TSU Coronavirus FAQs

There have been confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus. For the latest updates on cases please visit our health services weekly report.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 12. This is a rapidly evolving situation and Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s risk assessment will be updated as needed. The latest CDC risk assessment is available here.

• Always practice good hygiene: wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid sharing food, cups or utensils.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Make sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid personal contact with sick people.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. CDC cleaning recommendations can be found here.
• Get a flu shot.
• Recognize the symptoms of this illness, which may include a high fever, cough and difficulty breathing, similar to what you may feel with the flu or a bad cold.
• Seek care and immediately notify the University Student Health Center or your health care provider if you are experiencing these symptoms.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Self-report any international travel to TSU.

First and foremost, stay at home! Those who have recently traveled internationally or believe they have been exposed to the virus and are experiencing influenza-like illness, with fever greater than 100.3, and symptoms, including cough, body aches, severe sore throat or runny nose, should seek medical attention, especially if symptoms worsen.

Students should contact TSU Health Services (713-313-7173) and identify themselves as having flu-like symptoms to obtain further recommendations and guidance. Students should also consult with their regular health care provider or seek treatment at a local health center if they are overseas. Please call ahead to your health care provider to notify them of the reason for your visit. Faculty and staff who are ill with flu-like symptoms should stay home and contact their personal physician for further advice.

For additional information about COVID-19, including signs and symptoms, transmission and risk of exposure, and what to do if you are exhibiting symptoms, please refer to the resources section. The CDC’s website and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will also issue guidance for those planning to travel or who have recently returned.

If you travel to a country identified by the CDC with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (currently Italy, China, South Korea, Iran and Venezuela), depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home in self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread. To help the university best assess potential exposure and risks to our campus community, we are asking any student, faculty or staff member who traveled internationally recently or during Spring Break to let us know by filling out this form.

In response to the growing challenges and obstacles students have been dealing with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Southern University will implement a temporary grading option for graduate and undergraduate programs (excluding the Law School and Professional Pharmacy Program) for the Spring 2020 semester.

This option allows students more flexibility given our emergency state and provides options that prevent student GPAs from being negatively impacted due to circumstances beyond their control. Feedback was received from various members of the TSU community, including academic deans, Faculty Senate, student leaders, and TSU Interim President Ken Huewitt.

All shared the common goal of doing what was fair and in the best interest of students and the university. Provided with these common goals, an interim plan was devised that consists of allowing students to receive either their regular letter grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F) or opt into a Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading system (as explained in the attached FAQ sheet) by April 30, 2020.

In addition, the deadline date for students to drop one or more classes has been extended to April 30, 2020 (also found in the FAQ). We appreciate the support received from the TSU community during this challenging time. As most institutions across the country have now moved online, and many institutions throughout Texas have started adopting similar grading models, we all stand unified in working to provide what is in the best interest of our students. Additional guidance on how to opt-in to P/NP within MyTSU will be provided within the next week.

For additional information regarding the P/NP grading policy, please review the attached FAQ sheet.

In summary:

• Students have the option to receive their regular letter grade. Students have the “option” to opt into the P/NP grade system for individual courses.
• Students have until April 30 to drop a course.
• P/NP is not calculated in the grade point average (GPA).
• Students have until April 30 to select the P/NP option. If an option is not selected, they will receive their regular grade earned in the course. Students may pick and choose for which class(es) they would like to receive the P/NP grade.

For major courses where a C grade is required, ALL students must earn a C or higher in order to receive a P grade, based on the grading scale of the faculty member. If a student is taking the course as an elective or minor where only a D grade is needed, students may consider receiving the letter grade of D instead of the P/NP option if their score falls in this range.

Notification and instructions will be sent once the grading portal is open for students to make their selection. The deadline date to make selections is April 30th. Please be sure to check your TSU e-mail.

The step-by-step instructions for how to opt in to change your class(es) to P/NP in your MyTSU portal can be found here.

If you select the P/NP option for ALL of your courses, you will not have a semester GPA, and your cumulative will remain the same. If you choose the P/NP option for some classes and the regular grading scale for other classes, your GPA will be based on the courses in which you received your regular course grade.

Based on the ongoing situation with the coronavirus pandemic, and considering the safety and well-being of our TSU community, a decision has been made to conduct the Summer 2020 semester utilizing online instruction. This includes the three-week May mini-mester and all other Summer sessions.

Additionally, TSU will utilize the traditional grade letter (A, B, C, D, and F) grading policy for all Summer classes.

Finally, three student fees will be removed from the fee structure for the Summer semester only. This includes the Student Center fee, the Recreational Facility fee, and the International Education fee.

Registration for both the Summer and Fall 2020 semesters begins on Monday, April 20. Visit MyTSU to initiate registration!

No, P/NP will only apply to spring courses

Summer 2020 ​April 15, 2020 – July 9, 2020 ​

Fall 2020 ​April 15, 2020 - October 26, 2020

Students will have access to online tutoring through the Tutoring Center in Student Academic Support Services (SASS). Tutorial services begin on Monday, March 30. Appointments can be made through the T-claw Navigate app starting Sunday, March 29. This service will be available through the end of the semester. More details are forthcoming.

SASS Online Tutoring (S.O.T.). is a peer tutoring service is for Tiger’s enrolled in TSU core curriculum courses. (Face-to-face peer tutorials have been suspended for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.) The goal is to provide an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all participants looking for assistance in TSU core-related subjects. Sessions are only by appointments and are scheduled for 60 minutes.

BlueJeans is the platform used to conduct online peer tutoring. The link to access BlueJeans will be included in the appointment confirmation in the student's EAB (T-Claw) account. Students can use their cell phones, electronic tablet, desktop or laptop to receive the online service. 

Here is some additional information about BlueJeans:

• BlueJeans Training: BlueJeans Meetings 101
• Andriod Download: Android-App Download
• iPhone Download: -iOS-App-Download

More details are forthcoming and students are encouraged to check their TSU student emails.

We understand the economic hardships that many of you may be under due to the effects of COVID-19. As a result, TSU is suspending the late fee you would normally be charged due to missing the April 3 installment deadline for the Spring 2020 semester.

We are temporarily raising the maximum balance allowed (from $500 to $1,000) in order for you to register for the upcoming summer or fall semesters. However, if you plan to register for the Summer I 2020 semester, your prior balance must be paid in full by June 1 (or July 6 for Summer II) – prior to the start of the semester – or you will be dropped from your classes. Likewise, when you register for the Fall 2020 semester, your prior balance must be paid in full by August 23 – prior to the start of the semester – or you will be dropped from your classes.

Students with a balance of greater than $1,000 on their account will not be allowed to register for the summer or fall semesters. Please make sure to check your account balance in your MyTSU portal.

Installment plans are available for both the summer and fall semesters for those who do not have a prior balance on their account. Registration for the both the summer and fall semesters begins on Monday, April 13.

How To Get Your Free UPS Rental Return Label

Textbooks are due back May 8, 2020

1. Go to tsu.bncollege.com (it is recommended you use Chrome).
2. In the upper right-hand corner, select “Login/Sign Up”.
3. Log in to your account.
4. You will be taken to the overview of your account. Select “Your Rentals” on the left-hand side.
5. This should show your open rental books and there should be an option to print your return label on the upper right side of this section.
6. You will need to enter in the address you are shipping the books from.
7. Once completed, you will be able to print out a UPS return label.
8. If you have been receiving the rental return reminder emails, there should also be a link in those emails that will allow you to get a label from there.

If possible, send all your rentals back in one shipment. This is a prepaid UPS label, so the package should not be taken to the Post Office or FedEx. You can take the package to a UPS store or put it in a UPS drop box.

The GRE requirement for graduate program admission application remains the same. The GRE test is currently available online.

For more information regarding the online availability of GRE testing please visit the following web-link: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/the-americas/

To learn more about the test, eligibility and how to register visit the following web-link: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/gre/at-home/

Please review the GRE handout for additional information regarding the GRE test.

Priority deadline for scholarship and grant consideration for incoming Freshmen students for Fall 2020 has been extended to June 1. 

Summer 2020 Freshman app deadline: June 4. 

Transfer Summer app deadline: May 20. 

Fall 2020 Freshman app deadline: August 1. 

Transfer Fall app deadline: August 3. 

We have made the following decisions related to adjustments for housing and dining charges:

• Students are only eligible for housing credit if they have left their campus residence for the remainder of the spring semester and cleared their room of all their belongings. Students who were enrolled in a spring meal plan and have left campus for the remainder of the spring semester are eligible for a dining credit.
• All credits for residence hall charges will be effective as of March 28, 2020. Credits for dining charges will have an effective date of March 29, 2020. Students living in campus housing will receive a credit after belongings are removed from their unit, checkout has been completed, and this has to be completed by May 9 in order to receive an adjustment.
• All credits will be first applied to any outstanding spring 2020 balance, and the student will receive any remaining credit (if applicable) as a refund via their BankMobile refund preference. We encourage all students to set up their BankMobile refund preference for a timely refund. Here is more information about the BankMobile process.
• Students who receive full housing and dining scholarships (student-athletes, presidential scholars, other non-refundable scholarships or grants) will have their scholarships adjusted and will not receive a refund.
• Students who receive partial housing and dining scholarships will have their scholarships adjusted and may receive a refund (See 3 above).
• Students utilizing federal funds to pay for any portion of their housing and dining will receive a refund for any credit balance per guidelines provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Refunds will be issued to all eligible students by the end of term (May 9).
• Questions about the calculation of housing and dining refunds can be emailed to tsuhousing@tsu.edu. Questions about the issuance of refunds can be emailed to samail@tsu.edu.

Please note that many networks are providing free WiFi for the next two months if you don’t have connectivity at home. You can Google it – or here is more information: https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-internet-providers-free-wifi-20200315-6k7pzukriffdfcic5odfizmnri-story.html.

Connectivity for students who don’t have it

• FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.
• Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time
• Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months
• AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families
• Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.
• Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).
• T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).

Low Cost Internet Assistance:

Since all classes will be going online and some employers may require our students to work
remotely, students can find assistance here:

https://internetessentials.com/ 
https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/free_internet_access.html 

Rental Assistance/Utilities Assistance

If students cannot afford their rent or need assistance with utilities:
https://www.hud.gov/states/texas/renting 
https://liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/profiles/Texas.htm (Utilities)
https://www.mamhouston.org/housing (Closed but offering services remotely)
https://www.communityactionatwork.org/programs/homelessness-prevention/rent-utilitydeposit-assistance.html 
http://www.211.org/services/covid19 (May provide information on how to seek mortgage
assistance)

Food Assistance

Includes information for baby formula and food. Students who are parents can also check their
child’s school district since most are offering free meals for students.
https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/ https://www.lifehouston.org/getformula 

Childcare Assistance - The TWC child care services program subsidizes child care for lowincome families, promoting long-term self-sufficiency by enabling parents to work or attend workforce training or education activities.
https://twc.texas.gov/students/child-care-program 
https://texasrisingstar.org/ Texas Rising Star Program  

Sterling Student Life Center will be open beginning on Monday, September 14, 2020. 

Hours of operation: 

Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. 

Saturday-Sunday 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. 

Questions regarding the Student Center may be directed to Sean Bowers at Sean.Bowers@tsu.edu.

The Office of Student Conduct is open:

Monday and Wednesday - 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday – Remote

• Questions or concerns can be addressed by emailing Tanee.Newby@tsu.edu or calling 713-313-6778
• In the event of an emergency please call the Department of Public Safety at 713-313-7000 or 911 for the local police department
• All appointments and hearings will be conducted via Zoom or telephone
• Request for a medical withdrawal can be made by completing the Request for Medical Withdrawal Form http://www.tsu.edu/students-services/pdf/request-for-medical-withdrawal-form.pdf and submitting it to Chio Sheppard, Assistant Vice President for Student Services, at chio.sheppard@tsu.edu 

The Office of Veteran Services will be open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. by appointment only.

Staff In Office Days
Mondays – Kiki Hebert, 713-313-1984 kiki.hebert@tsu.edu
Tuesdays – Carolyn Lane, 713-313-7327 carolyn.lane@tsu.edu
Thursdays – Aaron Strauther, 713-313-7862 aaron.strauther@tsu.edu

Wednesdays and Fridays we will operate remotely. The office will also be accepting requests and appointments via email at veteransaffairs@tsu.edu.

Documents will be monitored and processed via email to veteransaffairs@tsu.edu.

SASO will continue to provide services virtually. Students are encouraged to contact the office by phone or email.

• SASO virtual office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Please call 713-313-4210 or email DisabilityServices@tsu.edu for assistance.
• SASO conducts virtual service meetings using Zoom, BlueJeans, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet platforms. Students who have scheduled virtual service meetings will received a detailed email with meeting instructions.
• Accommodation service inquiries will be processed electronically.
• Academic accommodation request will be processed electronically.
• COVID related accommodation request and services will be processed electronically.
• Please join us on Instagram to stay informed. TxSU_SASO

TRIO Upward Bound located in the Fairchild Building, Room 147, the office hours are Mon-Thurs 9am to 5pm

• Staff will continue to have contact with TRIO students via Zoom, Remind, text, and GroupMe
• Email: Deanna.Ashley-Lemon@tsu.edu 

The Career and Professional Development Center is currently offering services remotely for the Fall semester.

• The office is currently closed and staff will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday via virtual meeting/appointments through BlueJeans.
• With many on-campus recruiting events cancelled across the nation, we would like to offer virtual information sessions to assist TSU students with respective career and professional development needs.
• Students and Employers who are interested in speaking with the Career Center can schedule a BlueJeans meeting to connect either with a group of students gathered in one place or individual students joining the meeting remotely.
• If students or employers would like to coordinate a virtual meeting, please email placementservices@tsu.edu to fulfill this request.
• Our online database, Handshake, has thousands of jobs across this nation this year. We will continue help students find a great position or internships that suits their career-needs.
• Handshake: https://tsu.joinhandshake.com/login
• If students would like to coordinate a virtual meeting, please schedule it through Handshake at [tsu.joinhandshake.com/appointments]tsu.joinhandshake.com/appointments. You must register for Handshake with your TSU student email.
• Employers: Please email placementservices@tsu.edu to learn more about our recruitment and student engagement events for the semester.
• Please follow the Career and Professional Development Center: 
  • IG - tsucareercenter
  • Twitter – tsucareercenter
  • Facebook - tsucareercenter

The Office of Campus Organizations & Greek Life will be open beginning on Monday, September 14, 2020 by appointment only between the hours of 9:00A.M-3:00P.M.

Student group travel is suspended until further notice. 

Any in-person student organization meetings or events are temporarily suspended until further notice. 

Virtual meetings of student organizations are permitted and strongly encouraged.  

Campus Organization Registration Fees are waived for the 2020 Fall Semester. 

Contact James Durant at James.Durant@tsu.edu, (713) 313-7759 for more information or with questions. 

Follow us at @txsu_campusorgs to stay updated with any changes with Student Organizations. 

The Office of Student Engagement & Leadership will close temporarily beginning on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will continue to be closed until further notice.

• Appointments with staff can be scheduled by emailing Justin Lee at Justin.Lee@tsu.edu, (713) 313-6705, or via Calendly/Zoom. Please see link below. He will respond with meeting time options and format. https://calendly.com/justin-lee-18/one-on-one
• Office of Student Life and other components of the Office of Student Life will be engaging students online with various activities.
• Please follow us at:
  • TikTok - TXSU1927
  • IG - txsustudentlife
  • Twitter - studentlifetxsu

Yes, Bookstore Hours are:

The Post Office will open with reduced hours, operating 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for more information, please call (713) 313-7032 or Cheryl.Cole@tsu.edu. 

TOWERS CAFÉ
DINING SCHEDULE

MON—FRI:
BREAKFAST 7AM—9AM
LUNCH 11AM—3PM
SAT—SUN:
BRUNCH 10:30AM—1:30PM
DINNER 6PM—8PM

STUDENT CENTER CAFÉ
DINING SCHEDULE

Mon—Fri: 9:00AM—7:00PM
Saturday: 11:00AM—4:00PM
MON—FRI:
LUNCH 11AM—3PM
DINNER 5PM—9PM
SAT—SUN:
CLOSED

The PCLL will re-open Monday, September 14, 2020 with reduced hours, operating 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Wait List Forms and Childcare Assistance Applications (NCI) will be available upon request via email, a staff member will respond within 24 hours. (Wendy.Cornelius@tsu.edu  or Lavala.Norman@tsu.edu) For more information, please call 713-313-7870 or 713-313-7897.

TRIO Talent Search and TRIO Student Support Services will continue to provide services virtually. Students are encouraged to contact the office by phone or email.

TRIO Student Support Services 

• Virtual office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Please call 713-313-7483 or email Vonda.Lackey@tsu.edu for assistance.
• Virtual tutorial session, workshops and advising services are conducted on BlueJeans, and Microsoft Teams daily. Detailed meeting instructions will be emailed.
• Follow us on Instagram for additional updates @tsutriosss 

TRIO Talent Search 

• Virtual office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Please email Candace.Richard@tsu.edu for immediate assistance.
• Virtual workshops and pre-college services are conducted on BlueJeans, and Microsoft Teams. Detailed meeting instructions will be emailed individually.
• Follow us on Instagram for additional updates @tsutriotalentsearch, or email program staff listed below:

Student Health Services is open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday by appointment only.

• A nurse is available at (713) 313-7173, Monday – Friday, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to schedule appointments.
• Appointments will be scheduled virtually and in-person, as needed.
• If you are currently enrolled and need a copy of your immunization record go to https://tsu.medicatconnect.com.
• If you are off campus but in the local area and need assistance contact the Harris County Health Department COVID-19 hotline: www.ReadyHarris.org. If you don’t have the internet, call (832) 927-7575 or Houston Health Department COVID-19 Call Center: (832) -393-4220.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency on campus, call (713) 313-7000, off campus, call 911. Please inform the dispatch operator if you are experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, coughing and or if you have a fever.

Debate Team Center will close temporarily beginning on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will continue to be closed until further notice.

• The Center will operate remotely via GroupMe, FaceTime, Zoom, cell phone, email, and other technical contacts.
• The staff will stay in touch with all volunteer assistant coaches and we will search books, catalogs and periodicals for materials suitable for collegiate competition in the Forensic Arts.
• The staff will contact students regularly to make sure that they are progressing with all their online courses.
• The staff will conduct teleconferences and FaceTime with students to review their presentations for the Fall semester.
• The staff will continue to conduct student workshops and assist students in research.
• All students on the Debate Team will be provided the contact information for the Debate Coach and all volunteer assistant coaches.
• The staff is in the process of developing team building exercises and programming that can be conducted remotely.

The University Counseling Center (UCC) is providing convenient Telemental Health Services to all students.

• Students can call 713-313-7800 to request an appointment. If someone does not answer, please leave your T-Number, Name and a contact number. Students can also complete this form to request an appointment, and someone will contact them during business hours, https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ViJL72KUK0Su4urH7Z-1ZFNJ2YNoWsVPstLk4r8W_X1UOUk2SUxMRVoyVEdQTVkzV09YRVBLNU5OTy4u
• Students may receive a call from a blocked or private number, please answer, as it may be your counselor trying to contact you.
• If a student experiences a crisis outside of regular business hours, students can call 713-313-7863
• Other resources for support outside of the UCC include:
  • Crisis text line – Text Steve to 741-741
  • National Suicide Hotline - 800-273-TALK (8255)
• Please follow the University Counseling Center on Instagram @TSU_UCC for helpful tips and UCC updates.

The office will close temporarily beginning on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will continue to be closed until further notice.

Remote operation – auditions for incoming students will take place virtually and that information will be updated at www.tsuoceanofsoul.com 

The Office of Event Services will be open beginning on Monday, September 14, 2020 by appointment only. Any non-academic activities, meetings or events are temporarily suspended until further notice.

However virtual activities, meetings and events are strongly encouraged.

For more information or questions contact Kala Ellis at kala.ellis@tsu.edu, (713) 313-1015 or Shannon Henderson at Shannon.henderson@tsu.edu , (713) 313-4233.

• University Housing office in General Services Building Rm 200 will be opened Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Tierwester Oaks/University Courtyard/University Towers - Please call and make an appointment before coming 713-313-7206 or tsuhousing@tsu.edu Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00 pm.

The Department of Campus Recreation will continue to operate remotely September 14th-18th, and is scheduled to reopen on Monday September 21st With the below facility and policy adjustments:

• For everyone’s safety, a limited number of customers will be accommodated each day via our new reservation process. (Details will be posted on our social media platforms)
• Temperature checks upon entrance, masks will be required throughout the facility. “No Mask, No Entry”, Sanitation stations will be set up.
• Hours of Operations: Monday-Friday 9am-12pm/2pm-6pm (1pm-2pm: Closed for deep cleaning daily).
• For more information or inquiries contact us at 713-313-6885 or email us Txsucampusrec@tsu.edu; for virtual programs and updated information follow us on Instagram and Twitter @txsucampusrec or at www.campusrec.tsu.edu.

A student emergency fund provides limited emergency financial support to currently-enrolled students who are unable to meet essential expenses due to temporary or unexpected hardship. Award amounts vary and are typically awarded once. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Awards are not considered loans and do not require repayment. Some funds may be considered income and are therefore subject to federal taxes. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, applicable expenses could include medical/prescription; books or school-related expenses, and health or safety-related emergency (shelter, travel, etc.). Students seeking financial assistance should be currently enrolled and able to provide documentation of their financial hardship. To request assistance, please email deanofstudents@tsu.edu.

During the weeks of Spring Break and March 23, our custodial staff will conduct a thorough cleaning of the campus, including all highly-touched surfaces, including restrooms, classrooms, and other high-traffic areas.

There are different scenarios that our Residential Services team is prepared for and will follow the guidance of the Health Department and the TSU Health Services. These include:

• Hospital
• Off-campus home if available
• On-campus quarantine/isolation

We are mandating that all residential students now away for Spring Break not return to campus. Given the State’s executive order pertaining to gathering places, recreation centers, eateries, entertainment, etc., it has become evident that this is the best action to take to enhance the safety of our students. Students should check their student email for detailed instructions from Residence Life & Housing regarding how to go about the collection of your belongings from your room.

Students who are now staying on campus should begin making arrangements with their families/guardians to move out of the residence halls by no later than Saturday, March 28, and return home for the remainder of the semester. Students who are facing special circumstances can put in a request to Residence Life & Housing to have their situations evaluated. These requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Those who remain on campus, out of necessity, will have limited access to services and facilities.

Move Out Procedures

With the recent notifications from the testing programs we administer (see below), the Testing Center will be closed to examinees, until further notice from each testing program:

• ETS/PROMETRIC
• Pearson
• SAT
• ACT
• LSAT
• TCEQ
• College Board
• CLEP
• TOEFL
• ACCUPLACER (TSI)
• EXAMITY SASO (No students on campus)

We have made the following decisions related to adjustments for housing and dining charges:

• Students are only eligible for housing credit if they have left their campus residence for the remainder of the spring semester and cleared their room of all their belongings. Students who were enrolled in a spring meal plan and have left campus for the remainder of the spring semester are eligible for a dining credit.
• All credits for residence hall charges will be effective as of March 28, 2020. Credits for dining charges will have an effective date of March 29, 2020. Students living in campus housing will receive a credit after belongings are removed from their unit, checkout has been completed, and this has to be completed by May 9 in order to receive an adjustment.
• All credits will be first applied to any outstanding spring 2020 balance, and the student will receive any remaining credit (if applicable) as a refund via their BankMobile refund preference. We encourage all students to set up their BankMobile refund preference for a timely refund. Here is more information about the BankMobile process.
• Students who receive full housing and dining scholarships (student-athletes, presidential scholars, other non-refundable scholarships or grants) will have their scholarships adjusted and will not receive a refund.
• Students who receive partial housing and dining scholarships will have their scholarships adjusted and may receive a refund (See 3 above).
• Students utilizing federal funds to pay for any portion of their housing and dining will receive a refund for any credit balance per guidelines provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Refunds will be issued to all eligible students by the end of term (May 9).
• Questions about the calculation of housing and dining refunds can be emailed to tsuhousing@tsu.edu. Questions about the issuance of refunds can be emailed to samail@tsu.edu.

For those coming to campus, please remember that it is required that you wear a facial mask.

Due to the escalating surge of COVID-19 cases in the Houston area, Texas Southern University must postpone the previously rescheduled Commencement ceremony that was to be held on August 8, 2020. Your safety is our top priority. University leadership believes that it is best to postpone the ceremony, as per guidelines set by the City of Houston and Harris County. Read More.

Yes, we will have a commemorative video/presentation that honors our Spring 2020 graduates. This is NOT a virtual graduation, however it will have messages from the Interim President, the Provost, and the Deans of each TSU college/school. The names of the graduates will appear on a scroll during the video. You will be able to access the video from the TSU home page on May 9, as well as via our social media channels – YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Just because you aren’t physically graduating on May 9 doesn’t mean that you won’t be officially graduating from TSU. Your diploma, which will be mailed to you, will still reflect the May 9 date. Your TSU transcript, which is the official confirmation of your degree, will be available after degrees are posted. The process of conferring your degree is not impacted by the ceremony being postponed.

If you’ve already ordered your cap & gown, then you will be able to pick it up from the TSU bookstore once it re-opens. If you haven’t yet ordered a cap & gown, we suggest that you wait until later in the summer before doing so. By that time, we should have a good indication if the August 8 ceremony will take place. More information about cap & gown rental or purchase can be found at http://www.tsu.edu/commencement/information-for-graduates. After April 30, you can contact the TSU Bookstore at 713.313.7030.

In order to be compliant with the latest COVID-19 guidelines, we are asking our faculty and staff to not report to campus unless you have received approval from your supervisor. Instead, we are asking that employees stay at home and work remotely, based on direction from your supervisor. Only critical business and educational operations will continue on the campus.

Click here to find out more about the FFCRA, which requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.