We’re excited to see people returning to campus and gearing up to start a new semester. Learning and connecting with each other, no matter what that looks like, brings a collective, positive energy to our university.
Looking ahead to the first few weeks, we have a few key dates and updates to share with you.
Week of Welcome. Classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 19. Keep in mind we will conduct coursework remotely those first two weeks. In-person classes will begin Monday, Feb. 1. Meanwhile, we’re kicking off the new semester with a Week of Welcome — we call it WoW — for students and their families. Check out the schedule of activities and events that start Jan. 19 through Feb. 9.
COVID-19 free testing. We’re offering free rapid COVID-19 tests for students by appointment through Student Health and Wellness. Faculty and staff will be able to access free tests starting in February. This article provides information and will be updated as more details are available.
Your health. We will be keeping campus safe with mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing in classrooms and the thorough, regular cleaning of spaces. We also aim to keep everyone informed through the daily notifications and latest news on our Coronavirus website.
A reminder that UMKC has notification processes for both students and employees to report whether they have tested positive for COVID-19 within four hours. Start with this step:
Students: Call the Student Helpline, 816-235-2222.
Employees: Contact your supervisor.
After-hours: Call 816-235-COVI.
Finally and most importantly, we want to say the past few months have been extraordinarily challenging for our nation as we have dealt with rising cases of COVID nationwide, complex planning to distribute new vaccines and a historic post-election season. Our UMKC Culture of Care calls on us to take care of ourselves and each other through kindness and civil discourse.
Also remember, you are not alone in dealing with these challenges. We have many resources on campus including counseling services for students and employees as well as free mental-health resources through the Sanvello app. Our Title IX Office is also available for questions and more information.
We’re #RooReady to have you back!
In this together,
C. Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D. Jenny Lundgren, Ph.D.
Chancellor Provost
