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UofM Alert Notification

— January 23, 2024 —

Students,

All University of Memphis Shelby County locations will resume normal operations on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and in-person instruction will resume on Monday, Jan. 29. Course instruction will remain online/remote through Friday, Jan. 26.

Critical Service Updates & Reminders

  • Housing & Residence Life | Students with a current housing contract should receive an email from Housing and Residence Life. Please follow the directions provided in that email regarding returning to campus.
  • Dining Services | Dining services on Central campus include the UC Market, TOM's Restaurant, Chick-fil-A and Tiger Den. We will add additional locations over the weekend. Please refer to memphis.edu/dining for the latest information on hours of operation and updates.
  • R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center | Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Wellness Center will be open 5:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Normal hours of operation will resume on Monday, Jan. 29.
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Employees | Student employees should resume normal work expectations on Wednesday, Jan. 24. If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that prevent you from reporting to campus, your supervisor will be your first point of contact to discuss and modify assignments as needed.

Thank you for your flexibility as we transition to normal operations and prepare to welcome you back next week.

— January 22, 2024 —

Faculty, Staff and Students,

The Lambuth Campus in Jackson and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law will return to normal operations and in-person class instruction on Jan. 23. All University of Memphis Shelby County locations will remain in a modified operational status through at least Friday, Jan. 26.

Lambuth
Faculty, staff and students will resume normal in-person operations without limitations. The Blue Gray Cafe & Grill will be open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.– 6 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. 

Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Faculty, staff and students will resume normal in-person operations, but are encouraged to bring bottled beverages due to the on-going boil water alert in the Mid-South.

University of Memphis Shelby County Locations
In-person course instruction will remain online/remote until further notice, at least through Friday, Jan. 26.

Critical Service Updates

  • R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center | Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Wellness Center will be open 5:30 a.m.–7 p.m. All visitors will need to bring bottled water due to the on-going boil water alert in the Mid-South.
  • McWherter Library | Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, McWherter Library will be open to students by appointment from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. to check out their semester loan equipment. All other parts of the facility will remain closed to non-staff. Students are required to bring the email appointment confirmation with them for entrance into the library at their scheduled appointment time.
    • Music and Health Sciences branch libraries remain closed. Updates will be posted as conditions change.
  • Loaner Laptops | Laptops with webcams are available to check out for one semester. Students can apply for laptops through this link.
  • Dining Services | We are expanding dining services on the Central campus to include the UC Market, TOM's Restaurant and Tiger Den. Please refer to memphis.edu/dining for the latest information on hours of operation and updates.
  • Financial Aid | Financial Aid disbursement, FAFSA and student packaging has continued through automatic processing throughout the inclement weather closure. The Financial Aid team has been and will continue working remotely to complete time sensitive tasks and reviews. Submit a Tiger Help ticket for support. 
  • Registrar's Office | Students can register for classes online through Friday, Jan. 26. Student support is available via email and Tiger Help tickets if needed. Schedule adjustments received after Feb. 2 will be subject to review and approvals. Student immunization or TB test requirements will also be extended through Jan. 26. 
  • USBS Office and Payment Processing | The final fee payment deadline for Spring 2024 classes has been extended to Wednesday, Jan. 31. Student account balance must be paid in full, or students must be enrolled in a Spring 2024 Installment Payment Plan (IPP). Students who have not paid in full or enrolled in an IPP will have their classes dropped at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. Please visit the USBS website for additional details regarding dates and deadlines.
  • The University Bookstore | The on-campus bookstore is working diligently to provide digital access for required course materials as soon as possible and will work with faculty regarding access to materials that are not available digitally. This process will require faculty flexibility around the use of course materials. University Bookstore hours are available at the University Bookstore website.
  • I-9 Form Submission | On a temporary basis, Human Resources will be conducting all Form I-9 Section 2 verifications virtually via live remote video appointments with a Human Resources representative. Please visit the Human Resources website for additional information.

Please take note of the following safety precautions:

  • While roadways are mostly clear, some ice may remain on bridges, overpasses and curb lanes. Allow yourself extra travel time and stopping distance to avoid accidents.
  • While our facilities colleagues will be working to address ice formation across campus, slips and falls are a concern as ice will often not melt in shaded areas or close to buildings. Take shorter steps, walk slower and watch out for ice coating walkways and steps, which often cannot be readily seen. Consider wearing non-slip shoes with soles for traction such as hiking boots.

Please stay safe.

— January 20, 2024, at 8:00 PM —

Dear University of Memphis Community,

As we collectively navigate the challenges presented by the current extreme weather conditions, we want to keep you informed with crucial updates on various aspects of campus operations as we are moving to a modified operational status through at least Friday, Jan. 26:

Employee Expectations
Considering the modified operational status, all employees are expected to resume work beginning Monday, Jan. 22, remotely where applicable. Employees whose functions cannot be performed remotely or encounter difficulties working remotely should consult their supervisor. Those employees may be required to report on-site or appropriate accommodations may be considered. On-site employees should take appropriate precautions and exercise judgment when traveling to and navigating the campus. We appreciate your flexibility and dedication. 

Lambuth Campus & Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Operations
The Lambuth Campus in Jackson and the UofM Law School will provide classes virtually Monday, Jan. 22. Students should monitor their emails for additional details from their Dean regarding plans for the remainder of the week. Prioritizing the safety and well-being of our staff, we acknowledge that weather-related issues may impact commuting and reporting to work. If you find yourself unable to report to work, please communicate with your supervisor and adhere to the established procedures for remote work or time-off requests.

University Schools Operations
University Schools faculty, staff and students will operate under different protocols. Please refer to a follow-up email from University Schools for additional guidance.

Residence Life Accommodations
As we continue with virtual course delivery until at least Jan. 26, we are committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of our residents. We are encouraging all residents who can return home to do so during this period. Recognizing that returning home may not be feasible for everyone, we are here to support those who require temporary housing accommodations. If you are unable to return home, please contact the Housing & Residence Life Office at housing@memphis.edu to request the necessary assistance and discuss available options. Residents will also receive a follow-up email from Housing & Residence Life. 

Dining Services
To cater to the needs of our community, dining services remain accessible at the Tiger Den in Jones Hall. We are actively working to ensure that dining options remain available with appropriate adjustments. Please refer to memphis.edu/dining for the latest information on hours of operation and updates.

University Events
All in-person university events are cancelled Jan. 21–27. Information regarding events being postponed, rescheduled or delivered virtually will be communicated separately. 

The Maxine A. Smith University Center will remain closed on Sunday, Jan. 21, but will reopen Monday, Jan. 22. Temporary hours of operation will be 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday. Regular hours will resume next Sunday, Jan. 28. Please visit the UC website for additional information.


Virtual Course Delivery  
As previously communicated, in-person course delivery will be online/remote until further notice, at least through Friday, Jan. 26, with the possibility for a few limited exceptions. Faculty will deliver courses that were scheduled to be delivered in person through synchronous online delivery when feasible. Online courses will proceed as originally scheduled. Faculty will make reasonable accommodations for any disruption of technology or access to course materials that may be required by students during this period. Reasonable accommodations should include asynchronous online access. Faculty will communicate directly with students regarding any specific instructions or adjustments to coursework. Any exceptions for in-person delivery of courses must be approved by the responsible College/School Dean or equivalent academic unit administrator with concurrence by the Provost during this period of modified campus operations. Future updates about virtual course delivery will be provided by the Office of the Provost.

Critical Services
Enrollment areas are monitoring student emails providing support through Tiger Help tickets. 

  • Financial Aid | Financial Aid disbursement, FAFSA and student packaging has continued through automatic processing throughout the inclement weather closure. The Financial Aid team has been and will continue working remotely to complete time sensitive tasks and reviews. Submit a Tiger Help ticket for support. 
  • Registrar's Office | While students can register for classes online through Friday, Jan. 26, student support is available via email and Tiger Help tickets if needed. Schedule adjustments received after Feb. 2 will be subject to review and approvals. Student immunization or TB test requirements will also be extended through Jan. 26. 
  • USBS Office and Payment Processing | The final fee payment deadline for Spring 2024 classes has been extended to Wednesday, Jan. 31. Student account balance must be paid in full, or students must be enrolled in a Spring 2024 Installment Payment Plan (IPP). Students who have not paid in full or enrolled in an IPP will be dropped at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 31. Please visit the USBS website for additional details regarding dates and deadlines.
  • The University Bookstore | The on-campus bookstore is working diligently to provide digital access for required course materials as soon as possible and will work with faculty regarding access to materials that are not available digitally. This process will require faculty flexibility around the use of course materials. University Bookstore hours are available at the University Bookstore website. 
  • I-9 Form Submission | On a temporary basis, Human Resources will be conducting all Form I-9 Section 2 verifications virtually via live remote video appointments with a Human Resources representative. Please visit the Human Resources website for additional information. 

We extend our appreciation for your understanding and cooperation during these unprecedented circumstances. Our administrative teams are working diligently to address challenges and provide support where needed. Kindly, continue to monitor your UofM email and official University channels for further updates.

Thank you for your resilience and unwavering commitment to our University community.

— January 20, 2024, at 3:00 PM —

University of Memphis Community,

Due to the recent extreme freezing temperatures and multiple water line breaks experienced by MLGW, there has been a significant loss of pressure in the water system affecting Memphis and Shelby County. As a precautionary measure, MLGW is advising all water customers, including our campus, to boil water before consumption until further notice. 

The city-wide water pressure issues also present plumbing limitations on campus. Residents may experience limited use of sinks, toilets, showers and bathtubs. Additionally, the ongoing water pressure issues pose a threat to the potential loss of our ability to provide heating to our campus facilities during this period. While these are not University-caused issues, we are working diligently to resolve these challenges. Our primary goal is to provide a safe/sanitary campus environment.

The University of Memphis Administration is actively collaborating with the city and MLGW to assess the situation and determine a timeline for repairs. However, the ongoing freezing temperatures make it challenging to provide an exact timeline for full repairs.

Our dedication to maintaining academic continuity is a top priority. In response to the current situation, in-person course delivery will be online/remote until further notice, at least through Jan. 26, with the possibility for a few limited exceptions. Faculty will deliver courses scheduled to be delivered in person through synchronous online delivery when feasible. Online courses will proceed as originally scheduled. Faculty will make reasonable accommodations for any disruption of technology or access to course materials that may be required by students during this period. Reasonable accommodations should include asynchronous online access. Faculty will communicate directly with students regarding any specific instructions or adjustments to coursework. Any exceptions for in-person delivery of courses must be approved by the responsible College/School Dean or equivalent academic unit administrator with concurrence by the Provost during this period of modified campus operations. Future updates about virtual course delivery will be provided by the Office of the Provost.

In the meantime, we understand the impact this situation has on our residents, and we are taking immediate steps to address their needs:

  • Bottled water is available at the front desk of each residence hall for residents' use.
  • Temporary restroom facilities are available outside of Shirley C. Raines Centennial Place, Nellie Angel Smith Hall and Carpenter Complex. 
  • Residents are urged to stay informed by regularly checking their UofM email for updates on the current conditions as the situation is evolving rapidly.

Furthermore, we want to assure the community that we are committed to providing timely updates on the operational status of the University. The University community is encouraged to regularly check their UofM email for the latest updates. Specific details regarding course delivery, employees reporting to campus and University Schools operations will be communicated in follow-up emails.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation during these challenging circumstances. Additional updates will be shared as soon as more information becomes available.