Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 7:00PM

Dear NCCU students, faculty and staff:

Beginning well before the Chinese New Year holiday till now, the NCCU community has been very cooperative with each other to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I’d particularly like to express my appreciation to the NCCU epidemic prevention team, who has worked day and night to ensure the health and well-being of the community. However, given the virulence of this virus and the speed with which it spreads, we must further strengthen our collective vigilance and preventative measures.

Currently,2 NCCU students are subject to home quarantine. It further influences 2 classes plus 26 instructors and students in NCCU. Based on statistic until March 25, 54 faculty and students recently are subject to home quarantine too. Let’s stay calm to face this new challenge. As what is said in The Art of War, ‘To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving the peace.’

Given these circumstances, I’d like to share with all of you the following important information:

1. Please practice social distancing; avoid gathering and meetings as much as you can.

2. Faculty, staff and students recently returning from abroad are advised to remain self-monitoring for an additional two weeks once the initial 14-day home quarantine period has expired, for a total of 28 days.

3. Any NCCU community member who has contact with individuals subject to 14 days of self isolation is advised to practice home-based self monitoring. Students in such circumstances can arrange for distance learning or make arrangements with their instructors for flexible learning; faculty and staff are allowed to work remotely from home.

4. All NCCU community members should have their temperatures taken each day, and those arriving from off campus must have their temperatures taken at the designated temperature check-points before entering the campus buildings.

5. I’d like to urge all NCCU instructors to practice QR-code attendance taking to support the epidemic prevention measures of the nation.

6. Please refrain from spreading unverified information related to the coronavirus outbreak. It is important that we all show empathy and care and provide assistance to those directly affected by self isolation, home quarantine, self monitoring, and self health management.

7. The university is making active preparations for the potential need for distance teaching and online conferencing. Such measures will be implemented as necessary.

While uncertain and dangerous, the current situation raises an important opportunity for the entire NCCU community to bravely rise to the challenge, and work together to minimize contagion, while remaining optimistic and productive despite our current difficulties.

I wish you all the very best.

Sincerely,                        

Kuo Ming-Cheng

President