Dear Howard University Community,

Thank you for your support, care, notes of encouragement and for every adjustment you have made to make the best of your new reality. As we continue to self-distance and stay at home during this global pandemic, I hope that each member of our Howard family is staying safe, both mentally and physically, while adhering to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Our University is simply not the same without your spirit; the vibrancy of students crossing the yard to meet with learned professors and staff bustling in their respective offices to keep the Hilltop running. However, every quiet, still moment from the past three weeks brings me a sense of comfort as I think of the sacrifices many of you have made in the name of our common good—sacrifices to ensure as many as possible are in a more safe and secure environment. As I look back on the spread of this virus and loss of life that has transpired since we decided to close the campus and move instruction online, I shudder to think about where we would be today had we delayed those important decisions, that at the time seemed extreme. But I am reminded time and time again—that is what Bison do. We address challenges head-on and exemplify equanimity under duress.

I extend my sincere appreciation to the staff for their dedication to being flexible and adapting to this new normal we are learning day by day. While campus staff have learned to adjust, where possible, the majority have also continued to work diligently for Howard in their telework environments. Some are adjusting to working alone and longing for their former sense of community; others are working while caring for children and home-schooling due to the closure of schools and daycares. For many, the days start earlier, and the evenings end later. In every situation, however, the commitment to our students and one another is evident as we strive to maintain bonds with our teams, remotely, and support one another to surpass the level of excellence provided before this crisis began. 

Ideally, my message today would share some good news in reporting that the worst of this pandemic is behind us and things would be returning to normal soon. Unfortunately, the reality is that local and federal government officials are predicting the surge of positive coronavirus cases is still to come in the District of Columbia and our neighboring states. Our individual response and willingness to follow the self-distancing guidelines will have a significant impact on blunting the surge. While I cannot predict what tomorrow will bring, I want to assure you that your Howard leadership team is busy making plans and preparing for both best and worst-case scenarios. This includes the hiring of twelve (12) critically essential staff who will join the organization on Monday, April 13. However, unless there is an exceptionally critical need, we will pause the hiring of any new staff until further notice.

Last week, I was pleased to commit to providing prorated refunds to students for room and board charges and ancillary fees such as parking for students, faculty and staff. We understand the significant and unexpected financial burden this pandemic has brought upon all, and we are grateful to provide some small portion of relief. Unfortunately, these actions do not happen without adding substantial budget deficits to the University’s bottom line, which will continue far beyond the end of the current semester. The transition to online instruction and remote work has had ripple effects on the revenue for all aspects of campus life, and the longer this global crisis continues, the greater the need for adjusting our budgets and altering plans for future semesters. 

Howard University Hospital (HUH)

It is expected that the District of Columbia will experience a mid-summer peak of COVID-19 infections. If a medical surge, as projected, is caused by COVID-19, D.C. alone will need access to an estimated 5,600 hospital beds. As a result, Mayor Bowser has asked all hospitals in the District of Columbia to expand capacity to 125% of our current capacity. This means that HUH will need to increase its capacity by hundreds of beds in short order. While the D.C. government will underwrite this effort, some outlay of funds by the University will be required. We are considering temporary housing for our frontline staff in one of our residence halls to assist them as best we can. We continue to prioritize obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) for our committed clinicians and testing for COVID-19.

Financial Status

The economic impact of this crisis will be far-reaching. 

As I mentioned, HUH revenue will decrease as a result of stopping all non-elective activity. Yet, our hospital expenses will increase as we expand the capacity of beds per the Mayor’s request. Again, we are evaluating the expenses associated with housing the hospital frontline workers who may have concerns about getting home, due to public transportation limitations, or about potentially exposing their families to the virus. These expenses may be as high as $20 million depending on the magnitude of the surge the COVID-19 pandemic brings to the District and our hospital. 

The University will lose significant revenue over the next three months. This cumulative deficit includes uncollected tuition, fees, room and board; a decrease in research and grant funding; a decrease in auxiliary revenue; a decrease in interest income, and a decrease in net patient service revenue as we have stopped all elective clinical activity in the faculty practice plan. This cessation of elective procedures was implemented to accommodate COVID-19 patients and reduce the risk for patients who do not need acute care. 

The reduction in revenue will amount to an estimated total of $33 million. At the same time, we will refund $6 million to students for room and board, bringing the total decrease in revenue to approximately $39 million over the next three months. We will attempt to close this deficit by decreasing non-personnel spending and effectively and efficiently using the federal funds secured in the CARES Act stimulus package. 

Further, we are delaying real estate and facilities projects, and we will not be in a financial position to provide the Summer Tuition Assistance Grant for Excellence (STAGE) grant program this year, as we do not have the revenue streams needed to support these activities.  

As we move forward and continue to modify our financial plan, our priorities will include preserving the jobs of our faculty and staff, as best we can, delivering a high-quality education, providing financial assistance to our students as their financial circumstances evolve, and giving world-class healthcare to the citizens in our community in this moment of crisis. 

Academic Updates and Distance Learning

We will continue distance learning through the Spring semester and both summer sessions. There will be no face-to-face undergraduate classes this summer. The return to clinical clerkships, internships, and practicums will be dictated by the stay-at-home orders in D.C. and other parts of the country. Additionally, to date, more than 3,000 undergraduate students have requested to receive letter grades rather than the Pass/Fail default for the semester.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to launch the College of Fine Arts in Fall 2020 as planned. We will begin the search for a new Dean this fall and plan to start the College of Fine Arts at the soonest possible moment.

Faculty Tenure Applications

We will automatically approve requests for one-year tenure clock extensions. We understand that some eligible faculty may want to continue to submit timely applications for promotion and tenure; those applications may still be submitted. We will publish the timeline for applications for promotion and tenure shortly. The timeline will be adjusted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commencement 2020

The Spring 2020 Commencement Convocation and graduation exercises remain canceled. We will continue to survey the graduating class to determine their recommendations on how to celebrate their graduation and proposed replacement activities for commencement. We will consider all recommended ideas which so far have included selecting another date, hosting a virtual ceremony, and celebrating the plans of each school or college. We will be sure to honor and highlight members of the graduating Class of 2020 and are grateful to the offices that have already taken the lead by doing so.

We empathize with the employees of our campus vendors and partners who have been impacted by the tough choices their employers made. We will continue to work with vendors and partners to take all the necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. Our vendors, partners, their employees and the well-being of our campus community are critically important to us; thus, we will work together to manage the evolving situation.  

I know many of you are asking when things will be back to “normal.” Anxiety is understandable, given the major disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact has caused to our daily lives. Obviously, I don’t have an answer to the question, “when?” but I hope we will all focus our energies on the more burning question, “how?” How will we be different? How will we assist one another? How will we grow? None of these questions can be answered successfully if we don’t center down now and purposefully experience what we are going through.  In the words of distinguished author and alumna, Zora Neale Hurston, “there are years that ask questions and years that answer.” 

Thousands have already lost their lives and by all indicators available to us now, thousands more will. The unjust reality is, African Americans are projected to be disproportionately at risk due to a higher proportion of diagnoses, as well as an outsized proportion of deaths. We must be selfless in our own suffering. Your suffering is real, and we offer our sincere thoughts and prayers to each of you. In particular, our deepest condolences to those of you who have lost close friends and family members. Our greatest wishes for a full and healthy recovery for those of you who are currently battling with COVID-19. These times demand that we remain ever mindful of the needs of others, even as we reflect on our own needs. We must put aside our grudges and wish others well, forget slights and forgive, honor the lives lost by living our own lives in the service of others, and as we manage our own pain, pray for the healing of each member of our Howard family.

This is what Bison do. For 153 years, the individuals who comprise the Howard University community have endured moments of crisis and change, meeting each moment with grit and resilience. I have no doubt we will do the same this time. We are in a crucible that will test our mettle and we will emerge stronger by living out the values we espouse and demonstrating care for others through this test.  The frontline healthcare workers serving at HUH illustrate the best of the Bison spirit.  We all owe them a debt of gratitude and I ask that you keep them foremost in your thoughts and prayers. 

For all who are observing Holy Week, this Good Friday, especially, reminds us that though loss may seem overwhelming, there is reason to rejoice and hope in the future for those who hold fast to eternal truths.

We appreciate everyone’s work to meet these evolving challenges and look forward to prevailing together.

Excellence in Truth and Service,

Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA
President