Fall 2021 COVID-19 Statement

• Context: Vaccines are only up to 95% effective against COVID-19, and less so against the Delta variant (Israel says Pfizer COVID vaccine is 39% effective as delta spreads) due to the variant's possible 1,200 times higher viral load (How Delta COVID-19 variant spreads so fast).  The test positivity rate in Baldwin County is 20.6% for the week ending August 6; and there is a 9% chance that someone in a 10 person gathering is infected, a 17% chance for a 20 person gathering, and a 20% chance for a 25 person gathering as of August 12.  The CDC estimates that 9.9% of the population of Baldwin County is fully vaccinated as of August 12.  There are 39.1 daily new cases per 100,000 people in Baldwin County, prompting Brown Global Pandemics to recommend stay-at-home orders as of August 12.  CDC guidelines for colleges include vaccine requirements, mask requirements, physical distancing requirements, and online options. However, the USG has no vaccine requirements, mask requirements, physical distancing requirements, or online options; and the USG prohibits asking employees and students about their vaccination status (except for quarantine protocols).  Because it is difficult to assess the risk involved in taking this class, I will create classroom safety precautions that follow WHO and CDC recommendations as best as possible (WHO, Advice for the public and CDC, Considerations for IHEs, updated July 23, 2021) while adhering to USG/GCSU July and August policy directives. The July GCSU syllabus statement strongly encourages vaccinations. You will not be forced to risk your personal safety, or the health of those you live with, by taking this class.
• Personal Safety: I am vaccinated, wear a mask in public, and maintain physical distancing in public.  I ask you to get vaccinated, wear a mask in public, and maintain physical distancing in public.
• Course Delivery: According to USG/GCSU policy, this course meets in person.  Furthermore, USG/GCSU policy prohibits altering the course delivery method unless permitted by the University Provost.  After the add/drop deadline, I will conduct an anonymous online survey of the class regarding student preference for course delivery.  If any one student prefers online course delivery, I will request permission from the Provost to make the class hybrid (face-to-face plus synchronous Zoom).  If all students prefer online, I will request permission to take the class fully online (synchronous Zoom).
• Attendance Policy: Although this liberal arts course values contemporaneous discussion over fixed lecture, as of August 16 regular attendance is not required. The attendance policy is subject to change based upon course delivery format, evolving CDC and USG guidelines, the level of transmission in Baldwin County, specically when USG and GCSU policies align with CDC recommendations for IHEs, including 1) mandatory masking, 2) mandatory physical distancing, and 3) optional online event offerings, and when the spread of COVID-19 is contained in Baldwin county according to the following two metrics: 4) 14 days of 7-day rolling average test positivity rate in Baldwin County is below 5% according to the DPH County Indicator Reports and 5) 14 days of Brown School of Public Health COVID Risk Level in Baldwin County is Green: On Track for Containment.  
• Quarantine: If you have symptoms, stay home and contact Student Health Services. If you test positive, stay home and contact Student Health Services. If you are not vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19, stay home and contact Student Health Services. If you are vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19, DPH protocol states to wear a mask, avoid crowds, and physically distance; however, physical distancing is not possible in this crowded classroom—stay home and contact Student Health Services. DPH provides further quarantine information, and GCSU has its own decision path for students.
• Classroom Seating: Our classroom does not accommodate physical distancing.  Students who are comfortable without physical distancing can cluster in the center of the classroom in order to allow students who wish to maintain physical distancing to sit on the periphery.
• In Class Small Group Work: I believe in the effectiveness of small group work for student learning; however, I will not force students to take risks with which they are not comfortable.  USG/GCSU policy prohibits instructors from creating small groups according to vaccination or mask status.  Therefore, I will conduct an anonymous online survey, after the add/drop deadline, of student comfort with the risk of in-person small group work.  If any student expresses concern, via anonymous survey, with small group work, then our class will not use in class small group work as a learning method.
• Office Hours: Since my office cannot accommodate the physical distancing recommended by the CDC, my office hours will be conducted online in accordance with GCSU policy.
• Concerns: I encourage you to share any concerns you might have regarding the USG and GCSU policies that govern course delivery and classroom safety during the ongoing pandemic with university administration and the governor: the English Department chair is Dr. Matthew Pangborn, the College of Arts & Sciences Dean is Dr. Eric Tenbus, the University Provost is Dr. Costas Spirou, the University President is Dr. Steve Dorman until August and Ms. Cathy Cox beginning in September; the University System of Georgia Acting Chancellor is Ms. Teresa MacCartney, and the State Governor is Mr. Brian Kemp.
• Additional Resources: BOR Management of Risk details University System of Georgia policy regarding exposure of students, employees, or others to unsafe environments or activities. BOR Code of Conduct maintains that University System of Georgia employees will protect human health and safety. BOR Immunization policies gives the USG the right to require vaccinations during a pandemic. GC COVID-19 Reporting & Confirmed Cases lists the number of infections reported by faculty, staff, and students. CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker provides vaccinations reports by county. DPH County Indicator Reports provides weekly test positivity rates for Baldwin County. COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool calculates the probability of an infected person attending a gathering of 10, 15, 20, or 25 people in a given county. Pandemics Explained COVID-19 Risk Levels provides recommendations for local governments regarding contact tracing and stay-at-home orders based on level of containment or spread in a state or region.

Date: 14 August 2021