Dear LGS Community,

                     

I write to follow up on the announcement that Emory University will extend Spring Break for students until Sunday, March 22, 2020. Effective Monday, March 23, 2020, all classes will transition to remote instruction for the remainder of the semester. The University remains open and will continue operations during that time, until further notice.

 

LGS will follow University guidelines and work closely with graduate students and faculty to ensure that there is minimal disruption to academic progress. We will continue to communicate the latest updates and guidance through email and the Emory University COVID-19 Updates and LGS COVID-19 Updates websites.

 

Remote Instruction

LGS is committed to providing support for graduate students and faculty as the University transitions to remote instruction. Remote instruction incorporates video and other online delivery methods that allow continued teaching and learning. We will provide additional guidance and recommendations to ensure academic continuity.

 

All in-person graduate classes will transition to remote classes taught online.

 

Graduate students serving in teaching assistantship and teaching associateship roles should work with their faculty instructors to transition to remote teaching. LGS will ensure graduate students are equipped with the necessary tools and resources, such as Canvas and Zoom. Preliminary information is available from Emory College Remote Teaching and Teaching and Learning Technologies. Additional guidance is forthcoming.

 

Graduate education that involves clinical and in-lab training and research activities will continue, consistent with current University protocols, until further notice.

 

Graduate Student Trave l

Emory continues the indefinite suspension of all travel to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. The restriction includes travel for University-related activities such as teaching, study abroad, conferences, internships, research, recruiting, business meetings, and special events. Any requests for approval of travel to any of these countries must be made through the Executive Travel Safety Committee and submitted to global@emory.edu.

 

As travel restrictions continue to evolve, we strongly recommend the reconsideration of all international and domestic travel.

 

All LGS students should complete the LGS Student International Travel Survey by March 13, 2020.

 

Professional Development Support (PDS) Funds

We are aware that many conferences are being canceled or postponed. We are working with each impacted student to ensure that canceled conference expenses do not affect PDS amount limits. We ask students to make a good-faith effort to work with meeting organizers and travel agencies to recover any fees before submitting for PDS reimbursement.

 

Graduate students who were approved for PDS Conference Award funds will receive reimbursement through the standard PDS process:

• Keep all documentation related to conference travel expenses.
• Submit a PDS Report to your Program Administrator to update the reimbursement amount in the ApplyWeb system.
• Refer to the PDS website for instructions and answers to FAQs.
• Contact the LGS Professional Development team if you have questions or concerns: lgs.profdev@emory.edu.
   

LGS Contacts

As always, we are committed to supporting our graduate students, faculty, and staff. If you have questions or concerns, please contact LGS leadership:

Student Affairs:  Mackenzie Bristow, Interim Assistant Dean, Student Affairs
Professional Development Support:  Rob Pearson, Assistant Dean, Professional Development and Career Planning
Community:  Amanda Marie James, Associate Dean, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement
Admissions:  Ulf Nilsson, Associate Dean, Academic Operations
Faculty & Academic Affairs:  Cathy Johnson, Senior Associate Dean 
Staff & HR: Donna Lynch-Cunningham, HR Senior Manager
 

Uncertain times like these easily lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear. Campus Life provides a range of support services for students to help navigate these feelings. We should remember to call on the many strengths we have in ourselves to care for members of our community, supporting each other through this unprecedented time. If it arises, I ask that we work together to help counter social stigma during the COVID-19 response.

 

Your partnership, patience, and commitment to navigate this next path forward together is appreciated. 

 

With you,

 

Lisa A. Tedesco, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs – Graduate Studies

Dean, James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies

Professor, Rollins School of Public Health

Emory University