Protect Texas
The mission of The University of Texas at Austin has always been to unlock the potential of our students and prepare them to change the world. That same mission will continue as we educate students, and they work toward earning their degrees.
-
Safely Reaching Our Goals
President Jay Hartzell has led a university-wide planning effort that provides a framework for eac semester. It is designed to accommodate the dynamic environment we are facing and enable us to adapt to changes in the prevalence of COVID-19 in Austin and throughout Texas. Our guiding principles of Protect Texas Together, along with specific actions and vaccine updates, can be found below.
McCOMBS STUDENT GUIDE
Please use this guide to find specific information for McCombs students, including:
- Maintaining a safe campus environment
- How our buildings and classrooms have been set up to promote health and safety
- Connecting with your program office staff
- McCombs virtual career management and recruiting resources
- Using Zoom for remote learning and other activities
- Getting technical support from media and computer services
TOP THREE THINGS TO EXPECT WHEN RETURNING TO CAMPUS
Important safety protocols and health and wellness information that faculty and students should know and expect when returning to McCombs School of Business and the University of Texas at Austin campus this fall.
Covid-19 Resources
Campus Updates
For Emergency Technology Support
Academic and Community Resources
Prevention Guidelines
If you experience symptoms of respiratory illness, call the UHS Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877 before coming in to be seen.
Prevention Guidelines
McCombs Faculty and Staff
Returning to the Office
- We previously announced that our official return to full in-person operations is Monday, August 16. Faculty and students will return sooner, but UT gives CSUs flexibility to delay the return of non-student facing/non-direct student support personnel until September 16. What does that mean for McCombs?
- Our college supports the academic mission, and most staff are student- or faculty-facing, so our broad expectation is that most staff will return in person, consistent with their planned FWAs as of August 16. However, please work with your supervisor and department lead to conduct business that is not essential to being on-campus from home.
- Those who normally hold in-person office hours, academic counseling, career coaching sessions, etc. may conduct these sessions virtually through September 16.
- We expect that the student academic experience is still primarily on-campus and in-person, please evaluate co-curricular and social events carefully for the next few weeks to determine what is essential to be held in-person. Health and Safety Protocols.
Health and Safety Protocols
- As conditions in our community continue to improve, and with the availability of vaccine, and prevention and treatment options, UT is aligning its recommended masking guidance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at this time. Our current COVID-19 Community Level is low.
- The CDC’s new guidance explains that individuals in low-level communities do not need to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status and including in K-12 and early education settings. People may choose to mask at any time, for any reason and it is still recommended that individuals who are immunocompromised or at high-risk continue to take precautions.
- As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor local and campus data, consult with our public health experts, and consider unique attributes of our campus environment to determine recommendations and guidance.
- We encourage the use of the Protect Texas App each day prior to coming to campus.
- Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line (BCCAL) remains available as the primary tool to address questions or concerns from the university community about COVID-19.
- It is important for employees to report COVID-19 symptoms to the Occupational Health Program (OHP) as soon as possible and stay home to self-isolate. Employees should contact OHP if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been tested because they have symptoms (even if the test was negative), or if they think they may have been exposed.
- Students who test positive should contact BCCAL or self-report (if tested off campus) to University Health Services.
- Faculty should review the COVID-19 Exposure Guide for in-person/hybrid classrooms or labs.
Flexible Work Arrangements
- The availability of Flexible Work schedules for most of our staff will reduce the density in our offices each day and allow for a safe return now and in the future.
- Communications from McCombs HR last week provided details about the University’s required FWA request form for staff to complete. As requested by the University, we had set a date to complete of August 30; however, we will extend our deadline to September 16.
- You may still complete the form now. We hope this extension will provide some flexibility and allow for focus on other activities that may take priority at this time.
- The university has an accommodation process available for faculty and staff with personal medical conditions and disabilities that make them high-risk to COVID-19. Faculty and staff with personal medical conditions should submit their request for accommodation to the University ADA Coordinators.
- Staff who do not have a personal medical condition or disability that makes them high-risk to COVID-19, but live with such a dependent, should contact their supervisor to discuss flexible work options that may be available to them.
- Faculty who do not have a personal medical condition or disability that makes them high-risk to COVID-19, but live with such a dependent, should fill out the faculty flexible teaching form.
- For guidelines on immunocompromised and other medical conditions, please refer to the CDC guidelines. At this time, living with a child under the age of 12 who is not immunocompromised will not qualify the faculty or staff member for accommodation.