COVID-19 Update March 11, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

The University’s leadership team and our COVID-19 working group are meeting numerous times daily to monitor the quickly evolving Coronavirus outbreak. I would like to emphasize again that the health, safety, and well-being of our community remains our top priority.

Let me begin by assuring you that no one in the Bay Path community has tested positive for the Coronavirus. We continue to monitor the situation and are informed by the guidance provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC.

Yesterday, Governor Baker declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts to support the Commonwealth’s efforts to prevent, contain, and inhibit the spread of the virus. This, coupled with the CDC and MA Department of Public Health guidance noted above, as well as the continuous updates of local, regional, and national news, is informing the plans being developed by the working group.

To that end, new policies and procedures are being developed and contingency planning is well underway to:

• Establish updated policies that suspend travel;
• Explore remote delivery of classes for all of our programs;
• Develop plans to restrict large gatherings on-campus and off, including our Women’s Leadership Conference;
• Establish and ensure protocols for on campus quarantine measures;
• Guarantee that all of our facilities are maintained at standards required by public health guidelines.

Aside from following personal hygiene recommendations that help mitigate the spread of any virus your best defense is to stay informed. We are committed to providing timely information and updates to the entire community.

It is critical that you monitor your email or our webpage daily for important updates. The next updates regarding many of the bullets above will be posted by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12.

I would like to thank the working group for its time and diligence in exploring all potential implications of the Coronavirus threat on our community. And thank you to all Bay Path students, faculty, and staff for your care and concern for yourselves, your family members, and your colleagues.

Yours,
Carol Leary
President