TSU Coronavirus FAQs

We have not identified any cases at TSU. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 12. This is a rapidly evolving situation and Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s risk assessment will be updated as needed. The latest CDC risk assessment is available here.

• Always practice good hygiene: wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid sharing food, cups or utensils.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Make sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid personal contact with sick people.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. CDC cleaning recommendations can be found here.
• Get a flu shot.
• Recognize the symptoms of this illness, which may include a high fever, cough and difficulty breathing, similar to what you may feel with the flu or a bad cold.
• Seek care and immediately notify the University Student Health Center or your health care provider if you are experiencing these symptoms.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Self-report any international travel to TSU.

First and foremost, stay at home! Those who have recently traveled internationally or believe they have been exposed to the virus and are experiencing influenza-like illness, with fever greater than 100.3, and symptoms, including cough, body aches, severe sore throat or runny nose, should seek medical attention, especially if symptoms worsen.

Students should contact TSU Health Services and identify themselves as having flu-like symptoms to obtain further recommendations and guidance. Students should also consult with their regular health care provider or seek treatment at a local health center if they are overseas. Please call ahead to your health care provider to notify them of the reason for your visit. Faculty and staff who are ill with flu-like symptoms should stay home and contact their personal physician for further advice.

For additional information about COVID-19, including signs and symptoms, transmission and risk of exposure, and what to do if you are exhibiting symptoms, please refer to the links below. The CDC’s website and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will also issue guidance for those planning to travel or who have recently returned.

If you travel to a country identified by the CDC with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (currently Italy, China, South Korea, Iran and Venezuela), depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home in self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread. To help the university best assess potential exposure and risks to our campus community, we are asking any student, faculty or staff member who traveled internationally recently or during Spring Break to let us know by filling out this form.

During the weeks of Spring Break and March 23, our custodial staff will conduct a thorough cleaning of the campus, including all highly-touched surfaces, including restrooms, classrooms, and other high-traffic areas.

There are different scenarios that our Residential Services team is prepared for and will follow the guidance of the Health Department and the TSU Health Services. These include:

• Hospital
• Off-campus home if available
• On-campus quarantine/isolation

We are mandating that all residential students now away for Spring Break not return to campus. Given the State’s executive order pertaining to gathering places, recreation centers, eateries, entertainment, etc., it has become evident that this is the best action to take to enhance the safety of our students. Students should check their student email for detailed instructions from Residence Life & Housing regarding how to go about the collection of your belongings from your room.

Students who are now staying on campus should begin making arrangements with their families/guardians to move out of the residence halls by no later than Saturday, March 28, and return home for the remainder of the semester. Students who are facing special circumstances can put in a request to Residence Life & Housing to have their situations evaluated. These requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

In an effort to minimize contact that could spread the COVID-19 virus on our campus, we are extending online instruction for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. No decision has been made yet regarding the summer semesters.

There will be some on-campus availability via computer labs and the Library Learning Center. Please note that many networks are providing free WiFi for the next two months if you don’t have connectivity at home. You can Google it – or here is more information: https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-internet-providers-free-wifi-20200315-6k7pzukriffdfcic5odfizmnri-story.html.

Connectivity for students who don’t have it

• FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.
• Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time
• Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months
• AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families
• Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.
• Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).
• T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).

Yes, it will maintain regular hours until further notice. Visit the LLC webpage for more information about hours of operation and services. We will implement “social distancing” guidelines for all spaces in the LLC.

No, based on city and state ordinances, the Rec Center is closed until further notice.

For the most part, yes. We will adhere to city, state and national restrictions/guidelines regarding groups of 10 or more. TSU has cancelled or postponed all large on-campus events through at least Saturday, April 4. This includes the TSU Relays, Convocation, SpringFest, Preview Weekend, Comm Week and Research Week. All TSU and SWAC athletic events have been cancelled. Effective immediately, TSU Event Services will not enter into any new arrangements/contracts and/or partnerships for external entities as a precautionary measure.

A decision was made to cancel Commencement, which was scheduled for Saturday, May 9. Spring 2020 graduates will be invited to participate in a Commencement ceremony later in the year. More information will be sent to Spring 2020 graduates soon.

Yes. The cafeteria in the Student Center will be open for breakfast (7-9 a.m.), lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.), and dinner (5-8 p.m.) Monday-Friday. On Saturday & Sunday, it will be open from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. for brunch, and 4:30-6:30 p.m. for dinner. Green to-go containers will be available upon request.

Chick-fil-a will be open in the Student Center daily from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Other eateries will be closed until further notice.

The bookstore will operate under its normal schedule – 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, Barnes & Noble Education has joined with VitalSource and Leading Publishers to make eTextbooks free for students impacted by COVID-19 campus closures. Visit here for more information.

Yes, all faculty staff and students should have parking decals by now. Parking will be enforced the same as it was before Spring Break.

The TSU trams will operate after spring break. The TSU shuttle bus will operate on an as-needed basis for transport to various places (HEB; Walmart, etc.). The autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttle will not be operational for the remainder of the Spring semester.

For now, all campus tours have been suspended through April 4, and all group tours have been suspended through May 1.

This is, most certainly, a stressful time for everyone. TSU is here to help. For students, TSU offers a wide array of counseling services through the University Counseling Center (UCC). For TSU employees, counseling is available via the Employee Assistance Program.

Where appropriate and with supervisor approval, there will be some flexibility with regards to working from home.

TSU is open. Student workers who are non-work-study should contact their direct supervisors if there is a question if they should report to work on campus. The supervisor would be the person to determine if a remote work location is an option.

TSU is open. Work-study students should contact their direct supervisors if there is a question if they should report to work on campus. The supervisor would be the person to determine if a remote work location is an option. The supervisor will need to contact the office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to obtain approval before a final decision is made to work off site.

If you have questions about research or instructional labs, please check with your lab instructor or supervisor.

Our College of Liberal Arts & Behavioral Sciences (COLABS) administration is planning alternative delivery modes specific to these unique areas. Instructors will be in contact with their students.

All handling of refunds will be addressed in a future communication.