The BYU campus has changed drastically due to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the country and the world. Find out how the campus is functioning, what’s open, what’s closed and what’s new.
Today’s campus updates:
Gatherings
University Communications sent out an email this morning that said: “BYU currently prohibits gatherings of any size in conjunction with the state of Utah’s Stay Safe, Stay Home directive.”
The email continues, “Maintaining physical distance is so important right now. If there is not a necessary need to be together, don’t associate with people outside of your residence. Stay home, stay safe.”
Grading
In an email to students, Academic Vice President Shane Reese addresses decisions to fairly evaluate final grades.
“At the end of this semester only, faculty will submit a letter grade for each course as per the standard grade submission protocol. After the grades are submitted by faculty, students can choose to keep the standard grade given or move to a pass/fail for each specific course.
Pass and Fail grades will not affect GPA. A ‘Pass’ will count as a passing grade and a completed academic credit. For this semester only, a ‘Fail’ will not adversely affect GPA and no credit will be given for that course,” according to the email.
For more information and frequently asked questions visit Grading Adjustments for Winter 2020.
Other updates regarding COVID-19:
Kevin J Worthen video
President Kevin J. Worthen posted a video and invited students to do three things to build the campus community in these challenging times:
- Reach out to faculty members
- Reach out to classmates online, call a friend, send an encouraging text and pray for each other.
- Focus on joy
To watch the full video, click here.
UTA
Beginning April 5 UTA will be temporarily reducing service.
UVX- Busses will run every 15 minutes instead of every six minutes.
FrontRunner- Trains will run every 60 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.
For more information go to the UTA website.
Information that is still in place:
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe has temporarily made Creative Cloud available for all students. Any BYU student can access adobe.byu.edu and use their BYU Net ID to set up an account.
Bowling and Games Center
The Bowling and Games Center is closed until further notice.
Buildings
According to BYU’s website the Harris Fine Arts Center, the Tanner Building and the Engineering Building are adjusting their hours to better secure the campus. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Most remaining academic buildings not specifically listed here will be open from 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The website also states that all buildings will be closed on Sundays except to ecclesiastical leaders who will be provided with updated building assignments and other information from their ecclesiastical leadership lines.
BYU Sports
All BYU athletic events have been canceled.
All single game tickets will be automatically refunded.
Mens volleyball season ticket holders will be contacted by email regarding a refund for the final home match of the season.
Gymnastics season ticket holders will be refunded for the final match of the season.
Baseball season ticket holders will be refunded for the whole season.
For questions or concerns contact .
BYU Store
The BYU Store is open, but operating on new hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with distribution services only being open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It will be closed on Saturdays until further notice.
University Pack n’ Ship is open Monday-Friday from 12 p.m to 5 p.m.
Wells Fargo is closed until further notice.
Campus Employees
A Y News email sent out March 25 gives the following directions for working on campus:
“Employees whose work requires them to be on campus should stay home if they have symptoms of illness. Before going to work each day, employees should specifically self-assess for signs of fever, cough or difficulty breathing and report their status to their supervisor.
Managers and supervisors should also direct employees to return home if they are observed with any of these symptoms while at work. Supervisors may contact BYU’s Compensation Department for guidance regarding employees who do not have sick leave as an option.
Where possible, supervising units have the discretion to allow student, part-time and full-time employees to work from home.”
The Cannon Commons
“The Cannon Commons will be open for students with meal plans and will provide boxed meals for pick up.” according to an email from University Communications sent out to students.
Commencements and Convocations
The university has canceled all gatherings for this year’s commencements and convocations, but individual colleges can stream their convocation.
Cougareat
The following are closed for the rest of the semester:
- Milk and Cookies
- Cougar Cafe
- Wendy’s
- Taco Bell
- Choices
- Papa Johns
- Subway
Still open, Monday-Friday:
- Cougar Express 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
- Chick-Fil-A 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Aloha Plate 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Cougareat will be closed on Saturday until further notice.
Open restaurants in the Cougareat are only available through “walk-thru” service. People can order through a speaker and then wait in the designated area to pick up their food.
According to the Cougareat website, all restaurants except Taco Bell and Cougar Express will be closed during the spring and summer semesters. The Taco Bell and Cougar Express hours are to be “coming soon.”
COVID-19 cases
BYU announced it’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 23. As of March 30, there are three confirmed cases.
The university has added a self-reporting tool to the COVID-19 page on its website, and is asking members of the campus community to self-report if they have tested positive or are waiting for test results. They can self-report here.
Beyond that, BYU is not confirming or dispelling reports of COVID-19 exposure in the campus community, only reporting a number of cases.
The David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
An email was sent out to Kennedy Center students saying, “Until further notice, the Kennedy Advisement Center and student lounge in 273 HRCB will be closed.”
The email said that they will still be advising students through phone calls and the video software Zoom.
The Kennedy Center will not be streaming their convocation.
Devotionals and Forums
The April 7 Devotional with Estela Marquez will proceed as a broadcast through BYUtv. The March 24 Forum with Dambisa Moyo was postponed. The March 31 Performance Devotional and the April 14 Unforum have both been canceled.
Dining Establishments
BYU Food-To-Go offers grocery pickup.
The Cannon Center, Legends Grille and all Creamery locations will remain open, according to an email sent by BYU. However, all other dining locations will be closed for the semester.
The Jamba Juice in the Wilkinson Center is open on Monday-Fridays from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 4 p.m., but the Jamba Juice at the Student Athlete Building is closed.
Enterprise CarShare
Enterprise CarShare is unavailable until further notice.
College of Family, Home and Social Sciences
Departments and faculty are making determinations on a case-by-case basis regarding practical and lab-based requirements including things like licensing and accreditation.
There has been no final decision regarding convocation, although a delayed convocation is being considered.
Final Examinations
“In preparing finals for W2020 faculty may choose to employ standard examination modes, adapted to remote delivery. They might also approach final exams in novel ways and are authorized to do so,” according to BYU’s website.
International Cinema
According to the International Cinema’s website “all in-person screenings have been cancelled for Winter 2020 in response to the COVID-19 virus.”
An email sent to students said “We are currently working with film distributors to acquire permission to stream films through hummedia, the BYU Humanities Department’s content streaming platform.”
The Ira B. Fulton College of Engineering
The Engineering Building is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the Clyde Building is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. According to the college’s communications manager Jordyn Watts, Dean Michael Jensen is strongly encouraging all classes, including those with lab work and research done primarily on campus, to move online.
The Library
The Harold B. Lee Library is open during its regular hours of operation, but services are limited. All service points are and patrons will be referred to virtual platforms such as email and chat. The library hopes to eliminate as much face-to-face interaction as possible.
Equipment at the Media Center is currently unavailable for checkout, and the production rooms are also unavailable.
The Family History Center and family study room are closed.
The library is also offering special resources for faculty as they adjust to teaching remotely. According to the library’s website, group study rooms will no longer be available to students; instead, professors can use them for online class instruction.
Lost and Found
BYU’s Lost and Found will be open 9 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. in the Wilkinson Student Center.
Museums
The Museum of Art, Monte L. Bean Museum and other similar venues used for gatherings will be closed until further notice according to BYU’s website.
Parking
Students can park in any Y or G lots without a paid parking pass, but A lots and specialty stalls will still be monitored as normal.
Recreation and Fitness Facilities
All recreation and fitness facilities on campus are closed. This includes the gyms, pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor track and racquetball courts.
For any other questions contact .
Research and Writing Center
The Research and Writing Center will continue to offer virtual help via Zoom or email appointments. Visit their website for details.
Sanvello
Everyone has free access to Sanvello premium during COVID-19. Sanvello is a mental health support app that is meant to help with stress and anxiety.
School of Communications
According to an email sent to students in the School of Communications, “The School of Communications main office will remain open for the rest of the semester. School leadership and office staff will be in the office and available, during regular office operating hours.”
The Brimhall is closed except for those with key-card access.
Shuttles
The free campus shuttles are still running on their regular schedules.
Spring Term
Kevin J Worthen announced in an email sent out March 24 that Spring term at BYU would be held remotely.
“In all other ways, spring term will proceed according to the previously established schedule,” according to the email.
For more information about how this affects on campus housing, student jobs and grading visit the announcement BYU’s website.
Student Health Center
The Student Health Center is still open to treat students. Its hours are Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Visit BYU’s Health Center website for more information.
If you have a respiratory illness or suspect you have COVID-19, please call 801-310-0438 before coming to the clinic.
Study Abroad and Performing Tours
All study abroad programs and performing tours that were scheduled for spring and summer terms have been canceled.
Testing Center
The Testing Center is closed until further notice.
The Wall
The Wall is closed until further notice.
Webfest
“Webfest for winter semester has been rescheduled with an online-only format,” according to BYU’s Web Community website. For the agenda and Zoom link visit the website.
Wilkinson Student Center
The Wilkinson Student will maintain its regular hours, but specific offices within the building may be closed.
Withdraw Deadline
The withdraw deadline was extended by one week. The new deadline was March 24.
Women’s Services & Resources
Women’s Services & Resources sent out an email on March 18 stating that their office in the Wilkinson Student Center is closed until further notice. The email also stated that WSR Director Dixie Sevison is available during normal business hours at or 801-422-4455 for anyone in need of immediate assistance.
