Dear USAIN members and conference attendees,

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta issued a statement about the likelihood that the coronavirus will spread in the United States.  They are not currently able to say how far the disease will spread, and it is unclear how federal, state and local authorities will react in the weeks to come.

The USAIN Executive Council and our conference hosts at Texas Tech University are monitoring the situation with regard to our April conference in Lubbock.  As of this writing, we are continuing with our plans for the conference from April 26-29, which will feature pre-conferences, invited speakers, breakout sessions, posters, cornhole, learning the two-step, and much more.  

While our biennial conference is the highlight of our year and a wonderful opportunity for all of us to meet and exchange ideas, it is also important that we act in the best interests of everyone’s health, well-being and safety.  We will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with the leadership at Texas Tech and any relevant local officials, and we will keep you updated periodically on our plans if anything changes as the April conference date draws near.

The CDC is the definitive authority on disease monitoring and on guidance regarding domestic and international travel.  So far it is international travel that is being contained at higher education institutions with advisories to limit participation in study abroad programs to and from specific countries.  We are watching for any advisories that apply to domestic travel in the United States beyond the standard precautions for preventing the spread of coronavirus that are similar to those used for colds and flu.  So far, the USAIN2020 Conference is a go!

If you have questions, you may direct them to the Texas Tech conference co-chairs, Innocent Awasum and Jack Becker or the USAIN Conference co-chairs, Kristen Mastel and Melody Royster.

Sincerely,

Claudine Jenda & 

USAIN Executive Committee