Updates for All

Over the past 18 months, Lawrence Tech has adopted a cautious, reasoned and flexible response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The University has been diligent in following federal, state and local guidance while continuing to deliver a world-class education. As we prepare for the Fall 2021 semester and a return to full campus operations, we know that we all must continue to be diligent. We also know this is a constantly evolving situation and we will continue to monitor and modify our guidelines and protocols as necessary. Our guidelines and protocols follow and mirror the guidance and directives from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD). As these agencies evolve their guidelines and directives, LTU will follow suit.

Accordingly, as of now, and following these above agencies' current directives, the following guidelines and protocols will be in place for our students, faculty and staff during the fall semester:

• Face Coverings/Masks: Given the above agencies' current directives and guidance, and since Oakland County's current COVID-19 transmission rate falls into the "Substantial Transmission" category, face coverings or masks are required indoors for all individuals (vaccinated or unvaccinated). If the above health agencies change their guidelines and directives, LTU will adopt these. Individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated are expected and very strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times. The University is fully supportive of individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who choose to wear face coverings/masks. Housing and Athletic students will receive further instruction on additional masking protocols from the Athletic or Housing Departments.
• Social Distancing: At this time, social distancing is not required. However, food and drink will not be allowed in classrooms.
• Vaccinations: At this time, only residential students and athletes are required to provide evidence of vaccination. These student groups will receive further instruction on additional COVID-19 protocols from the Athletic or Housing departments. Although other groups are currently not required to be vaccinated, all students are encouraged to  submit their vaccination records . This will help the University community during COVID-19 tracing scenarios by omitting the tracing of individuals who have been vaccinated. In addition, there will be further opportunities for students, staff and faculty to be vaccinated on campus. On-site vaccinations will take place on August 6 and August 19. You will be able to choose to receive the Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer vaccine. Please keep in mind that those receiving the Pfizer vaccine will need to return 3 weeks later for their second shot, which will also be offered at LTU. If you are interested in taking advantage of this, please email  studean@ltu.edu .
• Daily Health Screening: The Daily Screening through GoCanvas will still be required for everyone in the Fall semester. For visitors/vendors, they can complete the paper version of the Daily Screening and forward it to the LTU Business Services department.
• Inside Gatherings: Internal gatherings should be limited to our own internal events (recruitment events/welcome back events/etc.) and will be consistent with all health agencies' guidelines. We will continue to deny any external groups from holding events here for the fall semester to minimize any potential risk.
• Fall Classes: LTU will fully return to offering classes in person for both undergraduate and graduate students at the same rate we offered them prior to the pandemic.
• Cleaning/Sanitizing: Facilities will continue to follow our upgraded cleaning protocols, as well as having sanitizers available in the classrooms. If anyone needs any product, please contact Campus Facilities. The hand sanitizing stations in the hallways will continue to be maintained as well, and we encourage everyone to use them as much as possible, along with washing hands regularly.
• Travel: Business travel within the U.S. is allowed. At this time, Business travel outside the U.S. is not encouraged; however, is allowed, except for those countries listed as Level 4 by the CDC on the travel risk list.

We continue to be very impressed with your dedication, resilience and creativity throughout what has been the most difficult academic year for higher education in recent history. We would also like to congratulate and thank all of you for concluding the past academic year successfully with great outcomes.

We look forward to a productive and successful 2021-22 academic year!

Tarek Sobh, PhD, PE
Provost

Linda Height
CFO

As you are aware, the State of Michigan continues to experience a very significant surge in COVID-19 cases.  The impact has been significant on many in our community. With safety as our top goal, the University is announcing the following:

1. Spring 2021 classes will remain online for the remainder of the semester. If you have a laboratory or studio class, the Dean of your College and/or the class instructor will communicate with you regarding the delivery modality for these courses, which might be online, hybrid, or in-person for the remaining part of the semester.

2. All athletic competitions and practices are canceled for the Spring 2021 semester.   

3. Residence Halls and Dining Services will remain open through May 8, 2021, and residential students are allowed to continue living on campus.

4. On Friday, April 16, 2021, the Oakland County Health Department will vaccinate students on campus.  If you have not already done so, please register for your vaccine at:   COVID - 19 Vaccination Registration   by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

We wish you all good health and thank you for all your efforts and cooperation in navigating this extraordinary academic year. 

Best wishes for a great rest of the semester and good luck with your exams. Let's finish this semester strong! 

Tarek Sobh, PhD, PE
Provost

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff –

Our goal this spring semester was to provide our students with as much of a traditional university experience as possible during these unusual times while maintaining safe practices. Although there are many encouraging signs in the battle against COVID, and as millions of Americans receive the coronavirus vaccine, we are starting to see a light at the end of the long tunnel of the pandemic, there is now, unfortunately, a substantial increase in COVID-19 positivity rates in the State of Michigan and in the Lawrence Tech community.

As a result, beginning on Tuesday, March 30, all classes will be delivered virtually through Monday, April 12, 2021. All NAIA athletic practices and competitions are cancelled through April 12, 2021. In-person instruction will resume on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.   

I understand this is another unwelcome development in a long and difficult year, but your wholehearted cooperation and observance of appropriate precautions is critically important in ensuring that we limit the spread of the virus and provide our students with the best opportunity for a positive on-campus experience for the remainder of the spring semester.

On a final note, beginning Monday, April 5, all Michiganders age 16 and up are eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Please be sure to set time aside and register for your vaccination appointment. You can “Save Your Spot” at  https://oaklandcountyvaccine.com/ .

Thank you for your efforts and let’s finish the academic year strong!

Stay well and best wishes,

Tarek Sobh, PhD, PE
Provost

Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Parents, and Friends –

Happy new year and best wishes for a productive and successful spring semester. We’re glad to welcome our students back!

As you may have read elsewhere, Lawrence Tech is providing face-to-face instruction this semester as much as possible, augmented, when necessary, with hybrid and e-learning courses. Students have overwhelmingly told us that face-to-face learning is the method they prefer. A Lawrence Tech education, with its remarkable return on investment, is still very much worth the effort, even during the pandemic’s disruptions.

We’re very confident in offering face-to-face learning under appropriate conditions because of the splendid diligence our campus community showed in following health and safety protocols during the fall semester. However, the pandemic is not over. We need to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing, limiting social activity, washing hands frequently, disinfecting our environments, and other safety procedures. Very importantly, these measures need to be followed not only on campus but off campus as well as at events, jobs, gatherings of friends and family, at restaurants, while shopping, and more.

We’re all very interested in the rollout plans for the COVID-19 vaccine. This phased rollout likely will take a number of months to complete. First priority are front line healthcare workers, emergency personnel, and the elderly. It ultimately fans out to all of us as a larger supply of vaccines become available. Please watch the news and contact your local health department or your personal healthcare provider when it is appropriate for you to make an appointment for your vaccine inoculation. The latest vaccine information can be found at:

• Oakland County: https://oaklandcountyvaccine.com/
• DHHS: Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

While the pandemic continues to affect all of us, in these difficult times I am heartened by your patience, cooperation, and the ways we work together to overcome any obstacles. Keep up your good efforts and know how much we’re cheering for your continued progress and accomplishments.

Sincerely,

Virinder K. Moudgil, PhD
President and CEO

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

I hope that you find yourself well as we approach the halfway mark of the fall academic year. This year has presented the Lawrence Tech community with many challenges, yet we have persevered and will continue to do so. Placing high priority on health and wellness, I have made a decision to delay the start date of the spring 2021 semester.

The spring semester will begin on Tuesday, January 19, immediately following Martin Luther King Day. After consultation with numerous members of the LTU community, I have also decided to cancel the mid-semester break. These changes will help to ensure that we are healthy before returning to campus and limit potential exposure to illness. The semester end date of May 7, 2021, will remain as previously scheduled.

Universities in Michigan and throughout the nation have taken similar steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their communities. At LTU, we will continue to implement appropriate safety measures and prepare for a successful spring semester. More information will be provided to you very soon. I sincerely thank you for your understanding and continued commitment to Lawrence Tech.

Stay well and best regards,

Tarek Sobh, PhD, PE
Provost

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

Dear Students,

Earlier tonight, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer updated the State of Michigan on the latest restrictions and mitigations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, Lawrence Technological University will make the following switches immediately, as of today (November 15, 2020) through the end of the Fall semester (December 17, 2020):

• All in-person, face-to-face instruction, including labs. and senior projects, is being replaced by online instruction   through the end of the semester, December 17, 2020 .  Students should communicate with their college Dean if they need further details regarding course instruction.
• All courses currently delivered online will continue as scheduled.
• Students residing in University Housing units will receive further updates tomorrow from the Dean of Students office.
• All NAIA athletic practices and competitions are cancelled through November 29, 2020. Student-athletes will receive communications on the resumption of practices and competitions from the Director of Athletics later this week.

Thank you for cooperation and understanding. Be safe!

Tarek Sobh, PhD, PE
Provost

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

Dear Students,

Our goal this semester was to provide as much of a traditional university experience as possible during these unusual times while maintaining safe practices. We have consistently monitored the virus in our community and adjusted our practices as deemed appropriate. It has recently become apparent that there is an increase in COVID-19 positivity rates in the State of Michigan and in the Lawrence Tech community, leading us to make an adjustment to our semester schedule with the goal of mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

Beginning on Monday, November 16, 2020, all classes will be delivered virtually for the remainder of the Fall 2020 semester. Laboratory courses and senior projects in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Information Technology, and the College of Engineering will be an exception and will remain on-campus through November 24, 2020. The College of Architecture and Design will identify the classes that will remain on-campus through November 24, 2020 and communicate these exceptions directly to its students.

Residence halls and dining services will remain open through their originally scheduled and communicated dates. These actions will hopefully allow us to do our part as Blue Devils and help slow the spread in our community.

I hope that you are well and thank you for your efforts.

Tarek Sobh, PhD, PE
Provost

Dear Campus Community –

I am writing today to provide you with LTU's approach to the Fall 2020 semester, and to thank you for both your patience and your assistance in developing this plan. We have evaluated academic and residential options thoroughly, as well as the potential measures to mitigate risk.

We are grateful to all of our own colleagues who have dedicated many hours to these efforts, as well as the outside experts who have advised us on all matters.  Having said that, we must acknowledge that new events may require changes to our carefully considered plans. If that happens, we will communicate as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Below are some highlights of actions taken. More information can be found in the attached Guidance Document .

Classrooms and Teaching: The Colleges, along with Campus Facilities and the Registrar, have updated all information on the room capacity for each classroom.  In many cases, furniture has been moved or modified. Additionally, much work has been done to accommodate the various modes of teaching that may be used (hybrid, online, on ground).

Housing and Dining: We will have residential housing in the fall. Areas have been modified to maximize social distancing, and a separate pod of rooms has been dedicated to any potentially infected students. The plans that have been developed were reviewed and approved by the Oakland County Health Department's Medical Director.

Student Life: A daily health screening will be required by all, including our students. At this time, a google document is being used, but a computer app through Rave Guardian will replace that form before school starts.All requirements for wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and other safety measures will be enforced.For students, it will be through the Student Code of Conduct. For employees, it will be through the regular process of disciplining employees.

Facilities, Cleaning and Signage: Facilities has increased its cleaning across campus. There are over 100 hand sanitizer stations that have been deployed across campus, and bottles of disinfectant will be made available for every department and classroom. Signage can also be seen both on exterior doors and interior doors, reminding people about masks and social distancing.

As the fall semester begins, we will be monitoring the plans we have put in place to see if any modifications are needed. The situation is fluid, and we ask for your patience as we settle into our new normal.

For now, I hope that you and your families are safe. I appreciate your support, patience and assistance as we move into the fall semester.

Virinder K. Moudgil, PhD
President and CEO

The health of our community is of the utmost importance. If a member of our community is not wearing a mask, we ask that you approach them and provide a friendly reminder. If they are non-compliant or are a habitual offender, please report the violation here:

REPORT OF LTU'S CARES ACT FUNDING

Below is a federally required report that identifies the fact that LTU received a grant from the CARES Act to assist in expenses relating to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic [  FULL REPORT PDF  ] 

PROGRESS AND PLANNING FOR FALL SEMESTER

The COVID-19 global pandemic has altered our lives like nothing we have ever experienced and upended the normal processes and activities of our social interaction, business, travel, and education at all levels. I am so proud that the students, faculty, and staff at Lawrence Technological University have worked together and made the best of this difficult situation, enabling our spring semester and soon, our summer semester, to continue without diminishing progress or momentum. 

Much is unsettled in the months ahead as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Michigan authorities set timetables for reopening and rules for social distancing. The fundamental question is whether we and other schools will be permitted to reopen for our usual August start of classes and under what new regulations and guidelines.

For this coming fall semester, Lawrence Tech intends to welcome students to the campus in our usual numbers, while being cognizant of and prudent about the safety of our community of scholars. We are committed to remaining and growing as both a commuter and a strong residential campus. All students benefit from the campus being more supportive and convenient, and research shows that students who reside or spend more time on campus do better academically. As generations of alumni have so aptly proven to us, it is LTU’s focus on experiential learning, theory and practice, working together, that leads them to some of our nation’s highest salaries and levels of career success. 

At this time, as all colleges and universities are doing, we are considering a number of options as we approach the fall semester. New policies may be implemented to minimize contact between low risk and high risk groups. Preliminary possibilities, none set in stone as yet, include more hybrid classes with online components, or perhaps more virtual laboratories or studios. Face coverings may be required and group gatherings above a certain size may be prohibited. Deep cleaning of facilities will continue. Health testing procedures may be instituted. As our state and national leaders assess progress on dealing with the pandemic and make recommendations, we expect to be able to announce LTU’s plans for the fall on July 1. 

Please know that our strategies will be to assure the health and safety of our entire Lawrence Tech community while moving forward with our inspired mission to prepare new generations of leaders. Over nearly 90 years, by working together, LTU Blue Devils have overcome all challenges and grown ever stronger. That is our legacy, and that is our future. 

Stay strong!

Virinder K. Moudgil, PhD
President and CEO

ALL SUMMER CLASSES TO BE ONLINE

I hope that this message will find you well and safe as we battle this pandemic. It seems that with all the difficulties that the social distancing and the stay-at-home mandates impose, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, relatively soon, we will be able to return to a state of normalcy in our personal, school, and work lives.

After careful consideration and a desire to continue to serve our students to the best of our ability, we have decided to offer all classes in the Summer 2020 semester through distance learning, using LTU’s online platforms.

Over the last few summers we increased the number of courses offered online in order to better serve you, our students, who had returned back home for the summer, be it across the country and throughout the world. Even for those living locally, taking courses online in the summer term has been very convenient in accommodating your summer work schedules. This summer, with all our students already at home, it does not make sense to open the campus for on-ground summer classes. 

We are very proud of all of our students, and also our faculty, for the ways you have adapted to a highly unusual spring semester. Lawrence Tech’s laptop program, coupled with your own ease with technology, helped us to transition quickly and with no significant problems. We are a technological university and it showed during our incredibly smooth shift to a completely online environment, with very little advance warning.

Due to the need to extend the Spring semester by one week because of COVID-19, and because final grades will not be available until May 20, 2020, we will postpone the start of this summer term to May 26, 2020. The summer term will still be 10 weeks long, ending on July 31, 2020. We hope that by postponing the start of the term to May 26, we will provide sufficient time for students both to rest and to evaluate their plans for taking summer courses. Note that we will return to our regular letter grading system for all classes offered in Summer 2020 as we are now all well-prepared for successfully managing online course delivery.

As always, please stay safe, and study and work hard.

Best Regards,

Maria Vaz, PhD 
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

CLINICAL COUNSELING SERVICES

Clinical Counseling Services is available to assist you as we deal with the stress and anxiety of COVID-19 on our campus and global community. To schedule an appointment email us at clinicalcounseling@ltu.edu .  We will be in touch to set up an appointment via Zoom and have you fill out any necessary paperwork. We are also scheduling any regular or ongoing appointments you may have had.  Please refer to the attachment and links below as they contain links to the MySSP app and to helpful resources to support your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.   

Additional Resources:

Strategies for coping  

Coronavirus anxiety resources

Coronavirus Q&A

Dr. Jeffrey Betman
Christy Schulze, LLPC

USE OF STUDENT EMPLOYEES DURING STAY HOME, STAY SAFE

LTU student employees are classified as non-essential and will not be working on campus during the current “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order.  In most cases, student employees can not complete their job functions off-campus. Exceptions to work off-campus as a student employee must be approved by the Dean of Students. Only supervisors can request an exception. Supervisors should email  studean@ltu.edu . Please provide the first and last name of the student, and the necessary work responsibilities. An approval or disapproval will be communicated within 24 hours.

LTU CAMPUS FACILITIES DURING COVID-19

LTU Campus Facilities is currently reassigning cleaning staff to allow for dedicated sanitization of occupied offices and spaces. Personnel will disinfect and sanitize common touch points used by employees and campus guests. Routine services will continue for each office occupied office space as well as to clean and sanitize bathrooms.  Classrooms will be sanitized, locked and removed from use. We ask for your cooperation in not using or entering any room that has been sanitized and labeled.

Campus Facilities staff continue to utilize long-established safety processes and protocols that apply and we have reviewed and refreshed these with our staff.