Plans Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Campus Community,

It has been an astonishing day with many disruptions to our campus, regional, and global communities. Yet, as those who know Jesus Christ as the one who holds the future, this is an opportunity to care for one another through a time of uncertainty as the news changes rapidly.

Dordt University’s COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Response Task Force has been monitoring the situation on a daily basis. As of Thursday, March 12, there are 14 reported cases in Iowa; there are no confirmed cases on the Dordt campus and surrounding community. Dordt is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of State, World Health Organization, and state and local public health agencies. We join in the extraordinary efforts of national and global communities to limit the spread of this virus.

The Dordt leadership team has made the following determinations:

Dordt will extend spring break by one week. Although courses were originally scheduled to resume on Tuesday, March 17, they will now begin on Monday, March 23. As of March 23, courses will be held online until Monday, April 13, when we currently anticipate that in-person classes will resume. A decision regarding this possibility will be made and communicated on or before April 3. During this time, offices will remain open and campus operations will continue in support of our students.

To do our part in helping to reduce the impact of this virus, we will offer limited on-campus housing and dining options. For those who are able, we would ask that you live at home or off-campus through Sunday, April 12. We will work with international students, students with regional for-credit internships or field placements, and those with extraordinary circumstances to remain in on-campus housing. These students must request permission to live on-campus using this form, by Friday, March 13, at 2 p.m. CST, if possible.

Students not remaining on campus will have an opportunity in the week ahead to collect personal items necessary for online learning, such as laptops. We are asking that students make every attempt to complete this process by Tuesday, March 17. Class resources, including online texts, will be provided as part of online instruction.

Through these efforts, we seek to prioritize the safety and health of our students, employees, and the broader community.

Dordt is committed to providing a robust learning experience in an online format. More than 70% of Dordt faculty have already taken Dordt’s introductory seminar for online teaching or already have extensive experience teaching online, preparing us for this endeavor. Additionally, we are continuing to equip and support faculty for successfully adapting instruction to an online format.

Dordt is working with international education partners to assist our students who are currently studying abroad. These students have been communicated with individually.

Please continue to monitor Covid-19 Updates, as we will be posting up-to-date information regularly there.

Regardless of circumstances, our confidence lies in a sovereign Lord whose plans transcend human understanding and give us hope for the future. We have come to these decisions with a great deal of research and prayer. We ask you join us as we pray for all those affected by COVID-19 throughout the world.

Sincerely,

Dr. Erik Hoekstra

President

Dordt University