The spread of COVID-19, known commonly as the coronavirus, has prompted the University of Guam to discuss plans on maintaining operations in the event the Government of Guam declares an emergency quarantine for the island.
According to Jonas Macapinlac, chief marketing and communications officer of UOG, “The University of Guam has an existing policy and procedure to respond to health-related emergencies. Many of the scenarios require a lot of logistical planning such as how classes will be held or if at all during an outbreak.”
The Student Health Office has been working with the Guam Department of Health and Social Services to better prepare for a potential island-wide outbreak.
UOG and the Student Health Office is concerned about ensuring students, staff and faculty are making healthy decisions to reduce the spread of disease and infection.
Valerie Gamboa, the Student Health Office’s administrative assistant, and Georgette Apuron, student nurse, stress that students should exercise “common sense” when they are sick. This includes staying home and utilizing personal protective equipment, like face masks, when needed.
Gamboa and Apuron want students to be vigilant and informed regarding the spread of disease locally. Students should gather their information from the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Health and Social Services.
According to James Sellmann, Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences,
“Faculty and students need to be ready to go to an online hybrid class mode, hold classes online using Moodle, meet in online chat groups; post messages and present and discuss course material in a synchronous or asynchronous manner. UOG already offers online courses and hybrid courses, so most students and faculty members know how to hold online courses.”
Additionally, Sellmann believes that the university is well equipped to make this transition if needed. They also want to help their community as some people are starting to struggle with their jobs, even rent assistance can be a big help for them during these hard times.
“UOG and our professors have the skills and technology to offer courses online,” Sellmann said.
For more information on UOG’s health policies surrounding disease or are looking to obtain facemasks or other medical items, students can visit the Student Health Office at the Student Center Building or contact them at (671) 735-2225/6.