The COVID-19 Planning and Response Committee is meeting daily but has transitioned to twice-weekly communications to campus unless circumstances warrant additional communication.
NEW UPDATES:
- 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.
PREVIOUS UPDATES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Summer B classes for July will include eight face-to-face classes and two labs. The classrooms will be assigned so the number of students in each room allows for social distancing of at least six feet, and further protocols will be provided to faculty and students before the courses begin.
- The Academics and Health Services Work Teams are currently developing classroom protocols for fall that include social distancing and mask wearing. These protocols will be communicated to the campus prior to the beginning of fall classes and will be included in the common syllabus.
- Nursing clinicals for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students are expected to resume in July. The ABSN team is working with our clinical partners to ensure our students are safe in these teaching and learning environments.
- Plans for TLU’s fall athletic events are still being finalized. Athletic Directors and Presidents across our conferences are meeting to determine how things will proceed. Within the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (our conference for all sports except football), Professor of Biology Bob Jonas served on the COVID-19 task force that has provided recommendations to assist athletic directors and presidents in their work. As the faculty liaison with athletics, Dr. Jonas will continue to work with athletics to prepare for fall.
- 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