Return to Spring Semester for Faculty

Gene Bourgeois, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs | December 7, 2020


Dear Colleagues,

As the end of the fall semester approaches, I know we are all experiencing a variety of emotions.  We are relieved, grateful, hopeful, and in need of a well-deserved break.  Above all, I hope you feel pride in what you and our students accomplished during this semester and the months of preparation leading up to it.  It hasn’t been easy, but nothing worth it seldom is.  Thank you for staying the course, for honoring your profession, and for delivering on your promise to our students. 

Now, it’s time to rest and recharge.  To stay safe over the holiday break and come back healthy for the spring semester, there are critical steps we need to follow as a university community.  The actions outlined below are based on recommendations from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Emilio Carranco, and state and federal health guidelines.

Over the break, you are strongly encouraged to limit contact with persons outside your immediate household and practice strict adherence to the CDC social distancing guidelines, as well as follow other health and safety measures.  I encourage you to review the Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings guidelines provided by the CDC. 

Also, you should plan to get a COVID-19 test within one week prior to returning to our campuses.  For testing locations in Texas, visit TX COVID-19 Test Collection Sites and Curative, Inc. Testing Sites.  Faculty and staff who do not obtain a COVID-19 test prior to returning to campuses will be expected to complete testing during the designated faculty/staff testing period of January 4 to January 15, 2021.  Free COVID-19 testing will be available on both campuses.  You can pre-register for testing on the San Marcos Campus at SM COVID-19 Testing and on the Round Rock Campus at RR COVID-19 Testing. 

Your Texas State students are receiving instructions from the university to limit their contact with persons outside their immediate household and practice strict adherence to the CDC social distancing guidelines for 10 days prior to returning to campuses for the spring semester.  They are also expected to get a COVID-19 test within one week prior to their return to campuses.   

I can’t thank you enough for your input, flexibility, hard work, and collaboration over the last nine months.  I feel good about our preparation for the spring semester and our commitment to keep our classrooms and campuses safe while keeping engagement with our students at the forefront of everything we do.  I know it won’t be without challenges, but there is also much hope for the future and I have faith in you. 

Please stay safe and well, and I will see you in January!

Sincerely,

Gene Bourgeois
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs