March 31, 2021
Dear Pittsburgh Campus Faculty and Students,
As was announced earlier today, due to the unfortunate rise in cases of COVID-19 on the Pittsburgh campus and in Allegheny County, the Pittsburgh campus will be moving to the Elevated Risk Posture and has activated shelter-in-place protocols, effective at 9 p.m. this evening.
While contact tracing is an ongoing process, no infections have been traced to classroom activities or other academic settings, such as labs or libraries. The shelter-in-place protocols are being activated to quickly curtail the further spread of the virus due to social interactions. To avoid even greater increases, we must be especially careful about masking, distancing, and hand hygiene.
I am reaching out to make sure that there is a clear understanding about those guidelines in relation to classes and final exams.
According to guidelines, Pittsburgh campus students can continue to engage in academic activities in person during the shelter-in-place period. In-person and remote classroom experiences—as well as all Flex@Pitt teaching and learning options—will continue. Students who are not in isolation or quarantine can choose to attend classes in person.
Classes will not be interrupted.
The same is true for graduate classes. The shelter-in-place guidance does not limit in-class or lab experiences. Field and clinical work will also continue uninterrupted.
The University Library System is open and accessible during shelter-in-place.
Final exams, whether they are scheduled to occur in-person or remotely, will take place as planned.
Please continue to connect with your school and departmental leadership and remember to take advantage of resources offered by the University Center for Teaching and Learning and Pitt IT—and, as always, please contact me with questions or concerns: provost@pitt.edu.
Stay safe—and Hail to Pitt!
Ann E. Cudd
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor