Dear Faculty and Staff, I hope you and your families are safe and healthy. The current resurgence of COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant has given rise to a new round of anxiety and concern, which is entirely understandable. To be honest, I feel the same way. While I trust that we all will take personal responsibility to mitigate the risk of the COVID-19 spread as we open for Fall Semester on August 23, I also feel that some institutional decisions regarding vaccinations, masks, meetings, exemptions and course delivery are necessary to keep our community safe. I write to you today to present these decisions. Further, I want to express my appreciation for your patience and flexibility as we plan to receive students in the midst of a rapidly changing and increasingly complex environment. As I present these steps, please also be assured that we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and are ready to pivot, should the situation warrant it in the future. Fall Classes: Seventy-eight percent of the fall classes are currently scheduled face-to-face. We understand and value the importance of in-person experience at the University of Houston but we also understand the anxiety felt by faculty and students regarding classroom density. The best way to find the right balance and address this challenge is to provide local flexibility. Therefore, we are empowering faculty members to design a soft opening for their classes for the first two weeks as long as (1) the arrangement helps reduce density in the classroom, (2) all students have at least one in-class experience every week, and (3) covered material is easily available to students not present in the classroom. You have shown a remarkable ability to innovate during the course of this pandemic and I have no doubt that you can continue to do the same during this new challenging period. Provost Short will follow up with more specific instructions in a letter. She has reinstated the Instructional Format Committee that has so ably navigated us through various challenges during the past year. Please direct specific questions and concerns about course delivery to her office. We hope that this and other initiatives described below—vaccine incentives, the masking campaign, and frequent testing—will help create a safer environment for all of us. In case there are concerns about air filtration, please note that all buildings—new and old—are now equipped with safe air filtration systems. All buildings also have sanitization stations as well as strict cleaning protocols. Please also note that the UH COVID-19 Response Team will continue to monitor the situation and be prepared to respond with alternatives, should the situation warrant a different action. I will continue to work with my Texas colleagues and state leaders to find strategies to help build a safer environment on campus. COVID-19 Vaccination
Face Coverings COVID-19 Testing Reporting Guidelines Indoor and Outdoor Events Work Accommodation: We understand that some faculty and staff may have health conditions that make them vulnerable in high-density settings. Please know that exemptions are available through the university’s established process. Please visit the COVID-19 page or the HR page for any such exemptions. Talk to your supervisor should you need a temporary accommodation. If participants are concerned about gathering in a room, it is totally appropriate to conduct faculty and staff meetings virtually. Finally, our Commencement Ceremonies for our Class of 2020 remain scheduled as planned on August 11, 12, 13 and 14 at the Fertitta Center. Be assured that the University has focused its energies on arranging this important event for our graduates, their families and our faculty and staff in a way that supports the safety of everyone in attendance. Masks will be provided on site and messaging on the importance of wearing masks will be conveyed through signage. Please know that only a third of the graduates have registered to walk and given the public health situation today, a smaller percentage may eventually participate. I remain cautious yet optimistic that if we all work together and take personal responsibility, we can successfully navigate these difficult times. My cabinet and I remain committed to providing a safe learning and working environment on campus. If you have questions or ideas, I am always available. During these unprecedented times, I can take all the help I can get. |
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