Spring 2021 will bring continued challenges and require ongoing innovation from all TAMIU students, faculty, staff and administrators.
This TAMIU Back Together Spring Plan is the product of five committees formed last Fall by President Arenaz that included faculty, staff, students and administrators. Their recommendations, along with guidance from The Texas A&M University System, continues to guide our safe return to campus this Spring. Our goal has always been to create an environment that is as safe as possible for all our community members, while ensuring our mission – excellence in learning, teaching, and scholarship – continues.
We all need to take personal responsibility to respect and follow the guidelines and restrictions that now affect our daily lives. This University is no different from any other campus or community entity responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Each of us must resolve to do our part to help and protect not only ourselves, but others as well.
Below are details of our TAMIU Back Together Plan for Spring 2021.
All registered students can virtually contact Student Health Services or call the office. However, to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you, you must schedule an appointment prior to your arrival.
Unfortunately, we are unable to see walk-ins at this time. Students who do not have a scheduled appointment will not be admitted to Student Health.
Please call 956.326.2235 to schedule an appointment or speak with a Registered Nurse.
For additional information, visit the Office of Student Health website. You can also contact the City of Laredo 24-hour Hotline at 956.795.4954. More information is available in the following FAQS: General COVID-19 Information
Texas A&M International University serves a broad community of students in Laredo and South Texas with unique needs as a result of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. In order to meet the needs of TAMIU students and their families who have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, TAMIU will award $5.1 million in emergency grants to assist students as part of its TAMIU CARES Program. Of this, 92%, or $4,750,878, are federal funds while the remaining 8%, or $394,000, is from non-governmental sources.
These allocations are designed to provide grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. The CARES funds will be used to address financial hardship, including housing and food insecurity, medical expenses, and lack of educational support and supplies (including technology).
Texas A&M International University Spring 2021 classes are being offered in various formats: TAMIUFlex, Face to Face, and Online. Visit this explainer to find out more about each.
Virtual means “being on or simulated by a computer or computer network” or “primarily occurring or existing online.” Your TAMIU Virtual Classroom is located inside each of your classes in Blackboard, which has a variety of resources to assist you.
But virtual classes are much more than online classes. In a virtual class, you might be able to logon and listen to your professor lecture in real time -- just as if you were sitting in a campus classroom.
You might also be able to logon when most convenient and listen to a recorded lecture by your professor or other scholar.
Bottom line, you’ll be able to access your classes from wherever you have access to some sort of device (smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer) and an Internet connection.
At this time, in accordance with federal, state and local directives, TAMIU is remaining open.
You can always come to campus and use our computer labs or campus Wi-Fi. If you have the needed technology described above at home, you don’t need to come to campus for virtual offerings!
Read our Guide to Adjusting Your Study Habits During COVID-19 prepared by the University Learning Center.
Most buildings will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday – Friday. Specific campus buildings may have different operating schedules. See links below for hours and operation of popular buildings on campus.
New Student Orientation, required for all incoming students, will be provided in a virtual format. New Student Orientation is TAMIU’s orientation for incoming first year and transfer students.
A combination of sessions will be available for all students, allowing them to interact with the incoming Class of 2024, faculty, and staff. Students can expect a mixture of educational and social activities aimed at ensuring the best possible transition to becoming a Dustdevil. Find out all the details here.
All face to face loan counseling sessions (entrance and exit) have been postponed until next year. Student is required to complete the one online only at: https://studentaid.gov/app/counselingInstructions.action
TAMIU's Office of Instructional Technology (OIT) has created a dedicated website for assisting students with the online transition. Visit the links below for in-depth information.
Many believe that online courses cost less to offer than face-to-face courses. In fact, the costs just come from different types of services unique to each. Both face-to-face and online instruction have faculty, and academic and student support costs.
Face-to-face fees include in-person services like health, recreation, athletics, and student facilities (each covered by its respective fee). Virtual and online courses require additional support for tech infrastructure to deliver courses-- and the support staff to help faculty in conversion or delivery.
As required by current federal, state and local directives, the University is remaining open so you can still access traditional face-to-face services (the library, select campus computer labs, and tutoring, writing, and health centers). Some of these services are also being transitioned to a virtual format if you choose not to come to campus.
We are awaiting further instruction on this from the Texas Education Agency, as well as our local school districts. Students will be contacted when that information is complete. You can learn more about Field and Clinical Experiences here.
New Student Orientation, required for all incoming students, will be provided in a virtual format. New Student Orientation is TAMIU’s orientation for incoming first year students and transfer students in Spring 2021. A combination of sessions will be available for all students, allowing them to interact with the incoming Class of 2024, faculty, and staff. Students can expect a mixture of educational and social activities aimed at ensuring the best possible transition to becoming a Dustdevil.
The Lone Star Conference has cancelled all competition for the remainder of the Spring season.
The decision was reached by the LSC Council of Presidents with the health, safety and wellness of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, athletic staffs and fans as the top priority.
The announcement aligns with the recent NCAA decision to cancel all Spring championship events due to the evolving COVID-19 public health threat.
All student organizations may hold meetings, educational activities, and events in a limited face to face environment in accordance with the SOLE Re-Opening Plan. This is a combination of Green and Yellow phases. Fundraisers may be held; however, there can be no food fundraisers. All attempts should be made to host the meetings, event, or activity in a virtual format. All events and fundraisers must be approved by SOLE.
As a reminder, all student organization travel is still suspended until further notice. This is done to ensure the safety of all TAMIU students. For more information, please visit the Office of Student Orientation, Leadership and Engagement.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid sharing food, beverages, and utensils. Avoid close contact with those who may be ill. Stay home when you are sick or have flu symptoms. Cover cough/sneeze with a tissue or cough/sneeze into your elbow. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces. Get your annual flu shot. Additional details are available online at COVID Response Center.
We recommend you also follow all CDC and Texas State Department of State Health Services Guidelines and City of Laredo ordinances
TAMIU has augmented its cleaning of facilities, using hospital-grade disinfectant on surfaces and supplementing its regular cleaning schedule and staff. Air handlers have been augmented and hand sanitation stations are located all over campus. We are in ongoing communication with the CDC, State Department, our Texas A&M University System and the City of Laredo Health Department regarding any additional precautions or actions that should be considered.
TAMIU has an online form submitted by all students, faculty, and staff traveling from or through any international destination. These individuals are also required to quarantine upon returning from those countries for 14 days before returning to campus. Employees who do not complete their quarantine time prior to their scheduled return to work date will be required to use either vacation, comp-time, or unpaid leave.
Residence Life is taking proactive steps to reduce exposure within each of the TAMIU residential communities. These efforts include:
The Office of Housing and Residence Life has installed hand sanitizer dispensers at every entrance of the Residential Learning Community and is installing exterior dispensers around University Village. Dispensers are currently found in the clubhouses of both communities. Additionally, the Housekeeping team is responsible for disinfecting all door handles throughout the communities twice a day with disinfectant spray. “Please wash your hands” signs are being put into the community restrooms.
Additionally, the Office of Housing and Residence Life has created posters that share best practices for good personal hygiene.
If a COVID-19 virus is confirmed, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols will be followed. Those who have had close contact with the patient will be contacted and monitored by the City of Laredo Health Department and TAMIU contact tracers. TAMIU will fully support that effort.
It is important to remember that this is cold and flu season, and regardless of an individual’s travel history, coughs and other upper-respiratory symptoms are much more likely to be signs of a bad cold or seasonal influenza than the new coronavirus. You can protect yourself in the same ways you would normally do to avoid getting sick:
While self-isolation is considered a University Excused Absence, students are encouraged to keep up with any class activities that can be completed away from campus, especially if they have no or mild symptoms. However, you are required to stay away from campus during your self-isolation period. If you attempt to attend class sessions in person during your isolation period, your instructor will temporarily remove you from class.
To keep up with your classes and other on-campus activities, we recommend you take the following actions as soon as your self-isolation begins:
Members of the TAMIU community seeking help with stress now have an online ally at their fingertips: Therapy Assistance Online (TAO). It’s open to all actively enrolled students and employees too. Use your University email and login to TAO.
You’ll be redirected to login with your current University credentials (University email and password). Employees must use the enrollment key: Wellness19-20 (case sensitive/no spaces). Students do not need an enrollment key.
After logging in, you’ll complete an approximately 5-minute wellness survey and then will have access to all available assistance modules and a mindfulness library. Additional services will be added online as available.
Read our dedicated COVID-19 Self-Care Packet, produced by TAMIU Student Counseling and Disability Services for Students.
Take a look at the TAMIU Back Together Plan for Spring for students, faculty and staff. Still have questions? Send an email to answers@tamiu.edu with your question. If you'd like, include your contact email and phone number.
We'll get you an answer as soon as possible.