EMS Coronavirus Information | Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Dear EMS community,

As we are all aware, this is a constantly evolving situation. We have compiled coronavirus information that you may find useful into one place. Please check back often for updates.

Updates

As of June 28, social distancing is no longer required.

As of August 4th, masks are required inside buildings for all faculty, staff, students and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Ventilation systems in all buildings had been modified where possible. They are being left as is, at least until the end of the fall semester. This included upgrading from Merv8 to Merv13 filters, increasing airflow into rooms where possible, and extending the hours that the rooms were in "occupied" mode for more air circulation.

Hand sanitizing stations provided by OPP will still be left in place. Disinfecting wipes are still planned to be provided in GPCs for now.

Coronavirus Resources

For the latest information about the presence of coronavirus in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Read Penn State's most up-to-date information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Penn State Coronavirus Information
Website serves as the hub for Penn State coronavirus information for members of the University community who have questions about the outbreak.

Read the all latest updates and messages on coronavirus being shared with the Penn State community

Links to additional resources

Information for Students

Tools for Online Teaching and Meetings

Resources to Support Teaching and Learning

Adapting Assessment to an Online Environment

Penn State’s Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
Institute has put together information that can instructors decide what they can/should do about planned assessments like quizzes, exams, presentations, etc. while moving to remote instruction.

Canvas Resources

John A. Dutton e-Education Institute Canvas Resources
Website contains helpful sites and to training materials that will assist you as you work in Canvas, the University's Learning Management System.
Penn State Canvas
Website offers help and support, training, news and tips, and how to get started resources.
Penn State Canvas Learning Center
The Canvas Learning Center is a gateway for all Penn State faculty and support staff to learn how to get the most out of using Canvas for teaching and learning.

Travel

Penn State Travel Guidelines >>
International Guidelines >>

Employee Travel:

Penn State has provided updated travel guidance which allows for University related domestic travel by employees to resume without unit executive approval.

All employees requesting University-affiliated international travel that involves University funding must be fully vaccinated by the date of their departure. Employees must register their international travel in the Travel Safety Network (TSN) at least 30 days in advance or as soon as possible and follow pre-COVID travel approval process. View pdf: https://www.vpfa.psu.edu/files/2021/07/International-Travel-Guidance_Em…;

University-affiliated international travel that begins on or before Sept. 15, 2021 must continue to be approved by senior University leadership. For more detailed information, please visit: https://www.vpfa.psu.edu/files/2021/07/International-Travel-Guidance_Employees_5.25.21.pdf

Student Travel:

Students travelling domestically are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated by the date of their departure. If they are traveling associated with a course, research or for a conference, they should follow the guidance provided at: https://virusinfo.psu.edu/travel-guidelines/#studentdomestictravel

Students conducting university-affiliated international travel, regardless of funding source, must be fully vaccinated by the date of departure. For more detailed information, please visit: https://www.vpfa.psu.edu/files/2021/07/Student-Domestic-Travel-Guidance_7.21.21.pdf

Working in Research Labs on Campus

Penn State Resources

For Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) related questions, contact EHS

Phone: 814-865-6391
Email: psuehs@psu.edu
Visit the EHS COVID-19 website

Working in Offices on Campus

Visit https://virusinfo.psu.edu/faculty-staff/working-on-campus/ for updated details.

People can come and work in their offices anytime, as long as it has been discussed and approved by their supervisor.

Reporting suspected COVID-19 cases

Visit https://virusinfo.psu.edu/contact-tracing/#howtoreport for updated information.

EMS Buildings and services

Building Lock/Unlock Schedules

Most buildings on campus are now back to being open during the normal business hours. If classes go beyond 5 p.m. in a particular building, it will remain open until classes are finished for the day.
If the campus has to suspend classes, buildings will likely go be locked, but still accessible to those occupants that already have card-swipe access.

Janitorial Services

Janitorial personnel are at normal capacity and are working in our buildings as usual. Please see the Custodial Operations webpage for more details >>
OPP has changed cleaning products to a disinfectant that is even more effective in killing this virus and are being very thorough in cleaning the restrooms and public areas. There is a difference in the residue left by this new cleaner, which might be noticed as a little bit stickier than the previous cleaner.

OPP Area Services

OPP technicians are responding to maintenance requests as usual. Please contact your department or institute’s facilities coordinator about any issues in your area, and they can request service.

Mail

Mail service is proceeding normally right now.
Please limit ordering to only items needed for essential research or business.
If virus cases rise and classes are switched to all remote instruction again, the buildings may be locked and mail services will switch to a limited delivery schedule.
Please feel free to contact Diane Ault (865-7659 or dla17@psu.edu) if questions come up.

Gas tank Deliveries for Research

Gas bottle delivery service is proceeding normally right now.

Shared Gas Tank Area for Hosler, Deike, and Steidle in the Hosler Loading Dock:

Due to the reduction in research and the limited staff availability right now, this gas bottle storage area is locked, and researchers should plan ahead for their needs. If gas bottles are required for essential research, the lab support staff in Hosler, Deike, and Steidle have a key for access, and will work with you for access.
If new or replacement gas bottles need to be ordered, please include your contact information on the order, and plan to be available meet the delivery person to accept the new gas bottles.

Waste Chemical Pick-up and EH&S services

Waste chemical pick-up service is proceeding normally right now.
Environmental Health and Safety offices are fully staffed and responding to requests and issues.

Telecommuting

Visit https://sites.psu.edu/returntowork/files/2021/05/Staff-Transition-Strategy.pdf for updated information.

EMS Library

EMS Library Hours

Please see the Libraries website for specific library locations and their hours of operation. https://libraries.psu.edu/monthly-hours?library=169 

Course reserve requests can be submitted online or by emailing the EMS Library directly.

Laptop/Internet Information & IT Support

Remote desktop

Remote desktop capability requires authorization; please email helpdesk@ems.psu.edu to request this access. You will connect to your desktop so will need to know the computer's network name. IT can help you find this information (just ask). Instructions for remote desktop can be found here: https://it.ems.psu.edu/node/734.

IT Support

On-site staffing throughout the college will be available Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cleaning Guidelines - Computer and Related Products

Guidance provided for the personal care and disinfecting of sensitive electronics, computers, and related products.

Firewalls

As a reminder, the college operates a network firewall between computers in the college and the rest of the University networks. While some computer resources are available through this firewall, others require the use of the University's Global Protect VPN service. Information about the VPN service can be found at KB0013431.

Resources which require the Global Protect VPN

Remote Desktop
MATLAB and other license servers
Network drives

Resources which do not require the Global Protect VPN

Canvas
Zoom
Office 365 suite (Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, etc.)
Google suite
FTP Secure Shell (SSH) to login hosts such as laurasia.ems.psu.edu and idocrase.geosc.psu.edu
Printing

CATA Bus Service

For current bus schedules visti: https://catabus.com/