It’s rare that I reach out to you through a video, but I felt that it’s the best way
to have this important conversation.
I’ve always tried to be transparent and honest with you in my communications, consistent
with the respect I have for you as exceptionally accomplished young adults.
This fall isn’t a normal semester.
You know the challenges we face, here and elsewhere, in trying to contain the spread
of COVID-19.
The sacrifices required of each of us can seem daunting or even unfair at times.
But the stakes are too high not to step up and do the right thing.
You’ve seen the recent headlines of schools that sought to open for in-person, on campus
education this fall, only to quickly reverse course when it became clear a material number
of students were not complying with requirements and expectations around social distancing,
mask-wearing and limits on the size of gatherings.
Protection of public health drove these decisions, as it must.
Our ACC peers UNC and NC State have now gone online, joining many other schools across
the country.
We have not, hoping to offer as many of you as possible an on-Grounds experience, even
if different from a “normal” year.
We know how much it means to you, given the finite amount of time each of you has to be
a student at UVA.
We want you to be here, if your own health and safety permit, to experience your first
year of college, or your fourth and final year; in fact, every year.
But I need every one of you to do your part to make that happen.
I read a powerful message yesterday from the leadership of Vanderbilt to their students
on this subject, and this in particular stood out:
“One person’s decision to shrug off their responsibility for a night of fun can be the
reason an entire class misses its senior year, or why a student, for whom Vanderbilt is the
safest home they know, is forced to leave.”
Well, that same thing holds true for us at UVA.
In a pandemic, one person’s bad decision has a direct impact on the health and safety
of others.
That’s why this is so important.
The University has made very clear what must occur for us to offer an on-Grounds experience.
These things are non-negotiable and essential to keep everyone healthy and safe.
They are as followed: One, there can be no gatherings in excess
of 15 people, whether on-Grounds or off, this fall.
Again, no more than 15 people – period.
You can still gather in smaller groups with close friends, and those are often the most
meaningful interactions anyway.
But know that we are very firm on this number: no more than 15; on Grounds of off; inside
or outside.
Two, you must wear a face covering or mask over the mouth and nose anytime you are out
of your residence, including in common spaces within your residence hall or other shared
spaces.
Wear your masks, on or off-Grounds.
Three, you must maintain a distance of 6 feet at all times when in the company of others.
This applies whether indoors or outdoors; in class or in a library; or just walking
across Grounds or down the Corner.
6 feet is the minimum, always.
We must strictly enforce these directives if you are to have a chance at an on-Grounds
experience this fall.
They have been in place for many days now, and remain a firm expectation of all students
going forward through the fall.
Yet we have already begun to receive reports of significant non-compliance.
So, here's another point where I need to be very clear and frank with you: Enforcement
will include serious sanctions for noncompliance.
You may have seen in the last 48 hours that several peer institutions have not hesitated
to immediately suspend students who decided to place others at risk by gathering in large
numbers.
This includes our ACC peers Syracuse and Virginia Tech, who suspended 23 and 7 students, respectively,
within the past few days.
Purdue suspended 36.
I need you to understand that we will do the same.
A suspension for violating these required public health norms will be immediate, and
for the full semester at a minimum, with no opportunity to continue your courses in-person
or online.
Let me repeat this critical point: the suspension will be immediate and will bar you from further
participation in any University courses, activities or programs for the fall semester, at minimum.
Your path to graduation will be delayed by the credits you won’t earn this fall.
These are serious consequences, but we are in a serious public health crisis.
It’s important to me that every student realizes the consequences of willful noncompliance;
I don’t want anyone surprised if we are forced to take action.
Again, I want no confusion on this critical point.
I have great faith in you and in our ability to be a responsible community.
I’ve seen remarkable things from students in my 14 years as your Dean; you are why I
love what I do and the school where I do it.
But I also know it doesn’t take many individuals behaving recklessly to place all of us at
risk.
If an individual or a group of individuals choose to ignore the requirements of small
gatherings of 15 or less, mask-wearing and social distancing, we will take immediate
disciplinary action, including referral to the University Judiciary Committee and, in
the most serious cases, immediate suspension and a ban from University Grounds.
The stakes are simply too high for us to act otherwise.
Student organizations, whether CIOs, Club Sports, Fraternities or Sororities, are also
subject to serious sanctions for organized, collective activity that violates these clear
expectations and required norms.
These can include immediate termination of a group’s organizational agreement and relationship
with UVA, and all of the rights that flow from that agreement.
We won’t be issuing a series of warnings or multiple strikes before we act – we need full
compliance right out of the box. Right now and going forward.
Again, there’s simply too much at stake for us not to take swift and firm action in
response to violations.
Let me close by saying you have been dealt a difficult set of circumstances being in
college during a pandemic of a scope unseen in over a century.
I understand the sadness and frustration this brings.
But: I also know short-term sacrifice like you are being asked to make here – by complying
with three straightforward public health requirements of small gatherings of 15 or less, mask wearing
and social distancing – will get us past this crisis faster and with fewer people harmed
by the virus.
I share your desire to be on-Grounds this fall.
I miss the energy you bring to this place and I like you, I want us to succeed.
So, let’s step up and do this together.
My sincere thanks to each of you for taking the time to listen to this message.