Dear Spalding Community,

As you may be aware, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is expected at some point in the near future to announce a decision on whether or not charges will be brought against the Louisville Metro Police Department officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor.

The Attorney General has given no timeline for an announcement, but LMPD, as well as downtown businesses and federal buildings, have begun preparing for possible large-scale protests. LMPD announced overnight that it would be restricting vehicle traffic and limiting surface parking from Market to Broadway and Second Street to Roy Wilkins, and it has assembled vehicle barriers around Jefferson Square Park. The LMPD restrictions are taking place north of our campus, so Spalding’s campus will remain open and operating on a normal schedule until the day of the Attorney General’s decision, whenever it may come. Please use caution and allow extra time if you are traveling downtown.

We do not know what Attorney General Cameron will announce, but it is safe to assume that countless people in Louisville and around the nation will be watching and will have strong emotional reactions, no matter the outcome. Whenever the announcement comes, there could be large demonstrations downtown that affect traffic, and it’s possible that protests could approach or even pass through the streets of our campus.

Tentative plan for Spalding
At Spalding, we have prepared a series of tentative, precautionary measures for the day the announcement comes down. These plans are subject to change. So that you can be prepared and informed, our tentative plan includes the following:

All face-to-face classes will move online for the remainder of the day after the Attorney General’s announcement is made. No matter the outcome, we feel the potential disruption to roadways downtown could make a trip to campus too difficult to manage.
Faculty, please prepare for the possibility that your face-to-face classes may temporarily switch to an online format. Please determine the best method for accomplishing this, and plan to communicate any changes to your students.
Faculty and staff who work on campus and are not essential to the security and care of our residential students, please speak with your supervisor about a plan to finish your work day at home on the day of the Attorney General’s announcement.
Be aware that exterior doors to campus buildings may be locked and accessible only with a key or, where applicable, an Eagle Card ID.
Campus Safety officers will be stationed in both residence halls and several other key areas around campus. Campus Safety is always available at 502-873-4444 to assist you as you walk to your car or move about campus.
Group and individual support from faculty and staff will be available in person and online for those who wish to process with others after the announcement. At any point, students may contact Counseling and Psychological Services at caps@spalding.edu or the Center for Peace and Spiritual Renewal at cirvin@spalding.edu .
Decisions about classes and campus operations in the days following the Attorney General’s announcement will be made on those days.

We will communicate to the campus via the Omnilert E2Campus alert system and through Spalding email. If you haven’t done so, please register to receive the campus alerts at this link: https://spalding.omnilert.net/subscriber.php

Students, please communicate your questions and concerns to your instructor, program director, academic chair or academic dean, or the Dean of Students. Employees, please do the same with your supervisor.

We will continue to share updates and information, so continue to check your Spalding email.

This is undoubtedly a tense, uncertain moment for our city. It is also a historic, pivotal moment, rooted in the fight for social justice. We have been inspired by those protesters who have marched peacefully and lawfully for months against racial injustice, and we will continue to support calls for justice.

All the best,

Tori Murden McClure
Spalding University President

Dear Spalding Community,

We wanted to make you aware that a demonstration organized by the New York-based, social justice organization Until Freedom is scheduled to take place 2 p.m. this afternoon, Aug. 25.

Until Freedom is organizing this non-violent march from South Central Park to the Louisville Metro Police Department Training Center. That march would figure to occur well south of our campus, but it is uncertain what activities could occur later in the day or evening.

Today’s march is the culmination of four days of peaceful, community-building events hosted by the organization. We are not aware of any danger to our campus, and Spalding University will remain open today, operating on regular schedule.

Here is a link to learn more about the work Until Freedom has been leading over the past several days.

We will monitor the situation and pass along information that affects campus via Spalding email and the E2Campus alert system. You can sign up for the alerts through our Spalding University Alerts Subscriber Portal.

Please keep abreast of the local news and continue to check your email as we will share any important information regarding conditions on campus.

Sincerely,

Ron Allgood
Director of Campus Safety

Dear Spalding Community,

As we begin our safe return to campus, we want you to stay informed about important updates regarding the University. This is our annual reminder to all students, faculty and staff to sign up for Spalding’s Omnilert E2Campus alert system. It is the fastest way to be informed of a class delay or campus closing related to weather or other circumstances, and it is the system used to communicate any emergency situation that could potentially impact you as a student, faculty or staff member.

We encourage everyone to sign up if you have not already done so. If you have signed up previously please be sure that you are still in the system and that your contact information and preferred mode of notification is up to date.

https://spalding.omnilert.net/subscriber.php

Please note that the system typically inactivates users after four years. We will be testing the system once next week, so expect to receive a text, call or email. If you signed up some time ago and do not receive a text or call during this test then you may need to reactivate your information in the system. Similarly, if you have changed your email address, phone number or cell provider and do not receive a text/call then you may need to update your information via the link above.

If you currently receive texts only and wish to receive calls as well or add e-mails or make any changes to how you receive messages them please update those preferences in the system as well.

Thanks for your help in promoting a safe and secure campus.

Sincerely,

Chris Hart, Dean of Operations and Chief of Staff
Janelle Rae, Dean of Students

March 31, 2020

This timely warning to all members of the Spalding University community is to comply with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act).

Members of the Spalding University Community,

The outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to be a growing concern locally, nationally and globally. The well-being of the community is our University’s first priority.

With that concern guiding every decision we make, we are writing to inform you of recent events relative to COVID-19.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve sought to continually provide you with updates in the form of emails, social media posts, and briefings about Spalding’s response to – and preparedness for – COVID-19.

The latest information and resources about the virus, including an archived link to this notice, can be found on the Spalding University website:

This one-time communication is part of a federally required safety notification related to COVID-19.

Earlier this afternoon, we received a report that one staff member has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This individual has been hospitalized since Saturday, March 28 and continues to receive inpatient treatment. Faculty, staff and students who may have had contact with this individual on or shortly before March 28, 2020 are being contacted separately.

As of Monday evening, March 30, at least 163 confirmed positive cases have been reported in Jefferson County, out of a total of 480 cases statewide. The increase in positive cases shows the importance of the steps we have taken in accordance with state and federal governmental and public health directives and recommendations including: self-quarantine guidelines, remote learning and telecommuting, cancellation of events and other social distancing strategies.

The most important health measure we can take as a community to stop the spread of COVID-19 is social distancing.

Here is additional information about social distancing and why it is important:

Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness, according to Johns Hopkins University. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person – between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet); or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It’s important to stay informed through visiting the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which provides pages of resources. The Kentucky Department for Public Health has created an informational webpage for COVID-19 at kycovid19.ky.gov and a COVID-19 hotline at (800) 722-5725.
What are the differences of social distancing, self-quarantine and self-isolation? It’s recommended that everyone who is well practice social distancing at this time and keep a safe distance from others. … Self-quarantine is appropriate for people who have been exposed to the virus and who are at risk for coming down with COVID-19. Health experts recommend that a self-quarantine lasts 14 days, which provides enough time to know whether or not a person will become ill and contagious to other people. … Self-isolation is for keeping people who have tested positive for COVID-19 away from those who are not infected. Self-isolation can take place at home or at a hospital or care facility.

We appreciate your continued support as we work together to navigate a fluid, unprecedented period for our country brought on by the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Sincerely,

Christopher B. Hart

Chief of Staff/Dean of Operations
Office of the President
Spalding University