Stephen F. Austin State University

Dear Lumberjacks,

Happy New Year! I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday break! As we begin a new semester, I want to share with you how excited I am to welcome you back to SFA, whether you are here on campus or with us virtually. Either way, your presence counts, and I am excited to be a part of the Lumberjack family with you.

In spite of the continued challenges presented by COVID-19, I am looking forward to the spring semester, and I hope you are, too. As always, the SFA faculty and staff are doing everything possible to provide you with the highest quality education, and we have layered on additional precautions and attention to promoting your health and safety. By doing this, we also are working to help ensure, in any way possible, the health and safety of our campus community and your friends and families at home.

As a part of this effort, I ask for your help. I believe that by working together with Lumberjack pride, we can be as successful this spring as we were last fall. SFA was a model for success this past fall, and you played a significant role in that success. Here are a few steps you can take to help protect our entire academic community and to help us once again model the Lumberjack spirit to our state and nation.

• Face coverings - Face coverings are required for everyone on campus, and this policy will continue until otherwise communicated. If you have questions, please review our face-covering requirements policy and FAQs. If you need additional information, please contact Health Services at 936.468.4008 or healthservices@sfasu.edu. If you have any questions, or believe you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please visit our site for COVID-19 Guidance (http://www.sfasu.edu/covid19).

• Physical distancing – We will continue physical distancing on campus, including our classrooms, office spaces and other academic areas.

• Testing – If you have symptoms, or if you have been around people who have tested positive for COVID-19, please get tested. Starting January 6th, Curative Labs will have a kiosk located in the circle drive near the Pearman Alumni Center and Pattillo Student Center. They will offer free testing to employees and students from 8 to 5, Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome, or make an appointment here.

• Contact tracing – To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we created an SFA Contact Tracing Team, which includes case investigators and contact tracers operating with direction from leading epidemiologists. If you are contacted by a team member, we ask that you please respond fully and accurately, quickly returning any message left for you. This will help us safeguard the entire university community.

We ask that you remember our core values of respect, caring, responsibility, unity and integrity in looking out for the health of others, both on and off campus. All of the practices above are based on recommendations and the very best information from leading health experts, and they will help promote the health of everyone, including your fellow Lumberjacks, your friends and your families.

While COVID-19 has presented us all with many challenges, I have been inspired by the extraordinary resolve and resilience of students like you. As members of the rising generation of leaders, I believe you can and will once again rise to the occasion this spring semester.

Finally, I want to express my great appreciation to you for choosing SFA. You are valued here as a student and an individual, and this university takes pride in the high-quality, student-centered education we provide. I hope you stay safe and healthy, and that this semester is both successful and fulfilling for our entire university community.

Sincerely,

Scott Gordon
President

PS. Staff members will be available to assist you and answer any questions you may have when university offices reopen on January 4th.