Classes and field work start on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 for on-campus and online Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership students. For this semester, all Doctorate of Social Work classes will be online, and the first session is August 22 and 23.

The Academic Calendar for the Fall 2020 has changed from its initial release and can be viewed in full here. Students will complete all classes before Thanksgiving break on November 24, and those in field placements will have until December 4 to complete their hours. More important dates can be found in the Academic Calendar and in course syllabi.

Yes. As part of the University-wide public health strategy, all faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors must wear face coverings or masks while on campus. This includes wearing them in classrooms, but they may be removed when in a residence hall room or alone in a private office.

Face coverings and masks are the simplest, cheapest, most effective way to significantly reduce the rate of transmission of COVID-19. The university will provide two cloth face coverings for all faculty, staff and students. Temporary face masks will also be available at multiple distribution points on campus. For more details, see the University’s Face Covering/Mask Protocol.

Each of us needs to be familiar with symptoms of COVID-19 and should self-monitor to help protect one another from possible COVID-19 exposure. 

Employees and students will receive a text each morning with a reminder to do a “daily COVID-19 symptom check” and a link to answer the screening questions. The questionnaire asks a few basic questions about COVID-19 symptoms and possible exposure based on information published by the CDC. The questionnaire is brief, should take only a few minutes to complete, and must be completed before going to work or class. 

While more information is forthcoming about this process and what to do if you are experiencing symptoms, you can preview the questions here.

One of the integral components of mitigating the spread of COVID-19 is testing faculty, staff, and students. Employees must undergo testing and have a negative result prior to return to campus. Students must undergo testing and must have a negative result before moving into on-campus housing or attending class.

For this return to campus testing, Campus Health has a planned schedule for testing to occur over the next several weeks, and you should have received an email when it is your time to schedule a test. You do not need to call or email to schedule testing until you've received a notification email.

The TSSW community will access the Downtown Testing Center located next to the exit of Tulane Hospital's La Salle Garage exit at 226 South Villere Street, New Orleans 70112. Do not visit this location if you do not have an appointment. The center will only administer tests to individuals with appointments. Please remember to arrive on time while wearing a mask and have your Splash ID card or number readily availble. If you do not have your Splash ID card, you will need to have a picture ID for verification of identity. If you feel sick or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please do not come for your test and contact your healthcare provider immediately. 

The Tulane School of Medicine Laboratory is processing the tests, and their projected turnaround time is within 24-36 hours. You will receive an email and/or phone call with your results. When your results are ready, you will receive an email letting you know to log back into the same portal where you scheduled your appointment to read the secure message with the result and any follow-up instructions. If you do not receive your test results within 48 hours of the test being perfomed, email chtestresults@tulane.edu with your Splash ID and the date of your test.

If you test positive for COVID-19, Campus Health will help you determine whether to isolate/quarantine at home. Tulane Contact Tracers will also contact you to determine any close contacts that may need to be notified and determine what areas on campus may need to be disinfected.

This testing program is for asymptomatic individuals (people without symptoms of COVID-19). If you are feeling ill or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.

Faculty, staff and students who are working remotely or are out of state and learning remotely for the entire semester will not be tested. If you fall into this category, please email CHTestResults@wave.tulane.edu to unsubscribe to testing reminders.

Beginning August 19, 2020, the first day of classes, COVID-19 testing frequency will be monthly. Campus Health will daily select a random sample of individuals from across campus and direct them to schedule a testing appointment at one of Tulane's testing centers. The University will not accept records or results from outside providers. The testing must be performed at one of Tulane's testing sites.

The monthly testing process will proceed as follows:

• You will receive an email from Campus Health with information on how to select a testing time.
• After testing, you will receive an email or phone call within 24 to 36 hours with your result.
• If your test is positive, the Tulane Contact Tracing Team will contact you and guide you on notifications and any necessary actions. Employees and students are expected to cooperate with the Tulane Contact Tracing Team.
• The University will not accept outside COVID-19 testing results in lieu of participating in this program.

The TSSW community will access the Downtown Testing Center located next to the exit of Tulane Hospital's La Salle Garage exit at 226 South Villere Street, New Orleans 70112. Do not visit this location if you do not have an appointment. The center will only administer tests to individuals with appointments. Please remember to arrive on time while wearing a mask and have your Splash ID card or number readily availble. If you do not have your Splash ID card, you will need to have a picture ID for verification of identity. If you feel sick or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please do not come for your test and contact your healthcare provider immediately. 

The Tulane School of Medicine Laboratory is processing the tests, and their projected turnaround time is within 24-36 hours. You will receive an email and/or phone call with your results. When your results are ready, you will receive an email letting you know to log back into the same portal where you scheduled your appointment to read the secure message with the result and any follow-up instructions. If you do not receive your test results within 48 hours of the test being perfomed, email chtestresults@tulane.edu with your Splash ID and the date of your test.

This testing program is for asymptomatic individuals (people without symptoms of COVID-19). If you are feeling ill or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.

Faculty, staff and students who are working remotely or are out of state and learning remotely for the entire semester will not be tested. If you fall into this category, please email CHTestResults@wave.tulane.edu to unsubscribe to testing reminders.

The University is working collaboratively with the Louisiana Department of Health to effectively trace contacts of anyone who contracts the virus. If a member of the Tulane community tests positive for COVID-19 at the Campus Health Center, the Living Well Clinic, or a Tulane Testing Center, they will complete the COVID-19 Reporting Form and will be contacted by a Tulane Contact Tracer. Tulane Contact Tracers will 

• interview the COVID-19 positive person to identify close contacts.
• help the COVID-19 positive person to monitor their symptoms and connect them to resources to help support self-isolation.
• collaborate with Human Resources and Campus Services to assure other personnel resources are made available to the individual and cleaning of the workspace is performed.
• contact members of the Tulane Community who may have closely interacted with the person who tested positive and link them to the appropriate testing resource.

Campus Health will coordinate notification for the non-Tulane community with the Louisiana Department of Health.

Specific criteria based on CDC guidance are in place to guide determinations regarding individuals to be notified through contact tracing. Please do not take actions (i.e., cancel classes, send entire groups of people home) that impact a wide array of people. Tulane Contact Tracers will advise HR and departments regarding necessary actions. Except as required by state or federal regulations, all information related to COVID-19 testing will be kept confidential.
 

TSSW has configured its classrooms to support the health and safety of our community and ensure a quality educational experience. This includes installing cameras, microphones, and other technology to allow students to Zoom into their on-campus class in case of illness or self-isolation. Either your professor or a Program Manager will provide direct links to each of your classes so that you may attend the class online should you need to.

Even though you may not need to engage with a class online, we do recommend you ensure you are set up for it. Here’s what you will need:

• Reliable, secure internet* at your home and contingency plan if your internet is not working
• A desktop or laptop computer as some programs do not work on tablets
• Microsoft Office software, which is free to Tulane Students
• Trend Micro Malware/Antivirus software, which is free to Tulane Students 
• A working microphone** through a headset or computer 
• Working computer speakers** (either internal or external to your laptop)
• A working camera** (either internal or external to your laptop)
• Zoom videoconferencing software
• Access to a printer and scanner 

*Tulane IT does not recommend using public wifi, especially during zoom classes.
**For the microphone, speakers, and camera, we recommend you test these to ensure they allow for clear communications. 

If you do not have the needed hardware, including a laptop/desktop, webcam, microphone, or speakers, or reliable private internet, please reach out to your Academic Success Coach.

For those of you that would like Zoom training, a wealth of online resources are available here. For technical support, reach out directly to Tulane’s IT Department here. They list ways to access their team via support ticket, email, chat, phone, or the online Knowledge Base.

Please note that although you may access Tulane programs from your phone, you should not operate a vehicle while doing so. This includes attempting to attend class or a meeting while in transit. The wellbeing of our students is paramount. Please ensure the highest standards of personal safety at all times.

We ask that faculty, staff, and students eat-in-place (classroom, offices, or shared spaces) or leave the building for outside food options in the area. Please remember to maintain physical distancing.

• Refrigerators in the building will be for medical use only. 
• We will provide all faculty, staff, and students with insulated lunch kits and washable utensils. 
• Microwaves will be in use. Using sanitizing wipes provided next to the microwaves, please remember to wipe down handles and keypads after each use.
• When waiting for microwaves, using sink areas, or dining in areas with others, please remember to maintain physical distance, keeping a minimum of 6 feet between yourself and other people.

TSSW is currently exploring healthy, fresh food vending machine options, which may be available for the Fall 2020 semester.
 

If you note a community supply of hand sanitizer, soap, or disinfecting wipes is depleted or if you note damaged signage, please alert Victoria Usey at vusey@tulane.edu. If you note that an area is not receiving regular or thorough cleaning, please report that to Mel’isa Morel at mmartin1@tulane.edu. 

Whenever possible, meetings should be held via phone or Zoom conference to support physical distancing. If you do need to have an in-person meeting, wear your face covering, follow physical distancing protocols, and adhere to posted occupancy signs in classrooms and offices.

At TSSW, no more than one person should be present in private offices. Shared spaces are available for having private, one-on-one meetings in-person should they be needed. Anytime you are meeting in-person, please wear a face covering or mask and observe physical distancing protocols.

Whenever possible, meetings should be held via phone or Zoom conference to support physical distancing. Should you need support in holding a Zoom meeting for a work group or organization, reach out to Carrie Moulder at cmoulder@tulane.edu or your organization’s faculty advisor. 

Small groups may request permission to meet in classrooms after class time. Room reservations can be made by completing this form. Anytime you are meeting in-person, please wear a face covering or mask, observe physical distancing protocols, and do not exceed posted occupancy notices for classrooms and shared spaces.

As our Field Education program has already been adjusted to continue throughout the pandemic, no additional changes are being made with the University’s Return to Campus. 

For Master of Social Work students currently engaged in field education, please review the Interruption of Practicum Protocol revised in June 2020. Field education is continuing, and many options exist for you to complete this important part of your program. 

Please also follow the established health and safety protocols at your field sites.

As always, please direct questions and concerns about placement and policies to the Field Education Department.

All hours actually worked must be recorded in Kronos as per normal procedure. If the student’s field organization closes, then students must enter hours only after they are in their new field assignment. If a student is assigned “Alternative Activities” per the Interruption of Practicum Protocol, then they may record hours actually spent while performing those alternative activities.

Tulane’s Libraries are making every effort to continue meeting the needs of students and researchers. 

• Information about current operations is available here. 
• Information about their reopening plans is available here. 

We also recommend accessing their website, and following their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts for updates.
 

This year, the University asks students living on campus to commit to several changes that are being implemented for their safety. The foundation of this plan is built around personal responsibility. For more details, visit the Community Living Standards published on the Housing & Residence Life website. For updates, visit the Housing and Residential Life website here.

Yes. Tulane shuttle operations are being adjusted for the Fall 2020 semester. The University will soon share new schedules and routes, which will go into effect on Monday, August 10.

All riders on Tulane vehicles will be required to wear masks and maintain 6 feet social distance between other riders not in their immediate family or cohort. Seating capacity in all vehicles will be reduced. Vehicles will be cleaned and sanitized throughout the day by Shuttles & Transportation staff using approved cleaning and disinfecting agents. Where applicable, plexiglass shields have been installed behind the driver’s area, and HEPA filters have been installed. In addition, all vehicles have been equipped with hand sanitizer dispensers.

More information can be found here.

Please visit the Student Life section of the Return to Campus website for information and the Student Resources section for additional links.

Please visit the Workplace section of the Return to Campus website for information and the Employee Resources section for additional links.

Self-care is critical for all individuals, especially during a time of crisis. To address this need, the Tulane University School of Social Work created a website with self-care information, guided meditation videos, and mental health support hotlines.

If you have a preexisting mental health condition,  continue with your treatment plan and monitor for any new symptoms. Additionally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a thorough guide to coping during the COVID-19 occurrence. 

Additional information and resources on mental health care can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website. Also, SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Hotline is available by calling 1-800-985-5990 or texting TalkWithUs to 66746.
 

We regularly support mental health professionals in continuing their training and meeting CEU requirements through our Center for Life Long Learning and Porter-Cason Institute. While we are practicing physical distancing in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we will now be offering our continuing education opportunities online. Click here for more information and registration.

We are continuing to accept applications for our programs. Click here to see the current deadlines.

While our building is open to Tulane faculty, staff, and students, we are limiting access and not doing any prospective student tours. We would, however, love to talk with you via phone or Zoom conference about our program! Based upon your program of interest, please contact one of the following:

For on-campus programs:

Chelsea Derricott, Admissions Coordinator

cderrico@tulane.edu   

For online programs:

Megan Murphy, Admissions Counselor

mmurphy10@tulane.edu  

For general questions:

Darrius Douglas, Director of Enrollment Management

ddouglas@tulane.edu   

To reach us by phone, please call 1-800-631-8234.