A Timeline of FNU’s Response to the Pandemic

As the scope and impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic came into focus, FNU leadership communicated frequently and openly with the entire FNU community and took quick steps to protect students, faculty, and staff. Here is a timeline of the key decisions and actions:

March 3

Dr. Susan Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community explaining the university’s monitoring of the situation. At this time, there were no travel restrictions in the United States, but Dr. Stone indicated that FNU was “developing alternative plans if restricted travel becomes necessary” and urged students to contact their Clinical Director if they had any concerns about traveling to clinical sites.

March 10

Dr. Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community announcing the decision to “convert the Frontier Bound/DPN Bound session scheduled for March 16-19 to an online workshop.” She also announced that “faculty members are busy designing an online Clinical Bound just in case we need it.”

March 13

Dr. Stone sent an email addressing FNU students, stating “Our goal at this time is to help you continue on your educational path successfully while understanding that some of you may need to pause to attend to the collateral issues associated with the pandemic.” She went on to add, “We will strive to be flexible to meet your needs if you encounter situations related to the pandemic that affect your academic progress.” She noted that many clinical sites were restricting access to students and stated, “We have asked all of your Regional Clinical Faculty to cease doing on-site visits so that they can be available to you for consultations with minimal delay.”

March 13

The University announced all employees with an approved telecommuting agreement may work from home daily.

March 16

Clinical Bound sessions held virtually for the first time.

March 17

Dr. Stone sent an email to the FNU faculty and staff announcing that all Clinical Bound sessions would be conducted online through at least May 9 and that Frontier Bound orientation sessions would be held virtually through May and June. She announced that Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center would be closed until at least May 9. Telecommuting for many FNU employees was extended through May 9. Dr. Stone expressed the need to maintain a close-knit community adhering to the Culture of Caring. “We would like to engage in a very interactive online work environment to support each other and to support our students. I am encouraging you all to be creative and create social situations online during the workday.”

March 18

Human Resources Director LaToshia Daniel sent an email to all FNU faculty and staff announcing FNU’s COVID-19 Workplace Policy.

March 24

Dr. Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community to announce that the spring term would begin as scheduled on April 6. She shared a video created by Dr. Jess Calohan, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Department Chair, that provided strategies for selfcare during the pandemic. She also directed the community to FNU’s Banyan Tree Portal for updated information and resources related to COVID-19.

March 25

Dr. Stone sent an email addressing FNU preceptors, sharing that FNU had “made the difficult decision to stop all clinical rotations until April 7, 2020.”

March 27

Dr. Stone sent an email addressing the FNU community with an update on clinical sites. “While all states are experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the impact is different state to state. For these multiple reasons we have decided to move forward to allow some students to return to clinical sites as we begin the Spring Term 2020 on April 6.” Dr. Stone’s message went on to state, “Any student may decide that it is best for them to take an Academic Hiatus during Spring Term. We understand there are many unforeseen challenges confronting our students and their families as we all deal with the many consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

April 6

In an email to the FNU community, Dr. Stone shared information about the Frontier Emergency Scholarship Fund (see the story on the inside front cover for more information about this fund). In the message, Dr. Stone stated, “If the COVID Pandemic has affected you financially, you can apply to the fund.”

April 28

In an email to the FNU community, Dr. Stone reported that Frontier Bounds, Clinical Bounds, and the Diversity Impact Conference would be held virtually during the summer term. The work-at-home plan was extended to May 31 and meetings were being conducted to plan for students to reenter clinical sites.

May 14

Dr. Stone sent an email to the FNU community announcing that commencement would be held virtually on September 26 and that no on-campus sessions would be held prior to October. She reported that the virtual sessions, Frontier Bound, Clinical Bound, and DNP Bound had all received “stellar evaluations”.

July 21

Dr. Stone communicated to faculty and staff that no student events would be held on campus prior to January 2021 and extended the work-at-home plan to match that timeline.

August 25

In an email to faculty and staff, Dr. Stone announced that “we have decided to extend our date for the return of students, faculty, and staff to on-campus activities to at least the beginning of Spring Term 2021.”

November 12

Dr. Stone’s email to faculty and staff stated “we will not be back on campus in the Spring term as we had hoped and most likely not for Summer term. We will not require employees who work on the Versailles Campus to return to the office until the start of the term when students return.”