With the constant barrage of novel coronavirus news updates, it can be hard to stay informed. Here’s a list of some important coronavirus related questions The Miami Student has answered over the past month:
Oxford is normally quiet without Miami University students on campus. But this time, it’s different. The small college town usually simmers into a lull once students leave for both winter break and summer vacation. But with classes being moved online for the rest of the semester and Governor Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home order, many students decided to leave Oxford to be with family. For seniors, though, this decision meant walking away from the place they’ve called home for the last four years.
In Oxford, local owners and managers struggle to keep their businesses afloat while city officials scramble to pass a stimulus grant proposal into law. The college town, which depends on revenue from the Miami University student body — most of whom have left campus, hopes to avoid the worst of the virus’ economic consequences. But at this point, it’s unclear if it will.
Sushi Nara, a popular Japanese restaurant in Oxford, has closed after its building was sold. The restaurant’s owner informed his employees of the closure Monday, April 6.
Miami University will not renew the contracts of a number of faculty members next year, as the university is expected to lose tens of millions of dollars due to the novel coronavirus and is preparing for greater budgetary shortfalls.
Michael Crowder, the current chair of Miami University’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, has been named the new associate provost and dean of the graduate school effective July 1.
Miami University named Beena Sukumaran as the new dean of the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) last week.
An unclassified Miami University employee who works in Campus Services has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Miami University’s Department of Chemistry contributed 125,000 masks and 750 pairs of safety goggles to be donated to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Butler County Health Commission as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to grow in Southwest Ohio.
For Ann Fuehrer, director of the Talawanda Oxford Pantry & Social Services (TOPPS), a single day hosts an array of activities. From shopping at Kroger, to making sure the shelves are stocked, to answering emails and phone calls, to supervising volunteers, Fuehrer, who took over as director in July 2019, leads one of many efforts to help those struggling with food insecurity in Oxford.
Miami University will be forced to spend tens of millions of dollars on refunds for housing, meal plans and study abroad programs due to campus closures caused by the spread of novel coronavirus, according to an email sent to the faculty from Provost Jason Osborne on March 19.
The Oxford Police Department (OPD) launched a new online platform to report certain crimes on Friday, March 20.
Miami University’s Division of Student Life announced several policy changes and extended deadlines regarding course credit options on its Instagram story Wednesday. Students are now able to take a grade of incomplete — “IU” for all undergraduate courses and “IG” for all graduate level courses — at any time during the spring 2020 semester. The deadlines to withdraw from undergraduate classes and the deadline to elect for a credit/no credit grading option were also moved to April 17. This is a change from the original February deadline.
After 13 years of operation, the Confucius Institute at Miami University (CIMU) is closing due to budget cuts.
Miami University President Greg Crawford announced in a university-wide email Wednesday that a member of the Miami community has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Miami University announced the selection of Jenny Darroch as the new dean of the Farmer School of Business (FSB) on March 18. Darroch, the former dean of the graduate school of management at Claremont Graduate University, was selected from four finalists who came to campus in February to be interviewed by FSB’s search committee and meet with members of the Miami community.
On March 19, Jason Osborne, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, released a statement that Miami University would immediately freeze hiring for non-essential faculty and staff. New hires now require special approval from either Osborne or David Creamer, treasurer and vice president for finance and business services.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a state-wide stay-at-home order which will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday night and end on April 6. The new order comes after DeWine’s multiple attempts over the past week to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus through other executive orders such as the closure of restaurants and bars and banning gatherings of more than 50 people.
Oxford City Council, which broadcasted its March 17 meeting live, approved waiving all parking meter fees near uptown until further notice. Vice Mayor Bill Snavely said he brought up this resolution in response to businesses being restricted to delivery and carry-out per Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s orders.
Miami announced today in a university-wide email that registration for the fall 2020 semester has been pushed back due to disruptions caused by the transition to remote learning and campus closures in light of the spread of novel coronavirus.