Month: August 2020

14 August 2020

Dear Mustang Parents and Family Members,

Hello from the Hilltop! I hope this message finds you and your loved ones doing well. I imagine you are making final preparations for your student’s return to Dallas and SMU, and we are excited to welcome them back.

As I have shared with you previously, I believe our parents and family members are vital partners in ensuring a student’s success, and I am reaching out to you today to share important information that we sent to students yesterday related to the enforcement of safety guidelines and expectations to help keep the SMU community as healthy as possible this fall. As our partner, I hope you will help reinforce these messages with your student as they transition to campus so that they understand their role in helping to keep themselves and others safe and the consequences for failing to take these guidelines seriously.

Last week, all students were enrolled in a Canvas course that provides “what to expect” information for the fall semester; I hope your student has reviewed that course by this time. I also expect that you along with your student have read through material shared by President Turner and others that explains the systems and processes that our faculty and staff have spent months developing to make SMU as safe as possible during the pandemic. Now, I would like to turn our focus to how our students fit into the health and safety picture:

Students have a critical role – if not the most critical role – in facilitating a successful fall semester.

If you have not read the Pledge to Protect SMUthat can be found at the conclusion of the Canvas course referenced above, please read it now. This Pledge was developed by individuals representing all campus stakeholders – including students – and the entire campus community is expected to honor the expectations outlined for keeping each other safe.

Students will get plenty of positive reinforcement and friendly reminders to keep that Pledge. However, those students who deliberately or negligently disregard the expected behavior articulated in the Pledge to Protect SMU should expect to be held accountable through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Examples of behavior that would violate the expectations outlined in the Pledge to Protect SMU include, but are not limited to:

• Knowingly attending class in person while exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19;
• Repeated failure to wear a face covering or disregard for requests to wear a face covering;
• Disregard for isolation or quarantine guidance provided by a contact tracer;
• Refusal to comply with contact tracing efforts by University officials;
• Planning or participating in a gathering not organized according to social distancing guidelines;
• Hosting unauthorized guests on campus; and
• Planning or participating in student organization events that are not in compliance with the guidelines established by the Division of Student Affairs.

“Dishonesty,” “irresponsible conduct,” “failure to comply,” “interference” and/or “assault” are all potential charges under the Code of Conduct that could apply if a student were to violate the expectations outlined in the Pledge to Protect SMU. Sanctions assigned to students found responsible for violating the expectations of the Pledge could range from a warning to suspension or expulsion from the University. Those situations that put others at the most risk could result in a student’s removal from campus for the remainder of the semester and a requirement that they complete their coursework remotely. In these situations, no reimbursement of tuition or fees will be provided.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will work to resolve these cases as quickly as possible. If a student is referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for allegedly violating one of the tenets of the Pledge to Protect SMU, they will be prohibited from attending any in-person activities – including classes or student organization events – until their case is resolved. Students who fail to comply with this directive could face additional conduct charges, including suspension from the University for a period of time.

Please note that student organizations found responsible for violating the expectations outlined in the Pledge will also be subject to disciplinary action through the SMU Student Code of Conduct. If a student organization is alleged to have hosted an unauthorized party/social gathering, on- or off-campus, they will be placed on an immediate cease and desist (or interim suspension) pending the outcome of the conduct process.

Student organization leaders have a particular responsibility to plan events that do not put students at risk for contracting COVID-19. The general expectations outlined in the Pledge encompass following the event guidelines that have been developed by the Division of Student Affairs and will help ensure the appropriate safety measures are in place. A student organization found in violation of the guidelines outlined in the Pledge will likely be prohibited from hosting any events for the remainder of the semester (and possibly year).  Student leaders of student organizations may also face individual charges through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Additional information regarding the event guidelines is forthcoming and will be included in MOM training for this year.

We expect that our students will practice behavior that keeps us all safe, but I want to be clear so that there are no surprises should violations of these expectations occur: students will be held accountable. Given the gravity of the situation, we simply cannot be complacent about enforcement, and we do not have the luxury of providing individuals multiple opportunities to comply. We must recognize we all have a responsibility to our entire campus and that means holding ourselves and others accountable.

I am optimistic about the fall and I have a strong faith in the ability of our smart, motivated students to help keep the Hilltop safe and healthy. Of course, please reach out to me if you have questions; I welcome your feedback and ideas. I look forward to seeing our students back on campus very soon.

Pony Up!

Melinda J. Sutton, Ph. D.

Assoc. VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

13 August 2020

Dear Mustangs,

Hello from the Hilltop! I hope this message finds you and your loved ones doing well. I imagine you are making final preparations for your return to Dallas and SMU, and we are excited to welcome you back.

By this time, I hope you have reviewed the Canvas course that provides “what to expect” information for the fall semester. I expect you have read through material shared by President Turner and others that explains the systems and processes that our faculty and staff have spent months developing to make SMU as safe as possible during the pandemic, but I would like to focus on how you fit into the health and safety picture:

Students have a critical role – if not the most critical role – in facilitating a successful fall semester.

If you have not read the Pledge to Protect SMUthat can be found at the conclusion of the Canvas course referenced above, please read it now. This Pledge was developed by individuals representing all campus stakeholders – including students – and the entire campus community is expected to honor the expectations outlined for keeping each other safe.

You will get plenty of positive reinforcement and friendly reminders to keep that Pledge. However, those students who deliberately or negligently disregard the expected behavior articulated in the Pledge to Protect SMU should expect to be held accountable through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Examples of behavior that would violate the expectations outlined in the Pledge to Protect SMU include, but are not limited to:

• Knowingly attending class in person while exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19;
• Repeated failure to wear a face covering or disregard for requests to wear a face covering;
• Disregard for isolation or quarantine guidance provided by a contact tracer;
• Refusal to comply with contact tracing efforts by University officials;
• Planning or participating in a gathering not organized according to social distancing guidelines;
• Hosting unauthorized guests on campus; and
• Planning or participating in student organization events that are not in compliance with the guidelines established by the Division of Student Affairs.

“Dishonesty,” “irresponsible conduct,” “failure to comply,” “interference” and/or “assault” are all potential charges under the Code of Conduct that could apply if a student were to violate the expectations outlined in the Pledge to Protect SMU. Sanctions assigned to students found responsible for violating the expectations of the Pledge could range from a warning to suspension or expulsion from the University. Those situations that put others at the most risk could result in a student’s removal from campus for the remainder of the semester and a requirement that they complete their coursework remotely. In these situations, no reimbursement of tuition or fees will be provided.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will work to resolve these cases as quickly as possible. If a student is referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for allegedly violating one of the tenets of the Pledge to Protect SMU, they will be prohibited from attending any in-person activities – including classes or student organization events – until their case is resolved. Students who fail to comply with this directive could face additional conduct charges, including suspension from the University for a period of time.

Please note that student organizations found responsible for violating the expectations outlined in the Pledge will also be subject to disciplinary action through the SMU Student Code of Conduct. If a student organization is alleged to have hosted an unauthorized party/social gathering, on- or off-campus, they will be placed on an immediate cease and desist (or interim suspension) pending the outcome of the conduct process.

Student organization leaders have a particular responsibility to plan events that do not put students at risk for contracting COVID-19. The general expectations outlined in the Pledge encompass following the event guidelines that have been developed by the Division of Student Affairs and will help ensure the appropriate safety measures are in place. A student organization found in violation of the guidelines outlined in the Pledge will likely be prohibited from hosting any events for the remainder of the semester (and possibly year). Student leaders of student organizations may also face individual charges through the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Additional information regarding the event guidelines is forthcoming and will be included in MOM training for this year.

We expect that our students will practice behavior that keeps us all safe, but I want to be clear so that there are no surprises should violations of these expectations occur: students will be held accountable. Given the gravity of the situation, we simply cannot be complacent about enforcement, and we do not have the luxury of providing individuals multiple opportunities to comply. We must recognize we all have a responsibility to our entire campus and that means holding ourselves and others accountable.

I am optimistic about the fall and I have strong faith in the ability of our smart, motivated students to help keep the Hilltop safe and healthy. Of course, please reach out to me if you have questions; I welcome your feedback and ideas. I look forward to seeing you back on campus very soon.

Pony Up!

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

and Dean of Students

As we prepare to welcome our students back for the upcoming semester, SMU’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team has finalized and posted the Fall 2020 Operations Plan, designed to ensure the safety of our campus and minimize the spread of COVID-19.

This plan formally outlines the many strategies and changes that we have already implemented and communicated in virtual town halls, SMU’s COVID-19 website and messaging to students, parents, faculty and staff. The EOC developed and finalized this comprehensive operations plan in consultation with members of the University community representing all facets of academic and campus operations. The work began with input from the President’s Task Force for a Healthy Opening Fall 2020 and its subcommittees, and the final document has been approved by the President’s Executive Council.

Our goal is to deliver the outstanding personalized education that is the hallmark of SMU while ensuring the campus community’s health and safety through science and common-sense expectations that adhere to Texas and Dallas County guidelines. We gave you the Big Picture Overview in June, but the Fall 2020 Operations plan incorporates operational levels, flow charts and detailed procedures, protocols and contingencies that SMU will use to respond to the pandemic’s fluid nature. It is a working document that will be updated and expanded as needed.

Even with this plan and safety measures in place, it is still up to each of us to act responsibly to help protect everyone’s health and welfare – by practicing social distancing, wearing face coverings and remaining vigilant to changes in individual health. Carefully following this roadmap will help those of us working, teaching and living on campus stay healthy. It also gives our students the opportunity to receive face-to-face instruction from our excellent faculty as well as experience all the campus has to offer. I hope you will find it informative and useful as we face these unusual times together.

Sincerely,

R. Gerald Turner
SMU President

SMU is offering two new digital tools to help monitor your health and protect the campus community: a daily COVID-19 symptom checker and a contact tracing log. Daily checks for virus symptoms and support of contact tracing are two important safety measures emphasized in SMU’s Pledge to Protect.

The Mustang Daily Symptom Checker is a quick survey that students, faculty or staff can use each day before leaving for class or work. If you aren’t feeling well, the survey will help you to determine if you are currently experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19.

After answering a few questions, the symptom checker will provide guidance on what to do next, based on your results. You should receive daily emails from the Symptom Checker, or go to smu.edu/covidcheck if you do not see them.

When you complete the survey and get a green checkmark, you are clear to go to campus. If you get a red X, the symptom checker will prompt you on next steps to take, which may include staying home and filling out a form to notify the University.  Students will complete the Caring Community Connections (CCC) form and employees will fill out the faculty/staff COVID-19 reporting form.

The other tool, PathCheck, is a private location diary for your phone. This mobile app records where you have been in case you need the information to assist in contact tracing should you experience a positive COVID-19 test result.

SMU chose this app because it is a privacy-first design that started at MIT before transitioning into a non-profit foundation. PathCheck privately stores your location on your phone for 14 days. This location diary remains private unless you choose to share this information. Even then, the data will only be used once to assist in the contact tracing interview and then deleted.

To download, go to the Apple or Google store and search for PathCheck SafePlaces. SMU Office of Information Technology (OIT) has more information on how it works and how to set up your phone. If you have any questions, please contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP (4357) or email help@smu.edu.

Dear SMU Students:

As new and returning students move into their Residential Commons or apartments this week, we must reemphasize how crucial it is for each member of the SMU community to take individual responsibility for our ability to complete and enjoy the fall semester on campus.

As you have surely read or heard, several universities that just began their semesters have had to call them off or delay them due to rapid COVID-19 infections coming from off-campus parties. Every one of these cancellations has been due to the thoughtless actions of groups of students having off-campus parties without wearing masks and violating social distancing standards. Any such gathering has an almost certain probability of involving one or more students who are asymptomatic but virulent carriers of the virus. As a result, significant numbers that go to such parties become ill and then spread it to roommates and others with whom they come in contact.

For us to complete the SMU fall semester on campus, such potential parties must be cancelled before they begin. Any person or organization who organizes such a reckless party will be seriously disciplined for putting the entire campus at risk. That is not the SMU Way: Mustangs do not put other Mustangs at risk. What has happened at other universities can be prevented at SMU, but it will require those who might host such events choosing not to do so, and those invited to any that are planned, choosing not to attend. The healthy alternative is to meet in groups of 10 or fewer, all wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Surely, we can all follow this approach for three months or until a vaccine is approved. We must all make the right choices.

Therefore, as we look forward to gathering for the first day of class on Monday, we must all take responsibility during this weekend and afterward for the health and well-being of the entire campus. If we do not, we will join those universities that have had to cancel in-person classes. As world changers, let’s Pony Up and follow the health guidelines and have a great semester.

Go Mustangs,

R. Gerald Turner
President

K.C. Mmeje, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

August 19, 2020

As the University prepares for the start of the fall semester on Monday, August 24, please see the following updates for the SMU campus community.

No-cost, rapid curbside COVID-19 testing for employees is now available at Expressway Tower

SMU employees and families can now receive no-cost, rapid drive-through testing for COVID-19 at Expressway Tower, 6116 North Central Expressway, on the East Campus. The University covers 100% of the cost and no insurance paperwork is needed for those who have SMU health benefits. Telemedicine appointments and drive-through testing may be scheduled for this location Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The SMU curbside testing site is in addition to existing Virtual Care for Families clinic locations in the DFW area that can provide rapid COVID-19 antigen testing to SMU employees and their dependents. It is available to those who have symptoms or may have been exposed to the virus. Clinic and testing hours vary by location so call ahead to confirm availability. 

To schedule a test, complete an initial telemedicine screening at virtualcarefamilies.com/smu. Based on the screening, an appointment for curbside testing can be scheduled at one of the Urgent Care for Kids clinic locations (scroll down for the list.) Employees who test positive should complete the SMU Health Reporting Form and remain at home. If a dependent tests positive, employees should contact their supervisor for additional instructions. 

SMU eases travel restrictions, but approval is still required

Based on the August 6 decision by the U.S. State Department to lift its level 4 Global Health Advisory, SMU-sponsored international travel may resume, subject to approval. Concur Travel requests may be submitted, but are subject to location, specific health and safety restrictions as dictated by the Department of State, CDC and International SOS before approval. Please complete this form to request a review of international travel plans by SMU’s Travel Oversight Committee (TOC). The health and safety of university travelers will be a top priority when reviewing a request, and approval of travel is not guaranteed due to the ongoing global pandemic. For any questions related to the travel request form or international travel, contact Allison Russell, awitucki@smu.edu.

SMU is moving to Phase II of its COVID-19 Domestic Travel plan. SMU continues to restrict University-sponsored and/or sanctioned overnight domestic travel, either by motor vehicle or airplane, but exceptions may be requested by the traveler from their dean, vice president, athletic director, or that supervisor’s designee, for approval by using this form. Local motor vehicle travel (for day trips only) is permitted without requesting an exception.

Any authorized University-sponsored and/or sanctioned travel by faculty and staff for an SMU business purpose requires approved in advance of making travel arrangements. Reservations must be made using the University’s Online Travel and Expense System. Please review the Travel and Entertainment Management Policy 4.7 before booking travel.

SMU outdoor facilities remain closed to the public

With the return of our on-campus population and the resumption of classes, SMU outdoor facilities (such as tennis courts and other athletic fields and facilities) will remain closed to the general public to prevent the potential for virus spread. Outdoor facilities will be open to the campus community on a limited schedule to be set and posted by their managing authority – either Recreational Sports or SMU Athletics. Signs will be posted to reinforce that these venues are closed to the public.

Dear SMU Faculty and Staff,

It is exciting to see students return for our Fall 2020 opening. Thank you for everything you have done to prepare for their arrival. We will continue to monitor the pandemic to ensure we can move forward in a healthy and safe manner. I’d like to share a few updates and remind everyone of the important part you play in this plan.

While some of us have been on campus all along, others are now arriving. As a reminder, all employees should complete the “return-to-work” training before coming. Also, we are all required to do a daily self-screen to check for symptoms of COVID-19.

Another way to promote a healthy return is to take the our “pledge to protect” developed by the SMU Community Action Network (SMU CAN). Signing this pledge confirms that we as members of this campus community understand our personal responsibilities and are committed to following the safety guidelines required in these challenging times.

As outlined in the Fall 2020 Operations Plan, SMU is using four operational levels to guide the University’s response to the pandemic. The status of the University’s current operational level, from low, moderate, high to very high, will soon be added to the COVID-19 Mustang Strong website and updated each week. The University uses an operational assessment tool, also described in the plan, to evaluate campus conditions weekly and update or reaffirm the operational level. It is important to note that the operational level guides SMU’s leadership in making decisions regarding campus activities, but does not dictate specific measures. It is used holistically to assess and determine the best responses to the situation at that time.

On a related note, the campus contact tracing protocol is being updated to provide more support in case of a localized outbreak on campus. If one is declared, the University may use additional resources, including a requirement for localized targeted testing in a residence hall or University office space, to address the situation. Also, if a student receives a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, our contact tracing team will alert the faculty who teach that student of a case in their class without details that could identify the student. No additional information will be provided unless a faculty member is also identified as a “close contact” during the contact tracing process.

We have already shared that we are upgrading air filters in all air handlers across campus. Thirty (30) campus buildings have been retrofitted as of today and all RLSH and academic buildings will be completed by the start of classes. In addition, more than half of our air handlers have commercial grade Ultraviolet light filtering technology integrated into the system which helps to keep viruses and other microorganisms from reproducing and infecting indoor space.

We also have good news on our ability to increase the amount of fresh air pushed through our system. Most of the windows on our campus do not open, and it’s a balancing act to increase fresh air through our HVAC system without exceeding our central plant’s ability to support the added demand. Our traditional approach has been a 20 percent infusion of fresh air mixed with recirculated air, but we have determined that we can safely increase that to a 50 percent infusion of fresh air in most buildings. Be forewarned that our indoor spaces may be a bit warmer as a result.

We will continue to make modifications as needed to adjust to the fluid nature of this pandemic. We appreciate your partnership in keeping our campus healthy this semester.
Sincerely,

R. Gerald Turner
President of SMU

Hello, Mustang!

As we prepare to return to campus for the fall semester, it is of the highest importance that all SMU students educate themselves on the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the updated policies and procedures at SMU. To accomplish this, all SMU students will be required to complete the Returning to Campus: COVID-19 Student Training Course through their Canvas account. 

Completing this course will ensure that all of us have a better understanding of how our campus will operate and what is expected as we work together to protect the health and safety of our entire community. 

What’s in the Course?

Through this course, you will develop skills to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on campus and learn about what SMU is doing to protect the health of our community. The course will take about 60-75 minutes to complete and will cover a variety of topics, including:

• COVID-19 Basics
• Proper Prevention
• COVID-19 Testing
• What Happens if Someone Gets Sick
• What to Expect on Campus
• What to Expect off Campus

You must finish all of the modules and pass the final assessment in order to complete the course successfully. As you complete your training, we invite you to reach out to the many referenced resources in order to join the larger discussion regarding these topics on our campus.

At the end of the course, you will also be asked to sign the “Pledge to Protect our SMU Community.” This pledge symbolizes each individual’s commitment to keeping our campus community healthy and safe.

What happens if a student doesn’t complete the course by the due date?

Completion of this course is REQUIRED for all SMU students. Please ensure that you have completed the course before your first day of class, which is Monday, August 24, 2020. Failure to complete the course by the assigned due date will result in a registration hold on your student account. Beginning Monday, August 24, 2020, this hold will prevent you from participating in fall add/drop and registering for future semesters.

What happens if a student completes the course before the due date?

Those completing the course before the required due date will be entered into a drawing for a FREE semester-long meal plan worth up to $1,500.

Thank you for your participation, and for helping us protect our SMU community. With your help we our campus will move forward and remain MUSTANG STRONG!

Sincerely,

Melinda J. Sutton, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

and Dean of Students

Helpful Course Tips:

• Work at your own pace from any computer or tablet.
• You do not need to complete modules all at once. Canvas will save your progress if you need to stop and return later.
• You must review all of the pages and complete the quiz at the end of each module in order to gain access to the next module. You must complete all of the modules and pass the final assessment in order to successfully complete the course.
• For questions about the program, please email deanofstudents@smu.edu or call 214-768-4564.
• If you experience any technical issues, please contact the SMU OIT Help Desk by phone, 214-768-4357 (8-HELP), via email to help@smu.edu, or submit a ticket online through help.smu.edu.