Eastern Michigan Athletics
Update on COVID-19 and its Impact on EMU Athletics
3/12/2020 6:01:00 PM | Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, Volleyball, Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Women's Rowing, Gymnastics, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, General
The suspension applies to all athletic competitions and practices for the health and safety
More information.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The single-most important priority of the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Department has been and continues to be the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, and personnel.
After consultation with officials from the Mid-American Conference, public health and medical professionals, and university administration, and in compliance with the NCAA and MAC's decision to cancel its winter and spring championships for the 2020 season, the EMU Department of Athletics has suspended all athletic activity. All voluntary workouts and organized practice activities, including spring football, and all in person recruiting activities – both on and off campus - for all sports are suspended until the University resumes normally scheduled operations. The only permissible recruiting will be written and electronic communication (letters, emails, text messages, phone calls).
The decision to cancel spring sports competition affects seven EMU programs (baseball, men's outdoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, rowing, women's tennis, men's golf and women's golf), as well as the soccer and volleyball teams which hold off-season competitions.
Teams that are currently traveling for away competition have been instructed to return home immediately. This decision was not easy, but undoubtedly serves the best interest of the department and its student-athletes.
Eastern Michigan University and EMU Athletics will convey additional information, when available, via its social media channels and EMUEagles.com.
Statement from EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee:
"Eastern Michigan Athletics fully supports all measures to protect the health and welfare of the EMU family and beyond during this unprecedented time. This decision was not easy, but undoubtedly serves the best interest of the department and its student-athletes."
MAC Statement Regarding Updated Conference Policies Due To COVID-19
At the direction of MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and in consultation with the MAC Council of Presidents and Council of Directors of Athletics, the following revised policies will be implemented:
• The cancellation of the MAC Women's Gymnastics Championship, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 21, on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Cancel regular season and championship competition, and non-traditional season competition, for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.
• Suspend formal and organized practices until further notice.
• Suspend off-campus recruiting activities and official and unofficial visits. The only permissible recruiting will be written and electronic communication to include letters, emails, text messages and phone calls, in compliance with existing NCAA legislation.
March 12 Message to Campus from EMU President James Smith - 5:30 p.m.:
Our teams are working swiftly and with great precision to prepare our campus community for the launch of a nearly fully virtual/online course schedule beginning on Monday, March 16, as was noted in yesterday's announcement.
As noted yesterday, on campus, in person classes are suspended through March 31. This date is subject to change depending on new information and health updates.
Public health experts are clear on this: staying apart from one another is one of the most significant actions one can take to avoid COVID-19. We understand that international students, students living out of state and others may not be able to return to their permanent place of residence. For that reason, limited residence hall and dining are available for those students.
We continue to receive many questions about cancellations. As announced yesterday, all University events have been cancelled through March 31. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution. Governor Whitmer's recommendation is that any gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled. We determined it was important for the health and well being of our community that we go above and beyond that recommendation.
PREVENTION
The most important thing any of us can do at this time is to follow recommendations to prevent the spread of the virus. I strongly encourage everyone – students, faculty, staff as well as all administrators -- to follow these guidelines to their fullest extent.
Please review this comprehensive list of prevention measures compiled by the Washtenaw County Health Department.
Anyone who experiences symptoms is advised to call their health provider, the IHA Health Center @ EMU, or the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Emergency Department. Health officials request that anyone experiencing symptoms call in advance to advise them of the reason for the visit.
QUESTIONS
We understand this is a fluid situation and many of you have questions. We are working hard to address these as quickly as we can.
If you don't hear back from us, it is not because we are ignoring you. We are working through these questions, some which may take longer than others. In the immediate term, please do not call the Department of Public Safety with any non-emergency related matters. Student questions should be directed to the Dean of Students at EMU_DeanofStudents@emich.edu. Faculty questions should be directed to the Provost's Office at EMUProvost@emich.edu. Staff should contact their supervisors.
GOING FORWARD
We continue to pay close attention to changing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and are in regular contact with the Washtenaw County Health Department. We will advise when there are further updates. Our plans for events in April and May continue as scheduled for the time being, including Commencement on Saturday, April 25. However, as noted several times in this email and in previous messages, the situation remains fluid and subject to change.
Please continue to visit our COVID-19 website for ongoing updates, as well as resources that are helpful during these challenging times.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The single-most important priority of the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Department has been and continues to be the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, and personnel.
After consultation with officials from the Mid-American Conference, public health and medical professionals, and university administration, and in compliance with the NCAA and MAC's decision to cancel its winter and spring championships for the 2020 season, the EMU Department of Athletics has suspended all athletic activity. All voluntary workouts and organized practice activities, including spring football, and all in person recruiting activities – both on and off campus - for all sports are suspended until the University resumes normally scheduled operations. The only permissible recruiting will be written and electronic communication (letters, emails, text messages, phone calls).
The decision to cancel spring sports competition affects seven EMU programs (baseball, men's outdoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, rowing, women's tennis, men's golf and women's golf), as well as the soccer and volleyball teams which hold off-season competitions.
Teams that are currently traveling for away competition have been instructed to return home immediately. This decision was not easy, but undoubtedly serves the best interest of the department and its student-athletes.
Eastern Michigan University and EMU Athletics will convey additional information, when available, via its social media channels and EMUEagles.com.
Statement from EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee:
"Eastern Michigan Athletics fully supports all measures to protect the health and welfare of the EMU family and beyond during this unprecedented time. This decision was not easy, but undoubtedly serves the best interest of the department and its student-athletes."
MAC Statement Regarding Updated Conference Policies Due To COVID-19
At the direction of MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher and in consultation with the MAC Council of Presidents and Council of Directors of Athletics, the following revised policies will be implemented:
• The cancellation of the MAC Women's Gymnastics Championship, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 21, on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Cancel regular season and championship competition, and non-traditional season competition, for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.
• Suspend formal and organized practices until further notice.
• Suspend off-campus recruiting activities and official and unofficial visits. The only permissible recruiting will be written and electronic communication to include letters, emails, text messages and phone calls, in compliance with existing NCAA legislation.
March 12 Message to Campus from EMU President James Smith - 5:30 p.m.:
Our teams are working swiftly and with great precision to prepare our campus community for the launch of a nearly fully virtual/online course schedule beginning on Monday, March 16, as was noted in yesterday's announcement.
As noted yesterday, on campus, in person classes are suspended through March 31. This date is subject to change depending on new information and health updates.
Public health experts are clear on this: staying apart from one another is one of the most significant actions one can take to avoid COVID-19. We understand that international students, students living out of state and others may not be able to return to their permanent place of residence. For that reason, limited residence hall and dining are available for those students.
We continue to receive many questions about cancellations. As announced yesterday, all University events have been cancelled through March 31. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution. Governor Whitmer's recommendation is that any gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled. We determined it was important for the health and well being of our community that we go above and beyond that recommendation.
PREVENTION
The most important thing any of us can do at this time is to follow recommendations to prevent the spread of the virus. I strongly encourage everyone – students, faculty, staff as well as all administrators -- to follow these guidelines to their fullest extent.
Please review this comprehensive list of prevention measures compiled by the Washtenaw County Health Department.
Anyone who experiences symptoms is advised to call their health provider, the IHA Health Center @ EMU, or the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Emergency Department. Health officials request that anyone experiencing symptoms call in advance to advise them of the reason for the visit.
QUESTIONS
We understand this is a fluid situation and many of you have questions. We are working hard to address these as quickly as we can.
If you don't hear back from us, it is not because we are ignoring you. We are working through these questions, some which may take longer than others. In the immediate term, please do not call the Department of Public Safety with any non-emergency related matters. Student questions should be directed to the Dean of Students at EMU_DeanofStudents@emich.edu. Faculty questions should be directed to the Provost's Office at EMUProvost@emich.edu. Staff should contact their supervisors.
GOING FORWARD
We continue to pay close attention to changing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and are in regular contact with the Washtenaw County Health Department. We will advise when there are further updates. Our plans for events in April and May continue as scheduled for the time being, including Commencement on Saturday, April 25. However, as noted several times in this email and in previous messages, the situation remains fluid and subject to change.
Please continue to visit our COVID-19 website for ongoing updates, as well as resources that are helpful during these challenging times.
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