Helpful Links

Most Useful

• UT’s main COVID-19 page
• Natural Sciences Council Resource Page
• Graduate School FAQs for Graduate Students
• All Campus Messaging - this will include messages from President Fenves and Dean of Students Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly
• Keep Learning: Texas One-Stop COVID FAQ
• University Health Services
• Online Class Pre-Check Canvas course

Also Useful

• Office of the Vice President for Research
• Parking and Transportaiton
• Recreational Sports
• Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Student Emergency Fund
• Texas Global
• Texas Parents
• University Unions
• Vice President for Student Affairs Updates

Overarching Questions

Are there resources to help me succeed with online courses?

• Yes! TIDES has created a starter guide to learning online
• Texas One Stop has several resources
• Sanger Learning Center has a guide to learning online and is still available for tutoring

Are there any technical preparations I need to do?

• The University has set up an Online Class Pre-Check Canvas course, open to all students. It is designed to help you make sure you are ready to access your classes online with as few problems as possible. Visit the course at https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/1278503. This course will guide you through checks of your internet connection, computer, and installed software. In addition to Canvas, the course will also introduce you to campus-supported tools Zoom and Panopto, which your instructors may use to help you successfully complete your coursework this semester.
• If you need hardware or wifi access, please see the technology section of this FAQ.

Will my classmates and I need to come back to campus for finals or anything else during the spring 2020 semester?

• You won’t. All spring courses have been moved to online for the rest of the semester and undergraduate students are asked to not return to campus unless there is a specific need.  Students are also moving out of the residence halls (except in emergency situations) to allow as much social distancing as possible.

I’m supposed to graduate in May 2020, but will I be able to complete all my courses?

• As long as you receive a “pass” or “C-“ or better for your courses and continue to work once courses move online, your efforts will all count and you will graduate.

I understand all classes this spring have moved online.  When will in-person classes resume?

• AT this time, UT has not announced when in-person classes will resume, as it is unclear what will be necessary to help limit and contain the coronavirus. UT is committed to keeping students, staff, and faculty safe so the decision will be made at a later date. 
• Please refer to UT’s main COVID-19 page for all updates

Can I still go on campus?  Will UT buildings like the FAC and WCP (formerly SAC) be open?

• President Fenves has asked students not to return to campus unless there is a specific, urgent reason to do so. Furthermore, all campus buildings are locked to allow for social distancing and safety.

I miss my friends and classmates.  How can I connect with them?

• Social distancing is really more about physically distancing, not disconnecting. UT has several ways to stay in contact with your friends and peers.
  • Zoom – UT now has a campus-wide license with Zoom to allow groups to meet, have virtual lunches, for scholarly work ,and for fun.
  • Canvas – this tried and true method allows for discussions within courses, group work, and messaging.
  • While only Zoom and Canvas are supported by UT, we can’t resist sharing some other good ideas we have seen:
    • Host watch parties through apps like Kast.
    • Draw pictures with your friends through various apps like io or Draw with Friends
    • Get your nerd on and play Words with Friends
  • Check out Natural Sciences Council Resource Page for more ideas

Wellness

There's a lot going on right now and our instinct is to take care of those around us.  In order to do that, we have to take care of ourselves first.  Below are some action items you can do:

• If you feel panicked: This 10-minute guided meditation may help loosen the grip of fear 
• If you’re distracted: This app by scientists & musicians can help you refocus in 15 minutes. 
• If you're on info-overload: Turn on "Do Not Disturb" on all your devices between specific hours.
• If you're overwhelmed: Try this simple 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique. 
• If you’re fearing the unknown: These 3 free meditations aim to help you weather the storm. 
• If you feel isolated: Block time for at least one phone date a day with someone you love.
• If you feel stressed: Try this free 30-minute yoga practice aimed at taming anxiety. 
• If you just don't know how you feel: Through simple prompts, this app checks in with you daily to help track and better understand your moods.

Also useful

• The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) remains available for counseling and psychiatric services over the phone, and the CMHC Crisis Line, 512-471-2255, also operates 24/7.
• Hogg Foundation on Mental Health's Information and Resources

Grades

Will UT move the Q-drop deadline and/or for changing a course to pass-fail?

• Yes, UT has moved the Q-drop deadline AND the deadline to change your course to pass-fail (credit-no credit) to May 29^th. This gives you ample time to try the classes online before you make up your mind.

Is there still a limit on how many courses I can take pass-fail in a semester?

• As of this writing, yes, but the university is looking into relaxing that rule for the spring semester.  Stay tuned for more information.

What does changing a course to pass-fail mean for future courses?

• Passing a course typically fulfills the prerequisites for future courses and allows you to move on in the course sequence.
• One thing to be aware of – you can receive a “pass” in a course for a grade of D- or better, yet when grades are given you need a C- or better if the course is in your degree plan. While this may appear like a boon at first, grades are given to show mastery of skills needed to succeed in subsequent courses so a D- may get a pass, but you’ll want to work on developing the missing skills so you don’t actually earn a D- in the next course.  Before you make any changes to your schedule, please talk with your advisor for more information.
• Another thing to check before you move to pass-fail is the impact it will have on scholarships, financial aid, or other academic pieces. For more information please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

What does changing a course to pass-fail mean for professional and/or graduate school?

• The answer will depend on the particular graduate/professional school. Our Health Professions Office is working with health science schools in Texas to get clarification.

I heard other schools are moving all courses to pass-fail or the Double A system.  Is UT going to do that too?

• No, Faculty Council and President Fenves authorized an opt-in method for pass-fail of courses.

Where do I find the Q-drop and Pass-Fail policy information?

• The best place to find it is with your Academic Advisor – they will have the most up-to-date information.

What about academic probation?

• Students on academic probation will not be subject to dismissal this spring.  If you get above a 2.0 cumulative GPA this semester, then you will be off probation, but even if you don't meet the terms of your grade contract, you will still be allowed to continue on probation in the fall.

For Graduate Students

In addition to the questions below, please see the Graduate School FAQs for Graduate Students.

As a graduate student receiving a stipend, will I continue to be paid on time and in full?  

• Based on the vital role our graduate students play in our research mission, it is the college’s strong desire to see there is no disruption in stipends and feel confident that there will be no disruption in stipends during this unusual spring semester. We will work with Human Resources, as well as college and university leadership, to ensure consistency through the summer should the current situation extend that far into the future.

I am set to graduate from my Ph.D. program this spring/summer, and I fear or know that the job I had secured is no longer there. What should I do?

• First, you should reach out to your prospective employer to see what plans they have to deal with the situation. The Office of Graduate Education encourages you to talk to your PI about what options might be available to you within your current lab and suggests working with Career Development Specialist Dr. Po-Tsan Ku on developing contingencies.
  
  

I’m having issues with my visa and am being told I must return to my home country. I’m worried I won’t be allowed to return and continue my graduate education. 

• If you are experiencing visa issues, please work with Texas Global.

What if as a graduate student I experience any sort of harassment tied to the Covid-19 pandemic? 

• We are steadfastly committed to enriching and transformative educational and research experiences for every member of our community. Any incivility directed towards one of our students based on race/ethnicity/gender/sexuality/religious affiliation or any other group identification is unacceptable. Please report any such incidents here. 

I’m due to begin in a graduate program at UT in the fall. What will happen if the pandemic disrupts admissions for the fall semester? 

• Students in this situation should remain in contact with their prospective program contacts and monitor the situation. In most cases it should be a simple matter of deferring admission to a later semester.

CNS Advising

How do I get in touch with my advisor?

• Your Academic Advisor is still here and eager to talk to you. Given that staff are primarily working remotely, please contact your Advisor via e-mail.
  • If you know their name, you can find them in the UT Directory.
  • If you don’t know their name, you can look up who your advisor is here.
• Check the CNS Advising page for more information about how your advisor is doing appointments

How will registration advising work?  How will I get my bar cleared?

• Via phone or internet. More details to come.

Will course registration for the summer and fall be impacted by the current situation?

• Registration is set to open April 27^th and continue through May 8^th.  All advising is moving online and registration is already conducted online so there should be minimal disruptions.

Technology

I don’t have a computer and/or high-speed internet to do my online classes.  What resources are there?

• Fill out the Student Emergency Services (SES) survey
• If you do not have a smart phone or any internet connection to conduct the survey online, please call (512) 232-9020 and leave a message. Someone will get back to you shortly.

How can I make sure my technology setup is right to get started on online classes?

• Visit this UT Canvas course to make sure that you are ready to participate in your online classes. This course will check the equipment you are using at your current location (your computer and the reliability of your internet connection), as well as the tools and applications you will be using in many of your courses in Canvas.

CNS Courses

How will attendance policies be affected by moving to online?

• We realize that there are any number of challenges in moving to online courses, especially when you’re not in your established space of a residence hall or apartment. CNS is working with our faculty to create ways to allow for differences in accessibility.  If you find that an attendance policy is not sufficiently accommodating to your situation, please e-mail Dr. Vanden Bout at cns-studentdean@austin.utexas.edu.

Is my lab course moving online?

• Yes, all courses are moving online for the remainder of spring 2020.

What will an online lab course look like?

• This will vary from department to department, course to course. The goal is to continue your education in that particular content area through non-in-person means.  If you have specific questions, please reach out to your individual instructor as they’re the ones who will know the most.

Any advice on working with my professors?

• All instructors made a shift in working to move courses online. Our goal is to continue learning, but keep in mind that your professors had limited time to build online solutions for your class. Please exercise the same patience and grace with them as you’re hoping they will with you.

How do I contact my professor?

• You can access them through UT Directory or through Canvas. E-mail is best as almost all of them are working remotely.
• You should have heard from your professor no later than March 27^th.

Housing

How do I get emergency housing?

• Please refer to the SES Emergency Housing application.

How do I get my stuff out of the residence halls?

• Please refer to the University Housing and Dining website.

I’m an international student.  What are my options?

• Please contact Texas Global and reference their International Student page.

Financial

I don’t have what I need to succeed in online courses and can’t afford to buy anything.  Is there any financial support?

• Fill out the Student Emergency Services (SES) survey
• CNS and SES are working together so either survey should connect you with resources

Will there be any partial tuition reimbursement since students don’t have access to on-campus resources that are funded by flat-rate tuition?

• The University is not currently planning on providing partial tuition rebates. Please reference the UT COVID-19 FAQ page for up to date information.

Could we advocate for free academic summaries or transcripts?  Normally you can get a free academic summary by going to the Registrar’s office in person, but that’s no longer possible.

• Please reference the Texas One Stop FAQ for up to date information.

Due to businesses shutting down, I’ve lost my job and now have a hard time paying the bills.  Is there anywhere to get financial help?

• Yes, please fill out the Student Emergency Services (SES) survey.

Will UT delay the 3^rd installment for tuition payment?

• Please reference the Texas One Stop FAQ for up to date information.

Events

Are we still having Commencement?

• The May 21-23 commencement and graduation ceremonies are postponed, and a virtual commencement is being planned - details forthcoming.
• The University hopes to celebrate students on campus later in the year.
• See the announcement from President Fenves and planned Commencement speaker Brené Brown.
• Information about possible refunds on invitations and/or regalia can be found on the University’s Commencement FAQ.
• Diplomas will be mailed to graduates in early June to the permanent address in the student’s account. Students who wish to receive their diploma via FedEx should contact Diploma Services for important detailed instructions at diplomas@austin.utexas.edu before June 1st.

Can my student org still meet?

• Virtually, yes, and please do. In person, no. This is meant to keep everyone safe.

Is Honors Day still happening? If not, how do I get my cords?

• All events with more than 10 people are cancelled for the spring semester, so there will be no Honors Day ceremony, but the college events team is exploring other options to celebrate honors students this spring.
• Cords will be distributed when it is safe for faculty and students to return to campus. Once that date is set, we will have more information on picking up any number of awards.

Will the College still have an Undergraduate Research Forum, UT Fashion Show, and other spring events?

• Many units are planning for virtual events and celebrations now. Please stay tuned.

What’s happening with Summer Orientation?

• Please refer to New Student Services’ COVID-19 Updates page for the latest on Orientation.

Student Support

Will the Health Professions Office (HPO) provide online appointments?

• HPO is working to provide online appointments. Please contact them by e-mail for more information: hpo@austin.utexas.edu.

Will Career Services provide online appointments?

• Yes! Career Services is holding virtual appointments via Handshake.  Visit their website to learn more.

Will TIDES have online resources for students?

• Yes, TIDES has a basic guide on preparing for remote learning and will soon have a page of best practices for learning online.

What are some free resources for students?

• Natural Sciences Council Resource Page has a slew of free resources
• The University CoOp is offering free digital textbooks. Students may begin accessing these materials at vitalsource.com.  [Students will need to create an account using their “.edu” email. Personal emails will not work for this program.]
• Spectrum Internet is offering up to two months of free service
• iClicker is waiving access fees
• SquareCap is waiving fees through July 1, 2020.

Who can I talk to if I’m feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed?

• The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) remains available for counseling and psychiatric services over the phone, and the CMHC Crisis Line, 512-471-2255, also operates 24/7.

How do I get accommodations for online learning?

• The accommodations already in place through Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) still hold, though if the needs are different now that courses are moving online please reach out to your instructor.
• If you didn’t need accommodations before but now do because of the move to online courses, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office.

Student Employment

I’m a work study student.  Will my position continue?

• Yes, you will continue to be paid whether you can work remotely or not as a work study student
  • If you are able to do your Work-Study remotely: Enter the hours worked into your time-sheet and add the comment: “Hours worked – telework” to the comment section of the time block(s). Route your timesheets as normal for approval.
  • If you are not able to do your Work-Study remotely: Enter the hours you were scheduled to work into your time-sheet and add the comment: ““Hours not worked due to COVID-19” to the comment section of the time block(s). Route your timesheets as normal for approval.
• The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid has more information about Work Study in this FAQ.

I’m a student employee.  Will my position continue?

• CNS is committed to continuing all possible student employment.  If you find that your position isn’t able to continue, even after speaking to your supervisor, but you would like to work, please contact Dr. Vanden Bout (cns-studentdean@austin.utexas.edu).

Research

If the COVID-19 situation improves, will we be allowed back on campus to do our research?

• Not in the spring 2020 semester. Keeping you safe is the university’s priority, and by policy, researchers are not allowing undergrads in research laboratories for the rest of the semester.
• This is not to say you can’t continue your research – all labs are exploring ways to continue research remotely. Contact your PI for more information.
• If you work in an FRI lab, please see this FAQ.