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Updates on the Atlanta campus response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Archived statements below from March 12 and earlier. For current information, please click the blue button above:
March 12, 2020 - Updated, 6:30pm
Message from Georgia Tech President, Ángel Cabrera
To the Georgia Tech community:
I can finally confirm that we will be moving all instruction to a distance format after spring break. We will use the week of March 23 as a trial and practice run, and will formally restart classes on March 30.
All students are asked to stay away from campus until at least March 29 and perhaps longer. You do not need to vacate your residence halls, but you should pack whatever equipment and instructional materials you need to follow your courses online and be prepared to be away from campus for an extended period.
We will accommodate those students who, for any reason, can’t move away from campus. If you are unable to leave campus, please contact Housing at information@housing.gatech.edu. There will be follow-up communication specifically for residential students in that circumstance.
The week of March 23 will be used for faculty and students to experiment and test systems. Please be on the lookout for communication from your faculty about testing and make yourself available beginning March 23.
Please take care of yourselves while you are away from campus and be mindful of the various safety measures you should take to avoid and prevent illness. We will keep in touch with you via email, social channels, and on the resource page at health.gatech.edu/coronavirus as the situation changes and additional decisions are made.
These are indeed difficult and stressful times, but I have no doubt we will navigate them successfully with everyone’s participation and contribution. I have full confidence in the ability of this exceptional community to respond to this challenge.
Ángel Cabrera
President
March 12, 2020
Message from Georgia Tech President, Ángel Cabrera
As of earlier today, the guidance from the University System of Georgia (USG) is that “all 26 USG institutions will remain open for face-to-face education at this time.” The message sent to Presidents of all of the USG’s institutions is included below.
Because this guidance could change as the situation evolves in metro Atlanta and beyond, it is essential that we accelerate our preparation efforts to move all classes and parts of our research and administration to a distance format.
I have instructed Provost Bras to work with all academic units to provide whatever support is needed for faculty to move their classes to a distance format on short notice. I advise all faculty to take advantage of spring break next week to plan how to best move the remainder of their courses to a distance format. I encourage all faculty and academic units to find creative solutions to help students complete their courses and progress academically should we need to adopt a distance delivery format.
In addition, I have instructed Kelly Fox, executive vice president of Administration and Finance, to prepare the administration for the eventuality that we need to move major parts of the administration to telework.
I have instructed Chaouki Abdallah, EVP of Research, to work with researchers throughout the Institute and GTRI, to ensure that all research continuity plans are up-to-date.
While no decision has been made at this point, I advise all students heading out for spring break to also prepare for the possibility that instruction could move to distance learning.
Because of the new travel restrictions put in place by the federal government last night, I have instructed our Office of International Education to immediately recall all students abroad and provide whatever assistance we can to facilitate their return and academic progression. We have also made the decision to cancel all summer study abroad, GTL, international internships, exchange programs and Georgia Tech sponsored international curricular and co-curricular travel programs. The Office of International Education will follow up with program-specific details and additional guidance by March 23.
For up-to-date guidance on Georgia Tech’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit http://health.gatech.edu/coronavirus.
I want you to know that I am assessing the situation on an hourly basis with experts inside and outside the Institute and considering multiple scenarios within the guidance of the University System and health authorities. I appreciate the work of all the members of the special task force chaired by Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Frank Neville as well as all the faculty and staff supporting them.
Please continue to take good care of yourselves and those around you. Practice good hygiene and wash your hands regularly. This video provides a good overview of steps you can take toward illness prevention and the best ways to seek appropriate health care if needed.
More importantly, I thank every member of our community for doing your part in dealing with this health emergency. I have full confidence in the ability of the Georgia Tech community to navigate these uncharted territories.
Ángel Cabrera
President
March 7, 2020
To Georgia Tech-Lorraine students, family members, and the Georgia Tech community:
The Institute's COVID 2019 Task Force has been monitoring the coronavirus outbreak closely, as the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount. At this time, Georgia Tech has canceled spring semester programs in China, South Korea, Italy, and Japan. The task force has decided that Georgia Tech will continue to operate our campus abroad, Georgia Tech-Lorraine (GTL), in Metz, France. Students and their family members should be aware that the situation is evolving and could change at any time. Students currently participating in spring semester courses at GTL will have the option to return home immediately, if they wish, or remain on the Metz campus. Students must understand that there are considerations regarding both options; these considerations will be communicated directly to the students and not posted on our public webpage.
Students will have until Monday, March 9, to inform us of their decision.
A decision regarding the Summer 2020 semester will be posted here by March 13.
We are here to answer any questions you may have, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us before making any final decisions. Please write to us using the Contact Us form on our website and we will do our best to address your concerns promptly.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Georgia Tech-Lorraine Administration
Updated the evening of March 5, 2020
Sent to Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff
Since the last campuswide communication on March 3, the number of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases continues to rise. While we are not aware of any cases connected to our campus, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff remains a primary concern. Today’s update will offer insight and guidance on some of the steps we have taken to reduce potential risk of infection. Because the situation is rapidly evolving, this guidance is subject to change. All of our communications are posted at health.gatech.edu/coronavirus.
Class Attendance
- Currently, there is no change to class schedules. We continue to recommend that anyone who is experiencing flu-like symptoms should remain at home to prevent the spread of illness. We have asked faculty to modify class attendance policies, assignment due dates and missed exams and quizzes to accommodate students who have any type of illness. Students who feel they have not been given this flexibility should contact Student Life at 404-894-2565.
Staff Attendance
- Employees who are ill should stay home. Managers are encouraged to approve telework requests for employees who are healthy enough to work but may be recovering from illness.
Campus Events
- Effective immediately, Georgia Tech is requiring that all large-scale campus events adopt enhanced public health protocols. Event organizers should increase available hand sanitizer as well as adopt more stringent pre- and post-cleaning regimens. This includes using cleaning products that disinfect and focusing on shared surfaces such as tabletops, door handles, and the like. If you have any questions about cleaning practices, email ehs@gatech.edu.
International Travel
- Students, faculty, staff and international guests visiting or returning to campus from countries at a Level 3 or higher designation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are required to notify Stamps Health Services of the recent travel, and then self-monitor and self-isolate for 14 days prior to returning to campus. If, after 14 days, you show no symptoms of illness, you can return to normal campus activities. If you experience flu-like symptoms, contact the Department of Public Health at 1-866-PUB-HLTH.
- Students living on campus who need help finding a location for isolation should contact Housing and Residence Life at 404-894-2470. Faculty and staff should remain home and work with their immediate supervisor to arrange for telecommuting and/or the means to conduct instruction online.
- Note the list of Level 3 is subject to change. The most up-to-date list is available on the CDC's website.
Georgia Tech-Sponsored Travel and Study Abroad
- All university-related travel to countries listed at Level 3 or higher on the CDC’s travel advisory have been canceled. A Tech-sponsored program to Japan has also been canceled.
- All international spring break programs sponsored by Georgia Tech have been cancelled. Domestic spring break trips will proceed as planned.
- Spring programs currently underway in countries that have not received a CDC travel notice are continuing as planned. Tech will continue to monitor any changes in travel status announced by the CDC and will communicate immediately should circumstances change.
- Summer study abroad programs, as well as classes and activities at the Georgia Tech-Lorraine campus abroad, are being assessed. Decisions will be communicated to campus by March 13.
- In the event of employee travel cancellation, Georgia Tech travel policy allows for reimbursement of some business-related expenses. Should you need to cancel travel to any of the countries affected by the travel ban, costs incurred in accordance with Georgia Tech travel polices may be reimbursable. Contact the business partner in your unit for situational questions or email abbie.coker@business.gatech.edu.
Other Prevention
- We continue to encourage everyone to follow appropriate preventative strategies, as recommended by the CDC: wash hands regularly; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; cover coughs and sneezes with tissues; avoid close contact with people who are sick; and stay home when experiencing symptoms of illness.
- Following an inventory of personal protective equipment, disinfectant cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer currently available on campus, Tech has placed additional orders to ensure there are sufficient reserves of these items on hand. Custodial staff will alter their cleaning practices to focus more on surface cleanliness and disinfection, particularly in common areas. This includes switching from green cleaning supplies to Lysol spray and Clorox disinfecting wipes, which are CDC and EPA approved for human coronavirus, and increasing the use of disinfecting foggers that are typically used in the Campus Recreation Center and Clough Commons.
We encourage you to visit the USG resource guide for the latest information concerning travel advisories and other guidance at www.usg.edu/coronavirus. You can also find additional information from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.
As we continue to learn more, we’ll keep you updated through regular communications. Please direct any questions to publichealth@gatech.edu.
Georgia Tech is a tight-knit community dedicated to the academic, professional, and personal well-being of all of its members. As we continue to monitor developments related to this global health threat, we ask that you please take care of yourselves, look out for each other, and be sensitive to one another. We are all in this together.
