April 2, 2020

Message to Students

The past month has changed your educational experience in ways that seemed unimaginable a short time ago. I know the changes, postponements, and cancellations have had a significant impact on you. We understand the anxiety that can set in with disruption of this magnitude.

One of the things I hope will decrease your anxiety is knowing as much about what comes next as possible. We don’t have all the answers, but the more information I can provide you, the better prepared we will be when we return to normalcy.

Pending an executive order related to sheltering-in-place from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, UWG will follow the guidance of the University System of Georgia and move all instruction online for the full summer semester, including Maymester, this academic year with the plan to return to normal operations in fall semester if conditions allow. 

Fortunately for UWG and our students, we are a leader in online education. The robust offerings we already have in place as a university – and the systems and support to deliver them – create tremendous opportunities for you to continue your degree programs amidst an extraordinary set of circumstances. We are working closely with our deans and faculty members across the institution to create additional online options for the summer semester to ensure we have the most extensive selection of opportunities we can possibly offer that students will need.

I know this is a challenging time to be a student. We know a great deal is being asked of you as a student to adjust to a new mode of learning in a short amount of time. Please know we are here to help.

For those of you who are less comfortable with online instruction, we have resources in place to make sure you’re supported. All of these resources can be found through UWG Online. If you are having any trouble at all adjusting to online learning, please visit their webpage or contact them by calling 678-839-6248 or emailing online@westga.edu.

Thank you for staying #UWGStrong. Take care of yourself and those around you. We’ll get through this together. Be well.

Sincerely,

Brendan B. Kelly, Ph.D.

Dr. Kelly's Signature
President
University of West Georgia



Message to Faculty and Staff

I would like to thank you for how you have risen to the challenge over the past few weeks to ensure the university’s operations have continued and that students are in the best possible position to succeed. Your work does not go unnoticed and is a testament to the commitment you bring to the University of West Georgia.

Our efforts will need to continue for the foreseeable future as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the country. Pending an executive order related to sheltering-in-place from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, UWG will follow the guidance of the University System of Georgia and move all instruction online for the full summer semester, including Maymester, this academic year. Faculty members who are unsure about the implications of this change on their work should watch for a message from Interim Provost Dr. David Jenks to be sent later today.

What does this mean for you?

With few exceptions, our university workforce is conducting business remotely. The situation we are facing requires that all of us remain in our current status until at least the end of April – and likely beyond. We will continue to reassess the need for this mode of work as more information becomes available. If you have any particular questions about your unique circumstance, the vice president in your division will provide direction as needed. Additionally, always feel free to communicate with your supervisor for guidance and support.

I am profoundly grateful for all of the resilience and teamwork our university community has demonstrated during these past few weeks under extraordinary conditions and time constraints. As we move forward, I appreciate your understanding, patience, and flexibility as we work to make the best decisions for the University of West Georgia community that align with the global response to this health crisis.

Finally, please take care of yourself and your loved ones. Our work is important, and ensuring the success of the students to whom we are in service is critical. However, I want to encourage that we all take the time for moments of self-care and to support and care for those around us.

Sincerely,

Brendan B. Kelly, Ph.D.

Dr. Kelly's Signature
President
University of West Georgia