This digest is a compilation of important COVID-19 related news and updates for students, faculty and staff on the Danforth Campus. We’ll send this to our community as needed to share new information, including important steps members of the Danforth Campus community must take to help protect the health and well-being of our community. Thank you for your attention to these communications, and for your continued support of our response efforts.
Resources for online teaching and learning
As online instruction begins this week, the Teaching and Learning Continuity website is an important resource to help students and faculty navigate this new landscape. In addition to guidance for how to utilize a range of available tools, the site also includes useful FAQs for students and instructors. The Center for Teaching and Learning website continues to list opportunities for training sessions and discussions on the use of online teaching tools.
In addition, resources for schools and other academic units are available on the For Schools section of the university’s COVID-19 website.
Buildings locked, card swipe access only
Exterior doors of all buildings on the Danforth, West, North and South Campuses are now locked 24/7 and accessible by university ID card swipe only. There should be a very limited number of employees accessing buildings at this time. University libraries and the Sumers Recreation Center are closed. Washington University Police Department (WUPD) continues to regularly patrol campus buildings and spaces.
Mental health resources
The current situation is understandably creating stress and anxiety for many members of our university community. Here are some available resources:
- Danforth Campus students with mental health concerns should contact Habif Health and Wellness Center at 314-935-6695. For medical concerns, please call 314-935-6695 or email habifInfo@wustl.edu. For students who have remained on campus, the Habif Center is open for urgent medical concerns from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Employees may wish to utilize the employee assistance program,Work-Life Solutions, which provides 24/7 counseling and referral services. A COVID-19 virtual toolkit is available online.
- United Healthcare also offers a behavioral health benefit to help employees effectively deal with stressful and challenging situations. Click for more information.
- Also please see a message about health and well-being from Kirk Dougher, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Support and Wellness.
How to help
There are a number of ways members of our community can get involved and help support efforts to address this challenging situation.
Give to crisis fund
In response to requests from alumni and others who are looking for ways to help, the university has created the WashU Crisis Response Fund, which is dedicated to providing support to our most vulnerable students and employees. Gifts to the fund will directly benefit those who need additional financial assistance during this difficult time.
Donate personal protective equipment
In anticipation of shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) — such as masks, gowns, gloves and eyewear — at university-affiliated hospitals and clinics, medical students are asking researchers to collect extra PPE from their labs to be donated to frontline health-care workers. Needed items include:
- Eye protection, including face shields and goggles (glasses are not effective)
- N-95 respirator masks
- Masks
- Gloves
- Gowns
Opened cases or other containers are acceptable, but NOT used items.
Items to be donated should be labeled clearly and left in lab spaces. Staff members from the university’s office of Environmental Health & Safety will collect the donated items. To offer items for donation, complete this formwith the location of the lab and the items being donated.
We appreciate your ongoing support and cooperation as we manage this unprecedented situation. Please continue to visit the university’s COVID-19website for the latest information.