For information on FOD's response to COVID and their up-to-date cleaning protocols, visit the FOD COVID Response website.

You may be wondering how best to clean electronics and keyboards. Here is some guidance for keyboards specifically, but much of it applies to cleaning other electronic items:

Best

Keyboard cover and CDC-approved cleaning wipe or spray used on the cover

Good enough    

• No cover, alcohol-based wipe , containing at least 70% alcohol, used directly on the keyboard
• No cover, disinfecting wipe (non-bleach), used directly on the keyboard
• No cover, disinfecting spray (non-bleach), applied to a cloth which is then used on the keyboard

To clean keyboards, the CDC recommends alcohol-based wipes, containing at least 70% alcohol. Do not use sprays unless applied to a soft cloth first, then used as a wipe, as keyboards are generally not sealed against liquid intrusion. Other disinfecting wipes are probably okay, as long as they don’t contain bleach, but the alcohol ones would be best.

The CDC also recommends the use of flexible keyboard covers to make the cleaning more effective, since keyboards are notoriously dirty and difficult to clean – a bad combination. If no cover is present, wipes should do, so long as they’re used every time.

• As of July 2021, university organizations may offer in-person programming. Some Department of English events will remain virtual. For more information, visit our Events page.
• Effective July 1, 2021, the university will allow business-related travel in line with updated health and safety guidelines and our continued focus on fiscal responsibility. For more information, visit the Travel page on the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website.

• Please take care of yourself and your loved ones first
• Email Wayne Lovely (.9) or Susan Williams (.488) ASAP
• We will work with others in the department (as appropriate) to find someone to cover your duties
• We will follow up with you regarding the appropriate forms to fill out and benefit options like Family Medical Leave.
• You can complete necessary paperwork when time allows

• Keep Teaching (for instructors)
• University Institute of Teaching and Learning (for instructors; includes several newly added resources on online teaching and newly-created Communities of Practice for online instruction)
• Keep Working (for staff)
• Keep Learning (for students)
• Keep Well (for employees)
• Collection of HR Resources (for employees)

• The Dennis Learning Center offers peer academic coaching to help students adjust their study and motivation strategies for all types of course delivery. Students can schedule an appointment for an individualized consultation on CarmenZoom.
• The Office of Student Life has compiled a list of COVID-19 resources for undergraduate students. 

• Video exams are allowed and will not require a petition. Please work with your graduating students completing a candidacy exam, thesis, oral exam or dissertation defense and be as flexible as possible.
• Advice from Director of Graduate Studies Aman Garcha on organizing and completing video exams:
  • The faculty member who schedules the defense/exam can enable “the waiting room” in Zoom and use it when faculty are deliberating.  The “waiting room” function should be turned on before the meeting begins.  The attached pdf gives you some instructions on how to use it.
  • Alternatively, faculty can have the student “leave the meeting” altogether.  Then the advisor can text or email the student to rejoin when the deliberation has been completed.

• Arts and Sciences is approving requests from graduate students to delay or redirect (with advisor approval) their academic year 2019-20 grant towards a different project if they are unable to complete their original proposal.  No need to seek College approval; graduate students can manage change internally with their department.
• Given that many of these projects may be canceled or postponed past this fiscal year (June 30), the College will allow students to use their approved grant for academic year 2019-20 in academic year 2020-21.
• Impacted students from academic year 2019-20 will have the option to apply again for a new grant in academic year 2020-21 (typically the College only permits one grant request per fiscal year).
• The College will keep the grants application open through the last day of classes (April 24) for any non-travel related grant requests.

• Counseling and Consultation Services has provided a number of COVID-19 updates

• Buckeye Food Alliance (Food Pantry)
• Buckeyelink’s website has information about emergency short term loans for undergraduate and graduate students.

**Community members can also donate to the emergency fund referenced above, or donate to the COVID-19 fund for any college in the university.**

Community Mediation Services Tenant/Landlord Mediation: CMS provide tenants at imminent RISK OF EVICTION and their landlords with mediation services so the tenant may establish a payment plan to get caught up on back rent or arrange to relocate into alternative stable housing and avoid an eviction. CMS also works with tenants that receive an eviction notice with mediation services to amicably settle the situation before an eviction judgement. While CMS does not supply tenants with rental assistance, they provide useful resources and contacts with organizations that do provide these services if needed.

Contact: Marcus Salter, Housing Stability Specialist (614) 228-7191x15 or MSalter@communitymediation.com

The Legal Aid Society of Columbus: LASC provides advice and representation for tenants residing in private or subsidized housing. They provide this advice to tenants anytime between the initial hardship, to the eviction being filed, to legal representation at eviction court. Similar to CMS, they do not provide rental assistance, but can legally change the outcome of your case, and often times they are successful in keeping an eviction off of someone’s record. They are also a good resource, along with the City Attorney’s office, for potential retaliatory evictions.

Contact: LASC Intake Department (614) 241-2001

Broad Street Presbyterian Church COMPASS Program: COMPASS provides services to prevent homelessness and stall evictions, allowing families to remain in their homes. We also refer individuals and families to other agencies within the community. They provide rental assistance and utility bill assistance for individuals not in default. This organization has a smaller financial capacity compared to others on this list, but they are a local partner and can often get money out the door in a timelier manner.

Contact: BSPC general intake line (614) 221-6552

IMPACT Community Action Housing Stability and Crisis Assistance: IMPACT’s EAP provides supportive services that deliver crisis intervention strategies to stabilize households and strengthen self-sufficiency. All Emergency Assistance Programs/Services serve Franklin County households that are at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and most households must have a qualifying emergency to receive assistance. This includes rental/mortgage and utility assistance. Additionally, IMPACT offers case management if necessary.

Contact: Latisha Chastang, Director of Emergency Assistance (614) 453-1711 or lchastang@impactca.org

COAAA Housing Assistance Program: The HAP program includes preventative efforts to reduce eviction, displacement, and homelessness for Columbus older adults. The focus is diversion, which is keeping older adults out of the shelter, as well as prevention, to keep from reaching a housing crisis. The funding supports preventive measures for homelessness for Columbus residents 50 and older. This funding was committed to by City Council in 2019 and is subject to additional dollars in 2020. Rental and utility assistance are the key components to this program.

Contact: Lynn Dobb, Professional Education Manager (614) 645-3885 or ldobb@coaaa.org

Community Shelter Board HOME4GOOD Program: CSB partners with area landlords to house families exiting the shelter system. Currently 600 families placed into apartments in the past 12 months. This initiative allows benefits for a tenant such as rent and deposit assistance to stabilize families and assigned caseworkers for support. Supports for the tenant include quickly filling vacancies and free marketing for landlords with available units

Contact: Heather Jones, Community Housing Manager (614) 715-2551 or hjones@csb.org

Franklin County Emergency Assistance (PRC): There are three program categories in PRC, with one of them being “One-time or Short-Term Assistance”. This emergency assistance provides one-time financial aid with emergency situations. You must have at least one minor child or a pregnant woman living in your home and be at or below 165% of poverty to qualify for PRC one-time emergency assistance.

• The FCC is offering the Emergency Broadband Benefit to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers a discount towards broadband service for eligible households.
• HelpColumbus Facebook group
• Remote Teaching Resources
  • This Google Doc has a comprehensive list of resources from colleges and universities across the country that have transitioned to remote teaching over the past weeks.