March 23, 2020

My Fellow Tritons:

We know that the last couple of weeks have been far from normal. Our routines have been disrupted, and we are all dealing with the stress and anxiety of the unknown. We understand that each new development and each news update may make us feel like our world has been upended and that we might feel confused and concerned about what these uncertain times might hold for our community.

Though we — students, faculty, staff, and administrators — are all feeling many of the same emotions, it is important to remember that we are all in this together. Our University Community along with our island community remain strong and resilient.

The Governor has just extended the island’s state of public health emergency by another 14 days. Our campus remains closed. I ask that all employees stay home and work from home unless it is absolutely critical that their work be done on campus or in the field. We will move our business processes online or accomplish them remotely where possible. We’ll continue working in this way until we receive additional guidance from the Governor.

Next week, our face-to-face classes will be going online or other distance format for the rest of the semester, and you may not be sure what that experience will be like. We want to assure you that our faculty and staff are committed to working with you to finish your courses this semester. We will work with you on any questions you might have or situations you might be going through regarding deadlines, tuition payments, and registration. We want to finish this semester strong. We can do this together.

In the weeks to come, things may change and may develop in unexpected ways. I ask that each of us focus on our loved ones, on our community, and on our health care workers who are on the frontlines committed to taking care of us. We must do our part to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Stay home as much as possible. If you must go out, practice social distancing and stay 6 feet or more away from others. Wash your hands often and disinfect any areas that come into contact with other people. I encourage you to think of your fellow Tritons and of your community and how we can each do our part to protect each other.

Our commitment to the well-being of our students and employees remains paramount. If there is more we can do to support you during this time, please reach out to us.

• Admissions & Records – admitme@triton.uog.edu
• Financial Aid Office – finaid@triton.uog.edu
• Bursar’s Office – bursar@triton.uog.edu
• Online Learning / Moodle Help – moodlehelp@triton.uog.edu
• General Campus Communications – marcom@triton.uog.edu

You can stay updated with current campus news and advisories and additional resources online at: www.uog.edu/covid-19.

Si Yu’os Ma’åse,

Thomas W. Krise, Ph.D.
President

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