FACULTY & STAFF    

Staff positions (budgeted, temp/casual, full-time or part-time).

Faculty positions (APT, tenure-track or tenure-review-upon-hire, full-time or part-time) – For additional information, visit the Dean of Faculties website.

Positions that are paid 100% on sponsored research funds (ex., 4XXXXX accounts) are excluded from the new hiring authorization process. For additional information, visit the Division of Research website.

Student employee positions are excluded from the new hiring authorization process.

Library Laptops and Desktops
Some laptops will be available for checkout for the semester. Please contact the library for more information.

The Studio
The Studio is available for assistance with creating videos and other media. There will be no equipment check-out at this time. The One Button Studio is available to easily create videos and we will provide walk-in assistance. In addition students can walk in to get assistance with:

• Zoom
• Camtasia
• Filming
• Adobe products (with temporary free at-home access)

Information Technology
The department of Information Technology is developing a variety of resources to assist students in this transition to online learning. More details will be provided as they are finalized; please visit the Department of Information Technology for ongoing updates.

Internet
Please know that wifi.xfinity.com hotspots across the country are available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity internet subscribers. Once at a hotspot, students should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser. (It works best if students download the app.) Galveston has a number of hotspots: https://hotspots.wifi.comcast.com/mobile/.

Additional resources are also available on the TAMUG COVID-19 Support page.

Texas A&M University in College Station has created a mandatory reporting portal for all students, faculty and staff traveling internationally. This does not include domestic travel at this time.

Information pertaining to Texas A&M University’s response to COVID-19 is available here. As a branch campus of Texas A&M, we adhere to all policies and protocols unless specifically referenced.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid sharing food, beverages, and utensils. Avoid close contact with those who may be ill. Stay home when you are sick or have flu symptoms. Cover cough/sneeze with a tissue or cough/sneeze into your elbow. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces. Get your annual flu shot.

• If you are feeling ill, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
• Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care or other healthcare facility without calling first. Your provider may need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic. Telemedicine may also be available, enabling you to consult a provider from home.
• Check with your health insurance provider. If you have symptoms such as a cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your primary care doctor first.
• Do not go to an emergency room. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.
• Practice social distancing. Stay indoors and avoid contact with others, just as you would with the flu. Those with contagious diseases should stay home from work or school until they are well. People with fever, cough and respiratory issues should seek immediate medical attention.
• Those with upper respiratory symptoms should remain home and input leave through Workday. For additional guidance specific to Workday please email benefits@tamug.edu.

Yes. According to guidance from the Department of Labor (DOL), Texas A&M System members are covered employers under the Act, regardless of the number of employees they employ because they are a public agencies.

Yes. According to DOL guidance, covered employers must post a notice of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requirements in a conspicuous place on its premises. An employer may satisfy this requirement by emailing or direct mailing this notice to employees, or posting this notice on an employee information internal or external website.

The notice has been posted on the bulletin board outside the Human Resources Offices and added to the website on the required posters page.

• Required Posters
• FFCRA Notice FAQs
• FFCRA Employee Rights

The following updates were announced by the System Benefits Administration for A&M Care health plan members and/or those on the student insurance and graduate student employee plans:

• The deadline for completing the 2-Step Wellness Incentive Program in MyEvive has been extended from June 30, 2020 to August 31, 2020.  For more information on the Wellness Incentive Plan, see the System Benefits Administration
• Effective March 16, A&M Care health plan members, as well as those on the student insurance and graduate student employee plan, can receive telemedicine services from their network physicians for medically necessary, covered medical and behavioral health services for a $0 copay through April 30.  The claim must indicate services were provided via telemedicine/telehealth to qualify.
• As of March 16, all co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles for COVID-19 testing consistent with the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been waived by all A&M System health plans, until further notice.
• Due to the closing of day cares and employers directing employees to work from home, employees are eligible to reduce their dependent day care flexible spending account contributions through a Life Event Benefit Change. They will be able to change their deductions again when they return to work, as it will still be considered a Life Event.

If you have any questions please email benefits@tamu.edu.

Yes, MD LIVE Inc. Telehealth Services is available at no cost to facilitate access to medical care for all A&M Care members. Get access to health care 24 hours a day, seven days a week by online video, mobile app or phone. MD LIVE Inc. Telehealth Services provides safe and convenient care for non-emergency medical and behavioral health conditions, including the common cold and flu, ear problems, headaches, nausea and more. 

• To use MDLive, have your BCBSTX member ID card ready, and:
  • go to http://mdlive.com/bcbstx and activate your account,
  • download the MDLive app on your phone, or
  • call customer service at 1.888.680.8646.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been stressful for many people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause a host of emotional responses.  TAMU Counseling & Psychological Services has compiled a page with ways to care for your mental health during these experiences and provides resources for more help. It also describes feelings and thoughts you may have during and after social distancing and/or self-isolation.

• Employees should contact their physician and/or Work/Life Solutions Program by GuidanceResources®. Work/Life Solutions employee assistance program offers a variety of services including consultations with clinicians for anxiety, depression, stress, grief, loss, life adjustments, relationship challenges, marital conflicts, etc..
• Additional information is available at CDC Guidance on Managing Anxiety & Stress during COVID-19

Yes. For the new A&M Care Two-Step Wellness Incentive, no one is required to complete an annual wellness exam in order to qualify for the wellness incentive next year (Sept 1, 2020 – Aug 31, 2021). One of the features of the Two-Step Wellness Incentive Plan is that you are allowed to pick any 2 of the 5-6 personalized options in your MyEvive checklist. Traditionally, the completion of an annual wellness exam was required, but not under the Two-Step program. All benefit eligible employees and their spouses may select any 2 items on their MyEvive checklist to receive credit so long as both items are completed prior to June 30, 2020. For more information on the incentive program and MyEvive, visit the Two-Step Wellness Incentive Website.

Employees in this situation should promptly notify their manager of the reason for their absence and the anticipated date of return to work. Children may not be brought to work for safety reasons. If the employee is able to work from home with an approved Alternate Work Location (AWL) while supervising their child, the employee will be paid for hours worked. Otherwise, employees may take other paid leaves as applicable to their position and situation. Leave information can be found at https://employees.tamu.edu/employee-relations/leave/.

The Department of Information Technology has a number of resources available to students, faculty and staff. Additional audience-specific support is also available through the sites listed below:

• A virtual academic helpdesk has been created, Keep Learning Galveston, which provides a number of resources traditionally offered on campus, including an AskAgs Help Desk for immediate assistance.
• Additionally, the Adobe Creative Cloud produces are free for student access. Instructions for activating this suite is available here.
• A virtual Teaching Commons is available for faculty to aid in online transition and for ongoing support needs.

Additional support resources are available on the TAMUG COVID-19 Support page.

Information pertaining to Texas A&M University’s response to COVID-19 is available here. As a branch campus of Texas A&M, we adhere to all policies and protocols unless specifically referenced in the FAQs above. 

All faculty-led programs, field trips and student-led international trips that will depart the U.S. on or prior to June 30, 2020 are cancelled. Education Abroad will send an announcement to all registered students with additional information.

The Galveston Campus is following the same guidance and protocols issued by Texas A&M University. Research laboratories and facilities are expected to continue operations, under the guidance being provided. Researchers are advised to consider ways to scale back or delay research projects in the event it becomes necessary to further reduce or even halt laboratory research operations. Individual labs need to carefully evaluate how to reduce staffing and to allow students, post-docs, and other lab staff to work remotely as much as possible. Social distancing and other public health measures should be practiced at all times. Additional guidance from Texas A&M and the Galveston Campus is available here: https://vpr.tamu.edu/covid-19.

Yes, the performance review process will begin as scheduled. Performance reviews are fully automated using Workday and performance discussions can be done remotely using technology such as Zoom. However, due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the Performance Review Period will be extended one month (end June 30th versus May 31st).