UPDATE: CSM Revises Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, Continues Students Services, But Limits Public Access to all Campuses

Spring Sports Season is Canceled, Date to Withdraw/Change to Audit Extended

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will maintain a virtual learning environment for its students but limit access to its La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses in a move to deepen its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective March 17, CSM campuses will be closed to the public except for employees and current students until further notice.

In addition, CSM was advised today by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) that all spring sports are canceled for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester.

“In light of the progressive evolvement of the COVID-19 situation, the NJCAA has decided to end all competition for the remainder of the academic year,” stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO in a statement released this afternoon.  “As an association, the NJCAA exhausted all possible avenues to potentially postpone competition for both upcoming basketball championships and spring sport competition. We believe following the recommendations of the CDC is in the best interest of our member colleges and our student-athletes.”

“These are uncharted territories for all of us,” said CSM President Dr. Maureen Murphy. “We are all doing our part and following national guidance to create additional social distancing for our faculty, staff, and students. But be assured CSM’s faculty and staff are here for our learners. We are still teaching, still providing students services, and still tutoring. We may look a little different this semester, but we are still here for our students and learning will not be canceled.”

Murphy added that CSM is also extending its cut-off date to withdraw or change to audit/credit without a grade. Originally set for Friday, March 20, students will now have until April 11, 2020 to make that decision.

“We want our students to have time to absorb everything that is happening all around us and not make rash decisions,” Murphy continued.

CSM leadership also decided today to close the St. Charles Children’s Learning Center, located on CSM’s La Plata Campus, at close of business today. “Maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our littlest ones is of the highest importance,” said Murphy.

In addition to limiting public access to campuses, CSM has made several operational changes that can be tracked at ready.csmd.edu/covid-19/.  Please visit the website often for resources and updates.

Students should make sure they are monitoring their CSM student email accounts, as well as the MyLearning course shells for their individual courses, and stay in close contact with their professors if they have any questions about their courses.

CSM is in close contact with local, state and federal authorities, and will share information as quickly as possible when and if these new operating conditions change. All updates can be found at http://ready.csmd.edu/.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or any other flu-like symptoms (e.g. sore throat, body ache, congestion) should not come to CSM campuses. Anyone exhibiting these symptoms will be required to leave campus immediately.

For additional information about the status of COVID-19, Marylanders can call 2-1-1; text MDReady to 898211 to receive text updates re: COVID-19, or go online to 211md.org.

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