Important message to our Carolina neighbors
As campus community partners, we are very aware of the concerns felt by our neighbors and other local residents over the potential spread of COVID-19 within our shared community. Since announcing the move to remote instruction for undergraduate students, we have regularly messaged to students and parents the importance of safeguarding the health of our entire community. Through a combination of education, intervention, and accountability, and in cooperation with our municipal partners, we continue to engage our students in the importance of observing all public health requirements. We want to assure you that the health and well-being of our greater Carolina community are just as important to us as that of our students, faculty and staff.
We know there is great interest in how the Town of Chapel Hill and the University are responding to situations around our town and campus when students are reported to be in violation of state and local orders, as well as the University’s Community Standards. UNC Police, Chapel Hill Police Department and University Student Affairs are working together to address your community concerns and ensure we are helping to educate our student residents and, when necessary, enforce our laws and standards. We wanted to share with you a brief overview of that process:
The Town and the University already have a robust joint-management infrastructure to address off campus student conduct. These efforts remain in place and are part of our Fall 2020 off-campus Good Neighbor Initiative.
To better address the unique challenges of this semester, additional measures have been put in place to respond to COVID-19 related incidents on and off campus:
University staff meet weekly with Town police, fire, emergency management, and housing departments, as well as the Orange County Health Department to review and respond to reported incidents and concerns, that may have come through multiple channels.
Each day, and especially on weekends, the Town logs all incidents involving students. We are working with our Town partners to ensure that student names are provided to University Student Affairs with the appropriate documentation of offenses that result in either warnings or citations.
The University’s Office of Student Conduct follows up on all reports alleging violations by off-campus students or student organizations. Under the University’s COVID-19 Administrative Review Process, students found responsible for violations are subject to an array of actions, ranging from written warnings to restriction of access of campus facilities to disenrollment from the University. Student organizations may face restrictions as well, up to and including loss of recognition by the University. You can read more about the violations that the University has already responded to as well as the Chapel Hill Police Department’s renewed focus on community safety and COVID-19 citations issued.
In addition, and particularly for reported incidents of large gatherings, a Chapel Hill Police Department officer and Off-Campus Student Life staff member visits the property to speak with residents, discuss expectations, and review the complaint received. If residents are affiliated with a Greek chapter, the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life will also be notified. Students or student organizations remain subject to administrative or disciplinary action for hosting gatherings in violation of state and local orders and University guidelines.
If you observe a violation of the state gathering order, please call 911 and fill out a referral form for the Office of Student Conduct.
The Chapel Hill Police Department has a non-emergency line and you can call 919-968-2760 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Orange County has set up a hotline for general questions and you can call (919) 245-6111 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you have further questions or need assistance, you can visit our website with FAQs for our campus neighbors or fill out this feedback form, noting that you are a neighbor.
Sincerely,
Amy Johnson
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs