STUDENTS    

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.

Library Laptops and Desktops
Some laptops are available for checkout for the semester. Please contact the Library for additional 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 website 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/.

To assist students who have needs related to computer hardware and internet access, 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.

Please work with your instructor to make arrangements for this situation.

We recognize the need to identify options to fulfill face-to-face requirements for hands-on experience (i.e. science labs and simulation training). The campus and academy leadership are working with officials to identify alternatives to meet requirements. Updates will be provided in the coming days.

Students and staff should email helpdesk@tamug.edu for aid in identifying available technologies, including Zoom, a video conferencing and streaming application.

Additional resources will be compiled over the coming days.

We are committed to the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, as well as supporting continued education and training. The Galveston campus will remain open to students, faculty and staff. All are advised to make decisions concerning returning to campus in the best interest of the individual. Any student, faculty or staff member at-risk should remain at their current location and take “everyday precautions” as defined by the CDC.

We will be supporting the return of students to the Galveston Campus with dining, housing and other student services. No undergraduate student is required to physically be on campus. Instructors will notify graduate students with details on how classes will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

Undergraduate student workers are allowed to report beginning March 16. Please contact your supervisor with questions or concerns.

Graduate and professional students should contact their respective programs for guidance.

Graduate assistants (research, teaching and non-teaching) are expected to return to work on March 16.

Guidance for staff that is applicable to the Galveston Campus has been issued by Texas A&M. Campus will remain open and employees are expected to continue fulfilling their normal job duties while maximizing telecommuting options when available. Employees should contact their supervisor with requests for alternate work locations (AWL). All employment-related questions concerning the coronavirus, including the use of AWL duty or any type of leave, should be emailed to benefits@tamu.edu or contact the Galveston Campus Human Resources Office directly at hr@tamug.edu.

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 in the FAQs above. 

If a COVID-19 virus is confirmed, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols will be followed. Those who have had close contact with the patient will be contacted and monitored by the Galveston County Health District. The Galveston Campus will fully support that effort.

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.

Yes, but practice social distancing and consider working in your lab rather than in cubicle area.

If you are a GAT, GAR, GANT, or otherwise employed on campus, please check with your supervisor and/or PI to determine if you can work at an alternate location.

Yes. Please work with the instructor on developing and delivering lab content.

Yes. Please work with the PI to determine priorities for the rest of the semester. For some of you, that means working from home (writing, reading, data analysis, etc.), working in the lab, or some combination of the two.

Please use zoom, skype, face time, or a combination of these things and stay on schedule. OGAPS will be providing additional guidance about getting signatures on forms and sending forms in electronically.

At this time, all field work is cancelled.

Decisions have not yet been made about the Summer 2020 term. Please check with your faculty chair or PI about any possible summer funding. As we have more information on possible funding from RGSO we will share it with departments and students.

Tiny Scanner is a great resource and is available as an app for your smart phone. Limited numbers of documents may be scanned for free.  It is also acceptable for you to take a picture and email the document from your phone. Please reach out to RGSO if you have questions or need additional assistance.

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.

Graduate and professional students should contact their respective programs for guidance. Graduate students (GARs. GATS, GANTS) should return to work on March 16

Graduate assistants are expected to return to work on Monday, March 16, and continue to perform their duties, which may be modified if need be. The goal is to maintain continuous employment status for graduate assistants to the fullest extent possible.

Graduate assistants who are self-monitoring, self-isolating, or at higher risk of getting sick from COVID-19 and need accommodations to continue their employment should notify their supervisor, PI, and department head.

GATs (Graduate Assistant Teaching): Please consult with your lead instructor/department head regarding how your assigned classes (including laboratory sections) will operate remotely and how you will be expected to provide support/remote instruction.

GARs (Graduate Assistant Research): Research operations will continue. Please consult with your PI/supervisor/coordinator and department administration to determine whether you will continue working in your typical research location or an alternative work location.

GANTs (Graduate Assistant Non-Teaching): Please consult your supervisor or report to your regular work location to discuss whether you will continue working in your typical location or an alternative work location.

Preliminary and Qualifying Exams, and Final Defenses are to proceed as scheduled. These may be done fully online at the discretion of the student and Advisor. In-person final defenses and exams should be limited in attendance to the committee and zoom for audience members. Hybrid in-person/remote meetings for the committee are recommended.

In person exams and research meetings are still allowed but must be held in a room that allows for the social distancing of 6 ft.  Virtual/remote meetings are recommended whenever possible.

Students teaching should consult their respective PI/ faculty and/or department head for guidance.

All courses are required to be available online. Requests to meet face-to-face to meet course requirements are limited to no more than 10 students and must be requested via the process listed below.

Requests should be sent Joe Pettibon (jpp2@tamu.edu), Texas A&M University Vice President for Enrollment and Academic Services and cc to Karen Butler-Purry (klbutler@tamu.edu), Texas A&M Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies and Antonietta Quigg (quigga@tamug.edu) Galveston Campus Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. This should be from the instructor to the provost through the department head. The request should include:

• Course designation
• Number of enrolled students
• If the current classroom is large enough to allow the social distancing of students and instructor, provide the building and room location (i.e. 30 seats for 10 students). If the classroom is not large enough, please indicate that you need a larger classroom.
• A justification from the faculty as to why the class would not be appropriate to move online
• A discussion on how the faculty intends to accommodate any grad students who is unable or unwilling to attend the face to face class

For all other matters relating to Graduate and Professional Studies, please refer to the email you received from Karen Butler-Purry (klbutler@tamu.edu), Texas A&M Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies.