restart updates | archive

Enforcement of Mask / Face Covering Mandate in Classrooms

Dear Colleagues,

Many of you have asked why we have transitioned away from using the phasing approach as part of the Ranger Restart. Our phasing was created several months ago and based on the Badger Bounce Back Plan from the State of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the use of the Badger Bounce Back plan for the state during the summer. In addition, Kenosha County Public Health disbanded the phasing from their dashboard. 

Since that time, campus leadership has been monitoring key indicators from area counties which are listed on our website below the COVID-19 dashboard. We look specifically at the number of tests administered, number of cases which are positive, percent positive cases on a 7-day and 14-day rolling average, and hospital capacity for patients.  We also meet weekly with the Kenosha Public Health Officer to review data and discuss plans to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Good morning,

Outside vendors and visitors working with campus partners should be supplied the attached notification prior to coming on campus. Please distribute to those vendors and visitors you are directly working with.

Thank you,

Ann Iverson

Vendor and Vistor Guidelines

Dear Campus Colleagues,

First and foremost, thank you for all that you have been doing to prepare for this very unconventional Fall semester and for the return of our students whether in-person or online. As has been reported by the Provost throughout the summer, our enrollment numbers continue to trend in a positive direction and we are cautiously optimistic that this will hold through the Fall term. While a majority of our courses will be conducted virtually, roughly 38% of our courses will be bringing students to campus and we expect to house approximately 575 students on campus in the residence halls.

I know this email is a bit long, but I encourage you to take the time to read it thoroughly. The information below outlines the expectations and protocols that have been put in place to help all of us have a safe and academically successful semester. Additionally, a number of items are being shared with you so that you can provide guidance to students who may reach out to you for assistance.

Faculty/Staff Information:
 

Ranger Restart Responsibility Pledge

As members of the UW-Parkside community, we must all play a part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The Responsibility Pledge outlines protocols that must be followed in order to maintain a safe campus living and learning environment. Please review the pledge carefully and commit to protecting yourself, protecting others, and protecting the UW-Parkside community.

COVID-19 Training Videos

If you haven’t already viewed the short training videos on the Ranger Restart Faculty & Staff webpage, please take a few minutes to do so. The videos provide information on how COVID-19 is spread and guidance on how to avoid contracting the virus.   

Coming to Campus

As you prepare for the Fall semester, please be sure you have the following:

• A supply of disposable masks or 4-6 reusable/washable masks or face coverings. Masks/face coverings are required in all indoor public spaces, including classrooms and common areas in the residence halls, and are strongly encouraged outside when physical distancing is not possible. Disposable masks will be available at the CTS Tech Bar and Student Center Concierge Desk in the event that someone needs one.
• A reliable thermometer for daily self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms. Prior to coming to campus each day, you are encouraged to use the WI Health Connect self-screening tool. You should stay home if you are not feeling well.

Ranger Restart Plan

Please be sure to visit the Ranger Restart website regularly. We are currently in the process of updating information as we transition from summer to fall.

Title IX Update:

On Friday, August 14, 2020, updated Title IX regulations from the U.S. Department of Education went into effect. In response to the changes, UW-Parkside has made the necessary interim updates to applicable policies based on guidance from UW System. In the coming days, you can anticipate an email from UW-Parkside Title IX Coordinator, Tyler Lenz-Fisher, with more specific information about the regulations and links to important resources. 

UW-Parkside remains committed to ensuring all students, faculty, and staff feel safe and protected from sex discrimination, sexual harassment, stalking, dating/relationship violence and sexual assault. If you have questions or are looking for resources, please email titleix@uwp.edu or visit uwp.edu/titleix.

Student Information:
 

Housing

The Housing & Residence Life staff are busy preparing for students to return. In order to provide a safe and healthy living and learning environment, a number of steps are being taken, including but not limited to, enhanced cleaning protocols, physical distancing of furniture in lobbies and common areas, and changes in guest policies. Move-In information and additional details can be found on the Housing website.

Dining Services

The Brickstone Grill & Eatery will be open with reduced hours beginning August 26th through September 1st. On September 2nd, the Brickstone will open with its regular operating hours as the primary dining venue. Other venues will have limited hours of operation. Seating in the Brickstone cafeteria will be reduced and spaced to ensure appropriate physical distancing. Grab & Go options will be expanded.

Buying Textbooks

Students can order textbooks and supplies vonline via the UWP Bookstore. Orders can be shipped to their home or picked up at the Bookstore and charges (including shipping fees) can be billed to the student’s account. Visit the Bookstore website for updates on store hours.

Student Life

As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, student activities and programs will look very different this fall. Safe and physically distanced programs and activities are being planned by staff in Campus Activities & Engagement, OMSA, Residence Life, and other departments to keep students engaged and connected. Plans for promoting student organizations and supporting student leaders are also in the works. More information on these efforts will be shared soon.

The Student Center will also operate differently this semester. In order to accommodate as many in-person classes as possible given physical distancing requirements, the Cinema, Ballroom, and a number of the meeting rooms will be used as classrooms this Fall. In light of this, most student organization meetings and events will need to occur virtually. Events that do occur on campus must follow all health and safety guidelines including room occupancy limits and mask/face covering mandates.

Online Resources

For students looking to get a head start on the semester, we are encouraging them to check out the online resources and tutorials available on the Ranger Restart Student Resources page. You’ll find information about resources such as:

• Canvas – our learning management system
• NetTutor – a free online tutoring service available 24/7 
• SilverCloud – a self-paced wellness program focused on reducing stress, anxiety, & depression
• Student Success Resources – tips for succeeding online & advice from Parkside students

Thank you for reading to the end of this important message! We will continue to monitor the local COVID-19 situation, follow guidance from the CDC and our local Public Health Officials, and update our campus protocols to provide the learning environment you and our students have come to expect from UW-Parkside.

We look forward to engaging with you whether in-person or virtually very soon.

Stay safe, stay health, and GO RANGERS!

Sincerely,

Tammy McGuckin
Vice Provost
Student Affairs & Enrollment Services

UW-Parkside Faculty & Staff, 

I hope you are doing well and staying healthy as we adapt to the changes and challenges of the pandemic. Teams of faculty, staff and administrators have been working hard to prepare for a successful fall 2020 semester. I am sure that you have a lot of questions about what to expect when classes start, and we want to provide you with the most up to date information available. We continue to implement the “Ranger Restart” plan as we resume campus operations and are updating our website regularly. 

Many of you are probably wondering:  What provisions will be in place to flatten the curve of COVID-19? What’s going to be different this semester and what am I expected to do? How will my classes be delivered?  How will I participate in campus life? 

In short, we will be “open,” but things will look and work differently. We have not made decisions lightly and we will continue to monitor and respond to the situation as it develops. Please see below for additional information.

Health & Safety of the Campus Community 

Here are some important updates related to campus operations:  

• Face coverings are required in all public spaces, including classrooms  
• The Student Health Center will offer COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students 
• We will be limiting visitors and guests on campus, including in the residence halls  
• We will increase the cleaning and sanitization of classrooms and public areas  
• We will not be hosting community events or performances during the Fall term in order to repurpose the Student Center Ballroom, Cinema, and Rita spaces for academic instruction 
• Furniture across campus will be arranged to accommodate appropriate social distancing and we ask for your cooperation in not moving it  

Testing & Monitoring 

Everyone is encouraged to self-monitor each day before coming to campus using the State of Wisconsin Health Connect screening tool. It is imperative that during this pandemic, you do not ignore warning signs. If you are experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, cough, or other symptoms, even if they are mild, stay home. As a member of the campus community, we ask that you do your part and remember the 3 Ws:

• Wear a mask or face covering
• Watch your distance
• Wash your hands often

Disinfection and Cleaning

Departments and offices can order a pre-made kit of disinfecting supplies, face coverings and hand sanitizer (as supply allows) by putting in a request through iService desk: https://parkside-isd.webtma.net/. Individual items in the kit can be re-ordered through iService desk without ordering a whole new kit. Limit 1 kit per department at this time.

Faculty and instructional staff who wish to request a clear face shield for classroom instruction should coordinate with their Dean or Director. Each college should submit a single order per college for clear face shields. Order requests are to go through iService desk.  

Instruction

The semester begins on September 2 and the deans have worked closely with faculty to develop a revised fall course schedule with approximately 35% of courses being delivered on campus and 65% that will be delivered virtually in either synchronous (scheduled-online classes) or asynchronous (traditional online classes) format. More information for students can be found be found on this page.

Traditional online classes have regular due dates and assignments, even though there are no scheduled class meeting times. In scheduled online classes, students are expected to meet virtually with their instructors and classmates at set times. For your information, online course fees will not be charged for any class that was previously scheduled for in-person instruction and moved online due to COVID-19. 

Who to Contact and FAQs

Faculty and Instructors, please keep in close contact with your department chairs and deans. We ask for your continued understanding and patience. We encourage you to keep checking the Ranger Restart Faculty and Staff FAQ page for further information. 

• If you have technology-related questions and concerns, please contact Campus Technology Services
• If you have questions about student health, counseling services, disability services, or testing/monitoring, you can contact Dr. Renee Kirby, Director of Student Health, Counseling & Disability Services 
• If you have questions related to facilities management and cleaning procedures, you can contact Director of Facilities Management John Bruch at bruch@uwp.edu .
• If you have questions or concerns related to HR, you can contact the Office of Human Resources or HR@uwp.edu. 

You can also contact Provost Ducoffe or the deans directly with concerns, if you have questions for specific colleges:

• Dirk Baldwin -- Dean of the College of Business, Economics, and Computing
• Lesley Heins Walker – Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities
• Peggy James – Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies
• Emmanuel Otu – Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences

Housing & Residence Life 

Campus housing will be available this fall for those students who choose to live on campus. Face coverings will be required in all public areas and occupancy limits will be enforced in common spaces. Only assigned residents and staff will be allowed in the residence halls and university apartments. No guests will be allowed. The university has also established an isolation area for students who may need to be quarantined as a result of contracting COVID-19. 

Messaging and Town Halls

We will continue to communicate with you through Monday Update messages and through other campus updates. Please make sure to check your e-mail frequently and stay in touch with your department.

In addition, we will be hosting a series of “Virtual Town Hall” meetings in August for students, faculty and staff, parents, and community members. We will share updates and open things up for Q&A. Faculty and Staff Town Hall Meetings will be held on Wednesday, August 12th, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Thursday, August 13th, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can register via the links provided, but we will also be sending out invitations again via e-mail. 

As always, stay safe, and Go Rangers! 

Sincerely,

Debbie 

Below are the reporting requirements related to Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. This report will be updated a minimum of every 30 days. This report is as of 5/29/2020:

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

UW-Parkside signed and submitted our agreement on April 11, 2020

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

$1,890,973

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

$806,571

The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

An estimated 2500 students qualify for funding via the CARES Act

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

666 students have received assistance

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Students must complete an application for Emergency Aid which is reviewed daily by a committee of staff members from the Office of Scholarships and Financial aid

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

All instructions regarding applying can be found in the Emergency Aid Application. Students who receive funding will be notified via email. The email will include information on how funds will be received. If the student has never received a refund, they are encouraged to contact the Cashier’s Office for instruction.

Dear Colleagues:

Earlier today, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents gave authorization for the UW System and campuses to use furloughs as a tool to respond to employment needs and future fiscal challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first priority of the UW-Parkside administration is to successfully complete the spring 2020 semester and to celebrate another record-setting graduating class. Simultaneously, we are assessing our staffing needs and priorities for the summer using various revenue and expense projections.

As you know, we will deliver our summer 2020 classes online, and we have canceled all University events through June 30, 2020. We continue to monitor guidance from the CDC and the statewide Safer at Home order, which Governor Evers today extended until May 26. The governor also announced that K-12 schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. As the situation changes and it becomes safe to return to campus and to host University events, we will be ready to respond.

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing unexpected revenue shortfalls. To address the challenge, we are implementing a five-part strategy over the next several months: 

• Reducing expenses;
• Using federal stimulus funds to supplement revenue losses from the spring semester, however, we estimate federal funding will not cover all lost revenue;
• Matching federal stimulus support with one-time UW-Parkside funds;
• Limiting filling of vacant positions; and
• Using furloughs for employees who are under-utilized, who are unable to perform their duties at home or whose work responsibilities have been limited as a result of COVID-19.

At this time, we do not know which areas will be impacted by furloughs. We will be making decisions during the next few weeks with announcements before the end of April. We anticipate that Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff on nine-month contracts will not be impacted for the summer. 

Employees who are furloughed will retain their UW-Parkside benefits. Human Resources will provide information on state and federal unemployment benefits as information becomes available.

Colleagues, these are among the most difficult decisions our leadership team has had to make in my 11 years at UW-Parkside, and I assure you we are considering all options before implementation. I ask for your patience as we carefully consider how to continue the successful delivery of our mission during these unprecedented and uncertain times.

Good fiscal stewardship and moderate enrollment increases have left us in the best fiscal position we’ve been in for several years, and this will help us weather these challenging conditions. I know the past month has not been easy for anyone and the stress related to adapting to change in all aspects of our lives takes a toll.

Thank you, again, for your support of our students and each other.

Debbie Ford
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Below are the reporting requirements related to Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. This report will be updated a minimum of every 30 days. This report is as of 5/11/2020:

1. An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used, or intends to use, no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

UW-Parkside signed and submitted our agreement on April 11, 2020

2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students.

$1,890,973

3. The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the 30-day Report and every 45 days thereafter).

$607,517

4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and thus eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

An estimated 2500 students qualify for funding via the CARES Act

5. The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

553 students have received assistance

6. The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act.

Students must complete an application for Emergency Aid, which is reviewed daily by a committee of staff members from the Office of Scholarships and Financial aid

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

All instructions regarding applying can be found in the Emergency Aid Application. Students who receive funding will be notified via email. The email will include information on how funds will be received. If the student has never received a refund, they are encouraged to contact the Cashier’s Office for instruction.

Dear Campus Community,

Due to the unprecedented disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the effect it is having on UW-Parkside students, faculty and staff, the Offices of the Chancellor and Provost, in consultation with the University Committee have made the decision to adopt an opt-in credit/no credit grading system for the spring 2020 semester. While realizing it is not ideal, we believe that this system will provide maximum benefit to the greatest number of students. A communication that will be sent to students on Monday is attached. It provides a detailed description of the interim grading system, and advises students to seek the advice of faculty and advisors before opting in to the CR/NC system, as we realize this may have implications for veterans and for students who plan on applying to graduate and professional programs, are seeking licensure, need adequate preparation for the next course in a series, etc.

For faculty and instructional academic staff, the basic elements of the grading system are as follows:

1. Except for courses that are already listed as CR/NC, you will enter letter grades, A through F, as you normally would and at the normal time.
2. After receiving their grades, students will have the option to change any A through F graded course to the CR/NC system. Students will communicate their decisions to the Office of the Registrar.
3. For students electing the CR/NC option for individual courses, grades of A through D- will be converted to CR and grades of F will be converted to NC. The grade conversions will be made by the Registrar.
4. For any course requiring a minimum grade as a prerequisite for another course or as a graduation requirement, the grade of CR will replace the minimum grade requirement for the courses taken in the spring 2020 semester. And yes, this means that for this semester a student might be assigned a lower grade than is required to graduate or to move into the the next course, but will still be able to do so if they elect the CR grade in place of a C-, D+, D or D-.

For advisors and others who work directly with students, please advise them carefully about electing the CR/NC grade, as it may affect their applications to post-graduate programs, eligibility for veterans’ benefits, etc. We encourage you to communicate separately with specific student groups to advise them of the potential ramifications of CR grades on their transcripts, and to consult with faculty on these communications. We do not want students to receive different messages from faculty and advisors.

We understand that this is a significant departure from our normal practice, but we are confident that we will all continue to work together to enable students to progress and graduate in a timely manner while preserving the integrity of our academic programs.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Credit/No Credit Student Document

Colleagues,

I’d like to update you on two decisions. 

First, to preserve the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are suspending in-person Summer courses. All Summer courses will continue online or use alternative methods. Deans will confirm with faculty and staff whether any currently scheduled courses will not be offered and hope this will be very few. Our aim is to inform students as soon as possible of any changes so they may finish planning their summer schedules accordingly. This is, of course, nowhere near ideal. I can only ask that you continue your determined efforts to maintain the continuity of our curriculum and our student support services during this difficult period.

Second, to adopt a more accommodative grading approach for the current semester, the University Committee, with approval of the Chancellor, recommends the following changes for the Spring 2020 semester. Please look for implementation guidance shortly.

•  The option of Credit/No Credit (as these grades are defined in the Catalog) should be available for all students in all courses.
• The student shall make the selection of this option, or grading according to the regular grading scheme, for each course.
• The selection shall be made by the student after regular grades have been assigned and made known to the student.
• A grade of CR shall suffice as fulfilling the completion of a prerequisite, regardless of any other stated minimum grade in the prerequisite.

Thanks to each of you for all you continue to do.

Rob Ducoffe
Provost & Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs

Dear Faculty and Staff: 

As you may have heard by now, UW System has updated the Interim COVID-19 Leave Policy to increase the COVID-19 leave up to 272 hours (prorated by % FTE) for a period of March 17, 2020 through May 1, 2020.  This policy applies to Faculty, Academic Staff, University Staff, Limited Appointees and Temporary Employees who are unable to perform their assigned duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Reasons for use of the leave include those who are unable to perform their assigned duties due to:   

• the inability to work remotely (telecommute) 
• self-quarantine 
• self-isolation
• illness 
• care of an immediate family member
• child/elder care due to school or day care closures 

This leave does not apply to those who are able to perform their assigned duties or if they are reassigned to other duties based on operational need and capacity.  

Employees may use COVID-19 leave prior to using any other accrued leave.  The leave will expire on May 1, 2020, and may not be rolled over.  Actual use of the leave must be submitted and approved on a timesheet (including monthly employees). See the guidelines below for how to enter COVID-19 leave. 

Also, sick leave as defined in UW Administrative Policy 1212, Sick Leave may be used during the COVID-19 pandemic when unable to perform assigned duties as defined by the Interim COVID-19 Leave Policy.  

 FMLA Expansion/Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 

UW System has implemented Interim Administrative Policy 1200-Interim 03, FMLA Expansion, which provides additional paid family and medical leave for a qualifying need related to a public health emergency. For the purposes of this policy, an employee is covered by the FMLA if the employee is unable to work (or telecommute) due to a need for leave to care for his/her son or daughter under 18 years of age if the child’s school or place of care has been closed, or the childcare provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to a public health emergency. Hours claimed for COVID-19 leave on or after April 1, 2020, count against the 12 weeks of leave available under this policy.  The United States Department of Labor has made available a poster identifying Employee Rights for further information. 

UW System President Ray Cross has indicated that employees will be granted vacation carryover flexibility due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We will communicate further details as they are available. 

Thank you for all that you are doing to support the campus and each other. We recognize that this is a lot of information so feel free to reach out to Human Resources at hr@uwp.edu with any questions that you may have.  

COVID-19 Leave Monthly Entry: 

• COVID-19 leave entries cannot be dated earlier than 3/17/2020, the effective date of the policies. 
• A New Time Reporting Code (TRC) for monthly employee use only has been created. 
  • EMGPY – COVID Emergency Leave - Monthly 
• Leave can be recorded by the employee, an administrator or via upload. Supervisors should determine which method they prefer their department(s) to utilize. 

Timesheet Method (Preferred Method) 

• Employees paid on a monthly basis now have a timesheet generated within the Time and Absence Module of the UW Portal. Leave will be recorded through an employee’s timesheet in the same manner as other eligible leave types used by Bi-Weekly Employees. Monthly paid employees do not need to enter their hours worked on the timesheet, only COVID-19 leave entries. This process cannot be completed using our established monthly leave reporting procedures. 
• Using the timesheet reporting method the employee would enter the COVID-19 leave time into a timesheet.  
• To access the monthly employee timesheet for entry Click on Launch Full App within the Time and Absence Module of the UW Portal.  
  • Employee entry tip sheet

Payroll Upload Method 

• For supervisors planning to submit COVID leave as an uploaded, please submit requests by the 10th of each month to Human Resources to ensure timely processing to avoid unnecessary missing leave reminders. 
• Upload document must include employee name, date of use (one date per line) and hours used. 
• COVID-19 Leave Payroll Upload Sheet

Other Notes 

• Bi-weekly employees should continue to utilize the reporting methods previously shared with campus. 
• COVID-19 leave entries will show up in payable time as Comp Time needing approval. 
• The missing leave reminders process will continue with the current timing, please submit your requests via timesheet by the normally established leave reporting deadlines or submit the Upload Document to Human Resources by the 10th of the month for departments completing the upload method. 

Sheronda Glass, Ph. D.
Associate Vice Chancellor Human Resources
hr@uwp.edu 

Dear Rangers,

I hope you’ve had the opportunity to re-engage virtually with your instructors and classmates as we relaunched the Spring semester yesterday. 

As shared in a previous message, we are working to prorate charges for housing, dining plans, and parking permits. The prorated amounts plus any balance on your dining dollars account will be credited to your student account and processed in the following manner:

1. If you currently owe money on your student account, the credit will automatically be applied to reduce the debt. 
2. If you don’t owe money on your student account or the credited amount is greater than the amount you owe, you may want to consider reducing your student loan debt.
   • If you wish to use the credit to reduce your student loan, please contact Financial Aid at finaid@uwp.edu from your UW-Parkside Ranger email.
   • If your parent wishes to reduce a Parent PLUS loan, the parent who borrowed the loan should contact Financial Aid at finaid@uwp.edu for options.
   • Requests to reduce loans must be received no later than Friday, April 3rd.
3. Credits that are not used to cover debt or to reduce loans will be disbursed to you via our refunding partner BankMobile. If you haven’t already set up your BankMobile account, please visit their website at https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/. If you do not have your Personal Code, please email Cashiers.office@uwp.edu and they will initiate the process to have a code sent to your UW-Parkside Ranger email.

This process will take approximately 2 weeks. If there are no unforeseen delays, we anticipate that you will see the credit(s) on your student account by April 6th. The credits will appear as payments and will be labeled as Rent/Dining/Parking COVID-19 credit. Any refunds through BankMobile will be available to you by April 15th.

Thank you for your patience. We are working diligently and know how important this is to you.

If you have any questions regarding your Financial Aid, please email finaid@uwp.edu. If you have questions about the refund process, please email the Cashier’s Office at Cashiers.office@uwp.edu. If you have questions related to the housing, dining, or parking permit credits, please email DeanofStudents@uwp.edu.

Stay healthy, stay safe, and Go Rangers!

Sincerely,

Dr. McG

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity for Cybercriminals to use this global health emergency to defraud organizations. Be cautious of any tactic to obtain information or an out of normal interaction with a business partner.

Criminals are initiating fraud schemes by emailing potential clients, often pretending to be a new vendor that can obtain a large amount of critical supplies for sale. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also issued warnings of an increased potential in fraudulent activity involving new vendors and the purchase of COVID-19 supplies and equipment. We should be extra cautious when purchasing supplies during this health emergency. If contacted in your area, the possibility of this fraud attempt can be mitigated by taking these immediate steps:

• Watch out for email impersonators, such as from executives or contacts from familiar companies or vendors with whom you have an established relationship
• Check for lookalike domains
• Confirm email addresses

Changes to vendor information or addition of new vendors requires an established protocol completed only by Business Services in conjunction with UWSA. As organizations and the country navigates shelter in place, there is an increase of vendors requiring ACH payments rather than accepting checks. Business Services remains vigilant in validation with any new or established vendor, and is following the established due diligence procedures. By assisting as a campus partner, we can mitigate tactics in an attempt to defraud our institution.

Thank you for your assistance as we adapt to a new normal.

Ann Iverson
Controller - Director of Business Services

Good morning, Colleagues:

Our extended spring break is over and students are back – but this time they are back on a digital UW-Parkside campus. I shared this welcome to a new semester video message with students and faculty via Canvas – the digital learning platform they will be using the next seven weeks – I invite you to take a look.

The next seven weeks, we are all dedicated to the success of our students! #SevenforSuccess

Thank you,

Debbie Ford
Chancellor

Good Morning:

Human Resources will continue processing HR forms in the weeks to come. Given the number of signatures required, we ask that you practice the following procedure for obtaining signatures

Prior to sending the form to HR, please send the form to the appropriate Hiring Authority, as necessary, for a "virtual" approval.  

The hiring authority and/or administrative support person will then forward the form to HR@uwp.edu with the following statement in the email subject field:  "Virtual Approval." An actual signature is not necessary at this time as long as we have the virtual approval.

If necessary, HR will share the form with the Budget Manager.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your HR lead, Becky Klohn or Laura Menarek. 

Thank you!

Sheronda Glass
Associate Vice Chancellor
 

Good afternoon, Colleagues:

Thank you for your continued perseverance in delivering the UW-Parkside mission during these unsettling times. I truly appreciate your commitment to our students, to one another, and to our learning community. This morning I recorded a brief message, I invite you to listen.

Listen now

Thank you,

Debbie Ford
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Beginning at 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 20, we are locking all campus buildings, limiting access only to faculty and staff needing access for work.

Faculty and staff should use the following access points to enter the facilities:

·         Tallent Hall Back Entrance (Police Dept.)       Door is always unlocked

·         Greenquist Dock                                                  Swipe Access

·         Molinaro North Entrance                                   Swipe Access

·         Rita Main Entrance                                              Swipe Access

·         Rita Dock                                                               Swipe Access

·         Student Center                                                     Open limited hours (9 am – 3 pm)

·         Sports & Activity Center                                    Staff have key access

To open the doors with swipe access, you will need to swipe your employee ID card. If you have not accessed the facilities in this manner before, you may want to check with the Police Department to make sure your employee ID card has been entered into the system to allow access.

Employees spending time on campus should also be prepared to present their ID card to make it easier for UW-Parkside Police to identify approved access.

All buildings will re-open when classes resume on Monday, March 30, with limited hours allowing students access to the Library and other student support areas.

If you have difficulty gaining access to the facilities or have questions, please call the UW-Parkside Police Department at 262-595-2455.

Dear Campus Community,

With millions of people worldwide being asked to work from home due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus, scammers are targeting remote workers with phishing campaigns and malware. Here are some general guidelines for working at home and what to watch for so that you do not become a victim.

What are common indicators of phishing attempts?

• Suspicious sender’s address. The sender's address may imitate a legitimate business. Cybercriminals often use an email address that closely resembles one from a reputable company by altering or omitting a few characters. 
• Generic greetings and signature. Both a generic greeting—such as “Dear Valued Customer” or “Sir/Ma’am”—and a lack of contact information in the signature block are strong indicators of a phishing email. A trusted organization will normally address you by name and provide their contact information.
• Spoofed hyperlinks and websites. If you hover your cursor over any links in the body of the email, and the links do not match the text that appears when hovering over them, the link may be spoofed. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (e.g., .com vs. .net). Additionally, cybercriminals may use a URL shortening service to hide the true destination of the link.
• Spelling and layout. Poor grammar and sentence structure, misspellings, and inconsistent formatting are other indicators of a possible phishing attempt. Reputable institutions have dedicated personnel who produce, verify, and proofread customer correspondence.
• Suspicious attachments. An unsolicited email requesting that a user download and open an attachment is a common delivery mechanism for malware. A cybercriminal may use a false sense of urgency or importance to help persuade a user to download or open an attachment without examining it first.

How do you avoid being a victim?

• Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or email messages from individuals asking  about employees or other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company.
• Do not provide personal information or confidential information about your institution, employees, and students through email. You can share information on secured channels like Network Drives, Sharepoint, MS Teams, or through phone calls.  
• Do not reveal personal or financial information in email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information. This includes following links sent in email.
• Don't send sensitive information over the internet before checking a website's security. (See Protecting Your Privacy for more information.)
  • Pay attention to the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a website. Look for URLs that begin with "https"—an indication that sites are secure—rather than "http.”
  • Look for a closed padlock icon—a sign your information will be encrypted.
• If you are unsure whether an email request is legitimate, try to verify it by contacting the company directly. Do not use contact information provided on a website connected to the request; instead, check previous statements for contact information. Information about known phishing attacks is also available online from groups such as the Anti-Phishing Working Group. (See the APWG eCrime Research Papers.)
• Install and maintain antivirus software, firewalls, and email filters to reduce some of this traffic. (See Understanding Firewalls for Home and Small Office Use, Protecting Against Malicious Code, and Reducing Spam for more information.)

What do you do if you think you are a victim?

• If you believe you might have revealed sensitive information about your institution, report it to your supervisor and the Help Desk at servicedesk@uwp.edu.
• If you believe your financial accounts may be compromised, contact your financial institution immediately and close any accounts that may have been compromised. Watch for any unexplainable charges to your account.
• Immediately change any passwords you might have revealed. If you used the same password for multiple resources, make sure to change it for each account, and do not use that password in the future.
•  Watch for other signs of identity theft. (See Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft for more information.)
• Consider reporting the attack to the police, and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission.

Working from home – computer checklist:

• Use strong passwords - 12 characters or more, mixture of letters, numbers, special characters
• Use a two-factor authentication – DUO Two-Step Authentication
• Use a VPN – Global Protect
• Use a firewall
• Use an antivirus software
• Secure your home router
• Install updates regularly
• Back up your data
• Look out for phishing emails and sites
• Watch out for work-from-home scams
• Lock your device

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Help Desk at 262-595-2444 or email us at servicedesk@uwp.edu.

Campus Technology Services

UW-Parkside Learning Community:

Earlier today, I informed our students who are scheduled to participate in the Spring 2020 Commencement that we have made the very difficult decision not to hold face-to-face commencement ceremonies as originally scheduled on Saturday, May 16.

The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and community members is the university’s top priority during this unprecedented national public health emergency.

Celebrating the graduation of another record class of UW-Parkside students is always such an exciting event. However, the evolving COVID-19 pandemic has compelled each of us to make difficult choices.

Our students dedicate a great deal of time and effort toward achieving their goals. I know that every department and office on our campus stands ready to provide the resources and guidance our students will need to complete this semester and continue toward their degrees!

I reminded students that there is an important difference between the delay of our commencement ceremonies and any delay in earning their degree. When students complete the necessary academic requirements, they will be UW-Parkside graduates and our nursing students will be graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Nursing Program.

We will be working in collaboration with Parkside Student Government to develop exciting plans to reschedule the 2020 Spring Commencement ceremonies so that we may properly honor and recognize the success of our graduates. 

Thank you, all, for your patience and understanding during these trying times. I am confident that when the commencement ceremonies take place, they will be celebrations unlike any other here at the university.

Debbie Ford
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Parkside

IT SECURITY UPDATE FROM UW SYSTEM
The following is a portion of a message sent by UW System President Ray Cross to UW campuses.

Colleagues:

Our IT staff have been doing an excellent job monitoring phishing scams and other IT security issues. For example, an Android app that masquerades as the popular John’s Hopkins University map to track confirmed cases of COVID-19 is actually ransomware, i.e. malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. 

This particular ransomware locks up the phone and demands $100 in bitcoin to unlock it. The malware allows the operator to exfiltrate call and text logs and remotely activate microphones and cameras. If victims do not pay within 48 hours, the malware indicates it will erase all data on the phone. Users need to be careful installing offered mobile apps, particularly from unofficial app stores.

Working safely while working remotely has always been one of our top goals with telecommuting.  Please see the top five best practices for working remote in a safe manner.

Also please remember, in addition to making more updates to our COVID-19 web site, we have a new tool for UW System and UWSA employees to ask questions about coronavirus-specific topics you’d like us to address. You can access this link on the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage. This will require you to log in with your campus credentials. Finally we have created an index of my past memos and posted those on the web site so people can access information I’ve provided in the past several weeks.

We are extremely grateful for all your efforts during this difficult time. Please stay as healthy and as safe as you can while working through this crisis, and I will continue to send out these updates as more information becomes available. 

Thanks,
Ray

Ray Cross
President

UW-Parkside COVID-19 Response | Chancellor Ford | 2020.03.18

UW-Parkside Alumni and Friends:

I hope you are healthy and safe as the COVID-19 crisis continues. As we all navigate the uncertainties and stresses of this situation, I wanted to share with you how the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is responding and how this affects our students and community.

UW-Parkside’s top three priorities are to ensure the health and safety of our campus community, successfully deliver our academic mission, and join the national and global effort of flattening the curve of the virus.

With these priorities in mind, we have decided to discontinue face-to-face instruction and move to alternative delivery of instruction (online courses) through the end of the spring semester. Following an extended spring break, UW-Parkside students will begin all classes in an online format on March 30th. Faculty, instructional staff, and the full university team are doing all we can to ensure students have the tools and support needed to complete their semesters successfully in this changed situation.

UW-Parkside’s campus remains open. However, we are limiting the number of faculty, staff, students, and visitors on campus as much as possible. We have asked all students living in campus residence halls to return home for the rest of the semester. In some cases, that may not be possible. We are working with individual students to ensure continued living arrangements here on campus.

Faculty and staff are maintaining services, operations, and safety of the campus while telecommuting as much as possible. Some campus services that the local community generally can access – notably the UW-Parkside Library and the Sports and Activity Center – have limited hours and access only for faculty, staff, and students.

University-sponsored events have been canceled through April 10th. This includes performances in the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts & Humanities, athletics events, and alumni events including the March 20th Alumni Association Alumni After Hours. As of today, we have not made determinations on activities and events after April 10th – including UW-Parkside’s spring Commencement ceremonies – but will keep students and the community informed as we make these decisions.

We will continue to share information about our campus response at uwp.edu/coronavirus.

UW-Parkside is doing everything possible to keep student success and the health and safety of our communities at the center as this crisis unfolds. Thank you for your support of UW-Parkside, and we wish you all the best in these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Debbie Ford
Chancellor
 

P.S. We continue to be amazed and grateful for the alumni and community support that made Parkside Day on March 5th such a success. If you’re looking for some good news, read more about Parkside Day 2020 on our website and in the Kenosha News.

2020.03.18

FACULTY/STAFF

Given the latest information we have about the projected evolution of COVID-19, UW-Parkside campus leadership has decided to implement a minimal staffing model, no later than end of business on Thursday, March 19, 2020, that aligns with recommendations from the CDC to help control the spread of the virus. Minimal staffing is defined as the least number of people necessary to maintain essential operations, as determined by UW-Parkside directors and supervisors. All employees who can work remotely will be required to do so.

Please note that campus is not closed, and some employees will need to continue working on campus to provide critical services, such as caring for students living in our residence halls, providing security for those accessing campus, and facilities management. All who can work remotely must do so, and we ask all supervisors to make those determinations as quickly as possible.

As we communicated yesterday, a formal telecommuting agreement is not required for employees who are approved to work from a remote location. However, we do require the following from employees who will be telecommuting during the next two weeks:

• A weekly list of specific tasks and responsibilities (must be approved by supervisor)
• Using Cisco Jabber, the employee’s office phone must be forwarded to a personal cell or home landline number (instructions in the UW-Parkside CTS Knowledge Base)
• Supervisors should establish a regular schedule to receive updates on the employee’s progress and to answer questions
• Telecommuting employees must not send highly sensitive information via email (student or employee personal information -- DOB, social security numbers, etc.)

Please find below some helpful resources that you can use while working remotely.

• Remote Login
  • UW-Parkside Logins

Shared Drive Access Using Virtual Private Network (VPN/Global Connect)

• Duo 
  • If you do not already have Duo access you will need it to use VPN to the UW-Parkside Network.
  • Duo is a two-authentication to make logins more secure. You will need this if you are accessing SOLAR, CANVAS, or a shared drive.
  • Install Duo Mobile to your Smartphone from your Apple Store or Google Play Store or contact the Help Desk at 262-595-2444 to arrange for a fob device.
  • Take the Training
  • Get ID Proofed – someone will contact you after the training.
• VPN for Windows (Requires Duo) 
  • Learn More
• VPN for Mac (Requires Duo)
  • Learn More
• Remote Desktop (Requires VPN)
  • Learn More
    • Connect to your campus computer offsite
• Map Network Drives for Windows
  • Learn More
• Map Network Drives for MAC
  • Learn More
• Phone Tips
  • Jabber 
    • Jabber can be used as a chat function, but also integrates with your office phone to make and receive phone calls to and from your office phone virtually
  • VoIP Office Phone
    • Press the “Forward all” button on the VoIP Phone button and then enter (8) to get an outside line and the full number that you want to forward to. Example: 8-1-262-555-5555
    • Wait for the confirmation message that the phone has been forwarded.
• WebEx Video Conferencing
  • Learn More
  • WebEx Quick Guide
• Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  • Learn More
  • Additional Blackboard Ultra Tools

Interim COVID-19 Leave Policy
 

We realize there are some employees who are not required to work onsite and who cannot work remotely. Those employees may be eligible for special COVID-19 leave, which was announced yesterday by UW System. This provides up to 80 hours of paid leave for employees who can’t perform their assigned duties during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency due to the following:

• inability to work remotely
• self-quarantine
• self-isolation
• illness
• care of an immediate family member
• child/elder care due to school and day care closures

Delivery of instruction to students, which is work that can be performed remotely, does not qualify for COVID-19 leave without extraordinary circumstances and the availability of course coverage. Faculty, academic staff, university staff, limited appointees, graduate assistants and temporary employees are eligible for COVID-19 leave, with the approval of campus administration. The leave may be used prior to using any other type of accrued leave and will be available until the president of UW System determines the pandemic emergency has concluded. If you have any questions, please speak with your supervisor.
 

Sheronda Glass, Ph. D.
Associate Vice Chancellor Human Resources
hr@uwp.edu 

Colleagues:

Given the latest information we have about the projected evolution of COVID-19, UW-Parkside campus leadership, in consultation with our College Deans, has made the decision to continue alternative delivery of instruction through the end of spring semester. I informed students of the decision by email, just moments ago.

Undoubtedly, this news will create additional challenges for students, faculty, instructors and staff. However, the current threat that we face as a global community means that we must do all we can to protect everyone’s health and safety while maintaining the academic and teaching mission of the university.  

While we are in the midst of a crisis the likes of which most of us have not seen before, we remain committed to providing a high-quality education. 

The Provost’s Office has made significant progress working with Colleges and Departments to continue supporting the transition to alternative delivery of instruction. Instructors are in the process of providing more details to students as they look to resume the semester on March 30. Several units are working to prepare materials and resources to support students as they transition from face-to-face learning to alternative delivery methods.    

Yesterday, students living in our residence halls were informed that they are to return home. In some cases, that may not be possible. We are working with individual students to ensure continued living arrangements here on campus. 

Thank you! Thank you for your patience, flexibility and understanding during these uncertain times. Above all, practice good hygiene, get your rest, and stay healthy. Together, we will help our students reach their goals. 
 

Chancellor Deborah Ford

SOMERS – University of Wisconsin-Parkside leadership, after careful consideration of the national and global initiatives to help slow the spread of COVID-19, announced that the university’s annual spring break will begin a week sooner than planned. The UW-Parkside spring break was originally scheduled from Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27. Spring break will now begin Monday, March 16, and conclude Friday, March 27.

“A top priority for UW-Parkside is providing a safe and healthy learning environment, and working to ensure the health and wellness of the communities we serve,” said UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford. “The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving. We are hopeful that beginning our spring break a week earlier than planned will assist in the regional, state and national initiatives to ‘flatten the curve’ and slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Beginning spring break a week earlier than planned will also provide more time for UW-Parkside faculty, staff and students to prepare for alternative methods of instruction when classes resume Monday, March 30.

In addition to changes in the class schedule, effective immediately, events of more than 50 people at the university are canceled through Friday, April 10. Exceptions may be granted by the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration.

 “We are working closely with members of the community who utilize our facilities for special events,” Ford said.

When the spring semester resumes Monday, March 30, the university is preparing for alternative delivery of classes. “We are working with faculty and staff to prepare classes for online delivery,” said Rob Ducoffe, UW-Parkside Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. “Not all academic offerings easily lend themselves to online delivery. We are working on best-possible solutions for science labs, music rehearsals, art classes and others.”

UW-Parkside informed students, faculty and staff of the decision to extend spring break and plans for alternative delivery of classes in an email to campus.

“Our goals are to keep our learning community and the communities we serve safe and healthy, and to help our students successfully continue their academic experience,” Ford said.

During the extended spring break, resources usually open to the public such as the Library and Archives & Area Research Center will be closed. “We want to make sure that our faculty and staff continue to work in a healthy environment,” Ford said. “Where possible, limiting contact with members of our community was another difficult aspect of this decision.”

For more information about the UW-Parkside academic and events schedule visit www.uwp.edu/coronavirus