To the Campus Community,

I want to express my gratitude to each of you for your individual, collaborative and collective efforts to support UM students–and one another–through fall semester 2021. I hope you will take some time to recharge and reset over the winter break.

I’d like to give you a preview of how UM is planning for spring semester 2022. Overall, spring semester protocols for COVID risk mitigation will be similar to this fall:

• Masks will be required indoors at UM. Contact Chuck Emnett if you need masks to offer students and visitors. Free disposable masks are also available at the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success and at many offices across campus.
• COVID testing is available for symptomatic individuals by appointment and free COVID vaccines can be administered on a walk-in basis. See Curry Health Center for details and appointment guidelines.
• Staff will work with instructors to coordinate the submission of seating charts to the Registrar’s office for Missoula City-County Health Department contact tracing purposes.
• Instructors who need to teach remotely must execute an approved arrangement with their dean.
• International travel requests will be considered on a case by case basis. See the Global Engagement Office website for more information.
• Classrooms will be cleaned daily with Oxivir Tb. More in-depth cleaning can be requested by submitting a work order to Facilities Services.

Later today, instructors will receive instructions on submitting final grades for the semester. Overall, I think we can expect higher DFW rates this fall than in “normal” years. This reflects a decline in student engagement and a growing mental health crisis that many of us have noticed; this is happening nationwide. Curry Health Center offers counseling and other resources for student physical and mental health.

Consider using spring semester as a fresh start to remind students of your commitment to them and your expectations for them. Take an opportunity re-familiarize yourself with campus resources that you can recommend to students, and share clear and detailed expectations for the course in the syllabus. Instructional resources and suggested language for you to consider including in your syllabi this spring is available on the Instructional Planning Group’s website.

This website also features a link to resources for students who must participate in class remotely, as well as resources to support instruction.

I strongly encourage you to use these resources. If you have needs related to instruction that the University is not meeting, please send me an email (officeoftheprovost@umontana.edu). As Provost, it is my duty to ensure UM instructors have as much support as possible.

Again, thank you for your commitment to our students this fall. My best wishes for a restful and restorative, joyful holiday season,

Reed Humphrey, Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

This message was sent by the Office of the Provost to all UM staff, faculty, and graduate students.