SGA Fall 2020 FAQs

Fall 2020 Frequently Asked Questions

You Asked, We Answered…

As Georgia Tech prepares to return to on-campus operations for Fall 2020, we know a lot of questions remain unanswered. As part of SGA’s ongoing efforts to advocate for the student body, we have put together a list of questions that the student body wants answered. These questions cover a broad range of topics including academics and registration, health and safety, and student life.

Many of these questions were addressed during the SGA Town Hall hosted on July 22, 2020. A full recording of the Town Hall is available here.

To submit a question to this list, please email the SGA Covid-19 Response Team. To learn more about SGA’s Response to Covid-19, click here.

NOTE: Answers to these questions will be published at the conclusion of the SGA Town Hall scheduled for July 22, 2020 at 6:30 PM.

Student Organizations

Will student organizations be able to meet in person?

Spaces on campus will be limited, and we are highly encouraging folks to take advantage of virtual programming opportunities to ensure the safety of the community. More information on virtual programming can be found here: https://specialevents.gatech.edu/virtual.

How can my organization get involved with the virtual Organization Fair?

Sign up through Engage to showcase your organization on FlipGrid, which is a virtual service where organizations upload a short video explaining their club so incoming and current students will be able to browse the organizations. More information on the fairs and how to sign up can be found here.

When will my new organization be able to charter?

The fall chartering windows will be posted within the first two weeks of classes; in the meantime you are encouraged to complete as much of the process as possible to ensure a rapid charter. More information on chartering can be found here.

Will SGA be providing any PPE for events?

Currently, SGA is working with the Center for Student Engagement to create a central cache of masks for RSOs to access for their events, but supplies will likely be limited as we are strongly encouraging folks to take advantage of virtual programming opportunities to ensure the safety of the community.

How will this affect club sports teams? What about dance teams?

Club sports teams and dance teams will be able to reserve spaces at the reduced capacity at the discretion of CPSM. For information on the CRC and their restrictions, see here: http://www.crc.gatech.edu/resources.

Do you have any updates about how clubs/organization meetings will be conducted in the fall?

Spaces on campus will be few and limited to ensure social distancing. Our strong recommendation that student organizations take these meetings virtual.

Do you have any suggestions on how club leaders should run meetings? Would you recommend completely virtual?

Our recommendation is going fully virtual. This eliminates any risk to the organization and to the Georgia Tech community, as well as ensuring that all members are able to attend, as international and at-risk members may be unable to attend in person.

Will the minimum dues for clubs will change?

We are currently in the process of working with admin to ensure we can change JFC policy after the fiscal year has started, but it is looking promising that we will be able to remove minimum dues requirements for RSOs.

Will club sports receive regular funding this year?

Yes.

Is Georgia Tech going to mandate what clubs can meet or is it up to the discretion of the organization?

RSOs will be encouraged to sign a pledge to ensure they will follow CDC guidelines when it is necessary to meet and to take meetings online when possible.

Are we allowed to do outdoor events with social distancing and masks?

Outdoor spaces will be limited and set to about 25% capacity, but they will be available for reservations.

Are practices like tabling or chalking allowed on Skiles Walkway?

When space allows for social distancing, as of now, reservations for outdoor spaces like Skiles Walkway will be opening up in August, and organizations will be able to table/chalk while following CDC guidelines.

Will the student activity fee be adjusted to reflect the changes happening this fall?

No. All fee levels are set by the USG. If a student is taking less than 4 in-person or hybrid credit hours, however, then the student will not be charged for the fee.

Academic Affairs

Who is eligible to return to campus in the fall? Are international students included in this?

All students are eligible to return to campus in the fall, including international students

Is there a way for us to increase the amount of fully distant courses?

As of now, most of the course modes have been determined. The attendance policy and the nature of the course assignments is truly up to the instructor, and they are encouraged to be flexible. Hopefully, we can see some courses offered with distance options. If you need distance courses for accommodations purposes, reach out to the Office of Disability Services to secure your accommodations and then contact the instructor.

How can we see what mode our course will be taught in?

You can access your course mode by visiting OSCAR (oscar.gatech.edu) and looking at the attributes of your courses. Classes coded as RESD will be fully in-person, classes coded as HYBR will be hybrid, and classes coded as SYNC or ASYN will be fully online. Currently, all residential courses are coded as hybrid courses. To check if your hybrid course will be fully in-person, visit sga.gatech.edu/residentialcourses.

How does the leave of absence request process work?

To view the process for requesting a leave of absence, click here.

Will SGA consider advocating for pass/fail grading policies if we are sent home again?

Yes.

What does hybrid mean? How do I find out what type of hybrid course I am in? When will I know for sure?

Unfortunately, hybrid could mean a lot of different things. As of now, all residential courses are coded as hybrid courses. To check if your hybrid course will be fully in-person, visit sga.gatech.edu/residentialcourses. To find out what hybrid mode your course is in, you have to email the professor or department. At this point, it is up to the professor what type of hybrid mode your course will be taught in, and only they can release more specific details.

What will the day-to-day work of hybrid classes look like?

The day-to-day work of hybrid courses will vary by course sections. Reach out to the designated instructor for the course and ask more about what hybrid means for the course, including course expectations and the attendance policy.

ODS cannot compel instructors to offer a virtual option. What is the point of getting an accommodation in the first place?

ODS cannot require faculty members to change their policies and procedures in a way that would cause a fundamental alteration in the nature of how the course is taught that would undermine the content of said course. A fundamental alteration by definition is a change that is significantly enough to alter the essential nature of the goods, service, privileges, accommodations, advantages, and etc. offered. However, ODS can provide helpful accommodations as listed here. They see students with disabilities related and un-related to COVID-19 (CDC on developmental and behavioral disorders). This can range from eye strain to coming down with COVID-19. OSCAR has been revisiting courses to outline more details for what hybrid means exactly. If a student is unable to see any information related to their hybrid course, they are encouraged to contact their professor to understand their definition of hybrid. If a student’s course is not remote entirely, they may receive Phase II registration priority up until this Friday, July 31st through ODS. They would have to contact ODS first and go through the three-step process.ODS has a rolling intake up until November. Students can register with them anytime. In the case that a student gets ill or is suddenly disabled during the term, they may contact ODS for assistance.

What is the attendance policy going to be? Can professors require attendance for any course mode?

Brielle, the undergraduate president, and Jackson Caruso, the VP of Academic Affairs worked jointly to draft a list of attendance faculty/student expectations for the fall. We cannot stress enough that if you do not feel well, you will not be expected to go to class. We do want to encourage students and faculty to have conversations and openly ask questions about attendance on the first day of classes. SGA has been advocating for attendance leniency for the fall semester, particularly due to changes in on-campus transit and classroom locations. Ideally, we hope that faculty will individually choose to not require attendance.

Will SGA advocate for attendance policy changes?

Yes, this is something we have continually been advocating for. SGA’s Undergraduate President and VP of Academic Affairs have drafted an updated attendance faculty/student expectations document for Georgia Tech’s review, and are advocating for faculty to be flexible and lenient with attendance.

Will we have to pay for proctor services?

No, students will not have to pay for proctor services.

Will 121/tutoring services be available to students virtually?

Yes, 121/tutoring services will continue to be available to students virtually.

What is SGA doing to make sure students who don’t feel comfortable attending in person classes have adequate remote options? Do students have the option to be completely online?

SGA has submitted a petition to accommodate students by opening remote access for all students. At this time, we cannot guarantee that all students can go fully online.

What are my options if I am a high-risk student who wants to avoid in-person interactions in the classroom?

If you are an at-risk or high-risk student, you should apply for accommodations through the Office of Disability Services. Go to disabilityservices.gatech.edu.

Can we take two hybrid or online classes in the same time slot?

OSCAR will not allow students to sign up for two courses at the same time slot; however, you can request an override permit from the desired academic department or School.

What do the course attributes listed on OSCAR mean?

AYSN: Remote Asynchronous Course, HUM: Humanities Requirement, HYBR: Hybrid Course, RESD: Residential Course, SS: Social Studies Requirement, SYNC: Remote Synchronous Course, ZLC: Low-Cost Course (Materials under $40), ZNCM: No-Cost Course (Materials are $0)

If all of my courses are online, and I am an out of state student, am I able to stay at home?

Yes, if you do not have classes on campus, you are absolutely allowed to stay home.

Will hybrid classes have the option to be fully online?

We are unsure at this time. The attendance policy and the nature of the course assignments is up to the professors and will be encouraged to be flexible, but Georgia Tech has directed instructors for hybrid classes to include a “meaningful in person experience.”

How do we determine exactly what days we have to be on campus during the semester?

Specifically regarding hybrid courses, this will be determined by the individual course instructor. Residential courses, also known as in-person courses, will operate normally.

What happens if all of the remote classes are filled, but you do not feel comfortable going in person? Will the remote class sizes be getting bigger?

You can ask the department or instructor to open up more spots. Let SGA know if you are having problems here, and we will help! For help, email academics@sga.gatech.edu

Can professors be compelled to provide an entirely online option for students who cannot/are unwilling to come to Atlanta at this time?

This will be up to the individual professor and/or department. We highly encourage you to reach out to them and explain your situation. Faculty and staff can be a lot more understanding than you may think.

Will there be in person final exams?

No.

For hybrid classes, how often will the on-campus components take place? Can there be a public list of each hybrid class with details on (1) how often class will take place on campus, (2) what will take place on campus, such as labs, fabrication, live demos, etc., and (3) if attendance to on-campus classes is required and/or part of the grade.

This really is up to the discretion of each instructor, which makes it pretty difficult to compile a complete list of every hybrid class and how each will function. Hybrid classes make up 70% of all courses this fall. You should reach out to each of your instructors and ask how hybrid will function for that course section, as well as how attendance will be factored into the course. SGA is continuing to advocate for attendance leniency for all courses, and hopefully this will allow for increased flexibility for students and faculty.

What criteria was used to decide course modes for non-lab and non-studio classes?

Criteria includes the size of the class, room accommodations, pedagogy, and professor requests/accommodations.

In classes with a hybrid format, will the professor be allowed to mandate attendance for activities that can be completed online?

The attendance policy and the nature of the course assignments is up to the professors and will be encouraged to be flexible.

Campus Services (non-Housing)

What will dining halls look like this fall?

For a comprehensive list of dining questions and answers, please visit https://georgiatech.campusdish.com/MealPlans/MealPlan_DiningFAQ.

Plans for fall include eliminating all salad bars, buffets, and soup stations, and providing grab-and-go options at all dining halls. Food will be prepackaged in single-serving containers, and dining hall staff will serve all food that is not prepackaged. Market stands, food carts, and food trucks will be increased to encourage social distancing. All staff will wear appropriate PPE for food service and cleanliness. Contactless/tap credit card terminals and plexiglass shields will be installed at all point-of-sale locations, and card readers will be disinfected frequently. All dining operations will temporarily shut down after meal shifts for more thorough cleaning, and each facility will be disinfected overnight.Seating capacity in the North Avenue and Brittain dining halls, West Village, and the food court in the Campus Center Exhibition Hall will be reduced.

Is it possible to receive a refund for a meal plan I purchased?

Yes! Before fall 2020 dining opens up in early August, you can reach out to the Buzzcard Center (support@buzzcard.gatech.edu) and request that your meal plan be refunded.

My schedule is almost entirely virtual. Will there be any reduction in tuition and fees?

Tuition is frozen for this year. There is no movement on fees, but students are welcome to apply for a grant of up to $1000 from the Student Emergency Fund, which can be found here: https://studentlife.gatech.edu/content/student-emergency-fund

If I decide to take classes from home (out-of-state), will this affect our financial aid?

Generally, no this will not affect financial aid. However, students should contact financial aid with specific questions because specific scenarios can get complicated.

Are there any changes to the administrative process for arranging catering from off campus?

Not at this time. The catering providers policy isn’t under review until February 2020 and the current policy still holds in place.

What happens financially if we all get sent home again? Will we have to pay for transportation?

Students are encouraged to apply for the Student Emergency Fund, which can be found at https://studentlife.gatech.edu/content/student-emergency-fund.

Will the Exhibition Hall be open immediately in the fall and will it be open for events?

Yes, it will be open to students, but in a socially distanced way.

Will intramurals be happening?

This is still to be determined. The full policy for intramurals can be found at http://www.crc.gatech.edu/resources in the FAQs section under “Competitive Sports”

Will the CRC be reopening?

Yes, the CRC plans to reopen on August 10th. Check out more information here: http://www.crc.gatech.edu/resources

How will on-campus transportation work this Fall with social distancing and sanitation?

During the fall semester, routes and service frequencies will be adjusted to accommodate social distancing impacts on bus capacity.

Primary routes, like Gold and Blue Routes, will have increased service frequencies. The Red Route, Midnight Rambler, and weekend Gold Route services will not operate during the fall semester; those resources will be refocused on increasing service on primary routes.

The GT/Emory shuttle will resume August 3, 2020. The Blue, Green, and Tech Square/Clough Routes will resume service by August 17, 2020. Detailed routes and schedules for fall semester will be posted on the Parking and Transportation Services website later this month.

Stingerette service is currently limited to one rider at a time to allow for social distancing. Starting August 1, Stingerette service will be available daily from 9:30 p.m. to 4:45 a.m.

All passenger vans used for paratransit and nighttime service will be deep cleaned at the start of every shift. Disinfecting cleaning supplies will be kept in each vehicle and frequently touched areas will be cleaned throughout the day. Drivers and passengers will be expected to wear masks while in the vans.

Housing and Residence Life

Will housing provide disinfecting supplies for shared spaces (kitchens, laundry rooms, etc.)?

Yes.

If classes get switched online, will housing close in a manner similar to the Spring? Will there be a refund issued?

Yes, but hopefully less chaotic and more accommodating. Students will be issued a prorated refund if Tech moves completely online. Students in on-campus housing will be given the opportunity to request an exemption and stay on campus, similar to how this was done in the spring.

If students are living on campus to take residential classes, will students have to move back out after Thanksgiving to thoroughly clean the dorms and apartments?

No.

At what threshold will we move back to entirely remote instruction?

Unfortunately, we don’t know at this time.

How will laundry work since a laundry room is a common area and the machines are not 6 feet apart?

Similar to communal bathrooms, the exact plan for laundry spaces will vary from residence hall to residence hall. In general, cleaning rounds will be increased in laundry rooms, masks will be required, and the room layout could be reconfigured/adjusted to meet social distancing requirements. Other more specific measures for a particular hall’s laundry room will be communicated by the respective hall director before move-in.

Will my parents be allowed to help me move into my dorm?

Yes, and there will be student volunteers to help facilitate move-in as well.

Since my classes just moved online, can I cancel housing with no penalty?

You can cancel your housing without a penalty until June 30th.

Will housing provide disinfecting supplies for shared spaces (kitchens, laundry rooms, etc.)?

Yes.

Will dorm common area access be limited?

Yes – meeting spaces will be closed while common spaces will have limited access for the first eight weeks of the semester.

How will communal bathrooms in traditional dorms be run? Will a specific cleaning schedule be posted by Housing?

For the cleaning practices, it’ll depend on the residence hall, but in general cleaning will be doubled (in some places, tripled). There will still be communal bathrooms and students are asked to social distance (as best as possible) in all communal spaces. There are also going to be plexiglass dividers between sinks, and dividers between showers have been improved.

If we stay home as an out-of-state student, do we still have to pay for housing?

You can cancel your housing contract, but if you do not cancel your contract, you will have to pay for housing.

Is Georgia Tech working with off-campus housing providers in Tech Square to limit visitors and room capacities?

Visitors will be limited and limited single-rooms are available.

I have a health issue that would affect my ability to move-in. Is there a way I can bring extra people to help?

Yes.

Will covid tests be required before moving on campus?

No, but Covid tests are highly recommended, and we anticipate that they will be easily accessible on campus.

If I cancel my fall housing, can I still get housing in the spring?

Students will need to reapply for housing in the spring if they cancel their housing contract.

Is the covid quarantine dorm for on campus residents only?

Off campus residents may use this quarantine space for $60 per day.

If my roommate contracts COVID, will I be required to quarantine as well?

 It is definitely strongly encouraged that anyone in direct contact with someone who tests positive who has a possibility of also being positive also quarantine until they get tested that they are negative.

What is the guest policy for housing now?

For the first 8 weeks, guests will not be allowed.

What social distancing measures are going to be put in place for activities such as showering in communal bathrooms?

Specifically for showering in communal bathrooms, administration is increasing the protective barriers between shower stalls and taking some showers offline to ensure showers can be taken with proper social distancing measures in place. It will vary quite a bit from residence hall to residence hall, since each hall’s bathroom setup is different, but some will just need the increased barriers, others just taking certain shower stalls offline, and others both of those or even additional measures as necessary. Each hall director should be reaching out to their community before move-in begins to explain the new measures in their respective halls.

Where will students who contract Covid-19 be quarantined? How will meals be delivered and how will they use the restroom?

There will be a space to quarantine on campus, and they will be delivered food. They will use the restroom as normal, and it will be cleaned frequently.

Student Life

How will virtual/distance mental health services look this fall?

Generally speaking, it is very probable that we will see a significant spike in student needs to access services due to mental health challenges COVID-19 has presented. Students will be seen eventually. Georgia Tech has had an average wait time of 3-days for in-person appointments for students in crisis and 2-weeks wait time for other cases. Georgia Tech CARE is switching to primarily virtual interactions and waiting rooms will have a two person limit. They’re looking into meeting outside but privacy concerns are still being reviewed. The Georgia Tech Counseling Center is currently offering telehealth sessions to in-state students who are currently enrolled. Group counseling services will resume in the Fall and will be available in an online format. Students may access those services by contacting Georgia Tech CARE. The Georgia Tech Counseling Center has workshops on various topics available now online. You can access them here. If you would like support in GA, there is a GA COVID-19 Emotional Support hotline: 866-399-8938

How is the university planning to address mental health concerns in this time of heightened isolation?

GT CARE, GT Counseling Center, STAMPS psychiatry, and Health Initiatives are all committed to the health and well-being of the GT community. GT CARE plans to maintain regular operational hours through the fall in a primarily virtual interactive format. The Georgia Tech Counseling Center has been offering telehealth services to in-state students who are currently enrolled and will continue telehealth services into the fall. Group Counseling will be offered in an online format. Students should reach out to GT CARE in order to schedule an initial assessment and to be connected. Workshops have been made available through the counseling center and will continue into August  for proactive care. The workshops include topics around mood, stress management, and mindfulness.

Many accounts have recently surfaced which have given survivors a platform to share their stories, and many Greek chapters/councils have been mentioned by name in said reports. What actions are SGA taking to hold people/orgs accountable and to make these survivors feel heard?

SGA has been in communication with members of Health Initiatives and VOICE to get updates on student support and outreach. As we currently wait for USG’s policy change in light of the recent Title IX regulations made in May of this year, SGA and the VOICE team are in conversation on how it may be best to keep student groups and individuals accountable while also supporting survivors. Know that SGA is always open to input on how we may best approach actions taken for accountability and support.

Does SGA have a PR campaign ready to discourage off-campus gatherings?

SGA and RHA are now working together on a PR campaign to promote best practices.

Will students be able to attend football games?

The NCAA and ACC are still trying to assess the constantly evolving situation and figure out how fall sports will operate (if at all), and most conferences have announced they’ll be coming out with a public decision around August 1.

Can students apply for the emergency fund more than once?

There is not a limit to the number of times a student can apply for funding.  However, there is a limit as to the amount.  Students are eligible for a maximum total of $1,000 in funding from either the Student Relief Fund OR CARES Act Funding.  This means that if a student applied for and received $700 in April, they are still eligible to apply for and receive an additional $300 (for a total of $1,000).  However, if a student applied for and received $1,000 in April, they are no longer eligible for additional funding.

How can I get financial assistance during this time?

Students are encouraged to apply for the Student Emergency Fund, which can be found at https://studentlife.gatech.edu/content/student-emergency-fund. All students are eligible to apply, as long as they have not already received a total of $1000 from it.

Will competitive sports be allowed to operate? Will students be allowed to attend these events?

The NCAA and ACC are still trying to assess the constantly evolving situation and figure out how fall sports will operate (if at all), and most conferences have announced they’ll be coming out with a public decision around August 1.

Is there a way that we can know the total number of students coming to campus this fall?

The population is around 30,000 students and 1,100 faculty. Exact figures for the fall are up in the air as more faculty and students get accommodations to go all online, students choose to not take classes, students get all online classes in their schedule, international students deciding to not come to campus. All that to say, it will be many students, but exact figures will change up, until, and throughout the semester.

How will we foster community in the fall so people don’t feel isolated?

We are working with different student groups and departments to have programming for students to still be able to connect despite social distancing and the online nature of things! We are also working to give guidance to student orgs to still be able to foster community this fall!

Health and Safety

For students who are not residents, will Georgia Tech be providing reusable masks?

There will be two reusable masks available for every member of the student body. This includes students who are taking classes remotely.

Will the masks provided by Georgia Tech be reusable for single use?

The masks provided by Georgia Tech will be reusable. There will also be single use masks at locations around campus for students who forget their mask during the day.

Will the masks provided by Georgia Tech also come with the supplies needed to disinfect them?

Georgia Tech has also purchased hand sanitizer for students.

Will there be restricted access to campus buildings to keep individuals not in the Georgia Tech community from roaming the campus without proper PPE?

As usual, residential buildings can only be accessed by residents, research facilities can only be accessed by approved individuals, and so forth. Not every building will be open in the fall, but those that are open will require masks for anyone that enters them.

Will open study spaces be monitored for social distancing? 

Open study spaces will be arranged so that capacity is limited and seats will be 6 feet apart. I don’t believe as study spaces will be monitored at all times, but anyone has the ability to report not socially distant behavior to OSI. Breakout rooms are little trickier, but reservations will be spaced out so that they can be cleaned in between every usage. Additionally, seating will be very limited in breakout rooms to encourage social distancing.

Will free masks be available for students living in off campus and Greek housing?

Mask will be made available for all students.

Will masks be required outside while walking on campus?

If walking in a crowded outdoor walkway where social distancing cannot be practiced, yes; if walking alone where spacing from others is adequate-no.

How will contact tracing work at events?

We want to encourage all RSOs to use the Engage events tool to track participation at their events. Engage provides us with the ability to contact trace, but to be successful we need to know which GT community members attended which events. This should be used not only for bigger programs, but also for small or general body meetings. For easy, contactless check in you can download this app for your phone: https://student-organizations.gatech.edu/content/get-connected-stay-engaged

Will there be a maximum occupancy for events/gatherings?

For reserved spaces on campus, there will be a reduced capacity set by CPSM.

What will testing look like? Will all students be eligible for testing or just symptomatic students? Will it be free?

Stamps will have a rapid test (results in 15 min) for mainly just symptomatic people (if you are asymptomatic, you can still schedule an appointment, but it’s going to depend on availability).

There will be 5000 test kits distributed per day. They’re figuring out who will be in charge of distributing these. These will go to residence halls, Greek houses, classrooms, clubs, at stands around campus, even trying to get to off campus apartments, etc. These will be saliva test kits that you will do yourself, stick a bar code on the side, and then drop off in one of the many drop sites around campus (there will be one in every residence hall and just many around campus). Again, these will be optional, but they will be super easy. I believe there will then be a website that you can check for your results in the next 1-2 days. The idea with these is that they’re testing in groups, so they’ll test all of the groups at once, and then if someone in your group tests positive you will be notified and come in for a second, individual test. This should help with the accuracy of the test, and it will notify Georgia Tech of any hotspots on campus. There also may be pop up stations around campus where you can seek out one of these saliva tests. The goal is for every student to receive a test kit once per week (so I guess they were asking about biweekly earlier because that is the current capacity and they’re working up to every single week).

Georgia Tech is working with Fulton county and they are going to set up a test site for the first 3 weeks that students are on campus.

Will there be a way to ensure the 5,000 tests are distributed fairly?

Georgia Tech has established a subgroup of the Covid-19 Task Force to focus on the  issue of ensuring a consistent, adequate supply of supplies throughout the Fall 2020 semester. Faculty members in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering are developing models to determine consumption rates and fair allocation.

Tests will be distributed to GT Housing, Greek housing, labs/office areas; it is hoped that they can also be distributed to some of the off campus housing where students are clustered. There will also be sites on campus for students who do not fall into one of the categories can be tested

Will students be required to be tested?

No.

Are only on campus residents allowed to take the Covid-19 tests? What if I am commuting?

Tests will be available to commuting students.

What will community spaces like the CULC be doing to facilitate social distancing practices? Will they be open?

Georgia Tech has several buildings with spaces designated for students to gather, including Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons; Crosland Tower; and the Price Gilbert Memorial Library. During the fall semester, these buildings will be open to the Georgia Tech community following state and USG guidelines. Public areas, study spaces, reading rooms, collaboration and rehearsal rooms, recording studios, and group study spaces will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine capacity and whether social distancing can be achieved. Some small rooms or spaces may be limited to individual study.

Who will enforce mask wearing/social distancing? A third party or Georgia Tech Police? And how will that be done delicately amidst difficult questions surrounding GTPD?

It will be enforced much like the no-smoking policy-peer pressure, individuals speaking up when they see someone not complying; student conduct procedures may also be used for students, HR performance disciplinary procedures for employees.

What consequences are in place for students who are not social distancing?

Non-academic misconduct, student conduct procedures, may be used for students.

How will social distancing be enforced in classrooms? Some courses still have a large number of people registered.

Desk/chairs will be removed or roped off; classes are being moved to larger spaces

What type of test is Georgia Tech going to be using? Do we have statistics on its accuracy?

Stamps plans to use the Abbott ID Now test and the Quidel Sofia2 test; a GT research lab will be using a laboratory derived pcr test.

Who will enforce mask wearing/social distancing? A third party or Georgia Tech Police? And how will that be done delicately amidst difficult questions surrounding GTPD?

It will be enforced much like the no-smoking policy-peer pressure, individuals speaking up when they see someone not complying; student conduct procedures may also be used for students, HR performance disciplinary procedures for employees.

What consequences are in place for students who are not social distancing?

Non-academic misconduct, student conduct procedures, may be used for students.

Will there be a contact tracing app specifically for Georgia Tech?

STAMPS is working on an app that faculty/staff/students will be encouraged to use. It did not originate at GT but is being customized for use at GT.

If the need arises, which hospital will students be admitted to?

We’re not sure. The determination to transport someone to the hospital will likely be made by first responders; the particular hospital that is chosen would include factors such as ICU capacity, distance from area hospitals, and condition of student.

Georgia Tech Administration

If there is an outbreak on campus, and BOR is reluctant to move online, is SGA prepared to voice concerns that we need to move online?

Yes. SGA speaks on behalf of the students and will express student opinions to USG. Our job is to advocate for all our students and that includes times when the opinions of students and administration clash.

Through what channels can students best be heard in advocating for change?

A few places: 1). Directly to USG. Call and email your regents. 2). To us. We will convey opinions of the student body to the USG and GT administration. This includes polls – when we send out a Qualtrics poll it is to get a clear, numbers-based answer on what students think so that our messaging to USG and admin has more authority.

What is the contingency plan if an unprecedented outbreak occurs on campus?

All classes have been designed to have a plan to move back online, and students would move off campus in a similar way as the spring, but hopefully with less chaos because we have planned for it. If students need to stay on campus, they will be able to request an exemption and stay in their dorm.

Are you working with the SGAs of other universities to advocate for online options despite USGs decision?

Yes, we are. We have asked the SGAs of other USG institutions to circulate the petition requesting online accommodations for all students. We are also working on a coordinated written response to discuss online options as well as tuition and fees and other topics with other SGAs.

 Are professors getting help/training for online classes?

All professors will be going through training on how to deliver their classes given their specific modes. There will also be training for everyone on how to remain safe while going about everything this fall.

International Students

Can international students take hybrid classes remotely?

Hybrid instruction is really up to the discretion of the instructor, particularly in terms of the attendance requirement component. You should reach out to the professor, explain your situation, and ask if there would be a possible way to take the carouse. Working directly with your instructor here is going to be critical! 

Is the twenty-one day quarantine mandatory for international students?

No.

Where would the quarantine facility be for international students after they arrive?

This is still not certain. Check under “Quarantine Procedures” here for updates.

As an international student, if I choose to take classes remotely can I opt out of paying insurance?

Students who are in one of the mandatory categories for the Student Health Insurance Plan (students with a GTA or GRA, students on a J-1 or F-1 visa) should be aware that they must opt out of the insurance and have an acceptable alternative health insurance plan. Students who are not in one of the mandatory categories, but who want to sign up for the voluntary plan, must do so during the open enrollment period, which is 7/20/20 to 9/14/20. Information about the Student Health Insurance Plan can be found at http://health.gatech.edu/finance/insurance