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Message from President Sands and Provost Clarke: Response to Open Letter Regarding Remote Learning and Working

August 24, 2021

This letter is written in response to the open letter from the Virginia Tech disability community that was received by President Tim Sands and Provost Cyril Clarke on Friday evening (August 20), shortly before the start of the fall semester on Monday (August 23).

Since the pandemic began, Virginia Tech has strived to address the risk of serious disease while meeting our commitment to preserving the quality of our core tripartite mission of teaching and learning, research, and engagement. Achieving this balance has been challenging institutionally and individually, but we have been largely successful so far.

Going entirely remote in March of 2020 was necessary because of incomplete scientific understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes. During the past academic year, we learned how to mitigate the spread of the virus with face coverings, distancing, ventilation, and testing. While these actions were appropriate at the time, we found that remote work and instruction in many cases negatively impacted the quality of the educational experience of our students and instructors, and hindered our ability to deliver on the research and engagement elements of our mission. Now with effective vaccines and a better understanding of COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the delta variant, we are in a position to restore the in-person learning and mentoring that is the hallmark of the Virginia Tech experience, and thereby lessen the potential for cumulative impacts of the pandemic beyond those experienced during the last 18 months.

This important goal cannot be achieved unless we also continue our commitment to implementation of sensible measures considered most effective in reducing the spread of COVID and, as appropriate, updating these in response to new information about the disease and the health status of our community. As you know, these measures include mandatory vaccination for both students and employees, frequent testing of all individuals exempted from vaccination, required wearing of face coverings in instructional settings and public spaces, and optimized ventilation of indoor spaces. With the support of the Virginia Tech community, we are starting the fall semester with a very high proportion of our members vaccinated and eager to reengage a university mission that in so many ways achieves incomparable benefits for students, their families, and the welfare of the Commonwealth and nation.

The open letter specifically addresses issues relating to students and employees with disabilities, including those who are immunocompromised. We care deeply about these vulnerable members of our community and have a streamlined process to address concerns over their health, one that has been in place through the past summer. Individuals with disabilities may seek accommodations to address barriers to their success by contacting the Office of Equity and Accessibility in the case of employees and Services for Students with Disabilities for students. The experienced professionals in these offices evaluate whether a request for accommodation is justified and identify the type of accommodation needed to address the disability. They then work with the disabled employee or student and the academic leadership of the university to explore whether an accommodation can be provided without placing an undue burden on the ability of Virginia Tech to accomplish its mission. While there may be limited instances when conversion of a course from in-person to online instruction is necessary and appropriate, our first duty is to explore fully other accommodations that are reasonable and less likely to negatively impact the educational mission of the university. This assessment of academic impact is being led by the executive vice provost, registrar, and respective colleges deans, working with university offices charged with providing disability services.

Please note that in the event that financial resources are restricting access to medical care, students may appeal to the Dean of Students. We have resources available through the Student Emergency Fund that we have deployed throughout the pandemic.

The fall semester is underway. Although we cannot predict the future, we are confident that we can continue to balance quality of the delivery on our tripartite mission with the need to protect the health safety of those who are most vulnerable.

Sincerely,

President Tim Sands
Provost Cyril Clarke