Faculty Affairs Update – Jan. 27

Dear faculty colleagues,

Just a reminder that as of the start of next week, on Monday, January 31st, we are reverting to in-person instruction. Below are a few resources, reminders and updates to keep in mind for the start of the semester.


COVID-19 Exposure Guide

The following linked chart provides guidance on what to do if exposed to someone with COVID-19 during an in-person course or lab or, of course, anywhere. The instructions vary based on whether you’re vaccinated and boosted or not vaccinated. We continue to recommend a mask and social distancing during in-person instruction and interactions.

New Resource in Canvas for SSD Testing Accommodations

Starting this semester, RegisterBlast, a new reservation system available by default on your Canvas course menu, is being used to book accommodated tests in the Campus Testing Center (CTC). The reservation system changes the test request process to be instructor-initiated, rather than the previous student-initiated process. More information on how to use RegisterBlast is available on the How to Reserve Space in the Campus Testing Center page.

Deadline Approaching: Nominations & Applications – Provost’s Distinguished Service Academy (DSA)

The call for nominations and applications for the Provost’s Distinguished Service Academy (DSA) is open. The DSA represents a formal organization of distinguished tenured and senior professional-track faculty members with extraordinary achievements, particularly in terms of their excellence in mentorship and service to their college or school, the university, the State of Texas and the nation. The application deadline is Tuesday, February 1, 2022. To learn more about the application process, please visit the website or email facultyawards@utexas.edu.

Deadline Approaching: Applications – Faculty Ombuds

We are seeking applications for Faculty Ombuds, an office that provides faculty a prompt and professional way to resolve concerns and conflicts beyond turning to their supervisors. The application should be submitted online no later than Monday, January 31. To learn more about the two-year appointment and submit an application or nomination, visit the position announcement here. 

Deadline Approaching: Award Nominations – February 11, 2022

Nominations for the William David Blunk Memorial Professorship, Dads’ Association Centennial Teaching Fellowships, and Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Endowed Excellence Award are due to Faculty Affairs by February 11, 2022. For more information on the awards, visit the website or contact your college contact for nomination information.

UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award- Nomination Deadline April 18, 2022

Each year the Sidney E. Mezes Faculty Donation Committee recommends monetary awards to provide financial support for faculty members who may be in need of assistance due to unexpected circumstances, such as an illness, accident or other calamity. Faculty experiencing a hardship may self-nominate, and/or their colleagues are encouraged to submit nominations. To find out more about the award, apply, or nominate a colleague, please visit the faculty awards website or email facultyawards@utexas.edu.

Reminder: Texas Teach-Up

On February 9 and 10, Texas Teach-Up will take place for the observation of Spring 2022 course instruction. Instructors will have the opportunity to observe both in-person and virtual undergraduate courses across many disciplines and will also have opportunities to reflect on the intersections between the course observed and their own current and upcoming courses. You can learn more and find the schedule here.

Commons Conference Center Hosting Hybrid/Virtual/In-Person Events

The Commons Conference Center at Pickle Campus is ready to host in-person and hybrid/virtual events. The Commons is ready to help you plan your next big team meeting, training seminar, or large conference featuring streaming options, phenomenal in-house catering, registration services with Cvent, ample parking and detail-oriented conference coordinators. Our priority is keeping our guests safe while allowing everyone to participate and collaborate. View the Commons Conference Center website for more information or reach out to the team for questions.

Flexible Accommodations for Students

Unfortunately, there are still significant processing delays for students’ disability accommodation requests. This means that students with verified disabilities might not have been able to schedule an intake appointment that leads to formal approval of their necessary accommodations. We strongly encourage faculty to continue adopting flexible accommodations for students who are still unable to secure intake appointments with SSD. Please consider using the ideas for best supporting our students that were offered by our Services for Students with Disabilities team in an email that they recently disseminated. In addition, Provost Wood sent a message with recommendations for how to operationalize flexible instructional practices and we hope that you will consider incorporating those into your teaching. You can find the provost’s message here.

Please reach out with any faculty-related questions to the Faculty Affairs team. For COVID-19-related questions, please continue to check the Protect Texas Together website for the latest information and guidance.

 

Stay well,

Tasha Beretvas

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