(UPDATED 4/3/20, 2:01 p.m. CDT): MSU Athletics Updates On Coronavirus (COVID-19)
April 03, 2020 | Baseball, Cross Country, Football, Athletics, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Softball, Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Soccer, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Student-Athlete Development
UPDATE: April 3, 2020 @ 2:01 p.m. CDT
SEC Releases Statement On Athletics Activities
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all in-person athletics activities, including team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, whether voluntary or required, as well as camps and coaches clinics, will be suspended through at least May 31, based on public health advisories related to continuing developments associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The SEC had previously announced that in-person athletics activities were suspended through April 15.
In addition, virtual film review that does not include physical activity is permissible. Effective April 6, activity of this nature will be expanded to four (4) hours per week consistent with an NCAA rule waiver and NCAA legislation, an increase from the previously permissible maximum of two (2) hours per week. Any such activity must be scheduled in accordance with the institution's established Time Management Policy and must not interfere with required class time for online instruction.
SEC member institutions will continue to provide their student-athletes with care and support to meet needs in areas including academics, medical care, mental health and wellness, nutrition and housing as needed.
UPDATE: March 18, 2020 @ 11:14 a.m. CDT
MSU Athletic Ticket Office/Bulldog Club Accessibility Updatea
UPDATE: March 17, 2020 @ 2:00 p.m. CDT
SEC Statement On Remaining SEC Competition
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all regular season conference and non-conference competitions are cancelled for the remainder of the 2019-20 athletic year, including all remaining SEC championship events, due to continuing developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
In addition, all spring football games are cancelled and there will be no pro days conducted by SEC institutions.
"This is a difficult day for all of us, and I am especially disappointed for our student-athletes," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "The health and well-being of our entire conference community is an ongoing priority for the SEC as we continue to monitor developments and information about the COVID-19 virus."
Other athletics activities, including team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, whether required or voluntary, remain suspended through at least April 15.
SEC member institutions will continue to provide their student-athletes with care and support to meet needs in areas including academics, medical care, mental health and wellness, nutrition and housing as needed.
The SEC and its member institutions will continue to communicate with public health officials and medical experts to determine the best path forward related to coronavirus pandemic.
TICKET REFUND INFORMATION
For the SEC Softball Tournament and the SEC Baseball Tournament, automatic full ticket refunds will be made by March 31 to fans who purchased tickets from the SEC Office or an SEC university.
Statement from MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen:
UPDATE: March 15, 2020 @ 4:47 p.m. CDT
Keenum Shares Employee Operating Guidelines For March 16-20
This memorandum may also be viewed in its entirety on Mississippi State University's official web site.
MEMORANDUM
TO: All Mississippi State University Employees
FROM: MSU President Mark E. Keenum
RE: Operating guidelines and procedures for the week of March 16-March 20
As I promised on Saturday, here are the operating guidelines under which Mississippi State University will operate for the next week. Developed in concert with the appropriate members of the university's leadership team, these guidelines should address all primary matters of concern to you as university employees. Realizing that this is an unprecedented emergency, I urge those of you with more specific concerns to first work with your supervisors to resolve those concerns in a patient and productive manner. MSU will update this information as often as needed. Follow msstate.edu and university social media for additional information.
While spring break has been extended another week, Mississippi State University will be open Monday, March 16. The University is monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 constantly and asks that you continue to monitor your email as well for further announcements and/or changes.
Unless otherwise indicated below, the University is requesting that all non-essential employees stay at home until you are contacted by your supervisor to report to work. All employees who are able to work remotely, should do so.
DEANS, DIRECTORS, AND DEPARTMENT HEADS/SUPERVISORS
We ask that all deans, directors, and department heads/supervisors report to work Monday.
FACULTY
Faculty are expected to spend the coming week preparing to transition their classes to an online format. Resources will be available both on campus and online to provide the necessary training. If you are able to access the online training, we ask that you please do so and that you work remotely to the extent possible. Additional information will be forthcoming from your Deans and Department Heads.
ESSENTIAL STAFF
If you are typically designated as essential personnel when the University makes an emergency closing, we ask that you report to work on Monday, March 16th. Your supervisor will provide you with further instruction Monday.
If you are returning from travel or are showing any symptoms of COVID-19, please see the instructions below and notify your supervisor immediately.
NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF
If you are typically designated as non-essential personnel, we ask that you stay at home until you are contacted by your supervisor to report to work. Your supervisor will provide you with further instruction Monday. A large number of employees who are typically designated as non-essential will be required to work over the coming days. Because the University is still open, each department will need a limited number of employees to remain operational. We will ask all supervisors to reduce the number of personnel to the bare minimum and to rotate those employees who must report to the extent possible. Please understand that the University is operating under unprecedented circumstances, and we need each employee to remain flexible.
EMPLOYEES CARING FOR CHILDREN
Local schools have announced that they will be closed this coming week and many other schools/daycare facilities will be closed as well. In light of that, we understand that many of you will be facing challenges related to childcare. We have asked all of our Deans, Directors, and Department Heads/Supervisors to accommodate you with these challenges to the greatest extent possible. If you are impacted by this situation, please let your supervisor know of your circumstances.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE
During these unprecedented times, all employees who are unable to work for any reason or who are not asked to report to campus will be placed on administrative leave with pay.
FACULTY AND STAFF RETURNING FROM TRAVEL
If you are returning from international travel, from a cruise, or from any location where you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, you must get clearance from the Longest Student Health Center before you return to campus. Please call the Health Center at 662-325-2055 before returning to campus. The Health Center will notify you and your department head by email of the clearance to return to campus or the requirement not to return to campus.
If you are not allowed to return to campus, you will be expected to self-isolate for 14 days. During the 14-day period, you will be expected to work from home to the extent possible. If you are unable to perform your work functions from home, you will be placed on paid administrative leave.
FACULTY AND STAFF EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
If asked to report to campus, you should notify your supervisor if you have symptoms (a fever of 100.4 F or greater along with cough or shortness of breath) and should not come to campus.
OTHER QUESTIONS/CONCERNS
For consistency across campus, we ask that you direct any questions or concerns about your individual employment situation to Human Resources Management at 662-325-3713 if you are unable to resolve your question or concern through your supervisor or chain of command. HRM is in constant communication with all necessary administrators and will answer your concerns as quickly as possible with necessary input from campus administration.
RESOURCES
Follow msstate.edu, https://www.msstate.edu/coronavirus and MSU social media for updates. We will continue to utilize email to update you so please check your email frequently.
UPDATE: March 13, 2020 @ 3:14 p.m. CDT
SEC Statement On Athletics Activities
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all athletics activities, including competitions, team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, will be suspended through at least April 15, due to continuing developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The SEC had previously announced that all competition was suspended until March 30. That suspension of competition has been extended through April 15 and now includes all organized team activities.
SEC athletics programs will cease practices, individual and team workouts effective the end of the day Friday, March 13. Team meetings shall conclude no later than 5 pm local time on Monday, March 16.
SEC member institutions will continue to provide their student-athletes with care and support to meet needs in areas including academics, medical care, mental health and wellness, nutrition and housing as needed.
Statement from Mississippi State Director of Athletics John Cohen:
UPDATE: March 12, 2020 @ 3:59 p.m. CDTNCAA Cancels Remaining Winter And Spring Championships
The following information was shared Thursday afternoon by the NCAA:
"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities."
UPDATE: March 12, 2020 @ 12:31 p.m. CDTSEC School Regular Season Competition and SEC Championships Suspended
STARKVILLE – Based on the latest developments and potential impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday the suspension of regular-season competition for teams in all sports on SEC campuses, as well as SEC championship events, until March 30.
NOTE: The suspension includes away non-conference competition during that time frame.
The first event affected by this is the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville, which has been canceled.
For the health and safety of all involved, MSU will not be allowing coaches to conduct off-campus recruiting activities or host recruits on official or unofficial campus visits until March 30.
MSU's NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show event at Humphrey Coliseum, scheduled for Monday, March 16, has been canceled.
MSU announced Thursday that classes will be suspended for the week after Spring Break, March 16-22. This class suspension applies to students only; faculty and staff will continue with normal operating procedures. Classes will resume the following week, on Monday, March 23, and will be taught online and via other alternative instructional methods. University residence halls and dining facilities will be open for students who need to return to or remain on campus. Students with the option of remaining at home until in-person classes resume may do so.
With no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the university community, MSU will remain open March 16-22 for faculty and staff.
"Putting the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff and entire Mississippi State community first is our top priority, and we stand firmly with Commissioner Greg Sankey and MSU President Mark E. Keenum on these decisions made today," MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen said. "We will continue to work with our University leadership, the SEC and NCAA in regard to this rapidly changing issue. This situation remains fluid and anything is subject to change at a moment's notice. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our University, fans, partners and community during this time."
All ticket purchases for MSU Baseball and the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship will be refunded within 30 days. Those who purchased individual game tickets to baseball games during the March 12-30 period will be refunded or issued a credit for future purchases. Baseball season ticket holders will be refunded or issued a credit in the amount of the value of those games in your season ticket package.
If you would prefer a credit for future purchases please call the ticket office at 662.325.2600 or email tickets@athletics.msstate.edu. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our fans during this process as phone lines will be busy. If you are not able to reach the ticket office via phone, please send an email. A member of the ticket office will respond to your email within five business days.
MSU will continue to monitor this situation in the coming days. MSU encourages fans, student-athletes and families to check HailState.com and msstate.edu and official social media channels for continuing updates as the situation evolves.
In addition to coronavirus updates, resources for faculty and staff to teach and take courses online are available at https://www.msstate.edu/coronavirus.
.
