Campus Message - March 17, 2020

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17 March 2020

Colleagues,

I sincerely hope that this finds you all well and taking care to avoid coronavirus exposure. I am writing to update you on the status of some of our classes. On Friday, the USG determined that several system-wide and collaborative online programs will continue without interruption on their original calendars. These are eCore, WebMBA, GOML, and eLanguage courses. At that time, the USG also opened the door for campuses to receive permission to continue some of our online programs on their original calendars. After much discussion, we requested and received permission from the USG to continue our fully online graduate programs without the suspension. The VSU online programs approved for continuation on their original calendars are:

M.Ed. Adult and Career Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Elementary Education, Instructional Technology, Middle Grades Math and Science
Ed.S. Coaching and Career Pedagogy, Educational Leadership, Instructional Technology, School Counseling, Special Education, Teacher Leadership
M.S. Criminal Justice
Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction, Leadership
M.A. English Studies for Language Arts Teachers
M.A.T. ESOL, Foreign Language, Health & Physical Education, Special Education
MBA Healthcare Administration
MLIS Library and Information Science
MPA, DPA Public Administration
MSN Nursing (online components)

All other online and face-to-face courses are suspended until March 30. At that time, all face-to-face classes will transition to online for the remainder of the semester. In the interim, eLearning and CELT have made a number of resources available to faculty to aid in this transition to all online learning and will continue to support faculty throughout the semester. Further information will be sent out from these offices very soon. In addition, Student Success will provide continuing tutoring and supplemental instruction services virtually for the rest of the semester. As a reminder, during this suspension of classes, faculty should not ask students to turn in assignments, take tests and so on, except in those classes that have been approved for continuation. If you have any questions, please contact your department head or dean. I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication during this challenging time. Best regards.

Bob

Robert T. Smith, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Mathematics
Valdosta State University
1500 N. Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA 31698
229-333-5950 (voice), 229-333-7400 (fax)

REPORT HEALTH CONCERNS

Key term: Close Contact - this is defined as being within six (6) feet of an individual for more than 15 minutes regardless of whether a face covering is worn.

EMPLOYEES DO NOT come on campus if you believe you have been in close contact with a person having COVID or yourself having symptoms or receiving a positive diagnosis. Instead, notify your supervisor of your absence, seek medical services from your primary care provider, and self-report your information by completing the online form or contacting HR directly at 229-333-5709.

STUDENTS DO NOT come on campus nor go directly to the Student Health Center if you believe you have been exposed to COVID. Instead, call the Health Services at 229-333-5886 to speak with a triage nurse over the phone. Additional guidance will be provided on how to access the health center facility. The health center remains open for walk-in patients with non-COVID medical needs.

Members of the campus community should report all instances of close contact with a person having COVID or themselves receiving a positive diagnosis of COVID. To assist with reporting, a COVID Self Reporting link has been added within MyVSU.

If you have been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine, you should do so at your permanent home for the period given unless it should be extended due to remaining symptoms.

Report a Social Distance Concern