Texas shield logo
Division of Diversity and Community Engagement

Division of Diversity and Community Engagement

GIVE

DDCE’s COVID-19 Resources & Updates

By ljr799 •

Resources

DellMed's Social Distancing handout
Download DellMed’s one-sheet PDF.

Updates 3/17

News from the President 

Starting on March 30, the university will be moving all spring semester classes online. Students are asked to not return to campus this semester unless there is a specific need.

Below, you will find guidance and information on policies and resources for students, faculty members and staff members.

Instruction

When classes resume on March 30, undergraduate and graduate instruction will transition to remote delivery through Zoom, Canvas and other methods. Students will have the opportunity to complete the courses for which they are currently registered, especially those who are expecting to graduate this semester. Graduate courses will also be held online.

There are exceptions to this. In these specific and unusual cases, such as clinical placements leading to professional licensure, we will review requests and faculty members will work directly with those students to make arrangements that adhere to social distancing guidelines.

If you are a student who does not have off-campus access to a computer and/or Wi-Fi, please reach out to Student Emergency Services for support.

We are asking students not to return to campus for course instruction after March 30 if they have living arrangements elsewhere.

Residence Halls 

The university is requiring students to move home from their residence halls, though emergency housing will be available on a case-by-case basis to students who have compelling reasons to remain on campus, or who do not have other living arrangements. We will provide details for how to apply for emergency campus housing in the upcoming days.

Residents who are currently on campus can begin to move out immediately.

Students who are not currently on campus will need to sign up for a time to move out via the University Housing and Dining website starting on Monday, March 23. The university will also offer pro-rated refunds on housing and dining contracts and coordinate those decisions with financial aid packages.

Recreational Sports and University Unions facilities are closed until further notice.

Campus Operations 

Staff members who are working this week to support the university’s core priorities should continue to do so, and supervisors will continually assess the staffing needs as we prepare for the rest of the semester. As a reminder, these priorities are:

  • Providing support to UT’s education and research missions in preparation for the transition to online learning;
  • Maintaining critical mission services on campus such as public safety, utilities, core administrative functions, IT support for online learning, business operations and vital research functions; and
  • Supporting students who are on campus, living in residence halls and relying on university services.

As I wrote earlier this week, I am pursuing all options to preserve your compensation regardless of your work status.

Research 

Some research — including efforts specifically related to COVID-19 — will continue, with social distancing procedures put into place in laboratories. All lab directors will make localized decisions about whether to maintain operations and are preparing shutdown procedures in case that is needed. Undergraduates will no longer participate in research in person. Graduate students may opt out of lab work at their discretion.

Meetings and Events 

All on-campus programs, gatherings and events with more than 10 people through May 1 will be canceled, postponed or moved online. These include office or faculty meetings, student programs and religious or cultural celebrations in addition to all athletics events and public performances.

As we get closer to May commencement, we will assess the public health situation to determine whether any public ceremonies are appropriate.

DDCE Office Hours

The majority of DDCE staff will be working remotely during this time of uncertainty about COVID-19. However, some of our locations remain open and will be minimally staffed to assist students as needed.

Office of the Vice President – Main 302 – Hours 9:30-3:30

Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence – SSB 4th Floor – Hours 9:00-4:00

Office for Inclusion & Equity – SSB 3rd floor – Hours 9:00-4:00 with four rotating staff members

Services for Students with Disabilities – SSB 4th Floor, Suite 4.206 – Beginning 3/23, staff representatives will be in the office daily.

You must have an ID to enter buildings on campus at this time.

Student Services Building News

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, University Health Services (UHS) will symptom check all employees, patients, visitors, and volunteers prior to entering the Student Services Building (SSB).

This includes building occupants who work in departments other than UHS. Individuals with fever or respiratory symptoms will be turned away and asked to call their healthcare provider, unless they are a student, in which case they will be seen and treated at UHS.

To help facilitate this process, all delivery people, SSB staff and contractors must enter through the north doors on either the first or ground floor. Patients with respiratory symptoms will be directed to the east doors near the dedicated respiratory clinic. All other patients and visitors must enter through the main south door.

In order to avoid the first-floor clinic on your way out of the building, take the elevator to the ground floor and exit through the north ground floor doors.

SSB Exterior Doors/Screening Stations:

  • Ground Floor / North Entrances         SSB staff, contracted employees, and deliveries
  • East Entrance                                          Students with appointments in the UHS Designated Respiratory Clinic only
  • Main Entrance on DK                            UHS patients who do not have appointments in the UHS Designated Respiratory Clinic, and visitors to other SSB departments
  • West Entrance                                        CLOSED for entry (but you can always exit through this door)

SSB Building Hours Through March 29

Monday-Friday           7:00 am-6:00 pm
Saturday-Sunday         CLOSED

SSB Meeting Room Reservations:

All SSB reservations between now and March 29 will be cancelled. New room reservations will not be processed until we have further information about the University’s plans.

Updates 3/16

The University of Texas at Austin and the DDCE are committed to the well-being of our students, staff and community. Please keep an eye on this post as we continue to make daily updates.  And please continue to check the university’s main COVID-19 website to stay informed.

Listed below are the most current University- and Division-wide updates as of Monday, March 30.

    • Many faculty and staff will be working remotely on modified schedules until students return on March 30.
    • Currently the plan for students to return by March 30 for classes remains in place—though many classes will be online and social distancing measures will be in place for others.
    • The DDCE student-serving units should plan on having someone in the office for designated times daily, especially the week of March 23-30 when students begin to return on campus.
    • Faculty and staff in need of website updates may contact Jason Molin, director of digital communications, for assistance: jmolin@austin.utexas.edu.
    • Other DDCE-specific questions can be directed to Leslie Blair, executive director of communications: leslieblair@austin.utexas.edu.
    • Employees with HR questions should contact Anne Steele, director of human resources: asteele@austin.utexas.edu.

Thank you for your flexibility ​and understanding. As this situation evolves, we will communicate all updates via this news site, social media, and e-newsletters/announcements.

Updates 3/13

UT Austin will be closing operations and cancelling classes today, Friday March 13. Disregard earlier messaging. Essential personnel only should work today. Given the rapidly evolving situation, we now believe it is in the best interest of the campus community to close operations. We will provide additional information in the coming days.

Please continue to check email and text messages for further updates from the University.