Dear faculty colleagues,
I hope you were able to enjoy the much needed break. The university is working diligently for the safe return of students, faculty members and staff as we approach the spring semester. As you probably are aware, the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities is high. Hospitals and health care workers are stretched thin, and there is limited ICU bed availability.
Although the rollout of vaccines will eventually provide relief, we must act to suppress spread in our communities. While we know that some of you may need to adjust your teaching plans and those adjustments are not without costs, we are making the following changes and recommendations for the safe start of the spring semester.
Hold your hybrid class online through the end of January.
We want to spread out the return of students to the Austin area and have asked undergraduate students to delay their return as much as possible. To support this, all hybrid undergraduate courses (except pharmacy and nursing) will be held online through the end of January. If you are teaching an entirely in-person undergraduate course, please consider voluntarily doing the same and notify your students.
Promote student testing.
We are asking all undergraduates to get tested three to five days before they return to Austin, if possible. This will allow them to isolate at home, if needed.
Please remind your students that when they return to Austin Proactive Community Testing (PCT) is free and they should test when they arrive. Testing and contact tracing will help us identify and prevent spread. Faculty and staff members can also get free PCT tests, but we are encouraging students to do so first because they are more likely to have travelled to areas of the state with high rates of infection.
Promote critical elements of good behavior.
Please remind your students that although they may not face serious consequences from contracting COVID-19, their families and our community members may be more at risk. Urge them to continue the best practices that so many of them have followed so well — wearing masks, avoiding large indoor gatherings, and limiting their contacts.
Listen to your body.
Remind your students (and one another) that it is important to pay attention to your symptoms. Allergies are common at this time of year, but don’t assume that what you’re feeling is just the result of allergies. Some symptoms of COVID-19 and allergies may feel the same. Track your symptoms and get tested if you exhibit symptoms. Many cases arise when people who have mild symptoms remain in contact with others.
Taking these steps, in addition to following proper safety and social distancing guidance, will help us limit spread as the semester begins. Students have received this information, but I appreciate your help with reinforcing these messages with your students as you communicate with them before and at the beginning of the semester.
The university will continue to monitor the situation in Austin and around the state. It may be necessary to modify our plans as conditions change. We will keep you updated of our status.
Thank you and best wishes on a successful semester.
Sincerely,
Dan Jaffe