Faculty

What do I do if I feel sick or if I have been exposed?

Employees

I Feel Sick

I've Been Exposed

Spring 2021

麻豆精品 will continue both in-person and modified instruction and on-campus residency for the 2021 Spring semester.

  • Registration begins for Spring 2021 on November 5, 2020
  • Residence Halls open for occupancy January 9 – 12 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Classes will begin Wednesday, January 13
  • The last day for students to add courses is January 25. No registration is permitted past this deadline
  • The last day for students to drop a course in the full term without a “Q” and with 100% refund is January 29
  • Spring Break is not cancelled

Other important dates for Spring 2021 include the following:

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (University Holiday) – January 18
  • Spring Break for Students and Faculty – March 15 – 19
  • Good Friday – Holiday for Students and Faculty - April 2
  • Study Day – May 6
  • Final Exams – May 7 – 12
  • Commencement – May 13 – 15

Note: Dates may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

The Spring semester will be similar to the Fall semester. Students will be able to choose classes in the following modalities:

  1. Face-to-Face:
    1. Class meets in person during normally scheduled times
  2. Online
    1. Course content is delivered asynchronously online
  3. Split Week (Blended)
    1. Class meets in-person for a minimum of once per week AND
    2. Class meets synchronously remote and/or asynchronously online at least once per week
  4. Flex (Blended)
    1. Class meets in-person for approximately 1/3rd of total semester contact hours AND
    2. Class meets synchronously remote and/or asynchronously online for approximately 2/3rd of total semester contact hours

Need help with Blackboard? . 

Attendance

Given the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus, faculty will establish clear guidelines regarding attendance and inform their students of their policy at the first class meeting and in the course syllabus. Per the letter from Provost Eglsaer dated May 15, 2020, faculty must record attendance for ALL courses in Blackboard for each course.  

Face Covering Requirements

Face coverings are required indoors and outdoors on Sam Houston State campuses unless you are in a private space or are engaged an activity for which wearing a covering is impractical (such as eating).

Faculty will be allowed to wear a face shield in lieu of a face covering while teaching as long as they maintain physical distancing from students. The expectation is that faculty would wear the required face covering when traveling to their classroom. Once they arrive at their classroom, they would put on the face shield prior to removing their face covering. When they finish teaching, they would put on their face covering before removing their face shield or leaving the classroom.鈥�

For more information about face coverings, view the face covering FAQ. 

Precautions and Cleaning

Across campus, precautions are taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

  • Changing occupancy recommendations and seating designs reduces density on campus, generally by at least 50%. 
  • Signage installed across campus limits interactions through directing traffic and enhancing social distancing.
  • Enhanced cleaning protocols in all buildings further minimizes the spread of COVID-19. In addition to cleaning commonly used areas and restrooms a minimum of three times a day, Facilities Management provides intensive cleaning and disinfecting of areas reported as compromised with exposure to COVID-19.

For more information about cleaning procedures, view SHSU's comprehensive cleaning protocols. 

Travel

In the event of a conflict between SHSU policies and the COVID-19 travel guidelines, these guidelines shall control through December 31, 2020.

University-Sponsored Travel

  • No international travel
  • Domestic travel by personal or chartered/rented conveyance (car, van, bus, or private plane) is allowed and will follow standard policies and procedures
    • Except travel to destinations under travel advisories will not be sponsored or reimbursed
    • Must conform with any  or 
  • Domestic travel by common carrier may be allowed given the below:
    • Except travel to destinations under travel advisories will not be sponsored or reimbursed
    • Must
      • conform with any  or  including review of the need to self-isolate upon return
      • receive prior VP approval that includes the purpose and destination
      • document the purpose and approval with travel request
    • University travel policies are located at /dept/procurement-business-services/travel/index.html

Faculty - Personal/Convenience Travel

  • An employee’s supervisor must approve vacation requests in advance.
  • Employees should notify their supervisor of plans to travel domestically via common carrier or personal conveyance to destinations under travel advisories so the university may determine whether the employee is required to self-isolate for 14 days after returning to the employee’s domicile and before returning to work.
  • Any international travel requires 14 days of self-isolation after returning to the employee’s domicile and before reporting to work.
  • Prior to travel that requires self-isolation upon returning to the employee’s domicile, an employee must secure pre-approval for leave during the period of self-isolation.
  • Domestic travel is subject to any  or .
  • The  and  advises against cruise ship travel (Warning – Level 3.) Any cruise ship travel requires self-isolation upon return.

Leave Information

Faculty may be eligible for Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) for qualifying COVID-19-related absences detailed below. Full-time benefit-eligible faculty may receive up to 80 hours of EPSL and part-time faculty may receive the average of two weeks pay. All faculty are eligible for Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act Expansion for Child Care (EFMLA) for absences related to COVID-19 lack child care or school closures.

Once , time is reported as: 

  • Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL)
    • Up to 80 hours for full time employees and the two week average for part-time
    • Eligible COVID-19 conditions include:
      • Seeking advice of a health care professional for COVID-19 symptoms and for quarantine or isolation based on the advice of a medical provider.
      • Caring for another individual due to self-quarantine or shelter order
      • Caring for the employee’s child due to school closures
  • Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act Expansion for Child Care (EFMLA)
    • For employees that cannot work due to child care or school closures
    • Up to 12 weeks of leave
      • Weeks 1-2 may be paid through available EPSL or accrued leave
      • Weeks 3-12 are paid at 2/3 the employee’s rate of pay
      • EMFLA may, with the approval of your supervisor, be used on an intermittent basis.
FAQ
Resources