Starting 2022-23 Academic Year

 

MEMORANDUM

There are many aspects that make this centennial academic year exciting. We look forward to celebrating this momentous year with the Texas Tech community.

Texas Tech University received a $50 million Institutional Enhancement grant through the Governor's Office in response to needs accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These Institutional Enhancement dollars have been allocated, and vice provosts are reaching out to deans, directors and faculty members with details specific to each area.

Our Faculty-Staff Wellness Committee submitted its findings to President Schovanec and me in early June. Since then, progress has been made in several areas thanks to the Institutional Enhancement dollars, which have refocused our efforts on improving overall wellness. Look for more about these efforts under the Beyond Okay moniker later this semester.

It is energizing to be back on campus. However, the fall semester brings challenges with respect to COVID-19. We have consolidated guidance for the Texas Tech community into one webpage. We are once again hosting vaccine and testing clinics for faculty, staff and students.

Additionally, it appears that the dominant flu strain may be impacting adolescents and young adults particularly hard, and this year's flu season may arrive earlier than normal. Consequently, we may see high rates of absenteeism among parents of school-aged children, and possibly TTU students as well, as the semester progresses.

We remain committed to accommodating individuals with significant health risks (or their caregivers); providing opportunities for sick students to learn asynchronously; and balancing physical, mental, social and academic health. I do not anticipate implementing general shifts to temporary online instruction but will consider judicious, targeted course-by-course exceptions upon the recommendations of department chairs and deans. Several FAQ's about the start of the fall semester are available on the Provost's website. If you have additional questions or concerns, please first visit with your department chair.

A reorganization of my office last semester has meant new responsibilities for many. We will visit each college during a series of Town Halls to further explain these changes and answer any questions you may have.

While many updates have been made to the Provost's website, several more are forthcoming. We look to continue to improve this site with information that's helpful to you, so please feel free to let us know what you need on this site by emailing provost@ttu.edu.