COVID-19 Update: March 23, 2020

From: Kristi Nelson, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Robert F. Ambach, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance

As the local, national and global spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 grows we understand the uncertainty of today and the potential challenges ahead. The university is here to support you during this unprecedented time and is working diligently each day to reduce potential impacts on you, your family, and our university community while continuing in our educational mission.

Due to the transition from face-to-face instruction to remote learning, we have developed new policies about refunds and credits for room and board, the university’s general fee, campus life fee and parking.

COVID-19 Update: March 23, 2020

COVID-19 Update: March 23, 2020

Room and Board

As referenced in President Pinto’s message to the campus on March 13, the university will reimburse students on a pro-rata basis for room and board. This applies to student residents of university housing who do not have an approved waiver to remain in UC housing. In order to receive this reimbursement, all student residents of UC Housing who do not have an approved waiver to remain for the remainder of the spring term must completely vacate their housing. Room and board will be reimbursed on a pro-rata basis from March 25, 2020, through the end of the spring semester.

General Fee

Because the general fee supports non-academic activities as well as some campus spaces – often related to student groups – and due to the fact that students will be unable to access most student groups, the General Fee will be returned to students on a pro-rata basis from March 25, 2020, through the end of the spring semester.

Campus Life Fee

Similarly, the Campus Life fee supports various recreational and entertainment facilities and programming, and since spaces including Tangeman University Center and the Campus Recreation Center are closed, the Campus Life fee will be returned on a pro-rata basis from March 25, 2020, through the end of the spring semester.

Parking

Finally, since the campus community – students as well as faculty and staff – is unlikely to make further use of purchased parking permits, the university will return a pro-rata share of the cost of parking permits that have been previously purchased in full for the current academic year or semester. The pro-rata basis reimbursement for those already paid in full for parking will extend from March 25, 2020, through the end of the spring semester.

In terms of the room and board, general, campus life and parking fees, transactions related to refunds or credits will be posted by the end of the spring semester.

We hope these updates are helpful as you make the transition to online learning during this global public health crisis. Our goal is to enable you to continue your studies, earn full credits for the semester’s work, and graduate on time – even in the face of these unprecedented events.

Please remember to engage in social and physical distancing and practice frequent hand washing and hygiene as the most-effective ways to prevent the spread of infection.

We will continue to keep our community informed on the University’s response to coronavirus via our dedicated website at uc.edu/publichealth

In addition, the university has a dedicated COVID-19 hotline at (513) 556-7200 or you may send queries to publichealth@uc.edu.

Related Stories

1

Giddy: Here we go again: The return of the common cold

November 10, 2021

With people wearing masks over the past 18 months or so to ward off COVID-19, the incidence of the common cold has been reduced during that time. However, as more people get vaccines and boosters, and mask mandates are eased in some instances, the common cold could be poised to make a comeback as we head into the fall and winter months. Giddy posted a primer on what causes the common cold and how to combat it and one of the expert sources they cited was Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UC College of Medicine.

2

Health: Antidepressant for COVID-19 reduces hospitalization...

October 29, 2021

The anti-depressant drug fluvoxamine is being looked at by researchers as a possible treatment for COVID-19. A recently released study showed the drug showed a reduced risk of hospitalization and death among COVID patients. Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UC College of Medicine was interviewed for a Health.com story on the study results.

3

UC research examines coping mechanisms for loss of smell from...

October 21, 2021

One of the most common and disturbing side effects of COVID-19 is the loss of the sense of smell. New research from UC found some common coping mechanisms that helped COVID patients deal with a lessened sense of smell, which severely impacts the sense of taste. The study was published in the International Forum of Allergies and Rhinology. The combination of the loss of smell and taste, which are also known as the chemosensory senses, due to COVID-19 has been particularly devastating, with research showing associated depression, anxiety and impaired quality of life. It is something Katie Phillips, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at the UC College of Medicine sees in many COVID patients who come into her clinic.

Debug Query for this