Dear TLU Faculty, Staff, and Students:
As many of you have most likely seen, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a health emergency for the city yesterday after a woman who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) visited North Star Mall on Saturday evening. While this news is worrisome, local health officials have said there is a low risk of exposure.
I want to reassure everyone who lives and works on our campus that we are actively monitoring the virus situation as it develops and are enacting contingency plans to ensure students, faculty, and staff are safeguarded while continuing to provide for learning and critical campus functions. There is no reason for panic, but it does make sense to plan well in this situation. To that end, TLU’s Safety and Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), chaired by Interim VP for Administration Bill Senter, is meeting frequently to review our emergency response plan and to ensure coordination across campus departments.
Some key steps taken so far include:
- Charla Bailey, director for international education, is in contact with the small number of TLU students who are currently studying abroad. One student is returning from Italy since the program partner decided to send students home. We have two groups of students scheduled to travel abroad in May, so we are monitoring information as it is released on the Centers for Disease Control website, including destination information and precautions that can be taken. No decision has been made to cancel these trips, but we will continue to follow reports on the countries to be visited and will make sure timely decisions are made if needed.
- The SEMC has established a coronavirus response team as well as notification protocol in the event of a confirmed case of coronavirus that could potentially impact the TLU community. The notification protocol includes coordination with local and state agencies as well as faculty, staff, students, and parents.
- In addition to notification and safety protocol, the SEMC has contingency plans for housing, campus dining, and on and off-campus events. Any decisions related to classes would be determined by the VPAA and the President, in consultation with faculty.
- Cathy Anderson, campus nurse, has posted information about coronavirus on MyTLU>Student Life>Health Services.
As spring break is less than two weeks away, I encourage everyone to stay informed by checking the Centers for Disease Control website which includes destination information and precautions that you can take to help contain the spread of the virus. Regardless of your spring break plans, it is important to proactively minimize the spread of viruses through good hygiene that includes:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
I have asked Sarah Story, VP for Admissions, Marketing & Communications, to serve as the point person for ongoing communications and updates regarding the coronavirus and its implications for our campus community. She will share information through a designated page on tlu.edu as well as MyTLU, email, and social media as appropriate.
If you have questions that are not answered through this communication or the information we will post on tlu.edu, please email the SEMC at semc@tlu.edu. The appropriate person on the committee will answer your question within 24 hours.
As we hope for the best in this serious situation, we will continue to monitor all developments to keep everyone informed on the potential impact of the coronavirus on TLU.
Thank you,
President Cottrell
Debbie Cottrell, Ph.D.
President
Texas Lutheran University
1000 W. Court St.
Seguin, TX 78155
830-372-8001
www.tlu.edu
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