The following message to Chinese faculty, students, staff and scholars was delivered Feb. 28.

Dear colleagues:

Today I’m writing to you – our esteemed faculty, staff, and scholars from China – to express the University’s concern and support for you as the coronavirus continues to spread in China and beyond. We understand how worried you must be about your family and friends who are contending with the virus and its effects. As an expression of our support, we made this video, and we have shared it widely with members of our UVA family who are in China.

UVA officials are carefully monitoring the spread of the virus and listening closely to advice and directives coming from the CDC, the Virginia Department of Health, and the federal government. We are offering online resources via the coronavirus website and through the coronavirus FAQs, which we are updating frequently. If you have questions or concerns that are not addressed in these materials, please call our faculty and staff coronavirus phone line at 434-297-4027.

We have heard that some of you feel an obligation to offer support to students from China who are here at UVA. We are grateful for your willingness to comfort and advise our students in this way; at the same time, we realize that this responsibility may feel overwhelming. In addition to using the resources above, students can reach counselors at CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) at 434-243-5150, 24 hours a day. The International Studies Office (ISO) is also available to assist students who are studying here from abroad, and we have support resources available for faculty and staff through the Faculty & Employee Assistance Program. 

As we continue to contend with the coronavirus, please know that we are thinking of you and your families, friends, and colleagues, and we are committed to providing the support you need during this difficult time.

Warmly,

Liz Magill, Provost

University of Virginia