The COVID-19 Planning and Response Committee is meeting daily but has transitioned to twice-weekly communications to campus unless circumstances warrant additional communication.
UPDATES FROM COVID-19 WORK TEAMS:
The COVID-19 Work Teams (Academics, Health Services, Operations, Student Activities & Events, and Communications and Employee Training) meet weekly to discuss issues and formulate recommendations related to preparing the campus for July classes and our reopening in August reopening. Recent discussions include:
- Academics Work Team: The Academics team has identified the following priorities: (1) Establishing protocols and instructions for students attending on-campus classes in July. This will include direct communication with these students to provide clear guidance on safety protocols and answer their questions. (2) A plan for the Library to continue to serve faculty and students online through July and Summer B. (3) A faculty survey to get a sense of how many fall classes could be online vs. face-to-face or hybrid to allow for social distancing. Faculty will be hearing more from Interim VPAA Annette Citzler and incoming VPAA Sarah Ferguson about recommendations for classes.
- Operations Work Team: The Operations team is establishing cleaning guidelines for campus and will begin with guidelines for classrooms. The team is also serving as the central point of contact for purchasing COVID-19 related supplies such as masks, plexiglass shields, disinfecting wipes, etc. More information will be forthcoming on supplies for academic and non-academic spaces and how to make requests for specific offices or spaces.
- Student Activities & Events Work Team: The Student Activities & Events team is discussing various options and scenarios for Bulldog Orientation as well as finalizing plans for Commencement on August 1.
- Health Services Work Team: The Health Services team will be providing an update early next week on the work they are doing related to students returning to campus, temperature checking, and protocols for faculty, staff, or students who become ill.
- Communications & Employee Training Work Team: The Communications & Employee Training team is working on the following: Livestream events with President Cottrell and work team chairs set for June and July; communication to Summer B students regarding health and safety protocols; campus signage design and printing; and a staff survey to be sent out next week to gauge staff concerns on returning to campus.
PREVIOUS UPDATES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Guidance on wearing masks on campus in June and July: The COVID-19 Planning and Response Committee continues to require all students, faculty, and staff to wear face masks in campus buildings unless you are alone in your office. TLU’s mask-wearing guidance is consistent with the CDC which makes clear that masks and social distancing measures are very effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19. As we get closer to the reopening of our campus, we will further clarify our mask policy as well as enforcement measures. Even though students are not on campus in June and there are very few faculty and staff currently working on campus, we ask you to:
- Always have a mask with you when you are on campus.
- Take your mask with you anytime you leave your office so that you can put it on if you are unable to social distance.
- Employees on our grounds crew are not expected to wear masks while working outside.
We will also be adding signage to appropriate buildings this week notifying visitors to campus that they are asked to wear a mask when inside any of our buildings.
- Emergency Aid: All students have now been mailed the COVID-19 Emergency Aid Request form. We are in the process of sending emails to the students that have submitted requests informing them of their status. You can also see the status of your application by logging into MyTLU and going to the Document Tracking section on the Financial Aid page. Students are encouraged to apply for these federal funds designed to help assist them with financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help you in this process, we are providing these eligibility details and guidelines and an attached FAQ:
- Only students who are Title IV eligible are eligible to receive the emergency grant funds. Until we receive more guidance from ED on other alternatives, the easiest way for TLU to confirm a student is Title IV eligible is for the student to file either the 19-20 or 20-21 FAFSA. The FAFSA goes through the federal eligibility checks when processed. You do not have to have received federal financial aid, but you must meet this criteria:
- Eligibility: Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. International and DACA students are not eligible for these grants. Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible degree or non-degree seeking program. i.e. not dual enrollment, auditing classes, etc.
- Purpose: Must be granted for expenses incurred after March 13, 2020, that are related to COVID-19 such as rent, utilities, course related materials, computer, printer, travel, storage, etc., related to TLU’s move to online classes and closing the campus. This is not an exhaustive list as you may have increased expenses for food, electricity, etc., from being home all the time. Please provide documentation that shows the expenses such as receipts and utility bills. Note: We are not allowed to reimburse for lost wages as they are not an expense even though they are COVID related.
- Disbursement of Funds: Funds will be disbursed by check to the student. We are not allowed to hold it on account for future semesters nor are we allowed to use it toward any student balance you may owe. Once you have received the funds, you may use the funds to either reimburse yourself for expenses already paid or, if you choose, you can use it to pay your TLU bill. If using to pay your TLU bill, you will need to pay it through your normal means of payment.
- Timing of Disbursement: Students will receive an email once their request has been reviewed and a grant awarded. Students can expect to receive the check within 5-7 days after notice is given.
- Please note: This grant is for the student and, as such, the request must be completed and signed by the student.
- Housing sign-up for 2020-2021: Priority sign-up has ended but housing for 2020-2021 is still available. The application is on the Residence Life page of My.TLU.EDU. For more details about the process, please refer to the email that was sent out earlier. For more information, please contact reslife@tlu.edu
- The ASC is open Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and is closed on the weekends.
- The fitness center and pool remains closed through at least the end of July.
Stay safe and be well!
TLU Safety and Emergency Response Committee