Coastal Carolina University has launched a public health education campaign, titled "We Will (Why Will You?)," as part of its ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The campaign has been developed by students in conjunction with the Coastal Comeback Plan, which details how the University will operate during the Fall 2020 semester. Driven by a recent survey of CCU students regarding COVID-19, the campaign reinforces the importance of having all students follow University protocols established to prevent the spread of the virus.

According to Lee Carter, director of CCU's LiveWell Office and survey facilitator, the campaign's "We Will" title reflects the collective effort needed to fight the spread of COVID-19 at the University. She says the "(Why Will You?)" was added to encourage students to think about their own why's, especially when physical distancing, wearing masks, etc.

The survey included 477 student-respondents. Among the results, 95 percent of the students said they will take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19; 89 percent of the students said they will take the same precautions off campus as they do on campus to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and 80 percent said they would speak up if they see a close friend not taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Educational material being developed for the We Will campaign includes videos, a webpage, graphics, posters with QR codes, and social media posts.

"As we navigate our response to COVID-19, we are called to protect the health and safety of our campus community," said Carter. "Students, faculty, and staff must follow the guidelines outlined in the Coastal Comeback Plan so that we can continue to learn and grow together. We all have our own reasons for taking actions that protect the health of our community and the people we love. This campaign, created by CCU students, faculty, and staff working together, will continue to share messages about our community's willingness to stop the spread of COVID-19."

CCU transitioned from online instruction to in-person learning, which includes the option of live streaming, on Sept. 8. Students have the opportunity to identify the learning model that works best for them. In order to accommodate students' learning preferences, courses have been designed for face-to-face instruction and livestreaming. On-campus instruction will continue through Friday, Nov. 20, and will resume in the online environment from Monday, Nov. 30, through Friday, Dec. 4.

Click here for more information regarding CCU's efforts regarding COVID-19.