The following message was sent today via email from President Myles Shelton to Galveston College students, faculty and staff:
Campus Community:
As you are aware, Galveston College shifted to remote instruction for the first six weeks of classes of the fall 2021 semester because of the number of COVID-19 cases in Galveston County, in the City of Galveston, and on the Galveston College campus. Since that time, the number of newly identified COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Galveston County has decreased significantly. Consequently, on-campus/face-to-face classes will resume as originally scheduled with students, faculty, and staff reporting to campus, beginning Monday, Oct. 11.
Vaccinations and Vaccination Opportunity and Incentive Program
With the full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by the FDA, we strongly encourage
COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone in our campus community.
The Galveston Community College District Board of Regents recently approved a vaccination opportunity and incentive program for current students, faculty, and staff at Galveston College. The program is being funded by the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Participating students will receive a $200 gift certificate to the Galveston College Bookstore. Current full- and part-time employees as of August 30 will receive a one-time incentive of $300, which will be included on the November payroll. Information concerning the vaccination opportunity and incentive program is available at https://gc.edu/vaccination-opportunity-and-incentive-program/.
We know that vaccination is the best way each of us can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our community against the effects of COVID-19 and its Delta variant. We hope this incentive program will encourage students, faculty, and staff who haven’t been vaccinated to avail themselves of the opportunity.
Facial Coverings/Face Masks
For students, faculty, staff, and visitors coming to campus, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention has issued guidance and safety protocols to help us protect
each other from COVID-19. The latest information from the CDC essentially states that
due to the Delta variant of COVID-19, fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
alike should wear facial coverings/face masks indoors in high-transmission areas.
All of Galveston County has been determined to be a high-transmission area. These
recommendations are in addition to the recommendations concerning social distancing,
hand washing, and other healthy hygiene habits.
Based on the Governor of Texas’s most recent Executive Order concerning COVID-19, we cannot currently require the wearing of masks on campus; however, we strongly encourage all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to accept personal responsibility and commit to wearing a mask or facial covering while on campus. In doing so, you are protecting yourself and others.
COVID-19 Reporting
As in previous months, students, faculty, and staff who test positive for COVID-19,
who have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive, or who are experiencing
symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are required to self-report. Additional information
concerning COVID-19 and the form to self-report can be found at https://gc.edu/coronavirus-report/.
Thank you for your continued efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 within our campus community. We appreciate your support, encouragement, flexibility, and resilience, as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to fulfill the mission of Galveston College.
Sincerely,
W. Myles Shelton
President