Employees who have personal health concerns or risk factors should contact their supervisors or Human Resources to identify the best arrangements.

Unless there is an institution-wide decision to move to fully online courses, courses scheduled as face-to-face or hybrid courses will be taught as planned in the fall of 2020. TROY has prepared contingency plans to allow quick action if classes and operations must go to an online or telework format. Several, specific contingency plans are noted in this document.

As of the date of this publication, the University plans to offer on-campus classes in the fall of 2020. However, significant changes to the campus environment, policies and practices will be necessary, and these are described under the following TROY Strong plan.

The safety of our students, faculty, staff and guests is the highest priority for Troy University. The University’s Coronavirus Task Force, comprised of representatives from throughout the institution, continues to work with local and state officials, the medical community, and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to make informed decisions regarding University operations. A University website, troy.edu/coronavirus, is updated regularly with comprehensive information about TROY’s response.

Decisions regarding athletics, including competitive events and team activities, will reflect the most up-to-date information and guidance from ADPH, the Governor’s office, the Sun Belt Conference and the NCAA. TROY will work with these organizations to determine how the athletic competition and related athletic activities will operate.

In addition to following Troy University’s policies and procedures to reduce community spread, the Troy University Department of Athletics has implemented the Sunbelt Conference’s recommended policies and practices for the resumption of on-campus, voluntary and countable athletic-related activity.

If all courses must be moved online, co-curricular academic requirements will be reviewed and revised again, as necessary.

Co-curricular academic requirements for degree attainment/progression will be reviewed and revised as necessary, considering limitations imposed by social distancing and the overall COVID-19 situation. Alternate arrangements may be granted in cases where it will be impossible for a student to meet the requirement.

If all courses must be moved online, recreation centers and activities that cannot be done online will be unavailable or cancelled for at least the same duration of time as the remote online requirements are in place.

Campus recreational facilities have adopted multiple measures to ensure social distancing and sanitation. Locker rooms, lockers, the group fitness training room, and some other spaces will be unavailable.

If all courses must be moved online: Band, choral and other performing group activities that cannot be done online may be cancelled for at least the same duration of time as the remote online requirements are in place.

Decisions related to band, choral and other performance groups will be made using the most up-to-date social distancing guidelines at the time of rehearsals and performances.

If all courses must be moved online, student organization activity that cannot be done online may be cancelled for at least the same duration of time as the remote online requirements are in place. Group meetings can be held via Zoom or Teams if the organization has business to conduct.

Student organization recruitment activities must adhere to the current social distancing requirement in place. If an organization cannot ensure social distancing, the organization should consider deferring recruitment to the spring semester.

In the spirit of maintaining the university experience as well as safety, TROY will provide alternate activities and experiences that promote both social distancing and engagement. The Office of Student Involvement and Leadership will assist students and organizations in activities. Organizations will be required to submit an action plan for each event to ensure they are following health-related guidelines.

If all courses must be moved online. The Student Health Center will continue limited operations to serve those students that have to remain on campus. Hours will be published and posted. After-hour medical situations will be handled through the University Physician’s office located off-campus or the local hospital. Nursing staff will be available by phone Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Student Health Center will operate at full capacity for the fall semester, and it is equipped to handle COVID-19 related illnesses, as well as other medical issues that occur.

If all courses must be moved online, counseling services will operate at full capacity online through tele-counseling, Zoom meetings and the use of other electronic and virtual sources.

Face-to-face counseling visits will ensure social distancing at all times. Scheduling will be done to ensure social distancing in all public areas. In addition, counseling services will be available by tele-counseling and online, one-on-one meetings.

If all courses must be moved online, dining facilities will operate in a decreased manner to allow students with meal plans to access dining services with the strict enforcement of social distancing measures. This will be a grab-and-go option in Trojan Dining. All retail operations will cease services.

The University has partnered with its food service provider, Sodexo, to provide dining services in a safe and healthy manner. Accommodations include the following:

Troy University cannot provide isolation and quarantine housing for students who live off campus. These students are encouraged to return home if possible during the isolation/quarantine period. If that is not feasible, Troy University will work with these students to on a case-by-case basis, whenever possible.

If a student who lives on campus contracts or is exposed to COVID-19 isolation or quarantine may be required. The resident requiring isolation or quarantine will be asked to return home for the period required, if at all possible. If this is not possible, Troy University has identified appropriate residential spaces outside of the residence halls for isolation or quarantine of a student(s). The spaces are University owned-and-operated facilities. For more information about isolation and quarantine procedures, contact the Dean of Students.

If all courses must be moved online, student centers and gathering locations will be closed for at least the same duration of time as the remote online requirements are in place.

TROY University recognizes that it will be difficult to maintain full physical distancing in on-campus housing, and even modified guidelines may be difficult to achieve. Therefore, campus residents are asked to be vigilant.

TROY will offer a student life that resembles a traditional student experience whenever possible. Our goal is to connect students to TROY in a manner that promotes their success and engagement.

Campuses and administrative units will seek to abide by existing contracts and will work with the TROY legal counsel to ensure that future contracts include language that allows for flexibility during the pandemic. Units should attempt to reschedule events whenever possible. For events that are unable to occur, credit will be offered for a future event or a refund will be provided.

Decisions on whether to hold events scheduled on our campuses will be made on a case-by-case basis and in alignment with TROY guidelines as well as those of the medical community and governor.

Faculty who are expected to engage in research should continue their activities as it is safe to do so. Academic units will communicate with faculty members about their current research agendas and the extent to which their research projects are affected. Whenever possible, units will facilitate the resumption of faculty research. Special care will be taken to protect the careers of early stage faculty whose research may be disrupted.

Because the pandemic is an evolving situation, study abroad/study away programs for fall 2020 and spring 2021 have been cancelled. Decisions regarding summer 2021 will be made in a timely manner.

For programs that require significant clinical, labs, and practicum experiences and where factors related to COVID-19 will prevent the completion of these requirements, Troy University will work to develop alternatives and mitigate impact on student academic progression whenever possible. Academic programs will work with appropriate accrediting boards in developing alternatives where applicable.

Faculty will have robust and flexible office hours in formats that ensure social distancing as well as the opportunity for one-on-one interactions

Should an employee or student test positive for COVID-19, Human Resources and/or Student Services will coordinate with Physical Plant to clean and sanitize the necessary areas. This may require personnel to vacate the space for a period of time.

The University has implemented enhanced cleaning procedures for all facilities. In addition, all employees are asked to assist in the cleaning and sanitizing of their work areas. Personal protective equipment is available through the University by request; contact supervisors for more information.

Students will be notified through their TROY email addresses and other means, and will receive specific instructions for academics, housing and more.

Using the existing academic structure on a campus, colleges/schools and departments will notify faculty members of any changes in the the work environment and expectations. If the University moves to all-online courses, plans are in place to ensure that faculty have access to their offices and other necessary areas of campus, while also allowing for the practice of social distancing and the safety of other essential personnel who may be on campus.

The University has established contingency plans for a swift move to all-online courses, if necessary. Staff members will receive notification from supervisors and/or Human Resources. While some employees may be able to operate remotely, others must or should remain on campus to ensure continuation of operations.

Troy University has established multiple procedures to ensure that the University community is aware of changes to coronavirus-related policies or procedures, incidents of exposure, and more, while protecting privacy. The coronavirus webpage found at troy.edu/coronavirus is an always-available repository of information and resources, including statistics of COVID-19 cases at the University.

Employees exhibiting symptoms should inform their supervisors and immediately seek testing. Supervisors will notify Human Resources and, if instructed by Human Resources, inform others of exposure or potential exposure. The names of employees with symptoms will not be shared outside of Dean of Students staff and Human Resources staff. Per Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, employees may return to work 10 days after they first experienced symptoms, provided they have gone 24-hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. For additional information, consult the CDC website .

Students exhibiting symptoms should inform their campus Dean of Students and immediately seek testing. The Dean of Students will notify Human Resources and, if appropriate, inform others of exposure or potential exposure. The names of students with symptoms will not be shared outside of Dean of Students staff and Human Resources staff. Per Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, students may return to class 10 days after they first experienced symptoms, provided they have gone 24-hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. For additional information, consult the CDC website .

Employees and students with symptoms of coronavirus, or with exposure to coronavirus, should not report to work or class.

In addition to following the face covering policy, all faculty, staff, students and campus guests should follow the latest CDC guidance (cdc.gov) for limiting community spread. TROY employees, students and organizations should

Vendors visiting campus to participate in campus business are expected to comply with the expectation of wearing a face covering. If available, disposable face coverings will be made available to visitors who arrive without a personal face covering.

The university will purchase one TROY-branded face covering for each student at the start of the semester. Students will be responsible for purchasing any additional face coverings. Pending availability, face coverings will be available for purchase through campus bookstores. All students, faculty and staff are responsible for maintaining their face coverings.

Face coverings are not required in one’s own dorm room or suite, alone in enclosed office or study room, in one’s personal vehicle, or in public outdoor settings where physical distancing can be achieved.

All students, faculty and staff are required to wear face coverings in classrooms, labs and communal office spaces. Face coverings should also be worn inside common areas of campus buildings, at gatherings and in any campus setting where social distancing cannot be achieved.

Latest Update

TROY Strong -- What to do if you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19

August 19, 2020

TROY Students:

I want to thank you all for the “TROY Strong” spirit you have shown during the first week of on-campus classes. We have seen you wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing and adapting to the changes in the classroom environment. I appreciate the cooperation and positive attitudes we have observed, but make no mistake, we have a long road ahead.

Troy University is the only public college or university in the state releasing daily updates on active cases of COVID-19. You can find these on our coronavirus information page: troy.edu/coronavirus. We think transparency is a crucial part of public health, and we want you all to be aware of the situation on campus and take proactive steps to protect yourself and others.

As you can see, there have been a number of COVID-19 cases involving students in the past 10 days. We are hopeful that these numbers will stabilize, but we are entering a crucial period and it’s important we all do our part to slow the spread. Today, we want to clarify the procedures for what to do if you have COVID-19, or if you think you may.

What if I suspect that I have COVID-19?

If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 (including fever, cough or shortness of breath) do not come to class. Consult a health care professional. It’s possible you may have a common cold, allergies or the flu. If you test negative for COVID-19 or your health care provider does not recommend that you get a test, you may return to class when your symptoms subside. You will need documentation of the healthcare appointment for the absence to be excused, per standard attendance policies.

What if I have a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis?

If you test positive for COVID-19, isolate immediately and notify the Dean of Students at the Troy Campus or the Associate Dean of Students at your location if you attend the Montgomery, Dothan or Phenix City campuses. You do not need to notify all of your professors individually . The Dean of Students will do this and your professors will work with you to ensure you can continue your classes while in isolation. The Dean of Students will also work with you to assess any close contacts who may have been exposed. The CDC defines close contact as being within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes. You may return to class and normal campus activities after 10 days AND if you have been 24 hours without a fever AND other symptoms are improving .

To report a case of COVID-19

Troy Campus: Herbert Reeves

Montgomery Campus: James Smith

Dothan Campus: Sandy Henry

Phenix City Campus: Marianne Michael

What if I have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19?

If you have had close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 you need to isolate immediately and seek testing through a local health care provider or the student health center. Again, notify the Dean of Students at your location if you need to isolate and they will contact your professors. Remember, the CDC defines close contact as being within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes . If you are unsure of your level of risk, consult a health care professional. If you are in isolation due to close-contact exposure, you should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.

A student who needs to isolate should return to their home or remain in their off-campus residence. If you are unable to isolate at home for any reason, the University has limited isolation spaces on the Troy Campus that can be provided to you . Isolation means that you should not attend in-person classes or campus events and should avoid close contact with others.

We all share the goal of enjoying a fall together on campus, with the activities and atmosphere that make college such a special experience. To do that requires being diligent about daily health practices — wear your face covering, observe social distance from others and practice consistent hand hygiene. These practices are just as important off campus. When in public or at social gatherings, take the same precautions as you do in class. Doing so is the best way to keep safe and slow the spread of the coronavirus.

We encourage you to read more about symptoms and best practices for keeping safe on the CDC website. The latest announcements from TROY and our complete coronavirus protocols can be found on our information page, troy.edu/coronavirus.

The John W. Schmidt Center for Student Success can also answer questions about missing class or coursework due to COVID-19. Contact them at jwscss@troy.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lance Tatum

Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Chair, Coronavirus Task Force

University Statements

View an archive of official TROY communications regarding the University response to COVID-19.

View past University statements