Dear department chairs, faculty, and research staff.

 

To prepare for increased research activity on June 1, I wanted to share several important items. University operations continue to evolve in order to support research and we will continue to provide updates for you as procedures change. 

 

1.       Building access.

a.       You will continue to swipe your UTSA ID card to access buildings as all buildings will be locked to the public. This practice is intended to support the safety of anyone in the buildings. Thus it is important that people do not let anyone into the building if they do not recognize them.

b.       Consider re-applying for access if your previous access has expired, which must be submitted by your department’s designated staff. If you continued to access UTSA buildings during the research pause, you will be fine. Students who have not accessed buildings and other spaces for 45 days will need to reapply for access. Make sure you think about access to spaces with shared equipment, shared storage spaces, core facilities, vivarium, etc. Don’t forget to submit a request to remove access for people who have left your research team.

c.       If PIN codes or biometrics are required on doors, please schedule an appointment with Security Services (210-458-6855 in Bosque Building Room 1.200).

2.       On-campus activities.

a.       The fundamental principle allowing on-campus activity is that work that can be done remotely should be. That is, visits to research spaces on campus are limited to activities that cannot be done remotely. Remember that student’s participation in research on campus is voluntary. Once the on-campus work is completed, remote activities (e.g., data analyses, manuscript writing) should be done off-campus and not in office spaces. There are a few instances where specialized software, restricted data, or equipment are needed in office spaces but this is rare and not widespread.

b.       Disinfection protocols should be in place and enforced. REDKE will have some disposable masks available until your purchases come in. We will distribute disinfectant (isopropyl alcohol solution) and paper towels beginning June 3. We will deliver these items to labs in SRL and MBT. Researchers in other buildings can pick up these items from a table set up in AET (main entrance facing the parking lot) and BSE (outside the dean’s office).

3.       Safety Requirements.

a.       Masks/face coverings must be worn at all times on campus. If you are working in a closed space (lab, office) by yourself, you can remove the mask. Adherence to this safety measure is important to protect those at highest risk of infection as well as yourself.

b.       Social distancing is required. You will need to alter your normal (pre-COVID-19) activities to ensure you keep others safe. Lab/research team meetings should continue online and not face-to-face.

c.       Report any concerns. Emergencies should be reported to UTSA Police at (210) 458-4911. Any concerns should be reported to the compliance hotline at (877) 270-5051 or https://www.reportlineweb.com/UTSA. You can make these reports anonymously as well. 

4.       Additional Questions? Send them to vprhelp@utsa.edu if the answers cannot be found in the Research Recovery Report.

 

Regards,

Mickey

 

Training:

The Research Recovery Training is now available in two formats:

Employees: https://mytraining.utsa.edu/online/, Course number SA 551.

Non-employee students: The course is available in Blackboard.

 

Masks and disinfection supplies:

Isopropyl alcohol solution in spray bottles, paper towels, and surgical masks are available in the following locations from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm starting today and continuing all week.

AET, ground floor, opposite the elevators

BSE, 1^st floor, outside the COS and COE Dean’s offices

These items will also be delivered to labs in SRL and MBT. Anyone at the Downtown Campus who needs these items should contact the Lab Safety Division at LSD@utsa.edu to arrange a delivery.

 

Access to spaces:

All access should have automatically returned to pre-spring break access. Any new requests for access (e.g., new graduate students joining a research team) should follow the normal access request process through the departmental staff person designated to make these requests to Security Services. If you have any questions, Security Services is happy to help!

 

Human subjects research:

The Public Health Task Force led by Drs. Arulanandam and Cossman will provide recommendations that will inform the evolution of human subjects research. This report is expected to be released very soon and will likely initiate changes to the current human subjects guidance. Please stay tuned.

 

Please let me know how else I can help.

 

Thank you,

Mickey

 

Michelle (Mickey) Stevenson, Ph.D., CCEP

Associate Vice President for Research Integrity

Office of Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise

The University of Texas at San Antonio

(210) 458-4531 | (210) 668-3313