FAQs for Fall 2020

The College will be allowed to order a month’s worth of face coverings and hand sanitizer at a time from the university. The process for mask distribution is to be determined. N95 masks are being saved for health care providers.

Instructional faculty will be provided with welcome kits that include face coverings, shields, cleaning supplies, etc. Vending machines will have supplies too.

Sanitizer dispensers for public use will be located throughout the buildings. The university will provide at least 1 dispenser per building, and the College of Design will purchase additional. The college will designate a location to place the sanitizer for public use.

Yes. You may also choose to use your own face covering. If you are planning to use your own face covering, use a cloth or surgical style face covering. Only use an N95 mask if your job duties require it. Do not use a mask or face covering with an exhalation valve.

Employees and students should clean their work area surfaces frequently – prior to use and after use. This especially applies to shared spaces, such as your studio desk, office space, IT lab spaces, the materials lab, etc.

Minimize the sharing of equipment and tools (e.g., computer keyboards and other computer components, phones, safety glasses, work gloves).

Faculty and staff who have private workspaces should clean and disinfect their areas at the start and end of each day.

High touchpoints in common areas will be cleaned three times per day by housekeeping in addition to regular shift work as well as an additional two times a day for restrooms.

High-touch surfaces and common spaces will be cleaned by University Housekeeping in accordance with CDC guidelines for disinfection (e.g. door knobs, elevator buttons, light switches).

Watch a brief video about what housekeeping staff will be doing.

Hand washing is the best method to protect yourself from being infected and from transmitting the virus to others.

Hand washing accomplishes two things:

• Physically removes pathogens from your skin.
• Soap destroys the envelope of the virus which makes it unable to infect cells.

Hand washing breaks the chain of infection. You have the power in your hands to break the chain of infection. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not immediately available, use an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer containing ≥ 60% alcohol.

• Verification of 6 ft diameter physical distancing in non-instructional spaces
• Installation of Plexi shield for public-facing workstations
• Labeling of physical distancing areas where queues may form
• Labeling of entrances and exits, and determining building flow

Plumbing facilities are currently being flushed.

HVAC Systems:

• The building HVAC systems are set to pull in more outside air for better ventilation.
• HVAC systems are being left on overnight instead of cutting them back, and they are using better filtration.

Please do not prop open doors and windows. Propping doors and windows open actually brings in un-filtered air and wastes energy. Also, it makes systems and buildings dirtier and more humid this time of year. If you see a door or window open, please close it. Open doors and windows are also a security and safety problem.

Access to the restrooms will not be controlled at this time. You can also use a paper towel to open the door and throw it away as you exit.

The Mailroom:

• The mailroom will be limited to two occupants at a time; we ask that people not linger while others are waiting.
• Individuals making large quantities of copies will be expected to step out of the mailroom to provide brief access for others if needed.
• We will encourage large quantity copying to be completed during non-peak times (before 10 am and after 3 pm).

• Take the EHPS Return to Work Safely in COVID-19 June 2020 training through Reporter.
• Be a good role model for wearing face coverings.
• Kindly remind students to ‘follow the rules’ or ask them to join the course remotely.
• Report defiant students to the Student Conduct Review Board.
• Be prepared with a course continuity plan; work the plan.
• You can still refer students to the student cares team if they drop off the map and stop attending class.  This service is still being offered.
• Note:
  • You may wear a face shield in addition to your face covering but not instead of a face-covering.
  • You do not have to wear the face coverings that the university provides; you may wear a covering of your choosing.

Firstly, if you suspect you are sick, stay home or go home. Follow the CDC’s guidance on what to do if you are sick.

The university encourages you to enroll in the Contact Tracing Program. This program is broken into five steps:

1. Diagnose: A person tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or displays symptoms and fills out the Self Report form.
2. Identify: Occupational Medicine speaks with the patient to identify anyone who has had close contact with them while they were on campus.
3. Contact: Those contacts will get an initial phone call from Occupational Medicine explaining that they have been exposed, and permission will be asked to contact them every day.
4. Track: An online form on their Healthy Pack portal will be filled out daily tracking symptoms of COVID-19.
5. Monitor: Every day Occupational Medicine will connect with patients and monitor symptoms until they can be given the all-clear.

For rooms with fixed seating – utilize every other chair in a row and skip every-other row (example: Burns Auditorium).

For rooms with moveable chairs – use a four-foot diameter distancing.

The operations team has installed vinyl “Sit Here” stickers at desks, as well as install graphic signage at classroom entries and the lectern. For rooms with reconfigurable furniture, please follow the sign with a photograph of the approved layout. Please don’t move or remove furniture from rooms. 

Watch a brief video from NC State to learn more.

Non-essential equipment will be removed (including sofas, filing cabinets, and miscellaneous chairs).

Layouts will be created that provide four feet of space between students when seated and also provide walkways.

One end of the room will have at least four feet of space between the instructor and students.

Review and critique spaces:

• Allred: can seat 25, 5×5 chairs in each square
• Rotunda: can seat 30, 5×6 chairs
• Areas will be marked for social distancing
• Hallways can accommodate around 12-15 people in each space with four feet of distance

Outdoor Spaces:

The University has installed 3 outdoor tents provided to the COD for the fall for us to use as open-air, shaded learning spaces. These tents will have enhanced wifi access and seating. 

The tent in the Pit is available on a first-come-first-served basis; it is intended for use by students needing a place to wait with social distance between classes. Instructors may reserve the tents by the Egg or in front of Leazar Hall the same way you would reserve a conference room or gallery (by contacting Pam Christie-Tabron,  pfc@ncsu.edu). The reservable tents will also have pin-up spaces. Other outdoor spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Materials Lab:

The Materials Lab will be open regular hours beginning August 10, but the number of occupants will be limited.

Maximum capacity of the materials lab is 30. A TA or staff member will monitor the number of occupants and adjust as needed.

Physical distancing will impact safety orientations, so the team is working on orientation videos. More details will become available in the future.

IT Lab:

IT Labs will be open regular hours beginning August 10. IT Lab classrooms typically have 24 stations. This number will be reduced to 12 to provide physical distance.

• Seating in the IT lab is limited to every other seat.
• The check-out desk will have a plexiglass shield.
• Social distancing lines will be marked on the floor.
• The printing area has a maximum capacity of three people, which will be marked on the floor.
• Those waiting for an IT staff member will wait in the hall along a marked line.

Design Library:

The Design Library is currently planning to be open with limited hours and limited occupants. You should not plan to use the library as a workspace. Books will be available for checkout, and books for individual courses will be available on the reserve shelf. Returned books will be quarantined for three days. Many books are available as electronic resources through the NCSU Libraries webpage. Consider using these resources when available.

Yes, we are still under travel restrictions. If you need an exception, go to Felicia Womack for regular requests or Celen Pasalar for research requests

• Employees are encouraged to shop marketplace first for their needs.
• Invoices will not be processed for charges less than $1,000.
• Please let Felicia Womack know if you have purchases related specifically to COVID-19.
• If you need to order cleaning supplies, please work with Jonas McCoy to take advantage of volume discounts.

If a meeting is more than 10 people, it should be held remotely. If meeting face-to-face, ensure proper physical distancing.

In June, the University of North Carolina System granted its institutions the discretion to establish special COVID-19 voluntary shared leave programs. Chancellor Woodson has approved the establishment of a special COVID-19 voluntary shared leave program at NC State, beginning August 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020.

Read the memo from Warwick Arden and Charles A. Maimone for more information.

The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) will continue leading the development of the research restart process for NC State colleges to follow during fall term 2020. As NC State increases research and scholarship activities on-campus, our top priority is the safety of our students, faculty and staff. In support of this effort, we anticipate research lab and workspace guidelines and processes will be in place for the remainder of 2020. The guidelines and processes are necessary precautionary measures to ensure the health of the NC State community, preserve vital research and scholarship, and support the university’s contact tracing program.

• At this time, faculty, students, and staff must be designated mandatory to work on-site.
• High-risk personnel are discouraged from coming onto campus in Phase III restart.
• Face coverings or masks are required on campus.
• University travel remains restricted due to UNC System directives and public health concerns. Please refer to the 3D memo Travel Exception Process and Required Approvals during COVID-19 Impacted Operations.

The process will continue to be updated as COVID-19 restrictions change and is currently subject to guidelines outlined on the NC State Protect the Pack website and the ORI COVID-19 research continuity page. For more information about returning to your research space please refer to the restart checklist.

Following the instructions received from ORI, the process of review and approval for research, extension, and engagement in College of Design research/lab facilities, workspaces, as well as field work with or without human subjects will involve the following steps:

1. College of Design Researchers/PIs filling out this updated Phase III Research Restart Request Form (please click here to access the form)
2. Departmental review and approval/denial by Department Head
3. College level review and approval/denial by the Assistant Dean for Research and Extension
4. NCSU’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) will review and approve/deny based on the current occupancy/human contact guidelines.
5. Notifications and specific guidelines will be sent to the Assistant Dean for Research and Extension for dissemination to faculty.
6. HR mandatory employee designation (for conducting research related activities on-campus)

In Phase III, all research activities will be considered for return to campus but must be approved by the department, college associate/assistant dean for research and the Office of Research and Innovation. Research requests must follow the approved submission process and no research may begin on site/campus before receiving university approval. Requests to research labs and workspaces to conduct research that otherwise could be done from home, will be considered at this time although faculty and students are still encouraged to work from home when possible.

The Office of Research and Innovation will utilize information provided by the Office of the University Architect about space square footage to determine the available area in specific buildings and rooms allowing for estimated equipment, furniture, and workflows. This will be used to determine maximum occupancy levels for labs and workspaces used for the purposes of research.

Phase III Occupancy Guidelines

All research restart requests will be allowed at least one person per room regardless of the size of the room.  If there is more than one occupant in a room, masks MUST be worn by ALL occupants at ALL times. When there is more than one occupant in a room, requests in this phase must allow for a minimum of 200 square feet per occupant. Provided the room/lab layout and equipment allow appropriate physical distancing among all occupants at all times, you may use up to 100% of your assigned research space (labs and research workspaces). During this phase, there will be a maximum limit of 10 occupants at a given time regardless of the size of the space.

1. Mandatory On-site Reporting Form:  EHRA, SHRA, temporary and postdoctoral employees who are designated as mandatory employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency will be asked to complete the mandatory on-site form twice in this upcoming academic year — once in August 2020 and once in January 2021. The form has been simplified to indicate whether you worked (40 hours every week of the month) or part-time (less than 40 hours during any week of the month). UHR and Kim Bradshaw will send a reminder to employees to complete the form.
2. COVID-19 Related Special Circumstances Requests: While the university is implementing safety practices and guidance for reactivating campus, special circumstances related to students, disability accommodations, and safety may arise that require additional review and guidance. To submit your consideration request, visit the special circumstances request submission portal.
3. COVID-19 Leave Updates:  Effective August 1, 2020 there have been revisions to the guidelines for COVID-19 paid administrative leave and community service programs. In addition, a new COVID-19 voluntary shared leave bank has been implemented, and an extension to community service hours for the COVID-19 volunteer-related activities.  Click this link for more COVID-19 leave update information.
4. Remote Work and Mandatory Designation Reminders: We are still expecting our employees to work remotely as much as possible and to come to campus only when work cannot be performed remotely. All faculty and staff returning to campus must be designated as mandatory employees, specifically for “emergency conditions – medical events.” Please read additional information provided by HR.
5. Tools for Supervisors: If you supervise an employee, please review the following resources:
   1. Decision Tree for Returning Employees to Onsite Work
   2. COVID-19 Talking Points for Supervisors
6. Return to Onsite Work Resources for Faculty and Staff: University Human Resources has pulled together a collection of resources to help faculty and staff during times of a pandemic or communicable disease outbreak.

If you test positive for COVID-19, or are told by a healthcare provider that you are presumed positive for the virus,  please work with your instructor on health accommodations and follow other university guidelines, including self reporting (Coronavirus Self Reporting):  Self-reporting is not only to help provide support to you, but also to assist in contact tracing for containing the spread of the virus. 

If you feel unwell, even if you have not been knowingly exposed to COVID-19, please do not come to class. 

If you are in quarantine, have been notified that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, or have a personal or family situation related to COVID-19 that prevents you from attending this course in person (or synchronously), please connect with your instructor to discuss the situation and make alternative plans, as necessary. 

Firstly, if you suspect you are sick, stay home or go home. Follow the CDC’s guidance on what to do if you are sick.

The university encourages students to enroll in the Contact Tracing Program. This program is broken into five steps:

1. Diagnose: A person tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or displays symptoms and fills out the Self Report form.
2. Identify: Occupational Medicine speaks with the patient to identify anyone who has had close contact with them while they were on campus.
3. Contact: Those contacts will get an initial phone call from Occupational Medicine explaining that they have been exposed, and permission will be asked to contact them every day.
4. Track: An online form on their Healthy Pack portal will be filled out daily tracking symptoms of COVID-19.
5. Monitor: Every day Occupational Medicine will connect with patients and monitor symptoms until they can be given the all-clear.

Students may be quarantined in separate housing areas as needed.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

Graduate students, if you need to make a request for an academic consideration related to COVID-19, such as a discussion about possible options for remote learning, please talk with your instructor for the appropriate process to make a COVID-19 request. If you need assistance from the University in requesting special consideration for remote learning, you can fill out this form.  It is not required if you are able to work out a situation with your professor, but it provides you with an opportunity to work with an independent unit to get consideration, should you need or want it.

These are difficult times, and academic and personal stress are natural results. Everyone is encouraged to take care of themselves and their peers. If you need additional support, there are many resources on campus to help you:

• Counseling Center (NCSU Counseling Center) 
• Health Center (Health Services | Student) 
• If the personal behavior of a classmate concerns or worries you, either for the classmate’s well-being or yours, we encourage you to report this behavior to the NC State CARES team:  (Share a Concern).  

If you or someone you know are experiencing food, housing or financial insecurity, please see the Pack Essentials Program (Pack Essentials).

We are all responsible for protecting ourselves and our community.  Please see the community expectations and Rule 04.21.01 regarding Personal Safety Requirements Related to COVID-19  RUL 04.21.01 – Personal Safety Requirements Related to COVID-19 – Policies, Regulations & Rules

1. Wear a face covering. All students, faculty, staff and visitors are required to wear face coverings when in university buildings, classrooms and anywhere else on campus, indoors or outdoors, when they cannot maintain appropriate physical distancing (6 feet) from another person. For more information on this requirement, see RUL 04.21.01 (Personal Safety Requirements Related to COVID-19).
2. Practice good hand hygiene. Wash hands frequently, for 20 seconds at a time. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.  
3. Maintain an appropriate physical distance from others. Everyone on campus is expected to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others whenever possible.  People are expected to follow signage directing traffic flow through building entrances, exits, elevators and other common areas, to minimize density. Individual activities and facilities may have more specific requirements based upon the unique risks presented.
4. When sick, stay home from work or class. Before coming to work or class, self-assess your health daily for the following symptoms identified by the CDC. If you have symptoms, do not attend work or class, and contact your medical provider. Notify your professors and/or supervisor if you need to miss class or work.   
5. Follow all directions given by university officials and public health authorities, including those related to contact tracing, monitoring and adhering to self-quarantining requirements if you have possible COVID-19 symptoms and/or have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

All members of the NC State academic community are required to follow all university guidelines for personal safety with face coverings, physical distancing, and sanitation. 

Face coverings are required in class and in all NC State buildings. Face coverings should be worn to cover the nose and mouth and be close fitting to the face with minimal gaps on the sides. 

In addition, students are responsible for keeping their course/work area clean. Please follow the cleaning guidelines described by the university.

NC State attendance policies can be found at: REG 02.20.03 – Attendance Regulations – Policies, Regulations & Rules. Please refer to the course’s attendance, absence, and deadline policies for additional details. 

If you are quarantined or otherwise need to miss class because you have been advised that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should not be penalized regarding attendance or class participation. However, you will be expected to develop a plan to keep up with your coursework during any such absences.  If you become ill with COVID-19, you should follow the steps outlined in the health section above. COVID 19-related absences will be considered excused; documentation need only involve communication with your instructor.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

Your course might not have a traditional meeting schedule in Fall 2020. Be sure to pay attention to any updates to the course schedule as the information in this syllabus may have changed. Please discuss any questions you have with the instructor.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

The college is working with the University Architect’s office and the Vice Provost for Facilities to create the most effective plans for studio layouts and use.

Desks will be arranged prior to the first day of class to provide optimal spacing for social distancing. Students will not be allowed to move the desks. Students should not claim a desk prior to the first studio meeting. Students will be assigned desks in a “checkerboard” pattern. This means that your desk may be adjacent to someone who is not in your section. This pattern, along with staggered times for individual sections to meet, will provide greater distance between students. 

Studio access will be scheduled during studio meeting times (typically MWF afternoons) and after hours. Our goal is to not have studio spaces full of students at any given time. Professors in our large studio spaces will attempt to coordinate with one another to stagger due dates so that there is not a high demand for studio use by all sections at once. 

A few plexiglass screens will be provided in studios to facilitate one-on-one conversations (such as desk crits).

We recommend that students keep just the essential materials, tools, and supplies in the studio. Last semester, many students could not retrieve materials from the studio when the university abruptly shifted to online-only courses. If this happens again in the fall, we want students to be prepared to work remotely.

In lecture-style classrooms, please sit in the same seat when possible and take note of who is sitting around you; instructors may also assign seats for this purpose. This will help make contact tracing more efficient. 

Your courses may require particular technologies to complete coursework. Be sure to review the syllabus for these expectations, and see the syllabus technical requirements for your course. If you need access to additional technological support, please contact the IT department (design_help@ncsu.edu) or  the Libraries’ Technology Lending Service (Technology Lending).

Instructors are encouraged to hold virtual office hours, and many connect with students using a variety of synchronous and asynchronous technology:

• Asynchronously
  • Using Moodle Group Forums
  • Piazza™ (has a mobile app too)
  • Padlet™
  • Google Documents (everybody commenting/adding)
  • Google Chat Room
• Synchronously
  • Padlet™
  • Google Documents (everybody commenting/adding)
  • Google Chat Room
  • Zoom™: There is the ability to do polls, question & answer, raise hand, and chat facility (private and whole group) within Zoom™ as well as an option to create breakout rooms for smaller discussions.
  • Socrative™
  • Google Hangouts

Please see the memo from Chancellor Woodson. Effective August 24 at 8:00 am, all undergraduate coursework has moved online.

Graduate students, your courses may be offered by your instructor in several ways:

• Face to Face Courses: In-person courses are regular courses that meet in a classroom at specified times on specified days. These courses are small enough that the entire class is able to meet in a regular classroom at the same time and still maintain acceptable physical distancing.
• Hybrid Courses: These courses meet in person at specified times, but you won’t necessarily attend class every day that is noted on the class schedule. Hybrid courses can take many formats – you may be meeting once or twice a week, or every other week, depending on the structure of the course. 
• Online synchronous: These courses will meet fully online but will typically meet at specific days/times for some or all of the semester. Those days/times are indicated on the course schedule. 
• Online asynchronous: These courses will meet fully online and do not have any specific scheduled time that you have to be logged in for class meetings. 

If the delivery mode has a negative impact on your academic performance in this course, the university has provided tools to potentially reduce the impact:  

• Enhanced S/U Grading Option:  Enhanced Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory Grading Option
• Late Drop:  Enhanced Late Drop Option

In some cases, another option may be to request an incomplete in the course. Before using any of these tools, discuss the options with your instructor and your academic advisor. Be aware that if you use the enhanced S/U, you will still need to complete the course and receive at least a C- to pass the course.    

• Keep Learning: Keep Learning
• Protect the Pack FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions | Protect the Pack
• NC State Protect the Pack Resources for Students: Resources for Students | Protect the Pack
• NC State Keep Learning, tips for students opting to take courses remotely:
  Keep Learning Tips for Remote Learning 
• Introduction to Zoom for students:
  https://youtu.be/5LbPzzPbYEw
• Learning with Moodle, a student’s guide to using Moodle:
  https://moodle-projects.wolfware.ncsu.edu/course/view.php?id=226
• NC State Libraries Technology Lending Program

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

While travel is restricted, local field trips are permissible as long as all social distance requirements are met. Instructors will be responsible for communicating those requirements with you. 

Exam week is Nov 16-Nov 20. Instructors should not give major tests, exams or assessments in the week before exams. Students can file an exception if they have more than three exams in 24 hours ((REG 02.20.14 – Test and Examinations – Policies, Regulations & Rules). 

Final exams in hybrid, face to face, and synchronous online courses should be given during the allotted time period provided by the university. The exam schedule will be posted here when available.

Instructors are recommended to explore solutions to make sure that asynchronous courses do not offer exams at the same time. Some solutions include:

• Providing a longer exam window (all week) and using proctoring software.
• Providing alternative assessments, such as open-book, open-note exams; a final paper; or a final project, etc.  
• Scheduling the exam during the originally scheduled time frame (before the online asynchronous designation)

See the NC State COVID-19 FAQs for the most updated information, including information about preparation of classrooms for fall classes and cleaning of classrooms and much more.

To highlight a few FAQs (there are MANY more, here are key questions related to safety):

1. Where is the new PRR on Personal Safety requirements related to COVID-19?
2. What should a faculty member do if a student has concerns regarding COVID-19 symptoms or has been exposed?
3. Will NC State run tests on all students, faculty and staff?
4. How are classrooms being prepared for fall classes?
5. What is the plan for cleaning classrooms?
6. What is the plan for cleaning offices?
7. What is the plan for cleaning high-touch areas?
8. Should I prop open doors to increase ventilation?
9. How will or who will manage students’ congregating in hallways, etc., between/before classes, or managing “flow” during class change?
10. Has information been collected about the quality of air circulation within NC State buildings that will be in use this fall?

Are efforts in place to install HVAC filters that would help prevent virus spread (or kill the virus) within closed spaces? Or are there other strategies you’re aware of to improve indoor air quality and circulation in buildings?

Please visit the following website, which applies to student organizations as well as activities beyond the classroom. https://go.ncsu.edu/event-guidelines 

The maximum number of attendees for any activity should not exceed 50 people whether indoors or outdoors regardless of space capacity. 

If student organizations are meeting in a space, you must keep the classroom furniture configurations in place, and consider having pre-packaged food to reduce the risk of transmission. 

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

Please review two policies on the College of Design website related to student access:

• Positive environment for learning and working policy 
• College of Design Safety and Facilities use Policy

Students are encouraged to leave the studios by midnight. Instructors will time assignments so that they can reasonably be completed without expecting you to work through the night. You must wear your mask in the studio at all times, even at night. 

It is important that you create healthy work habits now that sustain long, productive careers in design. 

The university has installed 3 outdoor tents provided to the COD for the fall for us to use as open-air, shaded learning spaces. These tents will have enhanced wifi access and seating. 

The tent in the Pit is available on a first-come-first-served basis; it is intended for use by students needing a place to wait with social distance between classes. Instructors may reserve the tents by the Egg or in front of Leazar Hall the same way you would reserve a conference room or gallery (by contacting Pam Christie-Tabron,  pfc@ncsu.edu). The reservable tents will also have pin-up spaces. Other outdoor spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

For Graduate Students:

IT Labs will be open regular hours beginning August 10. IT Lab classrooms typically have 24 stations. This number will be reduced to 12 to provide physical distance.

The Materials Lab will be open regular hours beginning August 10, but the number of occupants will be limited.

The Design Library is currently planning to be open with limited hours and limited occupants. You should not plan to use the library as a workspace. Books will be available for checkout, and books for individual courses will be available on the reserve shelf. Returned books will be quarantined for three days. Many books are available as electronic resources through the NCSU Libraries webpage. Consider using these resources when available.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

For rooms with fixed seating – utilize every other chair in a row and skip every-other row (example: Burns Auditorium).

For rooms with moveable chairs – use a four-foot diameter distancing.

The operations team will install vinyl “Sit Here” stickers at desks, as well as install graphic signage at classroom entries and the lectern. For rooms with reconfigurable furniture, they will install a sign with a photograph of the approved layout. Please don’t move or remove furniture from rooms. 

Watch a brief video from NC State to learn more.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

Non-essential equipment will be removed (including sofas, filing cabinets, and miscellaneous chairs).

Layouts will be created that provide four feet of space between students when seated and also provide walkways.

One end of the room will have at least four feet of space between the instructor and students.

Review and critique spaces:

• Allred: can seat 25, 5×5 chairs in each square
• Rotunda: can seat 30, 5×6 chairs
• Areas will be marked for social distancing
• Hallways, around 12-15 each space with four feet of distance

Outdoor Spaces:

The University has installed 3 outdoor tents provided to the COD for the Fall for us to use as open-air, shaded learning spaces. These tents will have enhanced wifi access and seating. 

The tent in the Pit is available on a first-come-first-served basis; it is intended for use by students needing a place to wait with social distance between classes. Instructors may reserve the tents by the Egg or in front of Leazar Hall the same way you would reserve a conference room or gallery (by contacting Pam Christie-Tabron,  pfc@ncsu.edu). The reservable tents will also have pin-up spaces. Other outdoor spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Chancellor Woodson announced that undergraduate classes pivoted to online instruction beginning Monday, August 24 at 8 a.m. As undergraduate coursework has moved completely online, undergraduate students will not have access to studio spaces, the Materials Lab, laser printers, or the IT Lab. Instructors will be in touch with students on how coursework will proceed for the remainder of the semester.

For Graduate Students:

Materials Lab:

The Materials Lab will be open regular hours beginning August 10, but the number of occupants will be limited.

Maximum capacity of the materials lab is 30. A TA or staff member will monitor the number of occupants and adjust as needed.

Physical distancing will impact safety orientations, so the team is working on orientation videos. More details will become available in the future.

IT Lab:

IT Labs will be open regular hours beginning August 10. IT Lab classrooms typically have 24 stations. This number will be reduced to 12 to provide physical distance.

• Seating in the IT lab is limited to every other seat.
• The check-out desk will have a plexiglass shield.
• Social distancing lines will be marked on the floor.
• The printing area has a maximum capacity of three people, which will be marked on the floor.
• Those waiting for an IT staff member will wait in the hall along a marked line.

Design Library:

The Design Library is currently planning to be open with limited hours and limited occupants. You should not plan to use the library as a workspace. Books will be available for checkout, and books for individual courses will be available on the reserve shelf. Returned books will be quarantined for three days. Many books are available as electronic resources through the NCSU Libraries webpage. Consider using these resources when available.

Inclusive Teaching: Instructors are encouraged to review the 5 Principles as Pathways to Inclusive Teaching, based on a survey of research and inclusive teaching and provides an overview of inclusive teaching principles and classroom strategies for incorporation into any course. 

Accessibility: Your course should meet accessibility guidelines outlined by the university. If you are a person with a disability, please reach out to the Disability Resource Office for additional Accessibility Information. 

Educational Equity: Please share with your instructor if you have issues related to educational equity, like access to technology, food and housing insecurity, and well-being amid coronavirus. Explore university resources like Technology Lending through the NCSU Libraries, Student Ombuds Services, Pack Essentials, and the Counseling Center. 

Please work with your supervisor to determine your schedule for returning to work.

While the university is implementing safety practices and guidance for reactivating campus, special circumstances related to students, employees/employment, disability accommodations, and safety may arise that require additional review and guidance:

• Workplace Safety reasons related to COVID-19: use of face coverings, cleaning practices, modifications to workspace, vehicle use
• Student/Employee/Employment reasons related to COVID-19: remote work, childcare, eldercare, increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, in quarantine, ADA eligibility and accommodations

To submit your consideration request, visit this special circumstances request submission portal. 

1. Mandatory On-site Reporting Form:  EHRA, SHRA, temporary and postdoctoral employees who are designated as mandatory employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency will be asked to complete the mandatory on-site form twice in this upcoming academic year — once in August 2020 and once in January 2021. The form has been simplified to indicate whether you worked (40 hours every week of the month) or part-time (less than 40 hours during any week of the month). UHR and Kim Bradshaw will send a reminder to employees to complete the form.
2. COVID-19 Related Special Circumstances Requests: While the university is implementing safety practices and guidance for reactivating campus, special circumstances related to students, disability accommodations, and safety may arise that require additional review and guidance. To submit your consideration request, visit the special circumstances request submission portal.
3. COVID-19 Leave Updates:  Effective August 1, 2020 there have been revisions to the guidelines for COVID-19 paid administrative leave and community service programs. In addition, a new COVID-19 voluntary shared leave bank has been implemented, and an extension to community service hours for the COVID-19 volunteer-related activities.  Click this link for more COVID-19 leave update information.
4. Remote Work and Mandatory Designation Reminders: We are still expecting our employees to work remotely as much as possible and to come to campus only when work cannot be performed remotely. All faculty and staff returning to campus must be designated as mandatory employees, specifically for “emergency conditions – medical events.” Please read additional information provided by HR.
5. Tools for Supervisors: If you supervise an employee, please review the following resources:
   1. Decision Tree for Returning Employees to Onsite Work
   2. COVID-19 Talking Points for Supervisors
6. Return to Onsite Work Resources for Faculty and Staff: University Human Resources has pulled together a collection of resources to help faculty and staff during times of a pandemic or communicable disease outbreak.

• Take the EHPS Return to Work Safely in COVID-19 June 2020 training through reporter
• Be a good role model for wearing face coverings.
• Work with your unit supervisor regarding your presence on campus and coordination of unit staffing.
• Communicate your concerns/needs to the appropriate channels.
• Update your continuity plan in July for August and to address September-December.

Firstly, if you suspect you are sick, stay home or go home. Follow the CDC’s guidance on what to do if you are sick.

The university encourages you to enroll in the Contact Tracing Program. This program is broken into five steps:

1. Diagnose: A person tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or displays symptoms and fills out the Self Report form.
2. Identify: Occupational Medicine speaks with the patient to identify anyone who has had close contact with them while they were on campus.
3. Contact: Those contacts will get an initial phone call from Occupational Medicine explaining that they have been exposed, and permission will be asked to contact them every day.
4. Track: An online form on their Healthy Pack portal will be filled out daily tracking symptoms of COVID-19.
5. Monitor: Every day Occupational Medicine will connect with patients and monitor symptoms until they can be given the all-clear.

If you cannot work due to COVID-19, you will still have access to paid administrative leave. Starting July 1, it will be one-third of your salary. Access to paid administrative leave ends August 1.

Please visit the Pandemic and Communicable Disease Guidelines and Resources website offered by NC State Human Resources for more information.

Additionally, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is still available. This allows you two weeks for you or if you need to take care of someone else. Reach out to Felicia Womack or Kim Bradshaw for more information.

• Employees are encouraged to shop marketplace first for their needs.
• Invoices will not be processed for charges less than $1,000.
• Please let Felicia Womack know if you have purchases related specifically to COVID-19.
• If you need to order cleaning supplies, please work with Jonas McCoy to take advantage of volume discounts.

Yes, we are still under travel restrictions. If you need an exception, go to Felicia Womack for regular requests or Celen Pasalar for research requests

If a meeting is more than 10 people, it should be held remotely. If meeting face-to-face, ensure proper physical distancing.

In June, the University of North Carolina System granted its institutions the discretion to establish special COVID-19 voluntary shared leave programs. Chancellor Woodson has approved the establishment of a special COVID-19 voluntary shared leave program at NC State, beginning August 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020.

Read the memo from Warwick Arden and Charles A. Maimone for more information.