Quick Links

Students: Preparing for the 2021 Fall Semester - August 3, 2021

Dear Students:

We hope that all of you are staying safe and healthy, and we look forward to your return to campus this fall semester.

The safety and health of our UTRGV community and the quality of services and education we provide continue to be our priorities. That is why we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 delta variant, which is causing a surge in cases across the country and in our region.

At this time, based on current medical guidance, we are moving forward with safely operating and offering courses this fall as planned with no changes to the listed modalities. We are also prepared to pivot should the medical guidance suggest we do so.

Stay Safe and Stay Engaged!

There are currently no local, state, or national COVID-19 health mandates that enable us to require that members of the UTRGV community wear face coverings, social distance, or get vaccinated. Within these limitations, as students and student employees, it is important that the choices you make about how to interact, learn, and work on campus be informed by these proven and effective best-mitigation practices . To receive the vaccine, please log on to the  UTRGV Vaccine portal  and schedule an appointment or simply walk in to our student and/or employee health clinics in Brownsville, Edinburg or Harlingen.

It is also important that we remain in constant contact, particularly as the delta variant continues to spread. We will continue to email you to address developments of direct impact on your work, and all the latest updates and resources will also be available on our Welcome Back website .

We know that many of you have questions, and we encourage you to address them by reaching out to your professor, supervisor and/or the Dean of Students at 956-665-2260 or dos@utrgv.edu .

Frequently Asked Questions

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section is currently being populated on the Welcome Back website. If you have a FAQ that you would like to submit, email it to WelcomeBack@utrgv.edu , and we will work to answer it as best we can. As you know, this is an ever-changing situation, so as information becomes available so will answers to our questions.

In the meantime, we have compiled some of the most popular FAQs from students. Again, please visit the Welcome Back website for additional FAQs , which will be expanded and updated throughout the semester.

As always, thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students. We will continue to work diligently to keep you informed and prepared to help ensure that you experience a safe and successful fall semester.

Sincerely,

Dr. Janna Arney, Deputy President and Interim Provost
Dr. Michael Hocker, Dean, School of Medicine

FAQs

What will Fall 2021 look like?

Like all semesters, UTRGV is planning the  Fall 2021  semester around your safety and success.

While many of you have been safely learning and working in person throughout the pandemic, our plan is to offer about 60% of all courses in the Traditional (face-to-face) and Hybrid/Reduced Seating modalities to help re-instill vibrancy — and normalcy — on campus. But, while more than half of all courses will be conducted completely in person, 40% of classes will be taken completely online (Asynchronously/Synchronously).

What if I enrolled in a traditional and/or hybrid course but now I am concerned about returning to campus?

If you are concerned about returning to campus, we strongly encourage you to get vaccinated and wear a face covering at all times.

As always, if you have a documented health or medical condition that impacts a major life activity requiring  academic accommodations, please reach out to Student Accessibility Services  at 956-665-7005 / 956-882-7374 or ability@utrgv.edu .

What is UTRGV doing to help ensure that face-to-face classes are safe?

Unlike this past year, there are no local, state or federal health mandates that the university can enforce, but we are strongly encouraging all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated and to continue wearing face coverings indoors. These two safety measures are proven to help mitigate exposure to COVID-19, including the delta variant, and are your best defense regardless of what those around you, including colleagues and students, choose to do.

Additionally, academic buildings will continue to be stocked with hand sanitizer and sanitation wipe stations.

Will UTRGV move all classes online, like it did last year, if the pandemic gets worse?

We are prepared to alter our fall plans if the medical guidance suggests we do so. We also know that many students are looking forward to returning to campus because they prefer face-to-face teaching formats. UTRGV will do its best to keep everyone safe and maintain the course modalities students selected.

Are students, faculty and staff required to wear face coverings in the classroom, lab, office, or any other indoor setting?

No. As a state public institution, UTRGV may not require/mandate anyone to wear a face covering. However, the university strongly encourages students, faculty, staff and visitors to continue wearing face coverings, particularly to help slow the spread of the delta variant. Being vaccinated and wearing a face covering is your best defense regardless of what those around you choose to do.

If not required, may I ask students, faculty or staff to wear a face covering in the classroom, lab, office or any other indoor setting?

Yes, you may ask and strongly encourage, but everyone has a right to choose not to do so because we cannot require the wearing of face coverings. If a person refuses to wear a face covering, you can still protect yourself by getting vaccinated and wearing your own face covering.

Will social distancing and classroom capacity limits still be enforced?

No, social distancing will not be enforced, and classrooms will return to full capacity. As we transition to these changes, we highly encourage all campus community members to get vaccinated and to wear face coverings to help mitigate COVID-19 exposure.