COVID-19 Screening Tests Available for All Faculty and Staff

Emory has aggressively increased capacity to administer COVID-19 “screening tests” for asymptomatic students, staff, and faculty over the course of the semester. All faculty and staff who are coming to campus regularly are strongly encouraged to schedule a weekly test. 

This simple saliva test is highly accurate, with results coming by email in less than 48 hours. There are three testing locations (WoodPEC, Conference Center, SAAC) with an additional campus location coming online soon. The Emory Forward site has information about the testing program, and a link at the bottom that you can use to schedule a test. You can also click here to schedule your on-campus appointment.

Vaccine Updates

The Emory Forward site features the latest information on vaccine availability and distribution for the Emory community in addition to the weekly community updates you are receiving via email. You may also join President Greg Fenves, Associate Vice President for COVID-19 Response and Recovery Amir St. Clair and guests for live, biweekly community updates. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, February 18. See the Emory Forward site for the zoom link, and for recordings of previous updates.

Reminder: "Rest Day" Next Week

The first of three rest days scheduled this semester will take place next Wednesday, February 17. Please note that rest days should be treated as a holiday, and no class meetings, assignments due, asynchronous assignments, out-of-class screenings, etc. should take place. The remaining two rest days are scheduled for Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, April 14, with classes scheduled for April 14 to be held on Monday, April 12. If you have any questions about rest days, please contact oue.facultysupport@emory.edu.

Increased Staffing Plans

Department chairs have been requested to revisit and update density plans for their departments this semester. The goal is to have at least one staff member available in-person in student facing offices for 50 percent of the time, four days a week, by mid-semester. Please consult the Emory College Return to Campus Guidance document for additional information and send updated plans to ECAS_Connections@emory.edu AND ECASFacilities@emory.edu. 

Faculty Award Nominations Needed

Emory Williams Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Awards

Emory College faculty, students, and alumni are encouraged to submit nominations for the prestigious 2020-2021 Emory Williams Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Awards. Nominators should submit a one-page letter justifying the nomination and include specific information about the nominee’s teaching. Send electronic nomination letters to Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu with the subject line “Emory Williams Nomination” by Friday, Feb. 26.

Cuttino Mentoring Award

This award is named in honor of the late history professor George Peddy Cuttino, who was known among several generations of Emory students not only as a teacher but also as an outstanding mentor beyond the classroom. The successful recipient of this prestigious award should exhibit a similar record of exceptional mentoring of students. One page nomination letters addressed to Dean Deboleena Roy should be sent to the Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu email address with “Cuttino Award” in the subject line by Friday, March 5, and include specific information about the nominee’s record as a mentor. 

Student Award Nominations Now Open

Brittain Award Nominations Due March 1

Campus Life has announced that the 2021 M.L. Brittain Award nomination process is open. The award is given annually at Commencement to one undergraduate and one graduate student who have performed the most “significant, meritorious, and devoted service to Emory University.” All nominations should be submitted by Monday, March 1. Please see the call for nominations for more information about the award.

McMullan Award Nominations Due March 5

Emory College is soliciting nominations for the Lucius Lamar McMullan Award. The McMullan Award is meant to honor a graduating senior of uncommon stature in the eyes of the Emory community. Academic achievement is an important criterion, but not the sole measure of excellence. The recipient should also demonstrate outstanding citizenship, exceptional leadership, and singular qualities of mind and character. The winner of the McMullan Award will receive $30,000 at the time of graduation to be used for any purpose of their choosing.

Nominations should be submitted via the nomination form by Friday, March 5. Please see the call for nominations or email Jason Ciejka, jciejka@emory.edu, for more information.

OUE Updates

Fall 2020 Incomplete Deadline Feb. 12

The deadline to resolve Incomplete grades from Fall 2020 is this Friday, February 12. Please enter updated grades in OPUS no later than Wednesday, February 24. If you have discussed extending the deadline with a student, or have questions about the incomplete process, please contact oue.records@emory.edu.

Graduation Application Now Available

The Spring 2021 graduation application is now open and will remain open until February 19. Students will be requesting that their major/minor departments sign off on their Course Completion Review Form(s) during this timeframe. Faculty and departments can expect an increase in requests from graduating seniors asking to have their form(s) signed, so they may submit and upload it to the Emory College graduation application.

The signed course completion review form is required for the Office for Undergraduate Education to clear students for graduation. The spring 2021 course completion form(s) should be signed off using a digital signature via Adobe. The completed form(s) can be emailed directly to students after it has been signed by the relevant department(s). Please note: Students may submit two separate course completion forms if they have more than one major or a minor, or they can submit one form with both signatures from each of their departments. 

Faculty Funding: PERS Grant Proposals Due March 18

The Program to Enhance Research and Scholarship (PERS) will consider proposals from regular Emory College faculty for modest seed funding for new research, research travel, other research related activities, and matches for equipment grants. Proposals must demonstrate, where appropriate, efforts to seek other sources of funding, and will be evaluated on the basis of merit and need. The spring application deadline is 5 p.m., Thursday, March 18.

Reminder: Temporary Faculty Requests Due Feb. 15

Requests for temporary faculty for the 2021-2022 academic year are due Monday, February 15. The request survey can be found here. The College asks that no more than 20 percent of faculty in any given department be on leave in any given year. This figure is a benchmark intended to aid departments in planning and in maintaining balance between the research needs of their faculty and the curricular needs of both undergraduate and graduate programs. 

With the expectation that about 70 percent of the curriculum will be offered in-person this fall, the resources for in-person teaching requests will be given preference. If you have questions, please send them to Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu.

A Feast of Words: 2020 Pandemic Edition

The Feast of Words, the CFDE's annual celebration in honor of faculty authors and editors of books, is taking place online this year. In lieu of an in-person gathering, please view The Feast of Words video, which honors the authors and editors of books published in 2020 before August 31. For the full list of faculty publications, facts, and figures, please visit the CFDE website.

Emory Forward

For the latest Emory University COVID-19 guidelines and information, visit the Emory Forward website.