Presidential Communications

 

 

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

 

Students, faculty and staff have inquired about the potential impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). At this time, there are no confirmed cases on our campuses, and the number of confirmed cases in Texas is very low. We encourage all students, faculty and staff to familiarize themselves with the resources we have provided on the website.

The leadership team at TTUHSC is continuously monitoring the situation. In the event COVID-19 begins to have a more significant impact across Texas, we will communicate the appropriate course of action through our website and our other communication platforms, as needed.

Please refer to the information below as it pertains to your role at TTUHSC.

STUDENTS

• Academic Instruction
  If it becomes necessary to suspend on-campus operations, TTUHSC will support remote academic instructional access via existing technologies, such as Sakai, Canvas, Zoom, or Skype. Information Technology personnel are compiling training materials for these technologies. Once available, we will provide access via a link on the website. Please familiarize yourself with these tools in the event your school implements remote instruction.
• Clinical Instruction
  For clinical experiences, TTUHSC leadership has thoughtfully considered how to handle COVID-19, with the guiding principle to limit the spread of the disease to our students and workforce. TTUHSC will follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  
  For students on clinical rotations, our university will be following CDC guidelines with respect to direct patient care; only essential personnel will be involved. As students are considered nonessential personnel, they will not be directly involved with patients who are known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19. Care team leaders are responsible for determining the level of involvement for nonessential personnel.
  
  Should there be an impact on students, they will be informed of alternative opportunities and locations to continue their clinical instruction. Students are advised to contact their respective program directors to confirm their requirements.

FACULTY/STAFF

• Emergency Leave and Telecommute Arrangements
  TTUHSC has implemented procedures to provide temporary telecommute arrangements and emergency leave to support team members who are required to take leave or self-isolate as related to COVID-19. These procedures are designed to protect our team members, maintain a safe working environment and allow for continuity of operations.
  
  For information regarding these procedures and to discuss requirements for self-isolation and/or leave, please contact your campus HR director.

 

Joy Alsabrook, Senior Director
Abilene

Devona Smith, Senior Director
Amarillo and Dallas

Kelly McGinnis, Senior Director
Lubbock

Elizabeth Balderrama, Senior Director
Permian Basin

Michael Anderson, Director
Managed Care

These guidelines are subject to change as the CDC continues to update risk assessments for each region.

TTUHSC is committed to the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. As the current situation evolves, we will continue to prioritize your safety.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D.
Interim President
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center