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LATEST

ALERT

Weather Alert

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM CDT FRIDAY...

The following statement was issued by the Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality.

An Air Quality Alert for Ozone has been issued for Friday, August 28
for the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area due to expected high
concentrations of ozone.

Public Health Recommendations: Persons with existing heart or
respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor
activity.

The general public is encouraged to help alleviate the problem by
reducing vehicle miles traveled by riding the bus, carpooling, or
avoiding unnecessary trips. The public is also asked to avoid
refueling during the morning and early afternoon hours, and to avoid
the use of two cycle engines such as lawn mowers, motorcycles, weed
trimmers, and outboard engines. It is also advised to limit outdoor
burning.

To view the latest air quality map, visit airnow.gov or the AirNow
app.

For hourly updates on concentrations and possible health warnings,
telephone the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality at
405-702-4100. For more information on health effects, call the
American Lung Association of Oklahoma at 405-748-4674
Alert

OU amid coronavirus: Interim President Joseph Harroz considering keeping classes online for entire academic year, furloughs, among other options

Harroz

Then-interim OU President Joseph Harroz speaks during the regents' meeting in Bizzell Memorial Library on March 10.

 Jackson Stewart/The Daily

Interim OU President Joseph Harroz said he is considering multiple options for classes in the upcoming academic year, including not returning to in-person classes for both the fall and spring semesters. He also mentioned the possibilities of furloughs for the first time.

During his address in Monday's virtual Faculty Senate meeting, Harroz said there are currently three options being explored on the topic of in-person classes during the next academic year: returning to in-person classes in the fall, returning to in-person classes in the spring, or remaining online for both the fall and spring. 

“This is a lot of scenario planning. We don’t have a lot of certainty,” Harroz said. 

The university announced it would move all classes online for the remainder of the semester on March 18 in an effort to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. OU has officially moved summer classes online through July 31, though no decision for the fall semester has yet been made. 

Harroz also mentioned the university may have to consider furloughs depending on how the situation with COVID-19 evolves. 

“As we approach this, we know we’re going to get through this. We know it’ll be a challenge,” Harroz said.

Emma Davis contributed to this report.

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