FAQs

President Cauce has asked all units to suspend non-essential new hiring. Reach out to Organization Effectiveness & Human Resources with questions about hiring.

Before deciding that there isn’t work, It is required that supervisors contact UW Bothell OE/HR (uwboehr@uw.edu) to discuss employees who are in regular, temporary hourly, and student positions in which no telework of any kind is possible. We will work with you to discuss options. If work at home options including professional development options have been exhausted, we can explore additional options.

• OE/HR SharePoint On-Line Training Resources
• Performance Development

As a result of House Bill 2739, signed into law on March 17, the state of Washington’s Shared Leave Program has been expanded to cover COVID-19 related absences.

Staff may request shared leave donations if they, their relative, or household member has a confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus infection or is isolated or quarantined as recommended, requested, or ordered by a public health official or healthcare provider as a result of suspected or confirmed infection with or exposure to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Read more on UWHR’s Working through COVID-19 website. You can also learn more on the Shared Leave Program website including the changes described above and how to apply.

These are extraordinary times and we all need to think about ways that we can take care of ourselves and each other. UW CareLink is available if you find you need to talk with someone 24/7 (1-866-598-3978). The OE/HR team is always here to help you as well. Please contact uwboehr@uw.edu if you have questions.

At this time, campus buildings, including the library, are only open to staff and faculty who have been deemed “critical”.

For fall quarter, UW Bothell will offer a hybrid model to include both on-campus and remote classes. We will continue to monitor events as they develop and respond in ways that protect the health, safety, and well-being of our community. 

Students can access courses in Canvas by visiting canvas.uw.edu or by clicking on the Canvas LMS link in the Quick Links box the MyUW site. Additionally, we recommend downloading the Canvas app from the App store on your mobile phone. Faculty members not using the Canvas learning management systems will contact students with instructions.

Summer and Fall quarter courses will be taught by the same faculty who were scheduled to teach them on campus. Here are some strategies for adapting to learning online and for communicating effectively in remote classes.

Students should log in to their courses multiple times per week and should check email daily.

Students should check with their instructors first on the materials required for class. Many instructors are choosing e-books and other online materials this quarter, however not all texts are available as e-books. The Campus Library is also proactively purchasing e-books for course texts, when available, but there may be limits on the number of simultaneous users. If you require a physical copy of the book, you can order from the University Bookstore which is offering free shipping.

Unless you have seen that your class has been canceled, or you have received a communication from an instructor or program/department representative about the class indicating that major changes are underway, you can assume that the substance of your class remains intact.

Please contact your instructor immediately. They will work with you to make up missed assignments and material. If you are unable to connect with your instructor, please contact your academic advisor.

S grades for spring quarter 2020 and summer quarter 2020 will count toward degree and graduation requirements, as spring 2020 and summer 2020 has been designated as an extraordinary circumstances quarter. There will be no limit on the number of credits for spring 2020 and summer 2020 that may have S/NS grading.

Beginning June 17, undergraduate students may change a numeric grade to S/NS, or change an S/NS grade to numeric during any quarter designated as an extraordinary circumstances quarter. Students may change their grade mode for spring 2020 and summer 2020 courses at any time until they graduate – even if that is a year or more away. Spring 2020 graduating seniors have until July 8 (when spring degree posting closes) to request the change.

To request a change of S/NS to numeric, or numeric grade to S/NS, use the late grading option change form. 

Starting June 17, and until they graduate, undergraduate students may change a numeric grade to S/NS or vice versa during any quarter designated an extraordinary circumstances quarter.

S grades will count toward degree requirements. Previously, S only counted for elective courses and students could only take 25 credits as S/NS. As an example, with the limit on S/NS grades lifted for spring, all credits taken in spring 2020 could be converted to S and still count toward a major or degree.

Please visit the Student Help for Learning Online for information about how to adapt to remote learning. has been created and will continue to be updated with resources to support students during this remote instruction period.

UW Bothell IT has a limited number of Windows operating system laptops and WiFi hotspots available to lend to students. If you have a need for basic technology, please complete this technology needs survey. Additionally, students can submit an emergency fund request to get support for purchasing personal technology equipment.

Here are some strategies for dealing with low-bandwidth issues. Students without reliable internet access should complete this technology needs survey or contact their advisor as soon as possible.

Students encountering technical problems should visit the Request Help section of UW Bothell’s Student Help for Online Learning page and click on the link that best reflects their support needs.

Please consult the UW COVID-19 Financial Aid FAQ page for answers to common financial aid and work study questions. Students can fill out a revision request on that page if they need to change their financial aid package. Students can also contact the UWB Financial Aid Office with additional questions by emailing uwbfaid@uw.edu or calling 425-352-5240.

Students with a documented disability or who suspect they have a condition that may negatively impact their ability to succeed academically, should contact Disability Resources for Students. Those without active accommodations should complete the application for new students and make an make an appointment through EAB Navigate. Students are encouraged to upload their documentation of disability directly into their application for new students. After completing the application, students will be contacted to schedule an Access Planning Meeting to discuss their needs and requests.

The Writing and Communication Center and Quantitative Skills Center will be providing remote services through the Zoom platform and by email. Please click on the links above for times and instructions for connecting.

While the UW Bothell / Cascadia College Campus Library building are not yet open to the public, library staff are working remotely and are available to help students. Visit the Library’s Online Learning Support page for current information. Library services include a 24/7 real-time, online question service for immediate research help.

The UW Bothell Counseling Center is providing services remotely. Students can learn more by visiting the UW Bothell Counseling Center website or by calling 425-352-3183.

Students can schedule appointments with most advisors through EAB Navigate. Students unable to locate their advisor in EAB Navigate, should visit the UW Bothell Advising page and click through to their school information to find phone numbers, emails, and other contact options.

Students should review the UW Coronavirus Information for F1 & J1 Students page for the most current information. International students can email the UWB Center for International Education at uwbintl@uw.edu with any concern or questions.

Registration for courses has not changed. Students can register using MyPlan Academic Planner or can register through MyUW using the course’s schedule line number (SLN). Students may need to work with their program office to verify they have met course prerequisites in order to register for some courses.

The UW Bothell withdrawal policy has not changed. Students may withdraw through MyUW through the 7th week of the quarter. After the 7th week through the last day of instruction for the quarter, students will need to submit an official withdrawal form to the Office of the Registrar (uwbreg@uw.edu) or by mail to Box 358500, 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011. The Quarter-Off policy remains in effect for undergraduates. Graduate students who choose to withdraw prior to the start of the quarter will follow the On-Leave policy. Students on an F-1 visa should contact the Center for International Education for guidance. Withdrawal must be done PRIOR to the 8th calendar day of the quarter to avoid paying tuition forfeiture and fees.

The add/drop/fee deadlines will not be extended and will continue to follow the Academic Calendar. Students can select the Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory (S/NS) grading option through the 7th week of the quarter. For quarters that are designated as Extraordinary Circumstances Quarter (Spring and Summer 2020), students may use the late grading option change form after the faculty grading deadline each quarter to request theo change their grading from numeric to S/NS or S/NS to numeric grading. Students can petition to drop a course by submitting a former quarter drop petition within one year of the quarter being petitioned.

Please read UW Academic HR’s page, Extension of promotion/tenure clock due to COVID-19, for details on how the promotion and tenure timelines are being affected.

All UW libraries are to be closed per the Provost and President. Remote library services will be provided. See the UWB Library’s Online Learning Support guide for more information.

Student Help for Learning Online has been created and will continue to be updated with resources to support students during this remote instruction period. This page includes information to address student inequities in terms of access to technology

If a faculty or staff member is concerned about a specific student’s access to technology (including computers and internet), we encourage you to submit a NAVIGATE Academic Alert by logging into uwb.campus.eab.com and selecting “Issue an Alert” from the Actions box on the right. They can then search on the student's name and select “COVID-19: Student Has Limited Access to Technology” as an alert reason. Please include a brief note in the comments box with specific needs.

The UW Bothell IT Instructional Continuity webpage provides resources to help faculty prepare and conduct classes during remote instruction. UW Bothell IT has developed a basic 10-week Canvas course template to help faculty get started transitioning their teaching to Canvas. The template includes instructions to help faculty build their course and a primer module specially designed to orient students to learning remotely. Our IT Digital Learning team is available to help you transition to remote teaching so please email uwbit@uw.edu for help.

Please see the Disability Resources for Students COVID-19 FAQs

Please see the University of Washington's FAQ section on health, wellness and prevention

Please see the University of Washington's FAQ about research and laboratory operations.

Yes, if you have been designated as “critical personnel” by your supervisor to carry out this work, and if you follow the safety conditions:

• Social distancing of at least 6 feet
• Frequent laboratory decontamination procedures
• Personal safety with appropriate personal protective equipment and frequent hand-washing

Certain types of human subjects research are not allowed. Be sure to check this link for that information. Note that some Schools, Colleges, or Departments may make local decisions about undergraduate research that are more restrictive. Be sure to check with your unit head about this. For other research, undergraduates may carry out research remotely. If the research is critical, they may carry out in-person research, but only if they are deemed critical personnel. If they are deemed critical personnel, they must follow the required safety conditions.

For more information, visit the University of Washington’s page on research continuity: Mitigating Impacts to Research Activities Due to COVID-19.

No. The University has not declared “suspended operations” and there is currently no intention to do so. A suspension of operations is generally invoked when there are physical challenges that make the campus unsafe, such as snow and ice. As a reminder, the University never closes. Instead, for the COVID-19 crisis, we have transitioned to what we are terming restricted operations and operate in accordance with orders from the Governor and public health agencies.

UW Bothell follows the protocol recommended by the UW Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) department. Their cleaning and disinfection protocols for campus partners comply with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing the spread of coronavirus.

The University’s custodial cleaning program follows the cleaning and disinfection protocols to daily clean high touch points such as door handles, banisters, and elevator buttons, public and common area restrooms, and break rooms. In addition, cleaning and custodial staff have increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection activities across campus as an additional preventive measure.

Hand sanitizer dispensers and containers with at least 60% alcohol concentration have been placed throughout each campus in high traffic areas and locations where soap and hot water are not readily available. More dispensers and containers will be added as inventory becomes available.

When a person diagnosed with COVID-19 is known to have been on campus, the specific locations where the person spent time are evaluated for enhanced cleaning and disinfection, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Visit www.uwb.edu/finance/coronavirus for information on tracking COVID-19 losses and expenditures. There is also information on equipment purchasing and procard reconciliation. Faculty and staff can email uwbfisc@uw.edu with specific questions.