By Leah Wilkinson
Updated March 13 at 2:58 p.m.
On Friday, Bellarmine Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Helen Grace Ryan sent out an email updating students on the latest information regarding the school’s shift to alternative operations, which are currently slated through March 31.
Ryan’s email included the following information:
All student employees received a detailed email from April Tretter, director of financial aid. Ryan encouraged those with additional questions to reach out to their work study supervisors or call financial aid at 502-272-7300.
The library will be open at the limited schedule found here: https://libguides.bellarmine.edu/library.
Knights Pantry will be open to students during its normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students are asked to wash their hands before utilizing the pantry. Those who are ill and would like food prepared for them are encouraged to email Natasha Begin at nbegin@bellarmine.edu.
Students who live in the Louisville area and would like to utilize another food bank can visit the Dare to Care site.
Any financial implications attributed to these alternative operations will be reviewed and acted on once the university knows the full extent of the temporary suspension, and the university will communicate with students regarding all matters, including financial questions as the new few weeks unfold. Students who have any questions or concerns are asked to contact the Office of Student Accounts by either email or phone at studentaccounts@bellarmine.edu or 502-272-8264.
Residence hall visitation will end Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. All residents’ mail and packages will be held until the halls re-open. Students who need to arrive prior to March 31 are asked to call the Residence Life Office five days prior to their arrival to schedule their check-in time.
Easter break will remain unchanged.
The Bellarmine bookstore has rescheduled its graduation celebration for April 9 so students can pick up their caps and gowns and also purchase graduation announcements. This event is scheduled to be in Hilary’s from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you are unable to attend the celebration you must email bookstore@bellarmine.edu by April 3 to request your regalia. Graduating students should have received an email from Calene Baldwin about this earlier this week.
The Counseling Center will remain available for consultation and crisis management. Students can call the center’s main line at 502-272-8480 during normal business hours. Bellarmine students may also access the center’s online resources at any point, including TAO (therapist assisted online treatment), which has interactive treatment modules for anxiety, depression and other emotional and interpersonal situations. Students can click here for TAO.
Students are encouraged to consider the best ways to attend to their emotional needs during the COVID-19 outbreak by referencing this information from the CDC. Those who are in crisis or need immediate help can click here.
Additionally, Provost Dr. Paul Gore sent an email to faculty including the following information Friday morning:
The Student Success Center (SSC) will continue to provide academic support services and academic advising. Students are asked to email studentsuccess@bellarmine.edu or call 502-272-7400 for more information. The SSC website will be updated as more information becomes available.
Gore said SSC academic advising will continue via either phone or email. Students seeking services should sign up for an appointment and contact their advisors with additional questions. Those who have an assigned faculty advisor are encouraged to contact their faculty advisor, but students can seek additional academic advising support from the SSC at any time.
Tutoring and writing support will also be conducted online, and students can sign up for appointments via TutorTrac.
Ryan said: “Among the reasons why we shifted away from face-to-face delivery of courses was to encourage social distancing, to minimize situations in which members of our community could be exposed to COVID-19 and to slow the spread.”
Ryan said social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings and avoiding mass gatherings, as well as maintaining an ideal distance of six feet from others if possible.
Ryan said the university will be providing regular communication via email and social media updates to address common questions.
Bellarmine joined the rising number of universities around the nation moving to these new operations Wednesday in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re concerned about [students’] safety, and the safety of all our faculty and staff,” said President Dr. Susan Donovan. “That’s why we went to these measures.”