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Welcome Back from
President Jere W. Morehead
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Unsung Heroes
Our first Unsung Hero of 2021, Ansley Long, is a case manager at Student Care and Outreach in the Division of Student Affairs, and she is committed making a difference in students’ lives by providing one-on-one support, no matter the issue. Since the pandemic hit, COVID-related issues have become a greater focus as more students are in need of assistance via DawgCheck, have experienced greater feelings of isolation, or have faced COVID-related financial problems. Long listens to students and helps connect them with resources that fit their needs.
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Health and Wellness
Required Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Training Modules
UGA has updated the faculty and staff COVID-19 training modules for the Spring Semester to continue to promote safe and healthy habits at the University and in the community. Faculty and staff should complete the required module “COVID-19 Refresher Training for UGA Faculty and Staff” prior to Jan. 31. Faculty and staff who join the University during the Spring Semester are required to complete “COVID-19 Onboarding Training for New Faculty and Staff.” Both modules may be found in the UGA Professional Education Portal (PEP) at www.pep.uga.edu.
Surveillance Testing Push Continues
From Jan. 4-22, capacity at the Legion Field surveillance testing site and pop-up locations across campus is expanded to accommodate up to 1,500 tests per day (1,000 per day at Legion Field and 500 at pop-up locations).
“Pop-up” Surveillance Testing will be available across campus with many daily options to choose from. Free, walk-up asymptomatic-only testing is available for all UGA community members.
- Bring your UGA ID.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke/chew tobacco 30 minutes before your test.
- Get tested now; check out the daily calendar here.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, you may register for surveillance testing at Legion Field. Appointments or walk-ups are available Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The Legion Field site testing schedule will follow the University of Georgia calendar for closure.
***While supplies last, we are giving away “Georgia Strong/Dawg Strong” t-shirts, or coupons for on-campus retail dining locations, courtesy of the President’s Venture Fund. You will receive one of these items as a thank you for your participation.
Student and Faculty Requests for COVID-19-Related Accommodations
Requests from students for an accommodation due to COVID-19 will continue be handled through the Disability Resource Center’s (DRC) existing accommodations process. DRC professional staff work directly with students to assess their individual needs and to develop appropriate plans for accommodations and services.
All faculty, staff and graduate assistants who received a COVID-19/ADA-related accommodation during the Fall 2020 Semester may continue to use their approved accommodations during the Spring 2021 Semester unless notified otherwise. Faculty, staff and graduate assistants may seek a new or different COVID-19 related accommodation for the 2021 Spring Semester if they fall within one of the categories for increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, as defined by the CDC. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to Human Resources through the University’s existing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations process.
If you have questions regarding a COVID-19 accommodation, please contact the DRC at drc@uga.edu or 706-542-8719.
Remember to Check Your Symptoms Before Coming to Campus
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Instruction
Spring Instructional Plans
Spring Semester Calendar and Spring Break
Wednesday, Jan. 13 is the first day of class for Spring Semester. Although there will be no Spring Break, the calendar includes three one-day instructional breaks on Feb. 17, Mar. 12, and Apr. 8.
Based on recommendations from the Educational Affairs Committee, “no mandatory assignments shall be scheduled for completion during these instructional break days, either for course work or extra-curricular or co-curricular activities. It is strongly recommended that assignments and examinations not be scheduled for the day after the instructional break days.”
Daily Class Schedule
The transition time between classes has been expanded by five minutes to give students and faculty more time to move between classes. You can see the revised class schedules here. Campus Transit buses will continue to operate, but social distancing will limit passenger capacity.
Class Formats
Classes will be offered in face-to-face, hybrid, or online formats. Hybrid and online classes may be synchronous or asynchronous. The instructional formats for all classes are identified in Athena and should not be changed without approval from the Provost’s Office. Students are encouraged to make the most of their UGA experience through active participation in their classes. One way to do so is to keep the video on when attending hybrid or online classes in order to provide faculty with immediate feedback.
Attendance Policies
While the need for faculty, staff, and students to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 will continue, the University’s classroom attendance policy has not changed. Instructors should implement an attendance policy that best suits their classes but includes sufficient flexibility to meet public health and safety guidelines. Instructors should communicate their attendance policies through their syllabi and in their classes. Students should take attendance requirements into consideration as they plan their semester schedules.
Student Care and Outreach will continue to notify instructors if any students in their classes report a positive test report via DawgCheck.
Social Distancing in the Classroom
Students and faculty must maintain six feet or greater distance with each other, and seating arrangements that allow this social distancing have been marked in all classrooms.
Expanded Learning Opportunities
UGA has installed video conferencing compatible technology in more than 39 centrally managed classrooms. This enhances learning for more than 19,000 students across campus this spring, building on the 111 classrooms that were updated in the fall with webcams, monitors and microphones.
Additionally, face-to-face instruction will increase with the expansion of classes into nontraditional spaces including UGA’s Chapel and Tate Theatre (which was used in the fall), Sanford Stadium and the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. More than 6,000 in-person sessions will be available to students during the semester.
Spring Semester Library Hours
The Libraries return to regular hours on Wednesday, Jan. 13. In addition, patrons can find digital resources and get help via online chat. For more information, visit libs.uga.edu.
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Campus Operations
#WelcomeUGA
The Department of Student Transitions is building a comprehensive calendar of all Spring 2021 Welcome UGA events being hosted across campus and would also like to promote and support your office’s upcoming Signature Events. Student organizations, schools and colleges, and faculty and staff are encouraged to host and submit events. Your program qualifies as a Welcome UGA event if it is:
- Within the first 6 weeks of the Spring 2021 semester (Jan. 11—Feb. 19).
- Free and open to all UGA students.
- Designed to promote student engagement and involvement with your office, staff or peers.
To increase visibility of your event, add the hashtag #WelcomeUGA to your event’s social media posts and calendar submissions!
Learn more about Welcome UGA | Learn more about Student Transitions
Parking Available in Tate Deck for Legion Field Surveillance Testing
Free 30-minute parking at the Tate Center Parking Deck remains available for UGA students, faculty, and staff participating in surveillance testing at Legion Field. The Legion Field parking lot is open for permit holders only and does not have designated parking for surveillance testing. Please note that with the Tate Center Parking Deck’s recent transition to a License Plate Recognition (LPR) system, those parking at the Tate Center for testing need to alert the parking attendant upon entering the deck. Participants will receive a parking pass to display on their vehicle to avoid a citation. If you have questions about parking, please contact the One Stop Shop at 706-542-7275.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast
Join us in celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recognizing dedicated individuals in our community who are working to make his dream a reality.
Visit UGA’s Facebook page on Friday, Jan. 15 at 9:00 a.m. to watch the video premiere of the 18th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast. This virtual event is free and open to the public.
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