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Welcome back to campus

8/27/2021

Welcome Back Earth Sciences Faculty and Students 

 

Please check out Safe and Healthy Buckeyes for information on 2021 Autumn Semester

  • Free covid testing (for Columbus campus): Use OSU MyChart, click on "OSU COVID-19 Columbus Campus Employee testing". The testing location is Jesse Owens North at 2151 Neil Ave. 
  • Updates to face mask requirements: Effective Aug. 2, students, faculty, staff, and visitors to all Ohio State campuses and medical facilities are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks continue to be required outdoors for unvaccinated individuals when they cannot maintain physical distancing. Vaccinated people are not required to mask outdoors. 
  • What happens when an individual tests positive for COVID-19: If you receive a report, confirmed or unconfirmed, that you or a member of your team have tested positive for COVID-19, please connect with your HR Business Partner. Do not share the employee’s health information in your unit. If you are tested outside of Ohio State and test positive, you must notify Employee Health Services (EHS) by calling 614-366-3689.
  •  Workplace Accommodation requests Ohio State is preparing to welcome more faculty and staff back to campus with new health and wellness protocols developed to help protect the entire Buckeye community. Human Resources can work with employees who, due to their own medical condition (whether COVID-19 related or not), seek to make a Workplace Accommodation request. 
  • Field trips. According to Ohio State’s Safe and Healthy Buckeye site (https://safeandhealthy.osu.edu) “Only fully vaccinated people should consider travel. Those who are unvaccinated should consider virtual alternatives [see related Q4 below]. University-sponsored travelers are expected to follow CDC travel guidelines related to mask requirements, distancing guidelines and other relevant safety measures.”
  • HVAC Project: one of the things happening behind the scenes is the HVAC project to prepare classrooms for teaching this fall. See short video clip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSet3Wsr9bc

Frequently Asked Questions:

  •  Are masks or physical distancing required in classrooms? Our guidance on masking and physical distancing will apply to all classes. Colleges, schools, departments and instructors may not apply different requirements. This guidance is subject to change based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and local health authorities. Currently, everyone is required to wear masks in classrooms and other indoor spaces. Physical distancing is no longer required in classrooms. 
  • May I ask people whether they have received the COVID-19 vaccine? No. Instructors and managers may not ask individuals whether they have been vaccinated. As with other health information, this is personal information, and instructors and managers should respect individuals’ privacy. The university is requiring all students, faculty and staff to share their COVID-19 vaccination information with the university by Thursday, Aug. 5, so that we can utilize this information in our overall public health response. Ohio State will use aggregate data to inform our approach. Individual responses will not be shared with managers or instructors. Faculty and staff should report through the employee reporting form. Students should report through the My BuckMD portal managed by Student Life Student Health Services. 
  • If I am uncomfortable with the university’s health policies, can I change the mode of instruction in my class? The mode of instruction for each class is determined by the university and is subject to change at the discretion of the university in reliance on the guidance received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and local health authorities. In addition, academic programs have determined their course offerings by taking into account various factors. Neither students nor instructors may alter the mode of instruction for any class without the university’s prior approval.
  • If a student is uncomfortable with attending classes in-person, do I need to provide them with virtual instruction? The mode of instruction for each class is determined by the university and is subject to change at the discretion of the university in reliance on the guidance received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and local health authorities. In addition, academic programs have determined their course offerings by taking into account various factors. Unless altered by the university, all classes must be taught in the listed mode of instruction. Instructors are not expected to present sections in multiple teaching modes. Students who are uncomfortable taking courses in-person should consult with their advisor about distance learning options. Student Life Disability Services can provide guidance and assistance to students with disabilities who require accommodations. Failure to return to Ohio State’s campuses due to travel restrictions or anxiety about travel and exposure are not qualifying conditions.
  • Can I require masks or set other health and safety requirements in my classes? No. All classes must follow Ohio State’s university-wide guidelines. Additional protections may be required in clinical healthcare settings or in alignment with general safety practices for a particular circumstance, such as a lab. For information about workplace accommodations related to COVID-19 or any other issues, please contact the Office of Human Resources.
  • Can I wear a mask, even if I am fully vaccinated? Yes. All students, faculty and staff members may wear masks anytime, anywhere on campus.
  • Do I have to have my office hours in a face-to-face format? No. Instructors may choose if they would like to offer in-person or virtual office hours. If a student requests an in-person meeting, faculty should make efforts to accommodate this request. Instructors may require masks in a private office, but only if they provide virtual alternatives for those who do not want to wear a mask.
  • Can I hold meetings in person? Yes. In-person meetings are permitted. There may still be instances where virtual meetings are preferred or more efficient. Meeting organizers are encouraged to determine what mode — in-person, virtual or hybrid — will achieve the desired outcome of the meeting.
  • Does the university require COVID-19 vaccines? Yes [as of Aug 25, 2021].