Students: UW Tacoma operations for winter quarter

This message was sent via e-mail to all students at UW Tacoma. Similar messages were sent to faculty, and to staff.

Although you may already have heard about UW’s plans to return to largely in-person classes on Jan. 31, we want to assure you that we on the Tacoma campus are aware that conditions in Pierce County are different than in the counties of our sister campuses, and this message describes how we will be approaching the remainder of winter quarter.

• On Monday, Jan. 31, we will return to largely in-person classes and learning experiences. You should expect your classes to be in the original format listed in the time schedule unless your instructors inform you otherwise.

• Accommodations may be requested by students with health-related condition or needs that put them at heightened risk. We’re also asking instructors to be flexible when it comes to student absences due to illness or other coronavirus-related disruptions. Note that while instructors will work to find ways for you to make-up missed coursework, they are not required to provide a synchronous remote option for classes that are being taught in person.

• Winter quarter has been designated an “extraordinary circumstances” quarter. This means specifically that students can change your course grades between numeric grades and Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory (S/NS) until your degree is posted. During an extraordinary circumstances quarter, S grades will count toward degree and graduation requirements.

• Autumn quarter worked because of your efforts! We ask you to continue the same diligent care: stay home when sick, get a booster shot, avoid unmasked gatherings, wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask. Testing options in our region continue to expand and now include rapid tests that are mailed to you.

• Psychological & Wellness Services provides confidential mental health counseling and related services for currently enrolled UW Tacoma students at no additional cost. PAWS also provides consultation to faculty, staff and university student families. MySSP is available outside PAWS hours.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 10-11 a.m., we will be hosting a Community Conversation where you can learn more about how the remainder of winter quarter will work, and you can ask questions you may have about our plans. It will also be an opportunity to hear your suggestions for how best we work together to uphold our values of access, equity, excellence and belonging as we successfully transition back to a largely in-person environment. You can submit your questions in advance or during the event to uwttownhall@uw.edu.

We want you to know how much we appreciate the grace you have shown throughout these last two years. Our core values include providing, safely, an excellent in-person educational experience for you, our students. The emergence of Omicron has been stressful and for many traumatic, but case counts in some parts of our region are already declining, and are predicted to begin declining in Pierce County within the next week.

With your continued dedication and patience on- and off-campus, we will get through this! Thank you. You make us proud to be Huskies!