Coronavirus Precautionary Information

(COVID-19)

Cancellations & Postponements Frequently Asked Questions Employee Information

COVID-19 Questions: 903.566.7005 (Option #1)

WHAT'S NEW
As of March 27, 2020

Dear UT Tyler Community,

As you may know, today Smith County officials announced a stay-at-home order starting at midnight. We are grateful to Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran and Mayor Martin Heines for their leadership in taking proactive steps to limit the impacts of COVID-19. We are all hopeful these temporary measures will enable us to curtail the spread of the virus and give our healthcare professionals time to focus their attention on patients currently under their care.

In compliance with the stay-at-home order, UT Tyler will begin operating with a skeleton crew, essential personnel only. This is effective Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 10. We will continue to hold online classes, and I have instructed our team to be as creative and flexible as possible to ensure student success in the present environment.

Services available for student success

The Muntz Library second floor computer lab will remain open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for students who cannot otherwise find resources to participate in their online classes. All face-to-face services of the library will be suspended. We also strongly encourage students to utilize other options, if possible, to best comply with the stay-at-home order.
The One Stop Service Center (enrollment management, registrar, admissions) will be helping students via phone messages, email and webchat. Visit https://www.uttyler.edu/enroll/ for contact information.
The Office of Residence Life will continue to work with students who wish to proceed with their scheduled move out. Please contact housing@uttyler.edu if you need to reschedule.
Food services will continue to remain open for the remaining residential students who are unable to return home.
Students with ongoing hardships, who are in need of help, should contact Dean of Students Andrew Pettee at APettee@uttyler.edu

Directions for Faculty and Staff

All non-essential staff will be required to telecommute. Please contact your supervisor if you are unsure of your status. The Office of Human Resources is available to answer your questions about the employment impact of COVID-19. You can call them or visit their webpage by clicking the Employee Information tab on the Coronavirus page:
https://www.uttyler.edu/coronavirus/

As a reminder, all employees are required to report if they have symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, all employees are required to report potential exposure to COVID-19. This is important because COVID-19 can be spread before symptoms develop. Please call Human Resources if either applies to you.

I continue to feel extremely blessed by how effectively the entire UT Tyler community is handling this situation. The compassion and care you show for one another, as well as the broader East Texas community, is commendable. We get daily phone calls from community officials seeking help with various projects because they know of your excellence and altruism. Thank you for creating and maintaining this type of culture at The University of Texas at Tyler.

We will get through this, together. Be safe and well.

Michael Tidwell, PhD
President
The University of Texas at Tyler

Summaries of Previous Updates

March 26, 2020

One Stop Shop opens COVID-19 phone hotline
UT Tyler COVID-19 Emergency Fund established to help students
LUC Operating with Skeleton Crew; Computer Lab and Library Remain Open
Bookstore Temporarily Closed
HPC closed until further notice
UT Tyler donates to local hospitals

See Full Updates for March 26

March 17, 2020

All classes to be held online through the remainder of the semester.
Commencement will be postponed.
Guidance for student workers and grad assistants.
Last date to withdraw from classes extended.
All campus and student services remain open, including counseling services.
Athletics season cancelled.
Cowan Center season postponed.
Students, faculty and staff are required to report to UT Tyler any personal international travel scheduled or taken within the last 30 days.

See Full Updates for March 17

March 11, 2020

Spring Break will be extended through the end of Friday, March 20.
All classes will be held online the week of March 23.
On-campus students are encouraged to return home until March 29.
Students, faculty and staff who are sick should not come to campus at any time.
Large events in the near future will be canceled or postponed.
International travel is restricted.
Flexibility and hardships

Contacts:

Students - Andrew Pettee, dean of students, APettee@uttyler.edu.

Students with accessibility needs - Ashley Davis, interim assistant director for student accessibility and resources, AshleyDavis@uttyler.edu.

International students - Cynthia Martinez, executive director of international programs, CynthiaMartinez@uttyler.edu.

Faculty/Staff - Gracy Buentello, human resources director, GBuentello@uttyler.edu.

See Full Updates for March 11

March 6, 2020

All university-sponsored international travel for students, faculty and staff is prohibited.
UT Tyler students, faculty and staff are required to report to UT Tyler any scheduled personal international travel.
Individuals returning to UT Tyler from a country with a CDC Level 3 or 2 travel warning will have to self-isolate at home for 14 days before returning to class or work.

See Full Updates for March 6

Prevention

UT Tyler’s top priority is to protect the health and safety of all our students, faculty, staff and visitors during this evolving and unusual situation. We will continue to closely monitor the latest guidance and follow the recommendations of the UT System, CDC and U.S. Department of State.

We always recommend our community members follow CDC and public health guidelines, which are similar to what is recommended during flu and cold season, including:

Stay home if you are sick and seek medical attention.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid contact with others who are sick.

Additional Resources

While there is understandable concern and widespread news coverage of coronavirus, there also has been a great deal of rumors and misinformation.

The World Health Organization has created a myth-busters site, while the CDC has a “Know the Facts” site to combat rumors about the virus and its transmission.

UT Tyler is working in close coordination with the UT System and public health agencies, and we will continue to monitor guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and others.