COVID-19 Campus Resources
As the coordinating board for public higher education, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is sharing resources available to the higher education community to assist college and university leadership as they consider potential courses of action in concert with each campus governing board.
OSRHE will continue to update this page with new information and resources as they become available.
Note: The State Regents have provided links to several related websites and hope that they are helpful. However, the State Regents cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or content of those pages or guarantee full access to those pages.
Oklahoma Higher Education (Campus) Response to COVID-19 (last updated 3/26/20) (PDF, 242k)
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has provided information specifically for higher education institutions and guidance for the higher education community regarding foreign exchange and/or study abroad programs. Below are additional resources from OSDH related to COVID-19:
- OSDH COVID-19 Information Updates (external link)
- COVID-19 Talking Points (PDF, 140k)
- COVID-19 Guidance for Colleges and Universities (PDF, 226k)
- Spring Break Travel Advisory (PDF, 82k)
- Returning Travelers Infographic (PDF, 159k)
Coronavirus.gov
www.coronavirus.gov
This is a primary lane of information for the public regarding COVID-19. It is a portal for public information that is curated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force at the White House, working in conjunction with CDC, HHS and other agency stakeholders. Coronavirus.gov will link to the appropriate federal agency website as the authoritative source for that information as necessary.
What the U.S. Government Is Doing
www.usa.gov/coronavirus
Spanish: www.usa.gov/espanol/coronavirus
Federal agencies have developed resources related to criminals taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Intelligence Note: Terrorists Exploiting COVID-19 Pandemic to Incite Violence (PDF, )
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Liaison Information Report: Criminals Exploiting COVID 19 (PDF, )
- FBI Public Service Announcement: FBI Sees Rise in Fraud Schemes Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic (PDF, )
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS): Malicious Actors Hide Info-Stealing Trojan in Fake Coronavirus (COVID-19) Maps (PDF, )
Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) has compiled a COVID-19 resource page for educators, districts and states, including some distance learning resources.
The Office of Postsecondary Education has issued guidance for interruptions of study related to COVID-19, including an FAQ.
The Centers for Disease Control has several printable versions of handouts and posters related to COVID-19, including factsheets and guidance about handwashing. There are resources available in multiple languages.
The Education Commission of the States (ECS) has prepared a resource document regarding various state responses to COVID-19.
The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) has compiled the following national resources regarding COVID-19:
- Many resources can be found on SHEEO's COVID-19 Resources webpage, including SHEEO state agency plans and resources. This page will also contain regular legislative updates and an opt-in to a special listserv that will provide regular email updates as SHEEO learns the latest information around policy issues that might affect higher education. SHEEO will continue to summarize developments through its regular legislative updates. The listserv is for those who feel that more immediate information could be useful.
- Economic Relief Package Signed: On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed into law an economic relief package that includes funding for paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free COVID-19 testing and food assistance. Higher education was not included in the bill text.
- Bill to Maintain GI Bill Benefits for Online Students to Be Signed: President Trump will soon sign into law S.3503, which will give the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) authority to continue current GI Bill benefits for students transitioning to online education programs due to COVID-19. The new law will expire on Dec. 21, 2020. SHEEO signed on to a coalition letter in support of the legislation.
- Higher Education Associations Call for Increased Federal Aid to Students and Institutions: SHEEO joined two coalitions of higher education associations this week on letters (Letter 1 and Letter 2) calling for Congress to increase aid to institutions and students, provide institutions access to low- cost capital, support transitions to online education, and temporarily suspend certain regulatory provisions related to the eligibility, determination, and disbursement of Title IV financial aid. SHEEO will continue to keep its members current on responses from Capitol Hill related to these proposals.
- New ED Accreditation Guidance on Virtual Site Visits: This week the U.S. Department of Education provided guidance permitting, but not requiring, on a temporary basis accrediting agencies to perform virtual site visits coupled with in-person follow-up visits within a reasonable period of time. The guidance also provides accreditors with the flexibility to develop, adopt, modify and implement temporary virtual site visit policies, as well as flexibilities on other accreditation policies.
- Census 2020 Statement on Counting College Students and Update for College/University Student Housing Administrators:
On March 15, 2020, the U.S. Census released a statement with new information on how they plan to adjust operations to successfully count college students, protect the health and safety of their staff, and fulfill their statutory requirement to deliver the Census counts to the president on time. This includes contacting schools regarding updating their preferences for counting students living in on-campus housing. They will also remind schools to contact their students to respond to the Census even if they are off campus. Census also provided updated information directed at college and university housing administrators.
- Administration Seeks $150 Million More to fund the U.S. Department of Education: According to Politico, the Trump administration is seeking $150 million in additional funding for the U.S. Department of Education in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes $100 million for K-12 education, $40 million for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and $10 million for program administration. The new FSA funding would support increased federal student loan servicing costs, fund the implementation of the interest rate cut to zero percent, and strengthen communications and outreach efforts to borrowers.
- President Trump Suspends Student Loan Payments for at Least 60 Days: President Trump announced March 20, 2020, that he will allow student loan borrowers to postpone payments for at least two months without penalties or interest. To obtain the 60-day postponement, borrowers will need to contact their loan servicer. This builds off an announcement from Trump the previous week temporarily lowering the interest rates on student loans to zero. The Education Department says the no-interest rate policy will be in effect until at least May 12.
- Senators Seek Borrower Relief: A coalition of Senate Democrats outlined a plan March 19, 2020, to cancel $10,000 in student debt for borrowers and cancel student loan payments during the COVID-19 outbreak. The plan would also stop the garnishment of wages, tax refunds and Social Security benefits for past-due borrowers. According to Politico, a plan released the same day by Senate GOP leadership would suspend student loan payments for three months, with an additional three-month suspension available at the discretion of the Secretary of Education. The plan would also allow the U.S. Department of Education to grant one-year waivers on most provisions of the Higher Education Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or Perkins Career and Technical Education Act
- Student Loan Interest Waived: During remarks at the White House March 13, 2020, President Trump stated that he will waive interest on student loans held by federal agencies until further notice. The policy change, which applies to all federal student loan repayment plans, will be implemented automatically next week and be retroactive to March 13. It remains unclear whether borrower payments will be adjusted to reflect the new interest rate. More details on the policy change are expected from U.S. Department of Education officials soon.
- OCR Fact Sheet and Webinar on Civil Rights and COVID-19: The U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights have released a fact sheet for school districts and postsecondary schools related to discrimination stemming from COVID-19, as well as a video about online education and website accessibility.
- Legislative Package for Education Announced: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate HELP Committee, announced a legislative package March 13, 2020, addressing disruptions in education brought on by COVID-19. It includes provisions for early childhood, K-12 and higher education. The measure is cosponsored by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). A companion bill has been introduced by Democrats in the House of Representatives. The legislation includes:
- $1.2 billion for grants to governors to provide funding for K-12 and higher education institutions to plan for closure, such as providing meals to students, supporting efforts to clean and sanitize educational facilities, providing training on how to ensure buildings are safe for students’ return, and coordinating response efforts with public health departments and other agencies.
- $1.2 billion in emergency financial aid for students to address basic needs resulting from the COVID-19 disruptions, including food, housing, health care, and childcare needs. The funds would be provided to colleges and universities who would will make the grants to students.
- A waiver for Title IV rules related to paying back Pell Grants or repaying loans that were taken out during a disrupted term. The legislation also loosens financial aid rules related to satisfactory academic progress and subsidized loans.
- Flexibility for foreign institutions of higher education serving American students abroad through distance education.
- FERPA FAQ Posted: The U.S. Department of Education posted a document to assist school officials with frequently asked questions related to applicability of FERPA to disclosures related to COVID-19.
- Fact Sheet on Arrival Restrictions: The Department of Homeland Security has posted a fact sheet with information on COVID-19 travel restrictions. These travel restrictions stem from three proclamations from President Trump banning the entry of non-U.S. citizens who are from or have recently been in China, Iran, or 26 European countries. On March 14, 2020, this ban was extended to include the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released interim guidance for administrators of colleges and universities in planning and preparing for COVID-19, along with recommended response measures for those with the virus in their community.
- The CDC has also released guidance for institutions of higher education (IHEs) related to foreign travel. The CDC has asked IHEs to consider postponing or canceling upcoming student foreign exchange programs and recommends IHEs consider asking current program participants to return to their home country, as well as asking students participating in study abroad programs to return to the United States. The CDC recommends that IHEs consult with state and local health authorities on the best approach for when and how study abroad students might return.
- The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance related to compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA) for those that are impacted by COVID-19. The department’s guidance offers flexibility under its existing authority to help IHEs continue to serve students.
- The U.S. Department of Education is providing information related to COVID-19.
- The American College Health Association has issued a document on what campuses need to know about COVID-19, as well as guidelines for campus health staff and administrators preparing for COVID-19.
