Social interactions—even virtual—provide much-needed boosts to our immune systems. A 2016 study from researchers at the University of Virginia found socializing can actually activate the immune system—and that conversely, a desire to socialize decreases when the immune system is compromised.
The Chronicle of Higher Education is maintaining a running list of universities’ plans for resuming campus life. The page is filled with hopeful expectations. VCU has “every intention” of opening in the fall “as long as it’s safe to do so.” The University of Virginia and Virginia Tech plan to give an update by early or mid-June. Other schools are more adamant that they “plan,” “intend” or “expect” to resume normal operations in the fall.
UVA says this only pertains to undergraduate students who were living on Grounds or to graduates who lived on the Range. Patricia Lampkin, the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Office, says the plans also include students who lived in Bice, Bond or one of the three language houses, Shea, Maison Francaise and Casa Bolivar.
The federal government is trying to help businesses, local governments are trying to help businesses — and now local businesses are trying to help businesses. Project Rebound is an arm of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, which represents the business community. Charlottesville, Albemarle County and University of Virginia economic development departments are partners in the effort.
(Commentary co-written by Stephanie Moore, professor in the Curry School of Education and Human Development) Recently, Inside Higher Education published an op-ed article on “How to Responsibly Reopen Colleges in the Fall.” In this article the authors have noble intentions, yet base their arguments on gross misunderstandings of the modalities on online and face-to-face and blended education.
A Q&A with graduating Darden student Julie Calderon Benavente.
Even as some states move to re-open, hundreds of doctors and public health experts are urging Virginia's governor to clamp down. “This is not the time to rush back into a sort of pre-COVID normal life,” said Rajesh Balkrishnan, a professor of public health science at the University of Virginia. “Virginia is about lovers, and we love life, we put life paramount here first.”
Richard Schragger, a law professor at the University of Virginia, said in an email the ruling only applies to the Lynchburg gun range, but the reasoning could apply across the state and other gun ranges could bring a similar lawsuit.
University of Virginia's Center of Politics Director Larry Sabato tells us what the pandemic could mean for national politics – including the presidential election.
Anthony Sebok, a professor at Cardozo School of Law, said if Congress did shield companies from lawsuits, “They have to come up with, I think, an adequate substitute for the tort rights they are replacing.” That could include a government fund that people could seek compensation from, similar to one created for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. But J.H. (Rip) Verkerke, a University of Virginia law professor, sees no evidence of such a fund thus far. “This looks to me more like, “Let’s get rid of liability,” Verkerke said. And eliminating liability, he warned, could be “constitutionally suspect....
The UVA Medical Center is treating 24 COVID-19 patients, and the anticipated surge of cases has yet to materialize, said Dr. Craig Kent, the University’s executive vice president for health affairs, on Monday during a Board of Visitors meeting.
Since the pandemic’s start, colleges, including the University of Virginia, have opted for virtual tours. UVA spokesman Brian Coy said, “We will analyze virtual tours and Virtual Days on the Lawn participation rates in the coming weeks.”
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise took the leap among Southwest Virginia colleges and schools Friday by setting a virtual and real commencement date.
Colleges are ghost towns, but officials are trying to reach prospective students with virtual visits and Zoom meetings. Can they replicate that face-to-face feeling? The University of Virginia’s website offers virtual dormitory tours and floor plans of residence halls.
The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, a new entrant into this year’s top 20, recorded a solid 713 average GMAT, just beating Duke Fuqua on 710.
Pamela Sue Sierschula died peacefully at her home in Charlottesville on Thursday after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She fulfilled a lifelong dream to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree when her degree was conferred to her as the University of Virginia’s first graduate of the class of 2020 in a special virtual ceremony on March 25.
The lavender rooms were created at UVA thanks to post-anesthesia care unit nurse Nancy Farish, for any nurses who may be in an emotional crisis.
(Commentary by Peter Debaere, professor of business administration) The coronavirus is tearing across peoples and continents at a breathtaking pace. The world economy is coming to a halt. The International Monetary Fund projects a 3% decrease of global GDP in 2020 – the worst since the Great Depression, and more severe than the Great Recession.
Provost Liz Magill is chairing UVA’s Fall 2020 Committee, which is developing recommendations for the fall semester, President Jim Ryan announced Thursday. According to the release, the committee members will accept input from students, faculty and staff members, and Ryan expects to make an update about the fall semester no later than mid-June.
Zhen Yan, a professor of cardiovascular medicine who runs a molecular exercise physiology lab at the University of Virginia, has proposed exercise as a recommended measure alongside social distancing since his research suggests it may protect against acute respiratory distress syndrome, a top cause of death among COVID-19 patients.