Chowan University's Vice President for Athletics, Patrick Mashuda, announced Thursday the formation of a small working task force within the athletic department in response to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

"The overall health and safety of our student-athletes and staff are our number one priority so forming this task force will help prepare for a hopeful return to play in the Fall semester," stated Mashuda. 

Since the announcement of the cancellation of the spring athletic seasons in March, and the transition of the University to a remote learning model in April, University and department personnel have had to shift gears to accommodate for the enormity of the virus' impact on Chowan's daily operations. This impact has had global, national, and regional ramifications but the hope for all colleges and universities across the nation will be to resume a planned school calendar that makes sense from a safety perspective. While a concrete University schedule has yet to be approved, a University Task-Force has been formed, headed by Provost Danny Moore. The task force is considering all reasonable means of bringing faculty, staff, and students back to campus in August. The CU Athletics COVID-19 Task Force will operate as a subcommittee of the University's Task Force. 

"The pandemic has changed the landscape of college athletics. We must create an environment within athletics that puts the safety of our student-athletes and staff at the least amount of risk," Mashuda continued. "We will eventually add more department staff members as we progress towards re-opening in August. We want student-athletes, staff, fans, traveling teams, and all others who come into any athletics venue on campus acts according to new guidelines and feels safe."   

The CU Athletics COVID-19 Task Force will heed guidance from the NCAA, Chowan University's COVID-19 Task Force, Conference Carolinas, the CIAA, the CDC, the department's team physician, Dr. Frank Taylor, and any state and/or federal regulations. More specific information on measures to be taken for hosting sports on the campus will be made available as we approach a full re-opening of the campus. 

CU ATHLETICS COVID-19 TASK FORCE MEMBERS

Patrick Mashuda, Vice President for Athletics 
Meredith Long, Deputy Athletic Director and SWA
Alexis Avery, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance
Lisa Bland, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine
Eric Gustafson, Director of Sports Medicine
Dr. Michelle Aiken, Head Athletic Trainer