Letter from the President

April 7, 2020

Since announcing our move to remote learning on March 12, the university has been working diligently to support the diverse needs of our students, faculty, and staff in this rapidly changing environment. As you have experienced personally, directives and guidance continue to evolve daily as businesses, governments, institutions, and health experts respond to the pandemic. Flexibility is key, and as more is learned, we will continue to adapt.

A number of significant changes has been implemented, including transitioning to remote delivery methods, offering new services, modifying policies and procedures, and instituting flexible work options – all to help meet the challenges of this new reality.

Our focus has been and will remain on supporting our students during this difficult time. In order to balance service and operational requirements with the needs of our employees, we steadily migrated staff to telecommuting, flex scheduling or leave options over the last several weeks. To date, approximately sixty percent of full-time staff are telecommuting and all faculty are instructing remotely.

As part of our enhanced emergency operations status and, in voluntary compliance with county and state orders, we will continue to move the majority of our remaining staff to telecommuting and other flexible work options. However, there will always be some responsibilities that require an employee to be physically onsite and I applaud those, who fall into this group, for continually reporting to work and showing such dedication during these uncertain times.

For those of you in management roles, please work with your remaining staff to determine the best mix of work options that ensure continuity of your department's essential services. Through May 3, employees should report emergency leave for those periods when not physically present on campus or for those hours not fully engaged in telecommuting. Check theCOVID-19 website for critical information on work and leave alternatives.

Again, I cannot help but find solace in the strength of our Sam Houston State community. Our long-standing commitment to serving others will help carry us through these trying times.



Dana G. Hoyt, President