University Advancement

A Message to Our Alumni and Friends

As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, Bowling Green State University remains committed to the health and vitality of our learning community, and to the continuity of University and academic operations. We are proactively and diligently working with local, state and national agencies on efforts to safeguard our students, faculty and staff.

Many of you have asked how our students are impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. BGSU is actively working with students who may now have unforeseen financial and personal circumstances, such as barriers to returning home, elimination of on- or off-campus employment, and concerns regarding their own health and the future of their academic experience. These and other significant challenges will continue in the weeks and months ahead.

To support our students in this time of great need, BGSU encourages philanthropic support for the Student Emergency Fund

To focus our efforts on urgent priority areas of financial need, we are postponing our previously planned BGSU One Day, scheduled for April 7-8, which highlighted a broader list of giving opportunities. We are now encouraging our supporters and ambassadors of One Day to join us in securing gifts that will provide the greatest impact for our students in need.  

Actions Taken

To ensure that we maintain the high quality of the academic experience at BGSU for our students to finish the semester with no loss of time toward degree completion, while also elevating prudent safeguards for the health of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers and friends, the University is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Ohio Department of Health guidelines and implementing all of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s recommendations for higher education. To that end, BGSU has implemented the following actions:

Social distancing

• We have strongly encouraged students, faculty and staff to practice social distancingand have suspended all BGSU events through May 15, limiting exposure to high-risk large groups. 
• Face-to-face classes have moved to online learning through May 15, the end of spring semester, and students have been encouraged to return to, or remain at, their homes for the duration of this online instruction period. 
• Effective March 23, most faculty and staff will work remotely, although a small number of faculty and staff will continue to work on campus to support students who remain on campus. 
• We have ensured that employees have the systems, processes and technology necessary to continue to conduct business remotely.

Travel restrictions

• We have suspended all domestic and international travel for students, faculty and staff until May 15, and implemented processes by which we can continue to connect with constituents and colleagues remotely through video conferencing.

Protocols for illness and high risk individuals:

• We encourage screening for students, faculty and staff who recently traveled internationally and for those who have symptoms or have a close family member who tests positive for coronavirus.
• We strongly encourage those at high risk to work remotely.

We understand that you may have more questions, so we will continue to update the FAQs on the University's coronavirus website regarding changes and additional information.

In our ongoing alumni and constituent engagement efforts and our philanthropic work to support the mission and priorities of BGSU, we will remain sensitive to the current and evolving situation, while carefully considering ways to communicate – such as phone, digital media, videoconferencing – and assist you as more changes occur.

Thank you for your continued support of Bowling Green State University as we work together to keep the health and safety of our learning community a top priority during this evolving situation.

Pamela J. Conlin

Vice President, University Advancement

President & CEO, BGSU Foundation, Inc.