Dear Members of our University Community?—
As we said yesterday, these are challenging times and we are grateful for every one of you. Our dedicated faculty who are working with students to ensure they can meet course requirements and make successful progress towards their degrees. Our students, especially those who would otherwise experience insecurity related to safe shelter and meals, who are cared for and caring for each other and their families. Our workforce that has transitioned to working from home, maintaining operations to ensure the long-term survival of UNH. Thank you. We are taking care of each other and great things are happening.
We want to take a minute to share with you what else we’re doing in support of those throughout the state who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the request of N.H. Governor Chris Sununu and the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, we are preparing facilities on our Durham campus to serve as overflow and surge spaces for hospitals and as quarantine housing for health personnel in partnership with the N.H. National Guard. We are offering resources in support of drive through testing and our dining hall will provide takeout meals for anyone sheltering on our Durham campus.?
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In addition, we have collected more than 45,000 pairs of gloves, nearly 11,000 surgical masks, 216 protective gowns, 4,800 N-95 respirators and 38 Tyvek suits to donate to health care facilities in our region. We are making laboratory equipment available to medical personnel as they work to combat the virus, particularly with regard to ramping up our state's testing capacity.?Faculty and staff who work regularly with their regional and state government colleagues are continuing communications to assist on a range of issues including training on virtual meeting software.
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Finally, while in-person campus activities and enrichment opportunities have been cancelled for the time being, outreach teams at all of our institutions are working to bring programs online to provide resources and support to residents and businesses who are adjusting to the upheaval of the last several weeks.
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Thank you for everything you are doing. Together we will persevere.
James W. Dean Jr.
President
Paul Dean
Associate Vice President for Public Safety and
Risk Management and Chief, UNH Police Department
