If an individual needs to enter a building, signs are posted on outside doors letting
them know who to contact. Visitors,please make an appointmentin order to practice social distancing and allow for proper cleaning between visitors.
This week, Austin Peay is hosting seven commencement ceremonies to honor our December
2020 and Spring 2021 graduates. They deserve special recognition because they persevered
through one of the most challenging years in University history. Their strength and
determination prove they’re ready to overcome any obstacles they may face in the coming
years.
These students also continued to follow our safety protocols during these commencement
ceremonies, wearing facemasks and social distancing from their classmates. They demonstrated
their dedication to Austin Peay this week, and we wish them well in their future endeavors.
Don't Confuse Allergies for COVID-19
This spring, Tennessee’s peak allergy season is taking place amid the global COVID-19
pandemic. Because allergies and COVID-19 share a few symptoms, some people may mistakenly
blame their fever and cough on the pollen floating through the air.
Allergy-related symptoms – sinus drainage, headaches, throat irritation and more –
could be caused by COVID-19.
Please check the CDC’s list of symptoms or use the Peay Mobile app Daily Pre-Screening
to see if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do have symptoms of the virus, do
not come to campus. Get tested as soon as possible. To add another layer of protection,
please consider getting the vaccine, if you haven’t already. By taking these steps,
you will help us squash COVID-19 and its growing variants.
This spring, Tennessee’s peak allergy season is taking place amid the global COVID-19
pandemic. Because allergies and COVID-19 share a few symptoms, some people may mistakenly
blame their fever and cough on the pollen floating through the air.
Allergy-related symptoms – sinus drainage, headaches, throat irritation and more –
could be caused by COVID-19.
Please check the CDC’s list of symptoms or use the Peay Mobile app Daily Pre-Screening
to see if you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do have symptoms of the virus, do
not come to campus. Get tested as soon as possible. To add another layer of protection,
please consider getting the vaccine, if you haven’t already. By taking these steps,
you will help us squash COVID-19 and its growing variants.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, April 30, 2021
Thank you!
As we reach the end of this challenging academic year, the APSU COVID-19 Command Team
wants to say thank you to all faculty, staff and students for their support and diligence
over the last several months. Because of your efforts, we’ve made it through two semesters
with relatively low positive cases, and we’ve been able to vaccinate more than 3,500
community members. You helped keep Austin Peay safe during a difficult time. Thank
you.
Risk Levels
Last year, the University developed a set of risk levels – normal, elevated, moderate
and high – that would determine how Austin Peay operated during the pandemic. Throughout
the academic year, Austin Peay has operated at a “Moderate Risk Level,” but we anticipate
lowering this to “Elevated” in the coming weeks. This designation will coincide with
the University’s to return to full-time work for staff, beginning June 1. Faculty
will return to full-time work beginning in August. More information will be provided
about our changing risk levels in the coming weeks. For information about returning
to work, please refer to the April 12 email from APSU Human Resources.
COVID-19 Self Reporting Form
As we continue to move through this pandemic, it’s important for all members of the
campus community to report positive COVID-19 cases and if they’re in quarantine through
the University’s COVID-19 Self Reporting Form. If you have been exposed, you're exhibiting symptoms or you have a confirmed positive
test for COVID19, please fill out this form.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, April 23, 2021
Get the Vaccine
After an incredibly difficult year of enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, we finally have
a little light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are here! We strongly encourage
you to receive your COVID-19 vaccination as soon as you are eligible in order to do
your part in slowing the spread of this virus and keeping you as well as your friends
and family safe. Vaccines are currently our most effective tool in battling COVID-19,
but they are only effective if people go and get them!
As you may know, the vaccine is being distributed in Tennessee in phases. Each phase
includes certain people based on profession, age or health risk factors. To find out
what phase your county is in, which phase you belong in, or where to schedule a vaccination
appointment, please visit County Vaccine Info & Appointments - TN COVID-19 Hub. Another excellent resource for scheduling vaccination appointments is VaccineFinder - Search for COVID-19 vaccine locations, which can be used to find available vaccines throughout the country.
If you are having concerns about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, I encourage you to
read this page regarding myths and facts surrounding the vaccines (Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC). These vaccines have been found to be safe and effective. The CDC website has excellent
resources for nearly any question you may have about the vaccines that are currently
available.
Vaccine Tent Volunteers Welcome
Austin Peay State University’s vaccination site in parking lot 11, next to the Ard
Building, has administered more than 3,000 doses of the Moderna vaccination. This
site represents a major University effort to help keep the campus and the Clarksville-Montgomery
County community safe, and we could use your help to make sure this effort continues
to run smoothly.
We received strong campus support early in this venture, but as the semester end approaches,
fewer people have signed up to help us at this site. If you are interested in supporting
this project by volunteering at the vaccination tent, please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAEA628A5F4C43-vaccine1.
COVID-19 Self Reporting Form
As we continue to move through this pandemic, it’s important for all members of the
campus community to report positive COVID-19 cases and if they’re in quarantine through
the University’s COVID-19 Self Reporting Form. If you have been exposed, you're exhibiting symptoms or you have a confirmed positive
test for COVID19, please fill out this form.
The numbers provided are active cases being tracked by University administration.
Our data is reliant upon students, faculty and staff filling out the COVID-19 form
on the APSU COVID-19 Website, http://www.apsu.edu/coronavirus.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, April 16, 2021
Safety Protocols for Commencement
On May 4-7, Austin Peay State University will host seven commencement ceremonies to
honor the University’s Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 graduates. The COVID-19 pandemic
caused Austin Peay officials to re-examine how the University can follow national
and local health standards while also recognizing the accomplishments of its students.
The answer was to host more events with fewer people.
While we’re excited to resume this important tradition, it’s vital that all participants
and visitors follow the COVID-19 safety protocols we’ve developed for these ceremonies.
Those guidelines include:
- Limiting participation to no more than 170 graduates per ceremony so they can be socially
distanced on the Dunn Center floor.
- Requiring all graduates, guests (3 years and older) and University personnel to
wear a face mask while they are inside the Dunn Center. Masks must be worn properly,
covering the nose and the mouth. A face shield may be worn in addition to a face mask,
but not as a replacement for a face mask.
- Limiting the number of guests to ensure social distancing. Each graduate will be
provided with four reserved seating tickets for guests. University faculty and staff
who wish to attend one or more of the ceremonies may sign up to serve as event staff
for the ceremonies they wish to attend.
- Requiring a ticket for every guest entering the Dunn Center, regardless of age.
- Shortening the ceremonies to limit the time indoors. All graduates, however, will
be recognized by name as they walk across the stage.
Get Vaccinated
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended pausing the Janssen/Johnson
& Johnson vaccine. The CDC is using this pause to review data, after a small number
of blood clots were reported among people who received that vaccine. These blood clots
appear to be extremely rare, fewer than 1 in a million.
The decision to pause does not affect the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines,
which are both effective in preventing COVID-19. To sign up for a vaccine at APSU,
visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4daea628a5f4c43-first.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, April 9, 2021
In the News
"We're basically in a race to vaccinate people while we're racing against these new
variants that are more transmissible."
-Jane Semler, APSU professor of Allied Health Sciences, in an April 8 article in The Leaf-Chronicle
2,000 Vaccines
Earlier this week, Austin Peay State University’s COVID-19 vaccination site administered
its 2,000th vaccine. The University also began giving a limited number of Johnson & Johnson vaccines
to students. The University only received a few of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines,
and it continues to provide the Moderna vaccine to the Clarksville-Montgomery County
community. To sign up for a vaccine at APSU, visit this site.
Do Your Part: Get Vaccinated
While Austin Peay is cheering that it has administered 2,000 vaccines, Montgomery
County is still falling short in the number of people who have been vaccinated. In
order to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, it is vital that as many people
as possible receive a vaccine. To sign up for a vaccine at APSU, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4daea628a5f4c43-first.
Please continue to practice social distancing on and off-campus, avoid large groups
and get vaccinated. Do all you can to protect your PEAYple and help us get back to
normal as quickly as possible.
New COVID-19 Testing Hours
APSU’s COVID-19 testing operations are now open Monday through Thursday.
Drop-ins
Monday - Thursday
7 a.m.-noon for eligible APSU students, faculty and staff
Drive-thru
Monday - Thursday
7 a.m.-noon for ALL eligible students, faculty and staff. It is recommended everyone
use this option whenever possible. Simply remain in your vehicle upon arrival and
follow the signs. Results are usually available the next business day.
PCR testing methods are the standard at APSU. Boyd Health Services collects samples
using this method for any APSU member who is symptomatic, who has been exposed to
someone who is COVID-19 positive, or who is a member of one of our surveillance testing
groups.
A Special Thank You
The APSU COVID-19 Command Team wishes to extend its appreciation to:
Bridget Marley, APSU vaccine coordinator; the APSU School of Nursing, and all the
volunteers who have supported the University’s vaccination site.
AND
Dr. Heather Phillips, APSU director of laboratory testing; the Boyd Health Services
Staff, and School of Nursing for their work at Austin Peay’s COVID-19 testing site.
You have made a tremendous difference in supporting the health of our community, and
we appreciate the countless hours and sleepless nights you have sacrificed to keep
Austin Peay and the Clarksville-Montgomery County area safe.
We're Back!
Austin Peay State University will return to pre-pandemic class formats this summer,
and University officials fully intend for APSU to return to predominantly face-to-face
classes this fall.
“Things are already beginning to come back,” said Dr. Maria Cronley, APSU’s provost
and senior vice president for academic affairs. “We will be offering summer classes
that mirror our summer offerings prior to COVID. We have set our fall class schedules,
which also reflect pre-COVID class offerings with mostly face-to-face classes.”
All decisions about the fall semester depend on the state and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, but Austin Peay proved last fall that it can effectively
host classes on campus.
University officials launched aggressive test and trace tactics and encouraged everyone
to complete daily health screenings and scan building QR codes to enhance contact
tracing. The University also used mask requirements and physical distancing in classrooms
to help fight virus spread.
The University’s COVID-19 emergency command team also continues to meet every day.
These strategies allowed Austin Peay to offer face-to-face, hybrid and remote classes
through the fall and spring semesters.
“Austin Peay drastically outperformed every other public higher education institution
in Tennessee” in keeping positive case counts low, said Lynn Fisher, the University’s
emergency management director. “Our highest single day case count between Aug. 24
and Dec. 1 was 43, which is amazing because we had several thousand people on campus
every day.”
Dear colleagues:
APSU has chosen to continue the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave
until September 30, 2021.
As a reminder:
Employees are allowed two weeks of paid sick leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. This equates to:
o 75 hours for employees on a 37.5-hour work schedule.
o 80 hours for employees on a 40-hour work schedule.
o Part-time employees are eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee
is normally scheduled to work over that period.
The leave hours are cumulative from April 1, 2020.
o For example, if you are eligible for 75 hours of paid sick leave and used 50 hours
from April 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020, then you would only have 25 hours remaining
through September, 2021.
Any leave related to COVID-19 over the two-week limit will require employees to take
sick and/or annual leave.
Employees are also allowed up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leavewhen an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to
work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care
provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
For more information on eligibility, qualifying reasons for leave, and/or to submit
an emergency leave request, please visit our COVID-19 Paid Leave website.
Thank you and stay safe!
APSU HR
Variants on the Rise
While COVID-19 cases have leveled or begun to decline in many parts of the country because
of increased vaccine availability, we want to remind the campus community that it
is not time to be lax in practicing preventative measures.
Over the last few weeks, we have seen an increase in COVID-19 variants on campus.
These variants are more contagious than the original strain of the coronavirus, so
it is important that the campus community continues to follow our COVID-19 guidelines
– wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash your hands.
Get Vaccinated
With variants on the rise, it is important to get vaccinated. The county recently opened COVID-19 vaccines
to anyone 16 years or older. Anyone 18 years or older can receive the Moderna vaccine
at our campus vaccination site free of charge. To sign up, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4daea628a5f4c43-first.
Please continue to practice social distancing on and off-campus, avoid large groups
and get vaccinated. Do all you can to protect your PEAYple and help us get back to
normal as quickly as possible.
Volunteers Welcome
As of today, Austin Peay State University’s vaccination site in parking lot 11, next
to the Ard Building, has administered 1,135 doses of the Moderna vaccination. This
site represents a major University effort to help keep the campus and the Clarksville-Montgomery
County community safe, and we could use your help to make sure this effort continues
to run smoothly.
While COVID-19 cases have leveled or begun to decline in many parts of the country because of increased vaccine availability, we want to remind the campus community that it is
not time to be lax in practicing preventative measures.
Over the last few weeks, we have seen an increase in COVID-19 variants on campus. These variants are more contagious
than the original strain of the coronavirus, so it is important that the campus community
continues to follow our COVID-19 guidelines – wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash your hands.
Additionally, it is important to get vaccinated. The county recently opened COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 16 years or older. Anyone 18 years or older can receive the Moderna vaccine at our campus vaccination site free of charge. To sign up, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4daea628a5f4c43-first.
Please continue to practice social distancing on and off-campus, avoid large groups and get vaccinated.
Do all you can to protect your PEAYple and help us get back to normal as quickly as possible.
—COVID-19 Command Team
Dear Colleagues,
The Office of Human Resources is sending this message as a friendly reminder to the
campus that employee medical information, including COVID-19 testing results and vaccination
information, is protected by several laws, including the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Family
and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Austin Peay State University must abide by privacy protection
obligations and keep “protected health information” (PHI) confidential. Outside of
notifying those who have had close contact (i.e., exposure) with an employee, conversations
regarding a person’s COVID testing results or vaccination status should not be discussed.
(NOTE: when notifying a close contact no names should be shared or any other information
or specifics that might identify the employee.)
For additional questions or support, please contact the Office of Human Resources
at hr@apsu.edu or 931-221-7177
Vaccination storm location
Because of tomorrow’s potential for storms, Austin Peay State University will temporarily
move its vaccination site to 416 College Street. That building is at the intersection
of College and Fourth streets (where Austin Peay’s Office of Equity, Access and Inclusion
is located). Anyone who is scheduled to receive a vaccination on Thursday, March 25,
will need to enter the building through the doors facing College Street. Weather permitting,
our vaccination site will return to parking lot 11, next to the Ard Building, on Tuesday,
March 30.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, March 19, 2021
Govs Still Wear Masks
Montgomery County recently announced it will end its local mask mandate today, March
19, but Austin Peay State University’s mask policy remains in effect. Anyone entering
a building on campus must wear a mask, and masks must be worn outside if you are within
six feet of another individual. We appreciate your patience as we work to help keep
all members of the APSU community safe.
Vaccine Standby List
Over the last three weeks, Austin Peay State University has administered almost 1,000
doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, with several faculty and staff among those
receiving shots. Tennessee is now opening vaccinations up to residents who are 55
and older, and anyone who qualifies under Phase 2 of the state’s vaccination plan.
At Austin Peay, we’ve been able to deliver doses to those outside that phase – younger
individuals and individuals without pre-existing conditions – thanks to our standby
list. Since early March, we’ve encouraged ALL faculty and staff to sign up for this
list so we can quickly vaccinate more individuals with doses we have leftover. On
Wednesday, we vaccinated more than 70 APSU employees on that standby list.
If you haven’t already signed up for this list – regardless of the state’s vaccination
phase – please do so now. In the coming days, we will open up the standby list to
students to ensure they are also protected. The addition of students will increase
demand for the limited number of doses we have remaining at the end of the day.
To sign up for the standby list, or to update your information, visit this form. Once a person on the standby list receives a vaccine, they will schedule an appointment
to receive their second dose.
If you signed up previously but have since received a vaccination at another location,
please email apsu-vaccine@apsu.edu to remove yourself from the list.
APSU partners with Clarksville Housing Authority to provide vaccines for seniors
On March 17, the Clarksville Housing Authority brought 10 senior citizens and seven
staff members to Austin Peay State University to receive their first dose of the Moderna
COVID-19 vaccine. Shortly after the Austin Peay site opened, three members of the APSU community – Mitch
Robinson, vice president of finance and administration; Ashlee Spearman, director
of academic services and engagement at APSU; and Lynn Fisher, APSU emergency manager,
reached out to the housing authority about providing vaccines to this high-risk population.
Wednesday, March 17, was set aside specifically to provide doses to those individuals.
“It’s fantastic,” Fisher said. “Any way we can help Montgomery County to get their
most needed populations vaccinated, we’re going to work with them to do that. The
housing authority jumped at the chance. Our hope in the future is to work with our
unsheltered populations to get them vaccinated – hopefully in April.”
Over the last three weeks, Austin Peay State University has administered almost 1,000
doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, with several faculty and staff among those
receiving shots. Even though we remain in Phase 1c of the state’s vaccination plan,
we’ve been able to deliver doses to those outside that phase – younger individuals
and individuals without pre-existing conditions – thanks to our standby list. Since
early March, we’ve encouraged ALL faculty and staff to sign up for this list so we
can quickly vaccinate more individuals with doses we have leftover. On Wednesday,
we vaccinated more than 70 APSU employees on that standby list.
If you haven’t already signed up for this list – regardless of the state’s vaccination
phase – please do so now. In the coming weeks, we will open up the standby list to
students to ensure they are also protected. The addition of students will increase
demand for the limited number of doses we have remaining at the end of the day.
To sign up for the standby list, or to update your information, visit this form. Once a person on the standby list receives a vaccine, they will schedule an appointment
to receive their second dose.
If you signed up previously but have since received a vaccination at another location,
please emailapsu-vaccine@apsu.eduto remove yourself from the list.
Moderna Vaccines at APSU
Earlier this month, Austin Peay’s nursing faculty and students began administering
the Moderna vaccine to eligible members of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community.
In that short time, we’ve already helped more than 500 people receive a vaccine dose.
Here’s a look at our numbers so far:
Week One: 197 vaccines administered
Week Two: 321 vaccines administered
Total: 518 vaccines administered
Last week, APSU nursing student Dominique Brockman gave the shot to her mother, Austin
Peay languages and literature professor Dr. Beatrix Brockman.
Remain Vigilant
Spring is quickly approaching, and even though COVID-19 cases continue to decrease
across the country, we want you to remain extra vigilant when the weather gets warmer.
Please be particularly cautious about visiting destinations with large, confined groups
of people, which may pose a higher risk of transmission, or to states that have repealed
mask and social distancing mandates. All travelers should proceed with caution, thoroughly
research their destinations and consult with their doctors regarding any concerns.
The University will return to pre-COVID-19 instruction for the summer terms, and we
need your help to ensure this happens. Remain alert this season. Wear a mask, social
distance and sign up for a vaccine when you are eligible according to Tennessee’s phased vaccination plan.
Montgomery County has now moved into Phase 1c of the state’s vaccination plan, and
members of the APSU community who meet phase 1c’s criteria and want to receive the
Moderna vaccine on campus need to sign up for an appointment through this link.
Get Tested for COVID-19
If you’ve received the vaccine and are exhibiting symptoms, please still get tested
for COVID-19. It’s possible you had COVID-19 before receiving the vaccine, so you
may be positive for the coronavirus. That means you could spread COVID-19, endangering
members of the APSU community.
Also, if you traditionally suffer from allergies during the spring, we recommend that
you also get tested for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms.
Drive-thru COVID-19 testing is available free of charge Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon,
at Boyd Health Services. It is recommended everyone use this option whenever possible.
Simply remain in your vehicle upon arrival and follow the signs. Results are usually
available the next business day.
PCR testing methods are the standard at APSU. Boyd Health Services collects samples
using this method for any APSU member who is symptomatic, who has been exposed to
someone who is COVID-19 positive, or who is a member of one of our surveillance testing groups.
The Montgomery County Health Department also collects samples (COVID-19 self-tests)
free of charge at Governors Square Mall in the old Sears auto service center on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Results from
this location are usually available within 3-5 days.
Standby List: Check your email and phone regularly
If you signed up for Austin Peay’s Vaccine Standby List, please regularly check your
email or your cell phone for updated messages. We may contact you during the day to
come get your vaccine by 4:30 p.m. that same afternoon. (You may receive a call from
a Kentucky or Pennsylvania number. Answer it – that’s us.) If you haven’t signed up
for the standby list, or if you need to update your information, visit this form. Once a person on the standby list receives a vaccine, they will schedule an appointment
to receive their second dose.
Remain vigilant this weekend
Spring Break begins this week, and even though COVID-19 cases continue to decrease
across the country, we want you to remain extra vigilant over this long weekend. Please
be particularly cautious about visiting destinations with large, confined groups of
people, which may pose a higher risk of transmission, or to states that have repealed
mask and social distancing mandates. All travelers should proceed with caution, thoroughly
research their destinations and consult with their doctors regarding any concerns.
The University will return to pre-COVID-19 instruction for the summer terms, and we
need your help to ensure this happens. Remain alert this weekend and throughout the
remainder of the semester, wear a mask, social distance and sign up for a vaccine
when you are eligible according to Tennessee’s phased vaccination plan.
Montgomery County has now moved into Phase 1c of the state’s vaccination plan, and
members of the APSU community who meet phase 1c’s criteria and want to receive the
Moderna vaccine on campus need to sign up for an appointment through this link.
Get tested for COVID-19
If you’ve received the vaccine and are exhibiting symptoms, please still get tested
for COVID-19. It’s possible you had COVID-19 before receiving the vaccine, so you
may be positive for the coronavirus. That means you could spread COVID-19, endangering
members of the APSU community.
Also, if you traditionally suffer from allergies during the spring, we recommend that
you also get tested for COVID-19 if you have any symptoms.
Boyd Health Services provides drive-thru testing Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon, for any
APSU member who is symptomatic, who has been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive,
or who is a member of a formal surveillance testing program. The Montgomery County
Health Department also provides testing between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Simply remain in your vehicle upon arrival and follow the signs. To save time, create
an account at www.everlywell.com/register before coming.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, March 5, 2021
APSU COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Austin Peay State University recently completed a successful first week of administering
the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to eligible members of the Clarksville-Montgomery County
community. Montgomery County has now moved into Phase 1c of the state’s vaccination
plan, which means anyone over the age of 16 with high-risk medical conditions is eligible
for the vaccine. This includes pregnant women, people who are considered obese and
people with hypertension, diabetes and COPD. (To receive the Moderna vaccination,
which APSU administers, you must be over the age of 18. If someone is 16 or 17, they
need to find a Pfizer vaccination location.) Members of the APSU community who meet
phase 1c’s criteria and want to receive the Moderna vaccine on campus need to sign
up for an appointment through this link.
Vaccine Standby List Update
Austin Peay also developed a standby list for faculty and staff in case we have doses
that are in danger of going unused at the end of a day. All APSU faculty and staff
are encouraged to sign up for the standby list by filling out this form. If you’re selected for this list, you’ll receive further instructions about getting
the vaccine from the University. Once a person on the standby list receives a vaccine,
they will schedule an appointment to receive their second dose.
However, there is a strong chance most individuals on the list will not receive a
vaccine because we anticipate having very few, if any, extra doses on a given day.
If you qualify for phase 1c (listed above), please sign up for a vaccination appointment
instead of the standby list.
Questions about the vaccine
Some of you have questions and concerns about receiving the vaccination. The vaccines
now being administered across the country were approved by the FDA, and they provide
the best protection against COVID-19. If you still have concerns, please visit the
Tennessee Department of Health’s Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines
website at this link. The website provides thorough information regarding vaccine safety and how it works.
If you still have questions, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 931-221-6537.
Dolly did it
Tennessee's Dolly Parton wants you to receive the vaccine. Watch her receive her shot
in the video below.
Wear Two Masks
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommend individuals
wear two masks to protect themselves against COVID-19 and its highly transmittable
variants. The best way to do this is to wear a cloth mask over a surgical mask. According
to a recent CDC study, “The receiver’s exposure was maximally reduced (>95%) when
the source and receiver were fitted with modified medical procedure masks. These laboratory-based
experiments highlight the importance of good fit to optimize mask performance." When
you’re on campus or in public, please consider wearing two masks.
Earlier today, University officials identified two individuals at Austin Peay’s Child
Learning Center (CLC) who tested positive for COVID-19. The University is closing
the CLC until March 15, and Austin Peay’s cleaning maintenance contractor, CMTI, will
conduct a deep cleaning of the facility.
The CLC staff has contacted parents to let them know of the possible exposure so they
can make informed decisions on testing their children or themselves. The University
provides COVID-19 testing to the APSU community. If you are symptomatic, have been
directly exposed to a person known to be COVID-19 positive, or are in a surveillance
testing program, please visit the drive-thru testing site behind the Ard Building
between the 7 a.m. - noon, Monday- Friday.
For current information and updates regarding COVID-19 at APSU, including cases, please
visit the University’s COVID-19 website.
APSU COVID-19 Command Team
COVID-19 Vaccines
Today, Austin Peay State University will begin administering doses of the Moderna
COVID-19 vaccine to eligible members of the Clarksville-Montgomery County community.
The University is dispensing the vaccine following Tennessee’s phased vaccination plan, and members of the APSU community who meet the current phase’s criteria and want
to receive the vaccine on campus need to sign up for an appointment through this link.
Standby List
Austin Peay has also developed a standby list for faculty and staff in case we have
doses that are in danger of going unused at the end of a day due to vacant appointments.
If you are not in a high-risk category, please consider waiting to receive your dose
until the state begins vaccinating your age group’s phase. The standby list is intended
for high-risk individuals, but being on the standby list does not guarantee you will
receive a vaccine early.
To sign up for the standby list, please fill out this form. A random number generator will pick 10 individuals, identified only through A numbers,
to be on standby the next day. If you’re selected for this list, you’ll receive further
instructions about getting the vaccine from the University. Once a person on the standby
list receives a vaccine, they will schedule an appointment to receive their second
dose.
However, there is a strong chance most individuals on the list will not receive a
vaccine because we anticipate having very few, if any, extra doses on a given day.
On Tuesday, March 2, Austin Peay State University’s nursing faculty and students will
officially begin administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to members of the Montgomery
County community. The University will dispense the vaccine following Tennessee’s phased vaccination plan, and members of the APSU community who meet the current phase’s criteria are encouraged
to sign up for an appointment through this link.
The Tennessee Department of Health recently designated Austin Peay as a standalone
vaccination site within Montgomery County, which means vaccine appointments need to
be made with the University through the link above. After someone requests an appointment,
they’ll receive additional information on when to arrive at Austin Peay. The University
will operate a drive-through vaccination site in parking lot 11, next to the Ard Building.
Individuals registered to receive a vaccination must enter lot 11 by traveling east
on Main Street. Traffic will not be allowed to enter from University Avenue.
Vaccine Standby List
The University is developing a standby list for faculty and staff in case we have
doses that are in danger of going unused at the end of a day due to vacant appointments.
If you are not in a high-risk category, please consider waiting to receive your dose
until the state begins vaccinating your age group’s phase. The standby list is intended
for high-risk individuals, but being on the standby list does not guarantee you will
receive a vaccine early.
To sign up for the standby list, please fill out this form. A random number generator will pick 10 individuals, identified only through A numbers,
to be on standby the next day. If you’re selected for this list, you’ll receive further
instructions about getting the vaccine from the University.
However, there is a strong chance most individuals on the list will not receive a
vaccine because we anticipate having very few, if any, extra doses on a given day.
Testing Information
At APSU, we care about your health and wellbeing. For this reason, it is important
that all COVID-19 testing be conducted using PCR methods. Why? Because antigen testing,
often referred to as rapid testing, can be highly inaccurate. Some research demonstrates
that antigen tests are only 48% accurate -- nearly the same accuracy as flipping a
coin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend anyone who obtains
a negative antigen (rapid) test be retested using PCR methods to confirm their results.
PCR testing methods are the standard at APSU. Boyd Health Services collects samples
using this method between 9:30 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday, for any APSU member who is
symptomatic, who has been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, or who is a
member of a formal surveillance testing program. The Montgomery County Health Department
also collects samples for using this same methodology between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Drive-thru testing is available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon, at Boyd Health Services.
It is recommended that visitors use this option whenever possible. Simply remain in
your vehicle upon arrival and follow the signs. To save time, create an account at www.everlywell.com/register before coming.
COVID-19 Vaccine at APSU
On Tuesday, March 2, Austin Peay State University’s nursing faculty and students will
officially begin administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to members of the Montgomery
County community. The University will dispense the vaccine following Tennessee’sphased vaccination plan, and APSU employees who meet the current phase’s criteria are encouraged to sign
up for an appointment through thislink.
The Tennessee Department of Health recently designated Austin Peay as a
standalone vaccination site within Montgomery County, which means vaccine appointments
need to be made with the University through the link above. After someone requests
an appointment, they’ll receive additional information on when to arrive at Austin
Peay. The University will operate a drive-through vaccination site in parking lot
11, next to the Ard Building.
Individuals registered to receive a vaccination must enter lot 11 by traveling east
on Main Street. Traffic will not be allowed to enter from University Avenue.
APSU Vaccine Standby List
Earlier this morning, Austin Peay State University received approval to
become an official Montgomery County vaccination site. Vaccine tents are up in parking
lot 11, next to the Ard Building, and our nursing faculty and students are ready to
begin administering doses once they arrive.
An announcement will go out once we receive doses from the state. Following that announcement,
we will administer the vaccine to individuals who have made an appointment through
this website, and we will dispense the vaccine following Tennessee’s phased vaccination plan.
The University is now developing a standby list for faculty and staff in case we have
doses that are in danger of going unused at the end of a day due to vacant appointments.
If you are not in a high-risk category, please consider waiting to receive your dose
until the state begins vaccinating your age group’s phase. The standby list is intended
for high-risk individuals, but being on the standby list does not guarantee you will
receive a vaccine early.
To sign up for the standby list, please fill out this form. A random number generator will pick 10 individuals, identified only through A numbers,
to be on standby the next day. If you’re selected for this list, you’ll receive further
instructions about getting the vaccine from the University.
However, there is a strong chance most individuals on the list will not receive a
vaccine because we anticipate having very few, if any, extra doses on a given day.
The CDC defines an exposure as being in close contact (within six feet) with a person
who is COVID-19 positive for 15 minutes or more. The university guidelines defines
an exposure as close contact for ten minutes or more. Wearing a mask and stayiing
six feet apart is the best way to avoid exposure to COVID-19.
Classroom Supplies
In each classroom, there is a red tray with hand sanitizer, disinfecting spray and
dry wipes. If you notice those supplies getting low or they are empty, please contact
the department office of that building and advise them supplies need to be restocked.
Each department office has supplies available to restock, or they can request additional
supplies from the Physical Plant.
Thank You!
Thank you to all of our students, faculty, staff and visitors for continuing to follow
the guidelines regarding masks and social distancing. These guidelines may be inconvenient,
but they help us protect our community and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Please continue to do everything in your power to stop the spread of COVID-19. Wear
a mask, socially distance, wash your hands and use hand sanitizer, don't touch your
face, and please avoid large gatherings.
Vaccine Site
Earlier this week, the University set up a COVID-19 vaccination site in parking lot
11, next to the Ard Building. Once the state approves Austin Peay’s application, we
will begin administering the vaccine to individuals who have made an appointment through
this website. We will dispense the vaccine in accordance with Tennessee’s phased vaccination plan.
Parking lot 11 will remain closed for the rest of the year.
Testing Information
At APSU, we care about your health and wellbeing. For this reason, it is important
that all COVID-19 testing be conducted using PCR methods. Why? Because antigen testing,
often referred to as rapid testing, can be highly inaccurate. Some research demonstrates
that antigen tests are only 48% accurate -- nearly the same accuracy as flipping a
coin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend anyone who obtains
a negative antigen (rapid) test be retested using PCR methods to confirm their results.
PCR testing methods are the standard at APSU. Boyd Health Services collects samples
using this method between 9:30 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday, for any APSU member who is
symptomatic, who has been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, or who is a
member of a formal surveillance testing program. The Montgomery County Health Department
also collects samples for using this same methodology between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Drive-thru testing is available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon, at Boyd Health Services.
It is recommended that visitors use this option whenever possible. Simply remain in
your vehicle upon arrival and follow the signs. To save time, create an account at www.everlywell.com/register before coming.
While conducting surveillance testing today, University officials identified an individual at
Austin Peay’s Child Learning Center (CLC) who tested positive for COVID-19. The University has immediately
closed the CLC for two weeks, and Austin Peay’s cleaning maintenance contractor, CMTI,
will conduct a deep cleaning of the facility.
The CLC staff has contacted parents to let them know of the possible exposure so they
can make informed decisions on testing their children or themselves. The University
provides COVID-19 testing to the APSU community. If you are symptomatic, have been
directly exposed to a person known to be COVID-19 positive, or are in a surveillance
testing program, please visit the drive-thru testing site behind the Ard Building
between the 7 a.m. - noon, Monday- Friday.
For current information and updates regarding COVID-19 at APSU, including cases, please
visit the University’s COVID-19 website.
APSU COVID-19 Command Team
Vaccine Distribution Site (Parking Lot 11)
Austin Peay is in the process of becoming one of Montgomery County’s COVID-19 vaccination
locations. When the state approves our application, we will begin distributing vaccines
in Lot 11, at the corner of University Avenue and Main Street. This means that the
parking lot will eventually be closed for the remainder of the semester. Commuters
will be able to find ample parking in lots 6, 7, and 9. To locate parking areas, please
check the parking map https://www.apsu.edu/map/pdf/parking-map.pdf.
We will only administer vaccines to those who have received an appointment through
the Montgomery County Health Department. Do not contact Boyd Health Services because
the staff is not permitted to schedule vaccination appointments. You can register
online for a vaccination appointment at https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/county-vaccine-information/.
Laptop and Cellular Hotspot Loan Program for Students
Austin Peay has a limited number of laptops and cellular hotspots available to students
who have technology and connectivity issues.
For the health and safety of our entire community, please follow the mask mandate
on campus. We are all in this together, and we can keep our COVID-19 numbers lower
simply by wearing masks properly on campus.
Masks are required inside buildings and outside when you are within six feet of another
person.
We've received reports that people are not wearing masks inside common areas of academic
and administrative buildings, as well as in the library. If you are eating, you can
have your mask off for a short period, but please eat quickly.
Individuals who do not wear masks will be asked to put their mask on properly (over
nose and mouth). Failure to wear a mask may result in being asked to leave the building.
Violators of this policy could also be referred to the Dean of Students or Human Resources
for further action.
Make Health & Safety a Priority
We know you’re tired of COVID-19, and you want your life to return to normal. We have
worked so hard to keep our campus community healthy and safe. Now is not the time
to give in to complacency and fatigue.
This week we have seen an increase in the number of COVID-positive community members.
We have also experienced a large increase in the number of exposed individuals who
now have to quarantine.
Please continue to distance, wear masks and avoid behaviors that put your health and
safety at risk.
APSU working to become Montgomery County COVID-19 vaccination site
Austin Peay is in the process of becoming one of Montgomery County’s COVID-19 vaccination
locations. If the state approves our application, we will follow Tennessee’s approved
distribution phases (see chart below), and we will only administer to those who have
received an appointment by the Montgomery County Health Department. Do not contact
Boyd Health Services because the staff is not permitted to schedule vaccination appointments.
“As of today, we don’t know when our location will begin vaccinating or the population
that we will be asked to vaccinate first,” Bridget Marley, APSU public health coordinator,
said. “Our staffing and location are ready to begin operations once we receive state
approval.”
Marley recently joined Austin Peay, and she will serve as project manager for vaccination
distribution on campus.
You will enter your county and then click “Request Appointment.” This appointment
will place you on a waiting list. It is important to note that vaccine supplies are
limited at this time. As soon as vaccines become available appointments will be scheduled.
If you live in a different county, you will need to contact that health
department to set up your vaccination through them.
Combating COVID-19: Form a pod
One of the best ways to combat COVID-19, which is spreading throughout the Clarksville
community, is to form a pod – a small group of roommates, family members or close
friends – and limit exposures beyond this pod as much as possible. Whether you live
in a residence hall, an apartment or at home with family, you should have an open,
honest conversation about how each member is responsible for keeping the pod safe.
For students living in residence halls, that conversation might focus on not having
any outsiders – even your roommate’s parents – visit your room. Students in apartments
or at home should also ask these questions and encourage every member of your pod
to commit to healthier choices during this pandemic. Make sure everyone in your pod
agrees to:
- Get tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus.
- Follow mask and distance requirements.
- Stay away from crowds.
- Limit eating at indoor restaurants.
- Complete the COVID-19 Self Reporting Form if have been exposed, you're showing symptoms or you have a confirmed positive test
for COVID19.
- Follow all isolation and quarantine requirements.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, Jan. 15, 2021
Follow APSU COVID-19 Guidelines
By following our guidelines in the fall, you helped keep our COVID-19 numbers well below average, allowing us
to successfully complete the fall semester. With the spring semester quickly approaching,
everyone must continue to take preventive measures to protect themselves and the University. This
semester, we strongly recommend you get tested for COVID-19 (once) before returning to
campus.
Get Tested for COVID-19
Commuter students
Testing is available at local county health departments, primary care clinics and
urgent care centers. Even if you receive a negative test result, you need to continue
wearing a mask indoors, maintaining six feet from other individuals and following
Austin Peay’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Residential students
The University is recommending one-time surveillance testing of residential students at
the Ard Building before move-in. Drive-through COVID-19 testing is available Monday-Friday,
7 a.m.-noon. Even if you receive a negative test result, you need to continue wearing
a mask indoors, maintaining six feet from other individuals and following Austin Peay’s COVID-19 guidelines. For
more information about COVID-19 testing at Austin Peay, please visit apsu.edu/covidtesting.
Note: Only those who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive or are experiencing symptoms
would need to quarantine and submit a COVID-19 form in conjunction with return-to-campus testing.
Govs Still Wear Masks
Remember when you return to campus this spring, you MUST wear a mask in indoor common
spaces such as classrooms. Masks are also required outdoors when a physical distance
of six feet or more cannot be maintained. We also ask you to practice physical distancing and
frequently wash your hands (we have provided hand sanitizer stations throughout campus).
By following our guidelines in the fall, you helped keep our COVID-19 numbers well
below average, allowing us to successfully complete the fall semester. With the spring
semester quickly approaching, everyone must continue to take preventive measures to
protect themselves and the University. This semester, we strongly recommend you get
tested for COVID-19 (once) before returning to campus.
Get Tested for COVID-19
Commuter students
Testing is available at local county health departments, primary care clinics and
urgent care centers. Even if you receive a negative test result, you need to continue
wearing a mask indoors, maintaining six feet from other individuals and following
Austin Peay’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Residential students
The University is recommending one-time surveillance testing of residential students at
the Ard Building before move-in. Drive-through COVID-19 testing is available Monday-Friday,
7 a.m.-noon. Even if you receive a negative test result, you need to continue wearing
a mask indoors, maintaining six feet from other individuals and following Austin Peay’s COVID-19 guidelines. For
more information about COVID-19 testing at Austin Peay, please visit apsu.edu/covidtesting.
Note: Only those who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive or are experiencing symptoms
would need to quarantine and submit a COVID-19 form in conjunction with return-to-campus testing.
Download Peay Mobile
If you haven’t already, please download Peay Mobile – our mobile app – so you can
conduct your own daily wellness check for COVID-19 symptoms. You can download the
app to most smartphones through their app store.
Govs Still Wear Masks
Remember when you return to campus this spring, you MUST wear a mask in indoor common
spaces such as classrooms. Masks are also required outdoors when a physical distance
of six feet or more cannot be maintained. We also ask you to practice physical distancing and
frequently wash your hands (we have provided hand sanitizer stations throughout campus).
Austin Peay State University plans to return to traditional, predominantly face-to-face
instruction and operation for the Fall 2021 semester. The plans will resemble the
University’s pre-pandemic class format, while also having the ability to convert to
alternative course delivery should the need arise.
“We’ve been through nearly a year of emergency operations that have tested our protocols
and our perseverance,” Dannelle Whiteside, interim APSU president, said. “It is rare
to have such a lengthy scenario, but it has prepared us for future crises.
“We plan to offer many more face-to-face classes, similar to what students would have
experienced pre-COVID. Though the pandemic forced us to shift to more online offerings,
we have also listened to students who have consistently told us that they need more
face-to-face instruction and interaction,” Whiteside said.
The decision was made after the state announced plans for delivering vaccines throughout
Tennessee with indications of wide availability by summer 2021.
The University’s COVID-19 command team continues to meet daily to assess campus, local
and regional case counts and address any challenges of continuing operations under
this pandemic.
Dear colleagues:
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) expired on Dec. 31, 2020. However,
the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021, allows employers the option to extend
the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave until March 31, on a voluntary
basis. APSU has chosen to continue the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave
until March 31, 2021.
Effective Jan. 1, 2021, APSU will use the following guidelines:
Employees are allowed two weeks of paid sick leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. This equates to:
o 75 hours for employees on a 37.5-hour work schedule.
o 80 hours for employees on a 40-hour work schedule.
o Part-time employees are eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee
is normally scheduled to work over that period.
The leave hours are cumulative from April 1, 2020.
o For example, if you are eligible for 75 hours of paid sick leave and used 50 hours
from April 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020, then you would only have 25 hours remaining
through March 31, 2021.
Any leave related to COVID-19 over the two-week limit will require employees to take
sick and/or annual leave.
Employees are also allowed up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leavewhen an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to
work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care
provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
For more information on eligibility, qualifying reasons for leave, and/or to submit
an emergency leave request, please visit our COVID-19 Paid Leave website.
Thank you and stay safe!
APSU HR
Last fall, Austin Peay’s COVID-19 Task Force developed new guidelines and procedures
for hosting University events, both on and off campus. The guidelines, available here, were developed to ensure social distancing, as recommended by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), to protect the safety and well-being of the entire campus
community, including guests.
Under these new guidelines, any University event – whether on campus or off campus
– must be approved by the Office of University Facilities. The event’s host must fill
out a webform on the APSU room reservation page, and the host must describe in detail his or her plans to protect staff, students
and guests. The host also must include the event’s social distancing guidelines. Once
the request reaches the APSU University Facilities Office, it will be reviewed for
attendance numbers, room size and mitigation strategies.
Before having an in-person event, hosts should consider the use of online technology
(Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, FaceTime, Google Meeting) whenever possible.
By following our guidelines in the fall, you helped keep our COVID-19 numbers well
below average, allowing us to successfully complete the fall semester. With the spring
semester quickly approaching, everyone must continue to take preventive measures to
protect themselves and the University. This semester, we strongly recommend you get
tested for COVID-19 (once) before returning to campus.
Get Tested for COVID-19
Commuter students
Testing is available at local county health departments, primary care clinics and
urgent care centers. Even if you receive a negative test result, you need to continue
wearing a mask indoors, maintaining six feet from other individuals and following
Austin Peay’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Residential students
The University is recommending one-time surveillance testing of residential students at
the Ard Building before move-in. Drive-through COVID-19 testing is available Monday-Friday,
7 a.m.-noon. Even if you receive a negative test result, you need to continue wearing
a mask indoors, maintaining six feet from other individuals and following Austin Peay’s COVID-19 guidelines. For
more information about COVID-19 testing at Austin Peay, please visit apsu.edu/covidtesting.
Note: Only those who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive or are experiencing symptoms
would need to quarantine and submit a COVID-19 form in conjunction with return-to-campus testing.
Download Peay Mobile
If you haven’t already, please download Peay Mobile – our mobile app – so you can
conduct your own daily wellness check for COVID-19 symptoms. You can download the
app to most smartphones through their app store.
Govs Still Wear Masks
Remember when you return to campus this spring, you MUST wear a mask in indoor common
spaces such as classrooms. Masks are also required outdoors when a physical distance
of six feet or more cannot be maintained. We also ask you to practice physical distancing and
frequently wash your hands (we have provided hand sanitizer stations throughout campus).
In following with Governor Bill Lee’s orders issued Dec. 20, the University will continue
remote operations tomorrow, Jan. 4.
Essential personnel will still be required to report. Please contact your supervisor
if you have questions regarding essential status.
Governor Lee’s order expires Jan. 19 and does not currently affect sporting events.
Only essential employees should report to campus on Jan. 4 and all employees will
receive further correspondence in the upcoming week about operational plans for the spring
semester.
COVID Command Team
In following with Governor Bill Lee’s orders issued today, the University will be
shifting to remote operations Dec. 21-22. The University will be closed Dec. 23 through
Jan. 3 as originally scheduled.
Essential personnel will still be required to report. Please contact your supervisor
if you have questions regarding essential status.
Governor Lee’s order expires Jan. 19 and does not currently affect sporting events.
Tomorrow night’s basketball game against Murray State will be held as planned.
Only essential employees should report to campus on Jan. 4 and all employees will receive further correspondence about operational plans for the spring semester.
COVID Command Team
Austin Peay to enhance COVID testing, give up to 25,000 vaccinations in coming months
Austin Peay State University officials expect to administer up to 25,000 COVID-19
vaccinations in the coming months to university students, employees and their families.Additionally, Austin Peay plans to open a new clinical laboratory Jan. 4 on campus
that will help university healthcare workers deliver quicker, more accurate COVID-19
testing and results.The news comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified across the country and in
Tennessee, where the state is averaging more than 8,000 infections and 70 deaths per
day.
Vaccinating up to 25,000 people
Austin Peay will be one of the vaccination pods in Montgomery County, said Dr. Heather
Phillips, director of the university’s new clinical laboratory.
“We would not only vaccinate the Austin Peay affiliates – the students, staff and
faculty – but we would also be responsible for vaccinating their family members,”
Phillips said on Thursday.
Phillips’ lab has an “ultra-freeze” freezer, which is necessary to hold Pfizer’s vaccine.These freezers are “very hard to come by, they’re very pricey and most people don’t
have them,” Phillips said. Joey Smith, Montgomery County’s public health director,
“asked if the university would be willing to help not only store the vaccine for the
Clarksville community, but if we would also be willing to vaccinate part of the community.”
Phillips is hiring nursing staff and developing a schedule to support the effort,
“vaccinating on the upward end as many as 25,000 individuals in the coming months.”
Opening a lab for on-campus testing, results
Phillips has set up a SARS-CoV-2 testing lab at Boyd Health Services on campus to
perform PCR testing. SARS-CoV-2 (aka the novel coronavirus) is the virus that causes
COVID-19. PCR (nasal swab) testing is the gold standard of novel coronavirus detection.
“The PCR method is where we’re looking for a little, unique snippet of RNA,” Phillips
said. “If (a patient) has that little snippet that tells me they have the virus.
“This method is as close to 100% accurate as science will allow us to get, 99.999%
accurate,” she added.
Phillips and her team currently send test samples to Everlywell for results, which
reduces test accuracy and slows results (currently about five days). The new lab will
preserve accuracy and deliver results within 24 hours. She wanted to be clear: Even
though the results will be fast, they will not be from rapid antigen testing, which
can have an accuracy of only 48%.
“An in-house lab allows us to process test samples without having to ship them, handle
them with care and thereby reduce error, and ultimately share the results much more
rapidly, even same day,” said Dr. Jeff Rutter, director of Boyd Health Services. “All
these things matter a great deal in the midst of a pandemic.”
The in-house lab also allows Phillips’ team to get nasal pharyngeal samples, reaching
the cells that contain the ACE2 receptors where the novel coronavirus resides.
Mitigating the risk of the virus spreading
The quicker, more accurate testing at the new lab will have a direct and immediate
positive impact on the community.
“One person can expose roughly 22 people,” Phillips said. “We have the ability to
prevent that from happening, and we’re going to do everything we can to keep those
numbers down.
“The more we can mitigate the risk of the virus spreading, the better off not only
Austin Peay’s campus will be, but the community outside of Austin Peay will be,” she
added.
The lab needs Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certification to open, and
Phillips expects that to happen by the planned Jan. 4 open date.
“We’re going to hit the ground running,” Phillips said. “I already have between 500
and 600 people scheduled for that week.”
Until then, Austin Peay will provide the current COVID-19 testing 7 a.m.-noon every
weekday except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.Austin Peay has administered more than 5,600 COVID-19 tests so far this fall.
Recognizing a team effort
Rutter wanted the community to know about the deep team involvement needed in making
these efforts a reality at Austin Peay.
“While I may have played a part in persuading (former APSU president) Dr. (Alisa)
White to consider the necessity of providing COVID-19 testing on campus, I am certainly
not the one responsible for envisioning and installing our in-house testing lab, which
we have today,” Rutter said.
“That project is the result of the excellent thought leadership and vision of my College
of STEM colleagues, including Karen Meisch, Perry Scanlan, Chad Brooks, Heather Phillips
and others who knew more about the benefits of processing test samples than I did,”
he continued. “They deserve all the credit.”
And Phillips lauded the frontline healthcare workers at Austin Peay – and throughout
the community. Phillips’ testing team includes a graduate assistant and four nurses.
The frontline workers at Austin Peay “are exposed to COVID-19 every single day,” she
said. “We have all made sacrifices with our families, with our friends, with our children.
I have not even kissed or loved or hugged my child in months because I’m concerned
about giving them this virus that I work with every day.
“Thank your healthcare workers. Thank your frontline workers,” she added. “They are
sacrificing an abundance of family time and personal time.”
As we approach the holidays, please remember to remain socially distant, wear masks
and do your part to limit the spread of COVID-19. Starting today, those who have COVID-19
or are exposed to COVID-19 may be in danger of spending the holidays isolated or quarantined
from family or friends.
Until further notice, please minimize any face-to-face discussions or meetings and
use virtual methods unless absolutely necessary to meet in person. Also, we are asking all staff, faculty and their supervisors to ensure they are working
rotations or other arrangements to minimize density when possible. Employees should
check with their supervisors for options to reduce density on-campus.
Additionally, with today’s announcement that the Clarksville-Montgomery County School
System is shifting to remote instruction until the end of the semester, we are asking
that supervisors be flexible with employees affected by this change. Employees can
also use leave if needed, including Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave.
For more information, please visit the Human Resources website.
By doing our best to limit exposure on campus, we can help assure that all faculty,
staff and students can enjoy the holiday season with their loved ones. On behalf of
all of us, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
The COVID Command Team
APSU COVID-19 Department and Employee Reminders
All employees should monitor their symptoms daily. If you are not feeling well, stay home and contact your supervisor immediately.
While on campus, practice social distancing (6ft or more), always wear a mask, and wash/sanitize hands often.
Respect employees in open/shared spaces such as cubicles. Don’t hover around cubicle
for conversations.
Departments should have reduced staffing schedule using a combination of telework/alternating
days. It is critical that these schedules are adhered to.
All employees should utilize technology for meetings to reduce physical interaction.
All APSU leaders are encouraged to be as flexible as possible when navigating COVID-19
scenarios with employees.
APSU COVID-19 Exposure Guidelines
Austin Peay recently updated its employee guidelines regarding potential exposures
to COVID-19. Any employee who has been exposed, quarantined or shows symptoms of COVID-19
should, depending on the employee’s specific circumstances, telework (where applicable)
or use leave as established under Families First Coronavirus Response Act, annual or sick leave, or unpaid leave.
An employee displaying any COVID-19 symptoms or who reasonably feels an exposure has
occurred must take the following steps:
Leave campus immediately and seek medical care
Receive COVID-19 testing as soon as reasonably possible
Quarantine for at least 14 days and follow CDC guidelines
Return to work according to CDC guidelines and in consultation with medical providers
and HR
Failure to comply with these guidelines puts the APSU community at risk and could
result in disciplinary action against the employee. For more information, visit https://www.apsu.edu/coronavirus/.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Overview
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers
to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave
for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and
Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements.
These provisions will apply from the effective date of April 1, 2020 through December
31, 2020.
Austin Peay State University will provide eligible employees with:
Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay
where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined (pursuant
to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider),
and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or
Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay
because the employee is unable to work because of a bona fide need to care for an
individual subject to quarantine (pursuant to Federal, State, or local government
order or advice of a health care provider), or to care for a child (under 18 years
of age) whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related
to COVID-19, and/or the employee is experiencing a substantially similar condition
as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor; and
Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at the employee’s
regular rate of pay where an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar
days, is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose
school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
Required documentation: Notice of closure or unavailability from child’s school, place
of care, or child care provider, including a notice that may have been posted on a
government, school, or day care website, published in a newspaper, or emailed from
an employee or official of the school, place of care, or child care provider.
Please be safe during this Thanksgiving break. The days surrounding the holiday are
known for increased traffic and people rushing to get home, but this year we have
the added dangers of the pandemic. To keep yourself and others safe and healthy, please
limit interactions with others. Social distance, wash your hands and wear a mask.
Remember that APSU will transition to remote learning after Thanksgiving.
Please Self Report
Austin Peay State University relies on community members to report data regarding
positive COVID-19 tests, exposures, self-quarantining, recovery from COVID-19 and
release from quarantine. Even though we report positive cases to University administrators,
that does not mean the person contracted the virus on campus. It only means that a
member of our community has tested positive. To make a report, fill out the form at
the link below:
Austin Peay recently updated its student guidelines regarding potential exposures
to COVID-19. Any student displaying symptoms of COVID-19 is expected to:
Self-quarantine immediately, in an off-campus residence if possible
Call Boyd Health Services at 931-221-7107 to arrange for medical care and/or COVID-19
testing or to seek medical care and/or COVID-19 testing off campus
Students who test positive for COVID-19 must remain in quarantine, in an off-campus
residence if possible, until the student is released to return to class, as determined
by Boyd Health Services in consultation with CDC guidelines.
Students must follow all COVID-19 directives published by APSU including, but not
limited to, plans of the APSU COVID-19 Task Force, notices on APSU’s webpage, building
and facilities signage, and other publications.
Failure to comply with these guidelines puts the APSU community at risk and could
result in disciplinary action against the student. For more information, visit https://www.apsu.edu/coronavirus/.
APSU COVID-19 Exposure Guidelines
Austin Peay recently updated its employee guidelines regarding potential exposures
to COVID-19. Any employee who has been exposed, quarantined or shows symptoms of COVID-19 should, depending
on the employee’s specific circumstances, telework (where applicable) or use leave
as established under Families First Coronavirus Response Act, annual or sick leave,
or unpaid leave.
An employee displaying any COVID-19 symptoms or who reasonably feels an exposure has
occurred must take the following steps:
Leave campus immediately and seek medical care
Receive COVID-19 testing as soon as reasonably possible
Quarantine for at least 14 days and follow CDC guidelines
Return to work according to CDC guidelines and in consultation with medical providers
and HR
Failure to comply with these guidelines puts the APSU community at risk and could
result in disciplinary action against the employee. For more information, visit https://www.apsu.edu/coronavirus/.
COVID-19 supplies for classrooms
Each classroom has been provided with hand sanitizer, disinfecting spray and dry wipes.
These supplies should be used by faculty, staff and students to keep themselves and
their workspaces clean.
If you notice a classroom needs more supplies, contact the academic department office.
That office will either provide additional supplies or can put in a work order for
more items.
Personal responsibility
Our community has worked hard to keep our campus as safe as possible this semester.
We need your help to ensure we remain safe during these last few weeks. Please follow
all of the University's COVID-19 guidelines. Wear a mask, socially distance, wash
your hands and avoid large gatherings. Together, we can help stop the spread of COVID-19
on the APSU campus.
Please Self Report
Austin Peay State University relies on community members to report data regarding
positive COVID-19 tests, exposures, self-quarantining, recovery from COVID-19 and
release from quarantine. Even though we report positive cases to University administrators,
that does not mean the person contracted the virus on campus. It only means that a
member of our community has tested positive. To make a report, fill out the form at
the link below:
For the last several months, Austin Peay State University has operated at a “Moderate
Risk” level in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Our efforts
proved successful early in this pandemic, but as this long, stressful semester has
progressed, we’ve seen some individuals slip in their vigilance. This is a difficult
time for everyone, juggling health, family and work concerns, but as COVID-19 cases
continue to grow in Montgomery County at an alarming rate, all APSU employees need
to refamiliarize themselves with the requirements of working in a “moderate risk”
environment.
General Guidelines for All Areas
Offices on campus should be open in a reduced capacity. Rotating office personnel
between remote work and on-ground is recommended. Patrons should be encouraged to
set up appointments with specific people/offices rather than walk-in. In-person meetings
are discouraged unless absolutely necessary. No one should come to campus if they
have any symptoms of the pandemic influenza.
This information, along with precautionary measures and how different departments
should function, is available on our website at https://www.apsu.edu/coronavirus/Moderate-Risk.pdf. Austin Peay’s Office of Emergency Management has also developed a PowerPoint, attached
to this email, with important information on working during this pandemic.
This is a difficult time for everyone. We appreciate your extraordinary efforts during
this pandemic and ask that you remain vigilant for the weeks to come.
Austin Peay's Weekly COVID-19 Update
Friday, Nov. 6, 2020
COVID-19 is scary but you don't need to panic
Austin Peay has developed plans, guidelines and risk categories to help ensure the
safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. Emergency Management, Student
Affairs, Human Resources and many other areas are working to ensure people are quarantining
when necessary and notifying individuals who may have experienced an exposure.
There may be an instance where someone you know has tested positive, and they may
have been on campus in the same areas as you. If you have followed the guidelines
of wearing a mask, washing hands, not touching your face and staying six feet or more
apart, you have not experienced an exposure.
If you're unsure if you've been exposed, please contact Emergency Management for advice.
For more information, contact Lynn Fisher, director of APSU Emergency Management,
at fisherl@apsu.edu or 221-7555.
Basketball season is coming
The OVC recently released this year's basketball schedule, and we can't wait to watch
the Govs play. Please do your part so our fans can visit the Dunn to cheer on Austin Peay. Wear masks
in public. Stay six feet apart. Don't go to large gatherings. By taking these steps,
we also will be ready for all the other sports this spring.
Scanning QR Codes
To help us effectively contact trace any positive cases on campus, all students, faculty
and staff need to "check in" when they enter certain buildings, offices and classrooms,
sit at community tables or visit other communal spaces. To check in, scan the QR code
at these spaces using the PeayMobile app.
Child Learning Center
The Child Learning Center has had some challenges this semester with exposures from
children and parents. The center has implemented plans and cleaning routines to protect
the health and safety of the center's children. Thank you, Claudia Rodriquez and the staff at the center, for all you do for our university and community.
Please Self Report
Austin Peay State University relies on community members to report data regarding
positive COVID-19 tests, exposures, self-quarantining, recovery from COVID-19 and
being released from quarantine. Even though we report positive cases to University
administrators, that does not mean the person contracted the virus on campus. It only
means that a member of our community has tested positive. To make a report, fill out
the form at the link below:
We know everyone is tired of COVID-19 and eager for their lives to return to normal.
We've worked so hard to keep our campus community healthy and safe. Now is not the
time to give in to complacency and fatigue.
Over the past several weeks, we've seen a rise in reported COVID-19 cases in our community
and across the nation. Other countries also are seeing a resurgence in COVID-19 and
imposing new lockdowns to combat the spread. Let's do our part to mitigate the spread.
Please continue to distance, wear masks and avoid behaviors that put your health and
safety at risk.
Testing Information
At APSU, we care about your health and wellbeing. For this reason, it is important
that all COVID-19 testing be conducted using PCR methods. Why? Because antigen testing,
often referred to as rapid testing, can be highly inaccurate. Some research demonstrates
that antigen tests are only 48% accurate -- nearly the same accuracy as flipping a
coin. Accordingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend
anyone who obtains a negative antigen (rapid) test be retested using PCR methods to
confirm their results.
PCR testing methods are the standard at APSU. Boyd Health Services collects samples
using this method between 9:30 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday, for any APSU member who is
symptomatic, who has been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, or who is a
member of a formal surveillance testing program. The Montgomery County Health Department
also collects samples for using this same methodology between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Drive-thru testing is available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-noon, at Boyd Health Services.
It is recommended that visitors use this option whenever possible. Simply remain in
your vehicle upon arrival and follow the signs. To save time, create an account at
www.everlywell.com/register before coming.
COVID-19 Supplies
Did you know you can get COVID-19 supplies from the Physical Plant? They have hand
sanitizer, disinfecting sprays, disinfecting wipes, thermometers and other supplies.
You can see what quantities are in stock on our COVID-19 dashboard.
You can request supplies by putting in a work order through SchoolDude. You can find that work order link on the Physical Plant website. If you are requesting a thermometer, please indicate whether you are requesting
a temporal or forehead thermometer.
COVID-19 Supply Deliveries
The Physical Plant's central receiving employees Maurice and Jimmy ensure our COVID-19
supplies are stocked and delivered to all campus locations. Thanks Maurice and Jimmy for all you do to keep our campus safe.
Please Self Report
Austin Peay State University relies on community members to report data regarding
positive COVID-19 tests, exposures, self-quarantining, recovery from COVID-19 and
being released from quarantine. Even though we report positive cases to University
administrators, that does not mean the person contracted the virus on campus. It only
means that a member of our community has tested positive. To make a report, fill out
the form at the link below:
The numbers provided are active cases being tracked by University administration.
Our data is reliant upon students, faculty and staff filling out the COVID-19 form
on the APSU COVID-19 Website, http://www.apsu.edu/coronavirus.
