Welcome Back!

Many of us are in the process of returning to campus in preparation for the official start of fall semester next week. This special edition of the Faculty Focus features essential information and resources related to the current protocols, policies, and mitigation strategies the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic requires of us all, as well as other relevant information for the start of the academic year. 

Starting next Wednesday, the Faculty Focus will resume a bi-weekly publication schedule through the end of the semester.  

Return-to-Campus Guidelines

Resources

• CFDE In-Person Teaching Guidance
  Most of the questions Emory College faculty and instructors have about teaching in person, best practices, and health and safety measures, etc., can be found in the FAQ of current teaching protocols developed by the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence. The comprehensive document continues to be updated as new questions and protocols emerge.
• Emory College Return to Campus Guidance
  This document features essential information specific to the College.
• Emory Forward Returning to Campus
  The Emory Forward site provides the latest COVID-19 guidance, policies, and protocols for the university community.
• COVID-19 Event and Gathering Policy
  The Emory College facilities office is reviewing all event requests in College spaces and prioritizing academic-related programming. We expect more activity in buildings as students return. All events must follow the university’s Covid-19 Event and Gathering Policy guidelines.

Vaccinations

• For fall semester 2021, all faculty, staff, and students are required to be fully vaccinated (defined as being two weeks past receiving both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine, with vaccination information available in Emory’s Employee Health portal (H.O.M.E.) or to request a vaccination exemption. Current overall vaccination rates are above 90 percent.
• Emory is tracking faculty, staff, and students vaccinated through Emory on the COVID-19 dashboard. If you received your COVID-19 vaccine outside of the Emory system, please be sure upload your vaccine card to the Emory H.O.M.E health portal. This information will ensure we have an accurate representation of our vaccinated community and put you in compliance with the vaccine requirement. 

Testing Requirement

• Anyone who is in the process of becoming fully vaccinated must test weekly until they are two weeks past receiving both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine.
• Employees who receive a vaccination exemption must be tested for COVID-19 weekly. Disciplinary procedures are in place for non-compliance.
• Fully vaccinated employees are not required to test weekly, but testing is available for all faculty and staff if they wish to get one.
• Only COVID-19 screening tests administered by the Emory University program count towards compliance with the testing requirement.
• Testing locations, and days and hours when testing is available, are found on the Emory Forward website.

Indoor Mask Mandate

• Masks are required indoors at all times and while teaching. Exceptions include if you are in an office or other space by yourself with the door closed or if you are actively drinking or eating. The University is at full occupancy, so there are no physical distancing requirements in effect.
• Please note: If you are in your office with the door open, you must wear a mask. You can unmask if you are alone in your office with the door closed.
• Masks are not required outdoors.
• All instructors will be provided PPE by the College, which has been distributed to departments.
• Please report any mask compliance challenges with faculty and staff to ECAS_Connections@emory.edu.

Remote Work and Flexible Work Plans

For faculty and staff who wish to request an exemption from working in person, information about how to do so is available on the University Human Resources website.

Computer Security Reminder

University policy requires any device that attaches to an Emory network must meet minimum security requirements. These requirements include such things as running a supported and properly patched operating system, running approved anti-virus and anti-malware packages, and having your disk encrypted. Any PC that Emory College IT has purchased meets these requirements and is under our management. Those devices purchased through other channels may not be in compliance. Please contact IT via email at echelp@emory.edu and we’ll be glad to evaluate your device and assist in bringing it up to compliance.

Canvas Support

As we approach the fall semester, Teaching & Learning Technologies staff are available for individual phone and Zoom consultations to provide instructional technology and design support. Available appointment times can be viewed here.

Canvas 24/7 Phone & Chat Support: For basic Canvas questions and assistance, you can contact Canvas directly at 833-334-2835 or via chat at http://it.emory.edu/canvaschat. They can't help with Emory-specific issues like enrollments and password resets, but they can help with common questions about using Canvas. 

Email Teaching & Learning Technologies: Emailing classes@emory.edu is the fastest way to open a ticket with the Teaching & Learning Technologies team to get support or ask a question about most types of Canvas issues, including enrollment questions and sandbox requests. Tickets are responded to during business hours.

Fall 2021 New Instructor and TA Training Aug. 24

Assistant deans Jason Ciejka and Cora MacBeth will host an information session for visiting and temporary instructors and graduate TAs who are new to Emory College at 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 24. They will provide an overview of the Office for Undergraduate Education (OUE), review academic policies, and provide information about the Honor Code. The content of this session is similar to previously offered sessions, so experienced instructors need not attend. Please RSVP here. Those who are interested but unable to attend may indicate on the RSVP form that they would like to have the materials from the session emailed to them.

Emory Forward

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