Index

Perception: UConn must be downplaying the impact of the coronavirus on campus because a major national news outlet is portraying it on a map as having several dozen more positive cases than the University’s dashboard shows.

Truth: The news outlet’s figures blend scores of positive cases recorded among UConn Health medical workers last spring – the height of the pandemic — with cases today among students and non-medical workers at UConn Storrs and the regional campuses. UConn’s dashboard is the official source of information about cases at UConn Storrs and the […]

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Perception: There’s a COVID-19 outbreak across UConn’s Storrs campus and alerts are going out directing people to avoid certain areas, which are also spreading on social media.

Truth: When a residential student tests positive for COVID, they are notified and moved to isolation space elsewhere on campus. In an abundance of caution, the university engages in contact tracing and quarantines all known close contacts.Â This often includes but is not limited to all the students who make up their small â€œfamily unitâ€ […]

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Perception: UConn has not been clear and consistent with PPE guidance, how it’ll be distributed, where policies are located and how they will be enforced.

Truth: Â Personal Protective Equipment is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that may cause serious injuries and illnesses. Face masks/coverings worn in response to CDC guidance differ from PPE in that these are worn to protect others from the exhaled germs of the wearer. Colloquially, you may have heard face masks/coverings referred to as […]

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Perception: The UConn Police Department’s budget is too large.

Truth: UConn Police provides services to all seven UConn campuses: Storrs, Hartford, Waterbury, Stamford, Avery Point, the Law School and UConn Health in Farmington, not just Storrs. This includes 24-hour, 7-day-a-week staffing year round. Despite this, the budget for the UConn Police Department represents only about 0.5% of UConn’s budget.

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Perception: The UConn Police department has military-grade weapons and other military equipment given to it by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Truth: The only items the department of Public Safety currently has that were acquired from the federal government are 13 sights for department-issued firearms and two rifles that are used for ceremonial purposes only, such as during honor guard processions at events; they are not used for law enforcement purposes.

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Perception: The UConn Police department plans to hire 20 additional officers.

Truth: No, it doesn’t. In fact, some uniformed police positions have been eliminated as a result of budget cuts made across most university departments to help close UConn’s expected deficit. Additional cuts are expected in the fiscal year ahead as part of overall cost-savings efforts university-wide. Further, UConn’s police chief is working to transition some […]

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Perception: UConn is not transparent about its student diversity numbers and does not provide breakdowns by race or ethnicity.

Truth: Information regarding the diversity of UConn student body is publicly available. Each fall, Enrollment Management produces a report regarding the incoming freshmen and transfer class for Storrs and every regional campus. The report provides data on numerous characteristics of the entering class, including a breakdown by race/ethnicity. Latest Enrollment Data ReportÂ Historical Undergraduate breakdown […]

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