TLU Faculty, Staff, and Students:
As we continue to prepare for the opening of our campus for the fall semester, we are writing to enlist your help and to provide you with timely reminders about what you can to do to contribute to a safe environment as we increase the level of activity on our campus. As we do this, we commit to the continued monitoring of our public health environment (including trends in overall Texas positivity rates and the rates for the counties where most of our students reside) and to communicating with you should there be any changes to our plans.
At this time, there are three things everyone can start doing to prepare for your return to campus.
- The TLU Health & Safety Community Pledge is live and ready to sign: If you commit to doing something and you put it in writing, you’re more likely to do it. Let’s live up to our commitment to protect ourselves and protect our community. Faculty, staff, and students will need to sign the pledge by Friday, August 21. Read and sign the Community Pledge here.
- #CampusClear Daily Self-Screening App: Recent health sciences research has shown that daily self-screening, combined with a “Fast Pass” have dramatically reduced the spread of COVID-19 in a hospital environment setting. #CampusClear is an app for faculty, staff, and students to conduct daily health self-screenings as a strategy of return-to-campus initiatives. Faculty, staff, and students (whether living on campus or off campus) should download the app and start getting familiar with it now. Everyone will be required to use it beginning Tuesday, August 25. Download and learn more about the app here.
- We are requesting students, faculty, and staff avoid close contact with others for two weeks before returning to campus, starting Monday, August 10. This means not attending or hosting large/group gatherings, limiting your outings to essential errands only (food, medical care), and always wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when you have to go to the grocery store or pharmacy. It is very important that we all take these measures to limit COVID-19 risk and exposure to the rest of our community. We know that everyone’s situation is different so please make self-quarantine plans in a manner that makes sense for you. We are relying on all community members to take very seriously the responsibility of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and self-quarantining is a critical first step.
We’ve compiled the FAQs below to help address some potential issues, and encourage you to email semc@tlu.edu with your specific question.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What if I plan to return to campus prior to August 21?
A: If you are returning on another date, we recommend that you quarantine for 14 days prior to the date you plan to return to campus for classes or work.
Q: I’m not living on campus so do I still need to quarantine?
A: Yes, it is recommended that all faculty, staff, and students quarantine 14 days prior to returning to campus. We will have individuals traveling from cities and counties across the state with various infection rates, as well as some out-of-state students, so our goal is to limit the potential for exposure to someone who is asymptomatic or hasn’t yet developed symptoms.
Q: All my classes are online and I don’t plan to be on campus. Do I have to self-quarantine?
A: If you will not be on campus as part of instruction or other activities this semester, there is no need for you to self-quarantine before the beginning of classes.
Q: My family has several people living in our home. Do we all need to self-quarantine?
A: We recognize that it is not feasible for everyone in a home to self-quarantine because they have a job to go to and/or have children or elderly family members to take care of. We are asking that you do your best to stay healthy by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and frequent hand washing, and avoiding crowds and unnecessary outings.
Q: I’m traveling to campus from out of state so when should I self-quarantine?
A: If you are traveling from out of state, you should abide by the same 14-day self-quarantine recommendation and attempt to minimize non-essential stops while on your way TLU.
Q: I have siblings who will be returning to elementary/middle/high school before I leave for TLU. Do I need to stay away from them?
A: If possible, this would be advisable; however, we understand it is not feasible in many households. In those instances, attempting to minimize interactions, as possible, with siblings who are regularly attending in-person school would do the most to decrease the likelihood of unknowingly bringing COVID-19 with you to campus.
Q: I have a part-time job to help pay for school. Do I have to tell my employer I can’t work for two weeks before school starts?
A: Again, if possible this would be advisable; however, we understand that employment is as essential as food and medicine. In those instances, adhering to self-quarantine beyond employment and other essential errands would still be the recommendation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email semc@tlu.edu. The COVID-19 Leadership Team meets twice weekly and will continue to keep you updated as our plan develops or changes.
Stay safe, be well, and wear your mask!
TLU COVID-19 Leadership Team