a series of virtual campus updates focused on different elements of the plan for the fall 2020 semester, which was released on June 17.

The final update will be streamed live on the UI’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/universityofiowa.

The updates are recorded and published to the UI’s coronavirus website, coronavirus.uiowa.edu where they can be viewed at any time.

Members of the campus community who have questions after viewing the fall 2020 plan and watching the virtual campus updates should email their question to UI-CoronavirusQuestions@uiowa.edu.

 

COVID-19 Safety Training for Employees

COVID-19 Safety Training is now available to all University of Iowa employees. All employees outside of UI Health Care are expected to complete the brief training module as soon as possible, whether they are returning to campus or continuing to work remotely. Local HR representatives will monitor employee completion of the training, which takes about 20 minutes to complete and includes such topics as:

  • Basic COVID-19 information
  • Expectations of employees (recommended behaviors)
  • Protective equipment expectations and guidelines
  • Social distancing and large groups
  • Cleaning and disinfecting

To access the training, log into UI Self Service, click on My Career, then My Training, then Enroll in Courses, and finally My Compliances. Then choose course #WCVD01 UI COVID Safety Practices. If you are required to complete the training, it will also be visible in CQ (Compliance & Qualifications) at https://compliance.hr.uiowa.edu.

 

City of Iowa City Mask Order

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague issued an order on Tuesday, July 21, that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, every person in the city of Iowa City must wear a face covering when in a public place.

The order states that a face covering that covers the nose and mouth must be worn in all public spaces. These spaces include, but are not limited to:

  • Grocery stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Hardware stores
  • Retail stores
  • Outside if keeping 6 feet away from others is not possible
  • Public transportation or private car service (including taxis, ride share, or car pooling)

This order aligns directly with current University of Iowa guidance requiring face coverings. As a reminder, everyone entering a university building is expected to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Unless otherwise indicated, you must wear applicable face coverings (cloth covering, disposable or cloth mask, face shield) when on campus unless you are alone in a private office or are in your residence hall room.

The order can be read in its entirety online.

Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for everyone in the UI community is critical to our shared mission of teaching, research, service, and patient care. This requires shared responsibility, and the university expects our faculty, staff, and students to take reasonable precautions to protect their fellow Hawkeyes and themselves.

 

Reminder: Upcoming Mental Health Virtual Panel Discussions

Coping in the time of COVID-19 is an uncharted, life-changing task for everyone, and it can make caring for your own mental health and the mental health of those around you a challenge.

Whether you are currently on campus or are preparing to return, the fall 2020 semester will bring new challenges. Join these mental health panel discussions to identify ways you can continue caring for yourself and others.

Caring for Students and Others

Caring for Self

Both forums will be recorded and captioned for later viewing. You can find more information, including the panelists and recordings of previous mental health virtual panel discussions, on the University Counseling Service website.