Fall 2020 Update: Guidelines & Practices
Dear Campus Teaching Community,
Thank you for your continued commitment to teaching excellence and student success during these challenging early days of the fall semester. In an effort to help you more easily access vital information about protecting yourself and the entire campus community, I offer the information below with links that provide more detailed information about each of these concerns. You will also find all of this information in the eCampus Community of Practice for reference.
- Face coverings and face shields—All campus community members are required to wear face coverings defined as a cloth, bandana, or other type of material that covers the nose and mouth, as well as fits snugly on the face. They must be worn by all individuals (faculty, staff, students, and visitors) on campus in the following areas: (1) indoor public areas on campus, except where marked otherwise, even if you are alone (includes all non-private office or residential spaces such as lobbies, restrooms, classrooms, teaching laboratories, research laboratories, common spaces in residence halls, conference rooms, and break rooms); and (2) outdoor spaces where 6 feet of physical distancing is difficult to reliably maintain.
Face shields may be used when lecturing if you can (1) maintain at least six feet physical distance from the nearest member of your class and (2) you have a plexiglass barrier between you and the class. However, when you enter and exit the classroom, a face covering must be worn. If you have conditions that require an exemption, please contact Human Resources at hr@tamug.edu to make a formal exemption request. - Designs on face coverings—Expressive Activity on Campus policy is cited on the University’s FAQs page on face coverings page. Please consult the question “Are there limits to the design of face coverings”.
- Language for student face covering compliance in the classroom—a recommended script for offering collegial reminders to anyone not wearing a mask in the classroom is attached. You may ask for an exemption letter and if the individual does not have an exemption and refuses to comply, you may ask them to please leave the classroom space. You may also file a face covering violation report to enable our Student Conduct Office to follow up with the individual.
- Language for possible exposure—a recommended script for students who test positive, are experiencing symptoms, or have had substantial contact is included in the attachment below. They should be referred to the TAMUG Reporting Portal to help support contact tracing.
- QR Codes—The TAMUG App (found in app stores as Texas A&M University-Galveston) is being used to assist the campus with contact tracing efforts in order to minimize community spread of the COVID-19 virus when a positive case is reported. All faculty, staff and students of Texas A&M University have access to the app and are encouraged to download and register the app. A TAMU NetID and password is required for registration.
QR codes will be provided throughout campus for students to scan in as they enter and scan out as they leave. The QR code scanner in the app is the only QR code scanner that will work for this purpose. When on the home screen of the app, the scanner icon is located in the upper left corner. Upon entering a campus space, campus community members should scan the QR code located at that location. Upon leaving, they should also scan out. For classrooms, library, and dining spaces, individual desks/tables are marked with QR codes to designate available seats and to encourage physical distancing. Students will not be allowed to sit in seats that do not have QR codes affixed to them. - Free testing is available on campus for members of the community that have been exposed or are symptomatic. The test can be taken in the Sea Aggie Center. Please complete the notification form first at https://www.tamug.edu/covid-19/ReportingPortal.html For questions, contact Dee Ann Haney at haneyd@tamug.edu or 409-741-4055.
- Classroom occupancy limit—Classroom occupancy capacity to maintain physical distancing is established by the university and will be clearly marked for each classroom. Occupancy for classrooms is set at approximately 40% with 6 feet apart. For some labs, for which the room configuration allows maintaining 6 feet of separation between individuals, have been allowed to operate at 50%. Seats will be clearly identified so that students maintain a safe physical distance. In some classrooms, seats may be marked to minimize use by multiple students between cleanings.
- Contact tracing/free testing on campus—As noted above, using the QR codes support the campus’ contact tracing efforts. Please encourage students to use the TAMUG App to scan QR codes. Free testing is available on campus for members of the community that have been exposed or are symptomatic. The test can be taken in the Sea Aggie Center. Please complete the notification form first at https://www.tamug.edu/covid-19/ReportingPortal.html. For questions contact Dee Ann Haney at haneyd@tamug.edu or 409-741-4055.
- Guiding Principles of Grace—This is a challenging time for all of us. These principles were developed by the Academic Operations Deans, and I encourage you to bear them in mind as we continue through the semester.
- The far-reaching impact of the novel coronavirus, especially on delivery of instruction and related academic support services, will have a profound impact on students. While some students will adjust to these changes with ease, others will struggle. As we work with students and make decisions based on records of their academic performance, I encourage you to:
- Maintain a spirit of understanding and compassion toward students
- Consider each student’s situation individually and include all relevant factors that may have impacted scholastic performance
- Remain mindful of non-academic factors (adjustment to online learning, financial insecurity, family pressures, learning differences, connectivity, etc.) that may have impacted scholastic performance
- Recognize that impacts of COVID-19 may likely extend into future semesters.
- Live the Aggie Core Values—This semester’s success depends on the entire campus community committing to and living our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. All of our undergraduate and graduate students look to us to model leadership and courage, especially in challenging times. Following President Young’s call for all of us to lead with selfless service, I encourage you to commit to these values by taking all necessary precautions for the health and well-being of the entire TAMUG campus community. If you feel uncomfortable asking someone to wear their mask, please reach out to the Office of Academic Affairs for support and guidance.