Campus Operations Updates, Social Distancing in the Classroom, University Testing Services, and more!
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Return to Campus
News for Students
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Message from Dean of Students
Bill McDonald
Dear Students:
Game time! Classes officially begin tomorrow. I know many of you, like me, are excited to be back on campus. Some of you, like me, may be a bit nervous and wonder how we are going to manage new classroom models (e.g. in person, online or a hybrid of the two), as well as campus involvement in keeping with our new reality.
In all cases, remember you are here to pursue your education to find your place in the world to make a positive difference. Following are some points I encourage you to remember:
- Connect with the faculty and staff who are here to support and challenge you. They will be mentors and resources for managing the societal challenges of the pandemic, social and racial injustice, economic recession and changing global climate among a whole host of other issues.
- Learn all you can about managing conflict and disagreement in constructive ways to build a stronger sense of inclusive community for everyone, on- and off-campus.
- Do not be afraid to explore your interests through a variety of classes and activities. You never know when you will discover your true passion to help achieve your goals.
- Take care of the basics: make wise decisions, be aware of your surroundings, and be your own best advocate at all times.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly in this moment, model healthy approaches when navigating the campus and participating in your off-campus activities. All of us love the University of Georgia, and we must strive together to prevent COVID-19 from deterring us in accomplishing the institution’s mission to teach, to serve and to inquire in the nature of things. So, wear a mask and encourage others who are not to do the same. Remember to practice social distancing (six feet apart) at all times, even when you are outside, especially around other groups of people.
Please know that I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your ideas and concerns about how we can best serve each other and the University as we start another academic year. Feel free to reach out to us in the Office of the Dean of Students and we will find a mutually convenient time to connect. Until then, Georgia Strong! Dawg Strong!
Best wishes,
Dr. Bill
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Stay Dawg Strong Outdoors
Remember to stay 6 feet apart outdoors, whether you have your face covering on or not (but put your face covering on if you're near other people). It takes each one of us to individually make the right decisions to protect each other and our community. Georgia Strong. Dawg Strong!
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Jump to Content
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Health & Wellness
UGA Expands COVID-19 Surveillance Testing
Free surveillance testing for COVID-19 is being offered at Legion Field, by appointment, to members of the UGA community who are asymptomatic. The purpose of surveillance testing is to monitor the current state of the pandemic to enable healthcare leaders to plan accordingly. The goal is to test 300 volunteers daily.
Remember to Use DawgCheck
Check your symptoms each day through DawgCheck. Students experiencing symptoms associated with COVID should contact the University Health Center by calling 706-542-1162.
Decoded: Making Sense of COVID Screening Terms
We have several tools in place to help screen and test for COVID-19. They are all in place to keep the campus safe and healthy, but it can get confusing. Here are the differences among symptomatic testing, surveillance testing and DawgCheck.
- Symptomatic Testing: Symptomatic testing does just that – tests people who have symptoms of COVID-19. If you are a student and are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID, contact the University Health Center by calling 706-542-1162. If you are faculty or staff, you should contact your primary care provider for guidance.
- Surveillance Testing (for Asymptomatic Individuals): Surveillance is testing a sample of a population (in this case, the UGA community) to understand more about the virus and its presence on campus. One of the important characteristics of COVID-19 is that it can infect individuals who do not show symptoms, but who may spread the virus to others. Surveillance testing is voluntary and free to participants. If you are currently healthy and not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, register here for an appointment.
- DawgCheck: Self-reporting is critical to help UGA assess and respond to risks and exposure on campus. DawgCheck allows you to track symptoms related to COVID-19 and report a positive test if you receive one. If you have symptoms, DawgCheck will provide you with some basic guidance on the next steps to take. By submitting a positive test result through DawgCheck, UGA will automatically contact you and assist you with next steps. It’s important to complete DawgCheck every day—even if you feel well and have no COVID-19 symptoms—so the University community can have the clearest picture of campus health and wellness related to COVID-19.
New Mental Well-Being Requirement for Students
Mental Well-Being for Students equips undergraduates with essential skills and information to navigate the stressors and emotional challenges associated with college life. The 45-minute online course helps learners practice self-care strategies, recognize when they or their peers are in distress, and take action to find additional support. Part 1 was due Aug. 10. If you have not completed the course, there is still time. Please complete as soon as possible to prevent a flag on your accounts.
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Learning on Campus
Information on Fall Classes at UGA
Vice President for Instruction Rahul Shrivastav shared important tips last week to help you prepare for the first week of classes.
Remember to Get Your Required Textbooks Before
Classes Start
We are excited to welcome you to UGA. Remember to get your textbooks and materials before classes start. The UGA Bookstore is open and our team is available to help you locate the books you need. Please be mindful that we are operating at reduced capacity and strongly encourage you to pick up your course materials before classes start. Picking up your materials early will help ensure a faster checkout process and make sure you are prepared for your first day of class. Be sure to include everything you need for the fall semester including supplies, tech, and gear. Click to view our store hours, and please be mindful that wearing a face covering in our store is required at all times.
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Living on Campus
Virtual Freshman Welcome
You put in the hours, you made the cut, and now you’re here! Watch the Virtual Freshman Welcome video premiere on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. on the UGA YouTube channel and hear from community leaders like President Jere Morehead, coaches, and the presidents of both the Student Government Association and the Student Alumni Council. You’ll receive a link to the premiere earlier in the day via email!
UGA Mobile App Update Coming Soon
The official UGA Mobile App will be updated in the near future with updates to the UGA Bus Routes. If you have questions about the UGA Mobile App, please visit https://eits.uga.edu/web_and_applications/mobileapps/.
Helpful Tips for Dining on Campus
Welcome back to UGA! As you begin the fall semester, please consider the following helpful tips for dining on campus.
1. Familiarize yourself with the multiple ways to dine on campus.
- If you are a meal plan customer, you may come to any of our dining commons and visit available stations to choose from a variety of to-go items, use Grubhub to order ahead for pick up, or make a reservation to dine-in through the Grubhub app. Please note that menu items through the Grubhub pick-up service may vary from our to-go and dine-in options, meaning you will receive a wider selection of meal items by choosing the to-go or dine-in options.
- If the Grubhub wait times are longer than you need, we recommend you enter the retail or dining commons location and choose from available items to take a meal to-go. You can also take advantage of dine-in reservations options available through Grubhub for our dining commons.
- Customers using credit/debit, Paw Points, or Bulldog Bucks to purchase food may do so at any of our retail dining locations.
- Check out our videos showing examples of dining processes for both residential and retail dining this semester and view full updates at https://dining.uga.edu/notifications.
2. Explore the variety of dining locations available on campus.
- Dining locations in central campus tend to have the most demand. Familiarize yourself with the many different dining options on campus and try a new location. Hours of operation, locations, and opening dates for our retail locations are available here. Many of our retail locations are currently open, with more opening on Thursday.
- Bolton Dining Commons is also in central campus and experiences high-demand. If you are on the meal plan, try visiting Village Summit, Oglethorpe, or Snelling Dining Commons. Village Summit is currently open from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Oglethorpe Dining Commons* will open on Aug. 19 at 10:30 a.m. and Snelling will open Aug. 20, providing additional variety and dining options. The Niche offers great options for students and residents on the Health Sciences Campus. You can see hours of operations for these locations here.
*please note dine-in reservations will begin at Oglethorpe on August 20.
3. Try visiting our dining locations during off-peak times.
- The lunch rush typically occurs between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Try visiting our dining locations during off-peak times for faster service.
Transportation
Reminder: New Bus Routes
Remember to familiarize yourself with the new UGA bus routes. A limited number of buses are servicing the new routes Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Regular weekday, night and weekend service is set to resume Aug. 20, 2020. Please be aware that UGA bus routes are currently being updated in the UGA app. Descriptions and information on the new routes may be viewed at https://tps.uga.edu/routechanges, and live bus tracking information is available at routes.uga.edu.
Reminder: Parking Permits in Effect
As a reminder, parking permits are currently in effect. Please ensure your vehicle is parked in its appropriate location to avoid any citations.
Take in Some Fresh Air
Looking for some outdoor space to enjoy? The gardens and trails at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, part of UGA, are open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The garden has more than 5 miles of trails for hiking, walking or running. No dogs allowed. The conservatory, gift shop and children’s garden remain closed because of COVID-19.The garden is located at 2450 S. Milledge Ave. Parking is free.
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