Employees should discuss childcare availability with their supervisors. Employees who are asked to return to support on-campus operations should talk with their childcare provider to look at options that may be available. When no childcare options are available during this COVID-19 response time supervisors are encouraged to provide flexible work options through continued telework when work is available and create opportunities to support rotating schedules or extended hours of work where possible. Employees may qualify for leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Questions about eligibility should be directed to the Human Resources Benefits Office by phone at 404-413-3330 or by email at benefits@gsu.edu.

Employees should not bring their children or other family members to the workplace to respect the health and safety of co-workers. This approach is critical to being able to maintain social distancing at all times and is also in accordance with university policy.

The phases were established by the Return to Work task force to enable a safe and thoughtful approach to the increased campus operations over the summer and in the fall. Departments will have the flexibility to adjust based on departmental and position needs. University officials will be monitoring to understand changes in the spread of the virus based on information from federal, state and local authorities.

As of publication of these FAQs, the dates are as follows. Updates may be necessary based on changing guidelines.

Phase 1 - TARGET DATES:  June 1-30

• Employees included in Phase 1:
  • Vice presidents, deans, department chairs and key managers
  • Faculty teaching Maymester and summer classes
  • Research personnel who rely on access to specialized resources on campus
  • Employees engaged in health and safety measures needed for the increased number of personnel on campus (for example, police, custodians), as identified and communicated by leadership
  • Instructional Innovation and Technology staff necessary for support

Phase 2 - TARGET DATES: July 1-31

• Employees included in Phase 2:
  • Faculty teaching late-summer classes
  • Employees critical in planning and supporting fall semester activities, as identified and communicated by leadership
  • Managers and supervisors

Phase 3 - TARGET DATES: Aug. 1-24

• Employees included in Phase 3:
  • Faculty teaching fall semester
  • Employees engaged in in-person customer service to students, faculty and staff
  • Other employees engaged in planning and supporting fall semester operations

Division, college and school leadership will create return-to-workplace plans, accounting for the number of personnel in the department, work setting to allow for proper social distancing, work activities needing to be prioritized and level of service needed to provide to constituents as campuses begin to open as part of the three-phase plan.

Employees should receive communication from their supervisor or department leadership about the anticipated date of return to on-campus work, including a timeline to prepare for that transition.

In preparation for returning to campus, employees should:

• View the video orientation for return to on-campus work
• Review the comprehensive return to work guide
• Review the employee or manager return to work checklist

In preparation for returning to campuses, employees should:

• View the return to on-campus work video orientation
• Review the comprehensive return to work guide
• Review the employee or manager return to work checklist

Departmental leadership is asked to determine return-to-campus timelines for faculty and staff based on several factors, but maintaining a healthy and safe environment is most important. Supervisors should communicate to employees an appropriate timeline for their return to campus, which should be adhered to unless appropriate approvals are obtained.

The university will continue to offer temporary telework options for employees whose work can be completed through that method. A continued temporary teleworking arrangement should be directed and approved by supervisors.

While doing remote work, employees should be available during normal business hours to perform their tasks, as well as to attend meetings virtually. Employees working remotely may be required to report to campus at certain times, such as for meetings, and may be asked to return to their in-office work on short notice.

A request for accommodation for a disability should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and should go through the Human Resources Benefits Office. Phone: 404-413-3330. Email:  benefits@gsu.edu.

Non-working time away from the office should be coordinated with and approved by supervisors regardless of whether an employee is working on campus or remotely.

If any employee does not have the work volume to continue position responsibilities while awaiting authorization to return to campus, paid leave benefits may be used in accordance with Georgia State policies. For example, staff may qualify for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Act or may use accrued vacation leave to make up additional hours due to lack of work assignments.

Employees should comply with social-distance guidelines, including maintaining at least six feet of separation from other individuals

Employees are also asked to self-screen BEFORE going to work for any new or worsening symptoms of possible COVID-19.

Effective July 15, University System of Georgia institutions will require faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities because six feet of social distancing may not always be possible. Face coverings will be worn in addition to and not as a substitute for social distancing. Face coverings aren’t required when alone in an enclosed office or study room or in campus outdoor settings where social-distancing requirements are met.

In-person meetings should be kept at a minimum and have fewer than 10 people, and social distancing should be maintained. Virtual meeting options should be used whenever possible in lieu of in-person meetings.

Non-essential business domestic and international travel is not allowed through the summer. Employees should be mindful of COVID-related travel advisories for personal and essential business travel. Any mission-critical exceptions must be approved in advance by the appropriate senior administrator. We continue to monitor federal or state mandates about international and domestic travel and will provide updates as needed.

Faculty and staff will be provided with two face coverings, which will be mailed to their homes as soon as available.

Face shields, masks and amplification systems will be distributed in the colleges closer to the beginning of the fall semester. The university will send a university-wide announcement when they’re ready for pick-up.

Individuals who work in lab settings will continue to receive personal protective equipment as required to conduct research.

Staff members will be provided with personal protective equipment based on the nature of their work and upon request.

University System of Georgia institutions require faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities. Face coverings will be worn in addition to and not as a substitute for social distancing. Face coverings aren’t required in one’s own dorm room or suite, when alone in an enclosed office or study room or in outdoor settings where social-distancing requirements are met.

Anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff or students. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a face covering for documented health reasons.

When you wear a face covering you’re protecting yourself, but equally important, you’re protecting other members of the university community. You’re showing you’re taking responsibility for the welfare of those around you.

The University System of Georgia is composed of Georgia’s public colleges and universities, Georgia Archives and the Georgia Public Library Service. Georgia’s Constitution grants the Board of Regents the exclusive right to govern, control and manage the USG and USG institutions. The board exercises and fulfills its constitutional obligations, in part, by promulgating rules and policies for the governance of the USG and its constituent units. The board elects a chancellor who is its chief executive officer and the chief administrative officer of the University System.

Georgia State is one of the 26 colleges and universities in Georgia, and the presidents of USG institutions report to the chancellor. USG institutions are required to follow the policies and procedures established by the USG. Those interested can review the USG’s Return to Campus Planning Framework here: https://provost.gsu.edu/files/2020/06/USG-Fall-2020-Return-to-Campus-Planning-Framework.pdf.

Anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff or students.

The situation with the pandemic is fluid, and we’ll continue to adapt our plan as new public health recommendations emerge. For that reason, instructors should develop contingency plans in their syllabi to take classes fully online at any time if the need arises.

Employees who suspect a co-worker is ill should notify their supervisor. Supervisors should contact Human Resources if employees report a suspicion outside or within their department and request the identified employee to go home until confirmation from a medical provider is obtained that a return to work is possible. Employees may be asked to follow the potential exposure protocol for COVID-19, which is staying home until they are without symptoms, including no fever for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to work.

Employees who fall into one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Georgia Department of Public Health categories for higher risk for severe illness with COVID-19 may request alternate work arrangements via the Benefits Office. Those who care for or live with individuals at higher risk for severe illness with COVID-19 should plan to return to their campuses as scheduled and work with their supervisor to arrange for social distancing in their work place and the ability to practice behaviors known to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Employees may use leave options, and they should contact the Benefits Office at benefits@gsu.edu to identify those options.

For more information about work arrangements and leave options for employees unable to return to campus, refer to the university’s Keep Working Return to Campus website. 

For information about the new paid-leave provisions or Expanded Family and Medical Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, visit Georgia State’s Benefits portal.

Faculty and staff should return to work when they are cleared to return based on their individual circumstances and CDC Guidelines. While a return to the workplace typically requires assessment and documentation by the employee's health care provider, this may not be possible due to COVID-19. Employees should follow CDC guidelines to determine the appropriate time to return to work. Georgia State requires returning employees to be symptom-free and fever-free for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to work. Additional questions about fitness for work should be directed to the Human Resources Benefits Office by phone 404-413-3330 or by email at benefits@gsu.edu.

Employees should notify and work with their supervisors if they believe they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Should any employee start to experience symptoms, they should notify their supervisor, seek medical treatment and stay home in a non-work status to support recovery.

Faculty and staff who have potential exposure to COVID-19 but are not experiencing symptoms should follow CDC guidelines and self-quarantine for 14 days. During the period of self-quarantine, employees may continue to telework unless they are otherwise on leave.

Employees should return to work when they are fit for duty. While a return to work typically requires assessment and documentation by the employee's health care provider, this may not be possible due to COVID-19. Employees should follow CDC guidelines to determine the appropriate time to return to work. Georgia State asks returning employees to be symptom-free and fever-free for at least 72 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to work.

Questions about fitness for duty should be directed to the Human Resources Benefits Office by phone at 404-413-3330 or email at benefits@gsu.edu.

Employees should bring their concerns to their supervisor and discuss options available to support the work needing to be done while supporting health and safety. Human Resources can facilitate conversations with supervisors and employees to determine the needs and accommodations available to meet those needs. Possible accommodations may range from continuing telework arrangements to office restructuring, to possible schedule rotations. A request for accommodation for a disability should be directed to the Human Resources Benefits Office by phone 404-413-3330 at or email at benefits@gsu.edu.

No face covering is required when you are outdoors and six feet of social distancing is possible. However, we strongly recommend you wear a face covering at all times when on campus or in the vicinity to best protect yourself and others.

Yes. Cubicles are not private, enclosed offices. Personnel who work in such spaces are required to wear a face covering.

Yes, in most cases. The University System of Georgia’s face coverings policy requires all individuals in campus buildings to wear a face covering at all times except when alone in an enclosed private office, study room or dorm room in a residence hall. The virus can be spread through the air, and the risk of infection increases any time an individual is not wearing a mask.

Our facilities team has developed a plan to provide regular cleaning and disinfecting around our campuses. A description of the plan can be found here: https://facilities.gsu.edu/files/2020/06/GSU-FMSD-Building-Services-Schedule-5-29-2020.pdf.

We will provide spray bottles, cloth rags and disinfectant to each academic department to the extent supply is available. Academic departments will provide these items to faculty to bring with them to the classroom so they can disinfect as they see fit.

Our air-handling units are equipped with air filters. The use of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters is not feasible without major alterations to existing mechanical systems and duct work. We are installing UV lights in the air-handling units of several buildings and are working on placing more around campus. We also have ordered numerous portable air purifier machines for deployment in strategic locations across all campuses.

If the instructor is largely asymptomatic and teaching online, it may be that no adjustment is needed. If the instructor is teaching an in‐person component of a course, the course would either need to move to an online format if the professor can continue with instruction in that modality or be taught by an alternate instructor who can step in to maintain continuity. That process will look very similar to previous semesters during which an instructor became ill.

Students who are symptomatic may request a test through the Student Health Clinic. Faculty and staff who want to be tested should consult with their personal health provider or review the list of testing sites that are available throughout Atlanta under the Resources tab of the Georgia State Ahead website. The university does not have the capacity to provide COVID-19 testing to the entire community.

The Georgia Department of Public Health is responsible for contact tracing. Those who have tested positive or are presumed to be positive should contact Kerry Heyward (kheyward@gsu.edu) and Ijeoma Azonobi (iazonobi@gsu.edu) and, for employees, their supervisor or department chair. Steps will be taken to identify and contact those at Georgia State who were in close contact (within six feet for at least 15 minutes) with the individual who tested positive. The name of the individual who tested positive will not be shared with others. Those in close contact will be advised to follow CDC guidelines about quarantining.

Students in residence halls who report an infection will be asked to return home. For those unable to do so, we’re planning to reserve a sequestered area that will allow residential students to isolate while infected. More information will be provided soon.

You should discuss with your department chair or supervisor options for alternative work arrangements such as continued telework, split shifts and alternative schedules. The Benefits Office in Human Resources may be able to offer potential leave options available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Employees who fall into one of the Georgia Department of Public Health or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention categories for higher risk for severe illness with COVID-19 may request alternate work arrangements via the Benefits Office.

In accordance with University System of Georgia guidelines, employees who care for or live with individuals at higher risk for severe illness with COVID-19 should plan to return to their campuses as scheduled. These guidelines are consistent for employees in public universities across the state.

However, our goal is to provide as much flexibility and choice as possible within these parameters. Individuals may be eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Families First Coronavirus Response Act or other policies.

There also may be options for flexible work arrangements within a department or course even if an alternate work arrangement is not formally available through the Human Resources process. Individuals interested in exploring these options should speak with their supervisor or department chair immediately.

Instructors who need an alternate work arrangement should do so as soon as possible.

It’s important you discuss your concerns with your department chair or supervisor as soon as possible. Our goal is to provide as much flexibility and choice as possible within the parameters of the policies and procedures established by the University System of Georgia.

There may be options possible in your department even if alternate work arrangements are not formally available through the Human Resources process. For example, with respect to instructors, requests to change course delivery modality may be granted where strategically justified and in the best interests of our students. Such requests must be approved by your department chair, dean and the provost.  All such requests should be made prior to July 31 except in exceptional circumstances.

• Individuals may click on the following Georgia State link for information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Individuals may submit a request for an accommodation by completing the Voluntary Disclosure Form and submitting it to the Benefits Office.
• Individuals may also contact the Benefits Office to request an accommodation by phone at 404-413-3330 or by email at benefits@gsu.edu.

All University System of Georgia (USG) institutions are planning to hold face-to-face classes this fall in accordance with USG guidelines. Those interested can review the USG’s Return to Campus Planning Framework here: https://provost.gsu.edu/files/2020/06/USG-Fall-2020-Return-to-Campus-Planning-Framework.pdf.

With more than 11,000 classes scheduled at Georgia State and the fluid nature of the pandemic, the logistics of holding face-to-face classes while socially distancing and following public health guidelines are very challenging. The original plan announced earlier this summer adopted a blended learning model that aimed to reduce density by 50 percent or more in classrooms and to limit the days most students and instructors would be on campus. Because of the increasing rate of COVID-19 in Georgia, we shifted our target for classroom density to 25 percent capacity to enable six feet of social distancing for each individual.

Instructors have flexibility to determine how best to use their time in class under the revised plan. The revised plan also allows for department chairs to recommend that some classes move fully online where 25 percent attendance is not pedagogically suited, and/or to meet student demand. Those instructors who wish to meet in person more frequently than allowed under the 25 percent model may request to be scheduled in a larger classroom that allows for six feet of social distancing.  Some classes also will be held entirely face to face where necessary or feasible and safety can be maintained. The university will prioritize in-person classes for freshman, graduate and professional students, as well as experiential learning, labs and other coursework that strongly benefits from this modality.

All requests to change modality or move to a larger space must be approved by the department chair, relevant dean and provost. Priority will be given to those requests made prior to July 31. Departments should prioritize options for in-person classes and pathways for Freshman Learning Communities, graduate and professional students.

The COVID-19 infection rate is increasing in Georgia, and many members of our community are demographically at higher risk. Georgia State’s downtown campus is dense, composed of tall buildings and overwhelmingly fixed seating in classrooms, along with elevators, narrow hallways and small spaces. Whereas a 50 percent reduction in classroom density at one time provided meaningful protection, it is no longer sufficient. We are committed to creating a six-foot radius around each individual in classroom settings wherever feasible.

By reducing the number of individuals in class at any one time, we also reduce the overall density on campuses. This will also allow us to provide larger spaces to those classes with a high need to operate in a hybrid or face-to-face setting consistent with social-distancing requirements.

Adding online classes also allows us to respond to student demand for flexibility in course modality. We have received many requests for further options from our students who either cannot be present on campus this fall or prefer to be on campus fewer days each week. Our goal is to provide options that will meet the needs of all students during this challenging time.

The provost meets weekly with an Academic Task Force composed of key administrators, faculty, representatives from the University Senate Executive Committee and staff, including:

• Julian Allen, Chief Learning Innovation Officer
• Lisa Armistead, Dean of the Graduate School
• Michelle Brattain, Professor and Chair of the University Senate Executive Committee
• Laura Carruth, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
• Shelby Frost, Professor and member of University Senate Executive Committee
• Chip Hill, Assistant Provost for Administrative Operations
• Nancy Kropf, Dean of Perimeter College
• Tarrah Mirus, Registrar
• Richard Phillips, Dean of the Robinson College of Business
• John Redmond, Professor and member of University Senate
• Sara Rosen, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
• Kim Siegenthaler, Associate Provost for Online Strategies
• Jeff Steely, Dean of University Libraries
• Ramesh Vakamudi, Vice President for Facilities Management

The Academic Task Force is charged with identifying how best to deliver classes effectively and safely in light of the pandemic and the policies established by the University System of Georgia. It reports through the provost to the COVID-19 Coordinating Committee led by President Becker, which coordinates the university’s response to the pandemic.

In addition to allowing us to reduce density in classrooms and on our campuses, the model offers a great deal of flexibility to faculty in structuring their classes. It also ensures students will have opportunities to interact with their instructors face to face to enhance learning outcomes and secure some of the benefits of our campus environment. It will allow examinations to be administered in a face-to-face setting where desired by the instructor to enhance academic integrity.

Should we need to move to entirely online classes at any point in the semester because of the pandemic, this model will aid that transition because some course content will already be in an online format.

Instructors who’ve not already done so should enroll in a Mastering Online Teaching course offered through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). CETL has training courses for full-time and part-time instructors and graduate teaching assistants focusing on this model and Web resources that can be accessed here: https://cetl.gsu.edu/resources/resources-for-remote-teaching-and-learning/. CETL also can consult with individuals and departments to identify the best way to structure specific disciplinary courses and achieve excellent learning outcomes using the blended learning model.

It’s important every instructor prepare a contingency syllabus that is entirely online in the event a shift is required because of the pandemic. If such a shift becomes necessary, it’s unlikely we’ll suspend classes for two weeks as we did in spring semester, so advance planning is a necessity.

No. While department chairs are being asked to review courses and determine which ones should remain in a hybrid modality or go fully online, instructors don’t have the option of unilaterally changing a course to a fully online format.

If an instructor (full-time, part-time or graduate teaching assistant) needs an alternate work arrangement or believes a course would be better delivered in a fully online format for pedagogical or strategic reasons, they should consult with their department chair immediately.

Instructors have the flexibility to determine how best to use the in-person class time in the revised 25-percent model. One option would be to divide students into cohorts that attend class only on specific days. For most classes, students would typically meet in person once every two weeks or three weeks per class, depending on how many days per week the class meets.

Based on historical enrollment patterns, students could be divided alphabetically by (1) A – Du; (2) Dv – La; (3) Lb – Re; and (4) Rf – Z. For most class sessions, these groupings will not create a perfect 25-percent split, and instructors will need to make some adjustments to ensure class sections are evenly distributed based on available seating in classrooms. In GoSOLAR, classrooms will have 25 percent of seats marked as usable, so it’s important to divide the class roster accordingly.

Deviations from these recommendations are permitted for pedagogical reasons and based on compelling individual student requests at the instructor’s discretion. There also may be other criteria that may make more sense for some types of courses. Instructors may adjust their class divisions accordingly. The goal is to reduce the number of days any student is on campus. An alphabetical division of cohorts in each class will help to meet this goal.

In all cases, it’s important that the instructor provide the schedule of attendance and course delivery method to students by email, on syllabi and the course website (in most cases, iCollege) by Aug. 10 or earlier if possible. Students will receive these same instructions.

Yes, in some cases. Aside from safety, our highest priority is to preserve in-class programming for:

a. Populations that experience greater educational success rates with in-person programming (freshmen, for example);
b. Classes that benefit significantly from this modality (such as experiential classes and labs);
c. Graduate and professional classes in which learning takes place in similar settings.

We have already approved a number of requests for a course to be entirely taught in a face-to-face format. Those classes will proceed as scheduled.

Instructors also can ask department chairs if their classes may meet more frequently than a 25-percent capacity would typically permit. In such cases, we may be able to identify a larger room that will accommodate a larger group of students while maintaining social distancing. Such requests need to be documented and approved by department chairs, the relevant dean and the provost as soon as possible. Space will be allocated as available and based on the priorities identified above.

University System of Georgia institutions require faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities. Instructors teaching in-person courses may wear a face mask and will be given the option of securing a face shield and an amplification system upon request. Many large classrooms are already equipped with amplification systems in which an individual lavalier microphone can be checked out for the semester. Face shields, masks and amplification systems will be distributed in the colleges closer to the beginning of fall semester. We’ll send a university-wide announcement when they are ready to pick up.

One benefit of the blended learning model is that exams may be administered in person in class. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has developed a number of resources for online and in-person testing that can be found here: https://cetl.gsu.edu/resources/resources-for-remote-teaching-and-learning/testing/.

We’re working out logistics for fall and will follow up soon with a plan for final exams.

We considered ending the in-person portion of the term early as Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia are doing. However, most of the evidence we’ve seen suggests this is primarily a tool for those heavily residential universities that have large out-of-state populations. This strategy ensures students don’t fly to their homes for the holidays and then fly back with additional exposure risks.

Most of our students are from within the metropolitan Atlanta area.

We also weighed the strong demand from instructors for in-person exams to ensure academic integrity. This was perhaps their most common complaint from the spring. We don’t have the capacity to proctor online exams in a high-security format as would be required using this option.

The situation with the pandemic is fluid, and we’ll adapt our plan as necessary. If conditions at the time warrant an end to in-person instruction after Thanksgiving, we’ll consider this modification.

The situation with the pandemic is fluid, and we’ll continue to adapt our plan as new public health recommendations emerge. For that reason, instructors should develop contingency plans in their syllabi to take classes fully online at any time if the need arises.

Although synchronous classes are technically permitted, CETL has raised many concerns regarding this format. Synchronous classes create difficulties for students with spotty technology or challenges at home because they require fixed attendance. Often this format is inferior pedagogically, sometimes “the path of least resistance” for instructors who will simply lecture online rather than creating engaging online material. Synchronous classes also can create Americans with Disabilities Act issues because some students will need captioning, which is not easily secured.

We must ensure that synchronous course are of high quality and offered by an instructor who is trained in an online modality and aware of these limitations.

We’ll charge the standard rate for monthly parking beginning in the second half of August. Employees who come to work on a reduced basis may elect to change from monthly parking to a budget card, which allows payment per use at a significant discount ($3.50 budget versus $10 daily visitor rate or $5 daily permit). More information on this option will be provided soon. Employees who use MARTA may continue to buy discounted MARTA cards.