UPDATES ON GEORGETOWN’S COVID-19 Response As they impact Grad Workers
See these resources below for information about how the COVID-19 pandemic affects us as graduate students and members of the Georgetown community. Here we have resources to support international graduate students, an overview of how Georgetown’s reopening plans affect graduate students, and a summary of key health and safety measures at Georgetown and in DC, including free COVID-19 testing and student health insurance information.
GAGE’s Action and Response
On July 29th and 30th, GAGE presented proposals for impact bargaining with the Georgetown administration.
In late July, GAGE ran this Fall work survey. 50% of PhD respondents were concerned they would be forced to take unpaid leave of absence if they were unwilling to take the risk of COVID-19 exposure by working in person on campus.
In early July, we amplified this petition about instructional staff opt-out policy for Fall 2020.
In early June, we conducted the Covid Concerns Survey. We co-hosted a town hall with GradGov on June 24th, which was attended by nearly 200 graduate students.
In May, we signed this letter advocating for relief measures for graduate students.
Support for International Graduate Students
GAGE is bargaining to guarantee remote work positions for international graduate students who remain abroad during the pandemic.
We are relieved that ICE rescinded the July 6th guidance restricting the ability of international students with F1 visas to take online courses this fall. For currently enrolled international students, the March 13th guidance allowing all online coursework still applies.
Op-Ed: On The Pandemic: How COVID-19 Affects International Graduate Students
Incoming and current international graduate students can schedule an appointment with Georgetown’s Office of Global Services advisors. As established in GAGE’s contract, OGS must be an effective resource - if you have trouble with OGS, contact GAGE organizers for support.
Overview of Georgetown University’s Reopening Announcements:
Graduate Teaching: Undergraduate classes will begin online, although they plan to introduce in-person course elements as soon as health conditions permit. GAGE is bargaining to ensure all teaching assistants and teaching associates have the choice to perform their duties remotely.
Graduate On-Campus Research: Georgetown has begun its phased Restarting Research plan. As of August 3rd, many science PhD students have returned to lab work on campus. GAGE is bargaining to ensure all research assistants have the choice to perform their duties remotely, and that public health measures (testing, masks, hand sanitizer, parking, etc) remain available at no cost.
Graduate Research Travel: The university has suspended all university-sponsored or related student travel until further notice and through the upcoming fall 2020 semester. Graduate students may be granted exceptions through an appeals process: a letter of appeal written by the student and a statement of support. Click through the link for details.
Graduate Courses: All classes will be online for at least the first four weeks of the semester. GU admin will be re-evaluating regularly whether at some point after September 28 classes or other activities can be offered in a hybrid format, in which graduate students and faculty may choose whether to be on campus or participate remotely.
Health and Safety on Georgetown Campus and in Washington, D.C.
Georgetown’s Health and Safety Plan:
Face coverings will be required on campus. Two washable and reusable face coverings will be provided by Georgetown. We learned in a July 7, 2020 meeting that disposable masks will not be provided. Administrator Rohan Williamson says, “If you forget your mask, you will be told to go home.”
Georgetown will ship at home test kits to all who will return to campus. All will be tested on arrival. There will be random testing throughout the semester. Testing sites will be situated on campus or near campus facilities for convenience and access, and at-home specimen collection will be available as needed. Tests will be free.
See Georgetown’s Health and Safety Plan (linked above)for details on symptom monitoring, quarantine/isolation, contact tracing, etc.
Getting Tested for COVID19:
Tests in DC are free. You do not need a doctor's note or an appointment for any of the District’s walk-up testing sites. If you don’t live in DC but they ask for an address, you can give Georgetown’s address: 3700 O St NW Washington DC 20057.
Tests are free using the Georgetown Student Health Insurance.
Student Health Insurance Premier Plan
Virtual medical visits, HealthiestYou, are free of charge.
Emotional support health line services are free of charge and open to all, call 866-342-6892.
Effective August 15, 2020, virtual mental health will be provided through Healthiestyou behavioral telehealth services. There will be no out-of-pocket cost. If you are currently using Betterhelp, you need to switch or pay $200 per month out of pocket.
CAPS Mental Health Telehealth: Call 202-687-6985 during business hours to schedule a telehealth appointment, or for emergencies after hours, call 833-960-3006.
If a graduate student falls ill with COVID-19, it is unclear whether Georgetown will make adjustments to sick leave policies. As established in GAGE’s contract, PhD assistants have up to six weeks paid medical leave each semester.