Working Through These Remote Days Ahead

March 19, 2020

Dear Longhorns,

The last two weeks have challenged our university community, and schools around the nation, in unprecedented ways. At UT, we are working hard and making decisions with you in mind. As we transition to online learning, I want you to know that faculty and staff members at UT will be here to support you every step of the way. Your most important focus should be to complete the current courses you are registered for this semester.

When classes resume on Monday, March 30, undergraduate and graduate instruction will transition to remote delivery through Zoom, Canvas and other virtual methods. Although for many of you this will mean a different mode for taking courses, your faculty — across every school and college — are ready to help.

By Friday, March 27, faculty members will share their plans with you for remote delivery of your courses. Faculty members will also work directly with each of you regarding specific and unusual exceptions needed for remote learning.

At this time, our primary goal is for you to continue your important coursework, earn your credit hours and stay on track for earning your life-changing degrees. The world has changed in recent days, but time has not stopped. Your learning must continue and our mission is to help you succeed.

Key Available Resources

  • If you need assistance with WiFi or technology, please click here.
  • If you need to request emergency on-campus housing, please click here.

By clicking here you will read about additional resources available from our Enrollment Management and Student Success office, including the Graduation Help Desk and Texas One Stop. Please reach out and let us know how we can coordinate support for you in this online environment. Do not forget, Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students remains a central place to seek support. You can complete the Student Emergency Fund form to let us know if you have equipment and/or internet service needs.

Health and Counseling Services

University Health Services (UHS) remains open to students to provide care for acute illness or injury, including evaluation of COVID-19. Please call the UHS Nurse Advice Line, 512-475-6877, for guidance about when to come to UHS, especially if you have a fever and respiratory symptoms. UHS can also schedule telehealth appointments at 512-471-4955, for some health concerns. If you seek care from another provider while you are away from campus and need your medical records released, please click here for instructions. The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) remains available for counseling and psychiatric services over the phone, and the CMHC Crisis Line, 512-471-2255, also operates 24/7.

Housing and Dining

If you currently live in an on-campus residence hall, for your health and safety, you are encouraged to begin moving home to get settled before remote instruction begins. If you live in the residence halls, but are not on campus this week, please schedule a time that works for you to move your items. The University Housing and Dining website includes instructions regarding moving out and the prorated adjustments for room and board. While the residence halls are closing for safety reasons, we understand there may be unique circumstances, and limited emergency student housing is available and will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Click here to begin the emergency housing application process.

If you live off campus please know, private dormitories — including Dobie Twenty 21, the Callaway House and others — set their own policies about moving out, though we work closely with them to share information and discuss practices. We are communicating with them about the actions that the university is taking, and specifically those that we are taking in University Housing and Dining. They are also sharing with us the actions that they are taking.

Finally, with the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus), please remember to do your part to limits it effects through self-monitoring, social distancing and other preventive measures. As we shared yesterday, two additional members of our UT community have tested positive for COVID-19.

Please remember that faculty and staff across campus are experiencing this challenge with you and are more committed than ever to your success during these difficult times. You have a supportive community by your side.

Sincerely,

Soncia Reagins-Lilly

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students