Aloha Yellow Jackets,  

Congratulations! You are near the finish line for the Fall 2021 semester. While this is a time of anticipation and celebration, we have also heard from many of you that you are experiencing some anxiety and uncertainty as we approach final exams. For some this will be the first time you have sat down in a classroom to take a final exam since arriving here, either because you are new to Tech or due to the pandemic. Students have also expressed concerns about the way class absences or missed tests are handled under the following situations: 

• Feeling ill, including having the flu or flu-like symptoms. 
• After receiving a positive test result for Covid-19. 
• Having to isolate or quarantine due to a Covid-19 exposure. 
• Experiencing challenges associated with any other kind of health issue or personal crisis, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, or trauma associated with sexual assault or other forms of violence. 

Please know that instructors have been asked to accommodate students who are ill, have tested positive, or need to quarantine due to Covid-19, as well as students who are facing significant health or personal challenges, as they normally would have accommodated such students before the pandemic.  

While the end of the semester can be a stressful time, we are committed to your success and personal wellness and have a number of resources available and processes in place to help. We know that that the pressure to complete course requirements when facing the unexpected can seem overwhelming.  We hope you will take advantage of the following resources available to you at Georgia Tech: 

• Students can visit Thrive@GT for a wide range of self-care resources. (Note that this site is best viewed on a desktop or laptop.) 
• Through a partnership with Christie Campus Health sponsored by the University System of Georgia, students can access 24/7/365 assistance by calling 404.894.2575 to get in-the-moment support from a counselor.  
• For resources on test preparation and time management, go here. 
• Students can reach out to one of our Georgia Tech chaplains to talk through their thoughts and feelings at this time. 
• Students in crisis who need immediate assistance can contact the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1.800.715.4225.  
• Victims/survivors of sexual assault can contact VOICE for advocacy and support by clicking here to schedule an appointment or calling the 24-hour info line at 404.894.9000. 
• Resources for academic, financial, and personal assistance are available. 
• Students experiencing challenges with their basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, etc., can connect with Students’ Temporary Assistance and Resources (STAR) for assistance and resource referral. 
• The Dean of Students Office can assist students with documented emergencies by contacting professors on their behalf. For more information, please call the Dean of Students Office at 404.894.2565 or complete the online Request Assistance Form.  
• Mental health support for students in crisis or experiencing an emergency is available through the Center for Assessment, Referral and Education (CARE). Extended office hours are offered until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but if you need immediate support, you can reach a counselor by calling 404.894.3498.  

Last week we began to hear more about the new Covid-19 omicron variant of concern that was first reported by South African officials and has now surfaced in nearly two dozen countries, including the United States. At this point we have more questions than answers about the degree of transmissibility, the severity of associated disease, and the efficacy of current vaccines as it relates to omicron. 

What we do know is that the systems we have in place at Georgia Tech have been very effective in reducing viral transmission thus far, with current levels below those we had this time last fall. However, we need to collectively continue our diligence in all the measures we have been taking from choosing to wear masks while indoors and in dense outdoor settings to staying home when ill. 

The single most important strategy we have for effectively reducing the likelihood of serious outcomes associated with Covid-19 still remains vaccination. Stamps Health Services will continue to offer Covid-19 vaccinations to the Georgia Tech community, but appointments are currently limited. Students are encouraged to take advantage of community resources for vaccination. I recently received my booster at Stamps and it was a very positive experience. Even though I am very wary of needles, the medical professional who administered my shot helped me relax and I barely felt it! 

We continue to welcome your feedback, ideas, and suggestions for how we can create a Georgia Tech experience that supports you in reaching your full potential. I wish you all the best for your finals and extend warmest season’s greetings for 2021 to you and yours!