Summer II Course Delivery

President Denise M. Trauth | June 23, 2020 


Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As we prepare for the beginning of summer II courses and the fall semester, we continue to approach the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19 with flexibility and a commitment to health and safety. I have received important questions and valuable feedback from our university community as we have presented recommendations from our eight COVID-19 Work Groups and launched our Roadmap to Return website. I want you to know we are listening and we hear you. Your health, wellness, and safety are of paramount importance. 

Today, I want to address two very important topics.

Increasing Online/Remote Delivery Courses for Summer II 

Our goal for summer II is to reduce the number of students on our campuses while fulfilling our education and research mission.  To that end, we are expanding the number of courses available online, remotely, or in a hybrid format.  Provost Gene Bourgeois has stressed that faculty, in consultation with their chair/director, should make decisions regarding a change from face-to-face to remote/hybrid course design for summer II by June 29, based on the needs and academic requirements of their students. Adding more options for remote or hybrid delivery provides our students and faculty with greater flexibility and access during these uncertain times. 

Increasing the number of classes available online or in a remote/hybrid format is also key to reducing density on our campuses and in our classrooms. For example, our San Marcos Campus is built for 38,000 students and, at the peak time this summer, we will only have 1,950 students on the campus, using five percent of our total space capacity.  

Following the Face Covering Policy

I want to stress the importance of our face covering policy announced on June 8.  Cloth face coverings are required indoors and outdoors on Texas State University campuses unless you are alone. Being alone for the purposes of indoor spaces in all Texas State facilities means that you are in a room by yourself. Being alone when outdoors means that you are not part of a group, you are not in a crowded area, and you are going out of your way to ensure that social distancing of at least six feet is maintained. 

Wearing cloth face coverings is the cornerstone of our plan to combat the spread of COVID-19 and reflects our culture of respect and care at Texas State. Read more about our face covering policy here, including the qualities of effective masks.

I know these are anxious times. Over the past several months, flexibility has been foundational as we planned and adjusted university operations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decisions we are making regarding university operations reflect our commitment to health and safety, and to Texas State’s educational mission. Thank you for your flexibility, your input, and your patience as we find the best solutions to serve our Texas State community. 

Sincerely, 

Denise M. Trauth
President