COVID-19 Response and Communications
Updated: Feb. 4, 2021
The following are resources and communications related to how Grady College and the University of Georgia are addressing the continuity plan following the coronavirus.
Frequently Asked Questions about Returning to the Journalism Building
Before You Enter the Building
Take your temperature, self-monitor your health and use the University’s screening and notification tool called DawgCheck.
If you have any symptoms, do not come to campus.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, all students, faculty and staff members must report their case through DawgCheck at DawgCheck.uga.edu.
Also, make sure you have your face covering before coming to campus.
If you have any symptoms, do not come to campus.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, all students, faculty and staff members must report their case through DawgCheck at DawgCheck.uga.edu.
Also, make sure you have your face covering before coming to campus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
Stay home and depending on your condition, contact the University Health Center or your personal health care provider. Visit the CDC website for more information.
Any confirmed, positive case of COVID-19 must be reported to DawgCheck.uga.edu.
If your health allows, attend class virtually (and let your professor(s) know). If your health does not allow, that’s ok – just let your professors know. We are adjusting the attendance policy (details forthcoming), and those adjustments will reflect the need to prioritize health and safety.
Any confirmed, positive case of COVID-19 must be reported to DawgCheck.uga.edu.
If your health allows, attend class virtually (and let your professor(s) know). If your health does not allow, that’s ok – just let your professors know. We are adjusting the attendance policy (details forthcoming), and those adjustments will reflect the need to prioritize health and safety.
While on Campus
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- 1. Wear a mask
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- 2. Practice social distancing
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- 3. Clean and disinfect frequent touchpoints (knobs, buttons, workspaces, devices, etc.)
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- 4. Avoid sharing items (pens, books, etc.) with others
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- 5. Wash your hands regularly
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- 6. Avoid touching your face
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- 7. Sneeze or cough into your elbow
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- 8. Don't move furniture. It has been placed at socially-distanced intervals
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Yes, except in cases of accommodations for documented medical conditions. All University System of Georgia (USG) institutions require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always be possible. Face covering use will be in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing. Face coverings are not required when you are alone in an office or study room.
Pick one up from the Deans’ Suite on the second floor (Office 207) or from your professor.
Grady College will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The third, fourth and fifth floors are open until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. After those hours, key card access will be required. In an effort to reduce building density, the Grady College is modifying the class schedule so that certain cohorts of students are in class on certain days.
Students showing symptoms should go home immediately and schedule an appointment with their UHC Primary Care Provider by calling 706-542-1162 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m). UHC is asking for students to please avoid doing walk-ins.
Additionally, please also notify your professors and the Dean's Suite so we can make sure you are receiving the support and assistance you need.
Additionally, please also notify your professors and the Dean's Suite so we can make sure you are receiving the support and assistance you need.
Socially-distanced guidelines of maintaining 6 feet or more between people will be necessary in all study spaces.
Benches are located throughout the building and are available for one person to use at a time.
Several traditional study areas like the PAF will be reserved for classes this year and will not be available for open study.
Benches are located throughout the building and are available for one person to use at a time.
Several traditional study areas like the PAF will be reserved for classes this year and will not be available for open study.
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- Other study spaces at Grady College include:
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- 1st Floor: Hallway outside of Studio 100; tables limited to one person each
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- 2nd Floor: Media Garden, weather permitting; tables and concrete benches limited to one person each
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- 3rd Floor: East and West hallways; east hallway tables limited to one person each; west hallway tables limited to two people each
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- 4th Floor: Open study area; see signage for occupancy counts
The small PAF and some other rooms will be available for students to meet with professors for office hours. These can be scheduled by a faculty or staff member through TJ Alexander in the Dean's Suite.
Unfortunately, meeting spaces at Grady College will not be available for student organizations to meet this fall. We encourage student organizations to hold virtual meetings for the next several months.
Unfortunately, meeting spaces at Grady College will not be available for student organizations to meet this fall. We encourage student organizations to hold virtual meetings for the next several months.
Grady College does have elevators, however, there are only two and because of social distancing, they can only accommodate two people at a time. Therefore, we request that all students use the stairs unless a medical condition dictates that the elevator is necessary.
As any graduate of Grady will tell you, navigating the stairs at Grady College can be a challenge because the stairwells are not connected. For instance, to get to the fifth floor from the second floor, students will need to take the east stairwell. The west stairwell goes from the first to the second floor, then from the third to the fifth floor. In other words, plan ahead and scout out your class location a day or two early.
As any graduate of Grady will tell you, navigating the stairs at Grady College can be a challenge because the stairwells are not connected. For instance, to get to the fifth floor from the second floor, students will need to take the east stairwell. The west stairwell goes from the first to the second floor, then from the third to the fifth floor. In other words, plan ahead and scout out your class location a day or two early.
Classes
Consistent with University System of Georgia guidance, our college has been planning for in-person instruction with social distancing this fall, as well as the backup contingency that courses might need to migrate fully online at some point during the semester.
The method of instruction will ultimately vary depending on the particular class and the professor. In some smaller classes, instructors are planning to meet in person throughout the semester unless required to move online. Other faculty are planning various ways to offer excellent instruction to the entire class while bringing different groups of students into the classroom at different times. This may involve “hyflex” instruction, in which some students are in the classroom and others participate by Zoom. Other instructors plan to use “hybrid” or “flipped classroom” approaches, in which students receive pre-recorded instructional materials and then rotate through the classroom in pre-divided sections for in-person discussion and application. Based on University guidance, some courses will occur fully online.
The method of instruction will ultimately vary depending on the particular class and the professor. In some smaller classes, instructors are planning to meet in person throughout the semester unless required to move online. Other faculty are planning various ways to offer excellent instruction to the entire class while bringing different groups of students into the classroom at different times. This may involve “hyflex” instruction, in which some students are in the classroom and others participate by Zoom. Other instructors plan to use “hybrid” or “flipped classroom” approaches, in which students receive pre-recorded instructional materials and then rotate through the classroom in pre-divided sections for in-person discussion and application. Based on University guidance, some courses will occur fully online.
Final exams will take place after Thanksgiving, and all will be online. An exam schedule will be posted shortly.
Probably. For classes that meet for in-person instruction, it will often be possible to speak with the professor after class so long as the professor and student are following health and safety protocols. Plexiglass shielding has been installed in many classrooms to facilitate such interactions.
All instructors will have office hours, however most sessions will take place either online or in a designated meeting space. Office hours will not take place in the professor's office because few offer proper social distancing. Office hours will vary by instructor. Some professors will have a sign on their door with relevant instructions. Please be mindful of safety protocols during office hours.
It’s not required, but it will help maintain social distancing and avoid overtaxing common areas and facilities if students come to campus only on days they have in person classes and return home when school-related obligations are finished. Grady College recognizes, though, that individual student situations vary and that some may have individualized research, study and other needs.
Sanitation kits are being supplied for each classroom with extra masks, gloves and wipes to use upon request.
Classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned once a day. After the classrooms are cleaned in the evening by the custodians, the classroom doors will be locked until the following morning. In the daytime, cleaning wipes will be available in each classroom (and throughout the school in common areas) for individuals to clean their work surface, as they deem necessary.
Professors coming into a classroom to teach will be responsible for cleaning their teaching station to ensure it is done to their standards.
Students coming into a lab to use a shared computer and keyboard mouse
Classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned once a day. After the classrooms are cleaned in the evening by the custodians, the classroom doors will be locked until the following morning. In the daytime, cleaning wipes will be available in each classroom (and throughout the school in common areas) for individuals to clean their work surface, as they deem necessary.
Professors coming into a classroom to teach will be responsible for cleaning their teaching station to ensure it is done to their standards.
Students coming into a lab to use a shared computer and keyboard mouse
- are responsible for cleaning their work station prior to its use
Many professors plan to record classes so they are available for students who need to miss class or for other students in the class to review. Please keep in mind that the recordings are for your use as a member of a specific class. Don't share recorded class materials with anyone not in the class or use the materials for any purpose other than the class, including posting to other places.
Testing, Exposure and When to Self-Quarantine
Yes. Symptomatic students can receive testing at UHC but must call ahead to book appointments (706-542-1162). Additionally, it is possible to schedule a test through the Georgia Department of Public Health’s fixed testing site at 1030 Mitchell Bridge Road (706-340-0996).
The University has also announced plans for surveillance testing for students not exhibiting symptoms. Please read more about the plans for surveillance testing and notification.
The University has also announced plans for surveillance testing for students not exhibiting symptoms. Please read more about the plans for surveillance testing and notification.
If you have symptoms or a medical provider has presumptively diagnosed you with COVID-19, you should self-quarantine (more on this below). Additionally, if you have had prolonged exposure (see below) to someone who tested positive, you should self-quarantine.
If you test positive, please stay home and follow the CDC guidelines on isolating while you monitor your symptoms.
Please note, you are required to report a positive test result in DawgCheck.
Please note, you are required to report a positive test result in DawgCheck.
According to the CDC, the presumptive measure for an exposure is close contact (within 6 feet) of the person for fifteen or more minutes irrespective whether you or the positive individual were wearing a mask. The CDC stresses that the data here are limited and that the operative figures for proximity and temporality are limited.
Depending on the extent of the exposure event, please follow the guidelines from the CDC.
Depending on the extent of the exposure event, please follow the guidelines from the CDC.
If you are able to safely go to another location to isolate or quarantine, please do that. Otherwise, we recommend reviewing and following the CDC Guidance on quarantine scenarios that are specific to living arrangements.
Please follow the CDC guidance for self-quarantine. Essentially, you should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
During this time, you should monitor for symptoms, socially distance from others, make a special effort to avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
During this time, you should monitor for symptoms, socially distance from others, make a special effort to avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Find My Classes
We have published guide videos to help you find specific rooms at the college. See our Find My Classes page to view the navigational videos.
Highlighted Arch Announcements/Return to Campus Updates
- Feb. 4, 2021 Spring News for Students
- Jan. 12, 2021 News for Students
- Sept. 15, 2020 Fall update for faculty and students
- Sept. 9, 2020 Return to Campus Student Digest
- UGA statement on COVID-19 numbers (Sept. 9, 2020)
- August 19, 2020 Return to Campus Student Digest
- August 13, 2020 Information on Fall Classes
- August 12, 2020 Student Digest
- August 7, 2020 Student Digest
- Link to Campus Conversation about COVID-19 (Aug. 4)
- July 29, 2020 student digest
- July 21, 2020
- July 15, 2020
- July 7, 2020
- June 30, 2020
- June 23, 2020
- June 16, 2020
- June 9, 2020
- Message about Maymester and Summer classes online (April 2, 2020)
- Message to Students and Parents: Student Refund Plan (March 20, 2020)
University of Georgia Resources
(UGA’s most authoritative website; updated regularly and includes links to other resources, FAQ, directory of all Arch New announcements, etc.)
(extensive Q&A about research-related issues)
(includes links to CTL guide for teaching during disruptions and other online resources)
Resources for online learning
Resources for Students
- eLC (e Learning Commons — requires DUO access)
- How to install Adobe Products (courtesy of Franklin College)
Resources for Faculty & Staff
- Online Learning resources: Rapid Guide to Online Teaching (needs access through ELC) and a place to register with Instructional Designers
![Peyton Anderson Forum]("https://grady.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GradyZoom3.jpg){kind=link}