COVID-19 Resources for Faculty Members

The University is continuing to work on ways to alleviate the significant disruption to life and work, as well as short and long term impacts, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Information available below briefly summarizes and connects you to some relevant resources available for the faculty.

Policies

University-Wide

  • Extension of Tenure Probationary Period.  
    • In March 2020, a one-year extension of the probationary period was granted for all faculty who in Academic Year 2019-20 were in the sixth year or earlier of their probationary period (including those whose probationary period had been adjusted for any other reasons). 
    • In Fall 2020, the same one-year extension was granted to all new untenured faculty who joined the University and started on the tenure-line faculty in Academic Year 2020-21.  
    • In Fall 2020, an additional one-year extension of the probationary period was granted for all faculty who in Academic Year 2020-21 are in the sixth year or earlier of their probationary period (including those whose probationary period have been adjusted for any other reasons).  
    • In Spring 2022, an automatic one-year extension of the probationary period was granted to faculty who started between July 1 and December 31, 2021. This extension acknowledges that the pandemic-related disruptions that justified the extensions for prior cohorts continued in Academic Year 2021-22.
    • These extensions do not take away the option to apply for tenure and promotion during any year of the tenure probationary period, up to and including the sixth year.  
    • Information about the tenure probationary period is available in Faculty Handbook, III.D.10, and specific questions may be directed to your campus Executive Vice President’s Office.
  • Course Evaluations for Tenure and Promotion
    • The University’s Guidelines for Submission of Rank and Tenure Applications, Section V.b.ii, require that standardized course evaluations be included in the application file, when available.  Given the disruptions to academic and personal life caused by the coronavirus—in particular, the cessation of in-person class meetings and the forced transition to remote instruction, this requirement was suspended for Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021.  Faculty should follow campus policy.  Main Campus, Medical Center, and Law Center faculty may choose whether to include Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 evaluations. 

Campus-Specific

  • Main Campus
    • The Office of the Provost has also developed a website to communicate information about Faculty Support and University Resources.
    • The Instructional Technology Aide (ITA) Program.  An Instructional Technology Aide (ITA) provides technological assistance to help improve the quality of virtual instruction by supporting faculty and students in creating a seamless technological, engaging, and equitable learning environment.
    • Course Evaluations for Merit Review. On March 15, 2020, the Provost announced that student course evaluations will not be used for merit evaluation of faculty teaching performance for the Spring 2020 semester courses. We will continue with student evaluations, chiefly to examine, at the institutional level, how the student reactions for Spring 2020 compare with prior Spring semesters. 
  • Medical Center
    • In June 2020 the Medical Center Caucus of the Faculty Senate conducted a faculty survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on GUMC Faculty. Summary results may be found on the OFAA website.
  • Law Center
    • Georgetown University Law Center has developed a robust set of resources and information available on its COVID-19 Updates page.  

Research and Teaching

  • Research resumption.  Information about the University’s research resumption processes for all researchers at Georgetown, across the research spectrum from the humanities to the biomedical sciences is available here.  You may find important Coronavirus updates on research here.  Included in those materials is a restarting research FAQ.

    The Office of the Provost announced on June 29, 2021 expanded resources to support Main Campus faculty in restarting their research activities, including non-competitive support for all tenure line assistant and associate professors and competitive internal grants. If you have any questions about either the non-competitive or competitive support mechanisms, please email internalgrants@georgetown.edu. 
  • Library access.  Visit the Library’s website to read the latest updates on access to resources and services as well as library hours and onsite operations.
  • Teaching and Learning Resources.  The Center for New Designs in Learning & Scholarship (CNDLS) offers support and training for teaching and learning remotely during the pandemic.  Click to read resources for teaching remotely.
  • Pandemic Mentorship Program.  Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, women’s research and scholarly output have been deeply impacted. Submissions to academic journals decreased and those particularly affected are women of color who are junior faculty.  As an intervention, the Gender+ Justice Initiative is offering a Pandemic Mentorship Program that pairs Georgetown senior faculty with junior faculty who work on similar issues across campuses and disciplines.  The mentor and mentee will meet virtually 2 to 3 times per semester.  The Pandemic Mentorship Program provides an opportunity for: (1) exchange and collaboration between scholars working on similar issues; (2) a supportive environment for junior faculty; (3) practical advice on dealing with personal and academic challenges.

Well-Being

  • Free Mental Health Resources. The University offers Mindset, a One Medical virtual therapy and coaching program, to all U.S. based, benefits-eligible faculty and staff.  To access these resources, activate your One Medical membership (if you haven’t already done so), by entering your Georgetown NetID email address and the code OMGUMIND.  You can then learn more and sign up here for an initial consultation.  This resource is a complement to the mental health assistance provided through University-sponsored health plans and the services offered through the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP).
  • FSAP.  As always, the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program offers free, confidential counseling, consultation, and educational services to support our faculty and staff in coping with the additional stress and challenges we all are facing during this time.  You may be interested in learning more about Mind Body Connections and a free subscription to the Calm app.
  • GU Wellness.  The Office of Faculty & Staff Benefits offers wellness workshops, coaching, and other various other resources.  Visit the Virtual Wellness website.

Information

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center.  The University is collecting general information regarding the University’s COVID-19 response and resources at this website, which is routinely updated. 
  • Faculty Senate, MCEF, GUMC Caucus meetings.  The faculty governing bodies hold open meetings including an “open forum” for issues to be raised.  Information about their schedules can be found via the following links:  Faculty Senate, MCEF, GUMC Caucus. 
  • University COVID-19 Helpline.  If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the University Helpline between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday to Friday at 202-784-3510 or email covid19-questions@georgetown.edu.

Supports for Caregivers

  • COVID-19 PCR Testing for Children. Effective Monday, January 31, 2022, Georgetown has opened its PCR testing to children (under the age of 5) of full-time, benefits eligible employees, in recognition of the unique challenges posed by the pandemic for our employees with children in this age group. For more information, please visit the COVID-19 Testing for Children of Employees page.
  • Back-Up Child, Adult and Elder Care Benefit.  Benefits-eligible faculty and staff can receive up to seven days of Bright Horizons Back-Up Care™ per year at no cost. This benefit provides high-quality child care in a center or care in their home for a child or adult/elder relative. This care can be used for a range of situations, such as your child’s daycare or school closing unexpectedly, a regular caregiver being unavailable, an elderly parent needing additional support in their home or yours and more. If you have questions regarding this benefit or the other faculty and staff benefits available to you, please visit the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits website or contact benefitshelp@georgtown.edu.
  • GUCares.  Grants for child or adult dependent care needs have been extended through June 30, 2022 for faculty and staff who have a qualified need. Please complete the online grant application. Grants of up to $3,000 are available. If you received a grant during the Fall 2021 semester, you may apply for a new grant through June 30. Visit the Every Hoya Cares website for more information.
  • Family Care Leave.  Eligible faculty may apply for Family Care Leave as set forth in the Faculty Handbook, III.C.10.d, if they have family care circumstances that are “closely similar circumstances” to those addressed by Family Care Leave, such as the need to care for children or other family members who would be in school, day care, or the care of others, but for the pandemic.  A full-time faculty member may apply for up to four months of leave without pay or half-time work for up to four months at half-pay.  Extensions up to one-year are also available under the policy.
  • Family Care Working Group.  The Office of the Chief Operating Officer and the Faculty Senate have created a Family Care Working Group to provide continued input on dependent care support and resources provided by the University.
  • DCR Coordinator.  The Dependent Care Resource (DCR) Coordinator, in the Department of Human Resources, serves as a point of contact to communicate and answer questions about available resources.  The DCR Coordinator can be reached at dependentcare@georgetown.edu.
  • Other benefits resources.  The Office of Staff and Faculty Benefits maintains a website describing resources available for child care support during COVID-19 through their office.