Message from the President: Spring Semester Update
Dear UTRGV Community,
The emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron variant is once again forcing many institutions to adjust operations. And while we’ve learned a lot about how to live and work in such conditions over the past two years, another unique response is needed as we face this latest challenge.
In an effort to promote the health and safety of our University community, teaching and instruction at UTRGV will temporarily be conducted via remote/online platforms, starting Tuesday, January 18, 2022 through Friday, January 28, 2022. All courses will resume according to their assigned modality on Monday, January 31, 2022.
I want to be clear that this change only affects the way courses will be taught over the first two weeks of the Spring 2022 semester.
- All campuses, facilities, and services will remain open.
- UTRGV is not shutting down.
- Courses will begin as scheduled from remote/online platforms on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
- All courses will resume according to their currently assigned modality on Monday, January 31, 2022.
We realize that some classes with certain clinical, field and/or research components, labs, art studios, performance and ensemble classes, are required to meet in person and will continue to do so during this temporary shift. Instructors of these courses will contact their students to notify them of such requirements.
Why are we making these changes?
The Omicron wave here in the United States is expected to be "sharp and fast," according to analysis by the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub, which shows most models projecting cases and hospitalizations from the current Omicron wave in Texas to peak this month (January).
By shifting our courses to remote platforms through January 28, we hope to minimize Omicron’s impact on our community, as lowering campus density and following current health protocols during the projected peak will help decrease the likelihood of new infections. Additionally, this move proactively provides students an opportunity to get vaccinated or boosted to protect themselves before rejoining in-person activities.
While this is not the way we wanted to start the semester, our leadership team determined that pivoting to remote course delivery in the short term not only protects our community during this latest surge, but also ensures that there are no further interruptions to students’ financial aid distribution and academic progress — all of which we cannot compromise as part of our commitment to safety and success.
Students: How does this affect me?
This adjustment only affects in-person (Traditional) and Hybrid/Reduced Seating courses. All other University services and facilities (i.e. dining services, libraries, computer labs, etc.) will follow current operations.
For reference, here’s how course modalities will work during and after this change:
Course Modalities
Modality
Jan. 18-28
Traditional
Online Synchronous
Face-to-Face on campus
Hybrid/Reduced Seating
Online Synchronous
Online and Face-to-Face on campus
Interactive Video
Online Synchronous
Attend in-person on campus
Online Asynchronous
Online Asynchronous
Online Asynchronous
Online Synchronous
Online Synchronous
Online Synchronous
NOTE: Accelerated Online Programs (AOP)
AOP courses in the Graduate College will continue fully online as normal and will follow their own academic calendar, which can be found here.
Employees: How does this affect me?
This operational adjustment only affects the way courses will be taught at the start of Spring 2022 and does not affect non-faculty employees. As always, we encourage those who may have unique needs to discuss their circumstances with their supervisor. Please note that all remote working arrangements must follow the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) guidelines for working remotely.
What can I do to protect myself?
GET FULLY VACCINATED OR BOOSTED
Omicron’s highly contagious nature is reemphasizing the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the current vaccines are expected to safeguard against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by the Omicron variant, and people who are recently fully vaccinated or boosted are highly protected from the virus and may only experience mild illness or be asymptomatic should a breakthrough infection occur. That’s why getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster remains your best defense going forward.
As a reminder, all active UTRGV students and employees can get vaccinated for FREE by calling and scheduling an appointment at UT Health RGV Student Health and Employee Health locations, or by calling 1-833-888-2268. Also, please remember to update your UTRGV Vaccine Portal Profile after each dose you receive (including boosters), so that we can continue to measure the overall protection of our campus community.
Updated Vaccine Guidance:
This week, the CDC expanded booster eligibility for all people ages 12 and up who completed their primary vaccine series at least five months ago. The CDC also updated its booster recommendations for Pfizer and Moderna recipients, stating those who initially received either of these vaccines should now get a third dose at least five months after the second.
Though this new guidance may be confusing, it comes at a critical time in this fight against Omicron. To better serve our campus community, we will offer vaccines at various UTRGV locations over the coming days and weeks (stay tuned for details).
COVID-19 TESTING
The Omicron surge has also increased the demand for testing and strained testing resources nationwide. Because of this, your individual case may not require you to get tested for COVID-19, especially if you have been fully vaccinated/boosted and are not symptomatic. That said, all UTRGV students and employees should continue reviewing the Daily Self-Screening questions before leaving their homes and especially before coming to campus. If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, please stay home and complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form.
Filling out that form is the first step toward determining if you need to get tested. All UTRGV students and employees should complete the form if they:
- Experience symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, shortness of breath.
- Tested positive for COVID-19, or
- Were in close contact with someone who tested positive.
If you need to get tested, a dedicated member of our COVID Response Team will contact and refer you to a UT Health RGV testing site and help expedite your testing process.
ADDITIONAL BEST PRACTICE: ON and OFF CAMPUS
These evidence-based practices are proven to be effective at preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a face covering
- Regardless of vaccination status, the use of face coverings continues to be strongly recommended in university buildings and local establishments throughout our community.
- Avoid large gatherings, especially indoors
- Whenever possible, opt for smaller or outdoor gatherings where it’s easier to keep your distance from others (at least 6 feet).
- Recommend Online or Outdoor Events
- Events should be held online or outdoors whenever possible until January 31. If an event must stay indoors, please be mindful of our masking recommendations and consider a larger space to allow for social distancing. Decisions about whether to go forward with events will be made by college, school, or departmental leadership.
All university protocols and procedures, along with the latest updates on campus operations related to Spring 2022, can be found on UTRGV’s Commitment resource website.
Despite this slight change in direction, we are still very excited and optimistic about the spring term and all that our students will accomplish in the months ahead. We remain committed to continuously monitoring infection rates and variants, and using the most current guidance from infectious disease and public health experts to make decisions in the best interest of our campus community. Thank you for doing your part to ensure the safety and success of Vaqueros here and everywhere.
Sincerely,
Guy Bailey
President