Mitigation Measures Continue This Fall - Georgia Tech News ...
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Vol. 46, No. 17
August 16, 2021 whistle.gatech.edu
Mitigation Measures Continue This Fall
KRISTEN BAILEY
INSTITUTE COMMUNICATIONS
From improved ventilation, to fast
and free testing, to ongoing vaccine
clinics, Georgia Tech is continuing
to take a multipronged approach to
preventing and mitigating the risk
of the coronavirus as more students,
faculty, and staff return to campus this
fall.
Vaccination
The best way to prevent Covid-19 is
to get vaccinated — and Georgia Tech
is continuing to offer free, convenient
Covid-19 vaccinations this semester.
Clinics will take place at McCamish
Pavilion Aug. 16-20, Aug. 23-25, and
Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Photo by Rob Felt
see FALL, page 3 A staff member with Facilities Management conducts routine cleaning on campus.
Tech Dining Opens New Operation on Campus
MORGAN MILLER provide the very best for our students.” & Wales, is passionate about the
CAMPUS SERVICES
freshness of the food served at all
The Team campus locations and strives to provide
The fall semester will bring an array Greene knew that quality personnel a quality of food that is higher than
of new dining options to choose from. are critical to a quality product, so normally expected on a college campus.
After more than 20 years of operation his first step was to create a team of “We have assembled outstanding
by outside contractors, Georgia Tech top-notch culinary professionals. This culinary talent for Georgia Tech,” said
has moved to self-managed dining team includes formally trained chefs Bruhn. “We want to give these team
services with the creation of a new who direct menu planning and food members every opportunity to work
department, Tech Dining. preparation. In response to input from with the best ingredients so they can
“After years of working with students, the culinary team developed demonstrate their skills. Whenever
contractors, we knew that bringing the new menus focusing on high-quality possible, we make things from scratch
operation in-house was the opportunity entrees, authentic international flavors, as opposed to simply assembling
to improve the dining program,” said and expanded vegan and vegetarian frozen or pre-packaged ingredients.”
Senior Director of Tech Dining Ryan dishes. Examples of this effort include the
Greene. “When we put Georgia Tech Culinary Director Scott Bruhn,
talent and resources to work, we can who received his training at Johnson see DINING, page 4
PAGE 2 • August 16, 2021 whistle.gatech.edu • THE WHISTLE
Nominations Now Open
for 2022 Staff Council
COURTNEY HILL and self-nominated) must meet
STAFF COUNCIL
the following criteria:
• The staff member must
Beginning today, the Georgia hold a job title in the JCCS
Preparing for Fall Tech Staff Council is welcoming category under which they
Semester nominations for employees
interested in running for a
are applying.
• The staff member must
three-year term as a regular have full-time or part-time
As more faculty and staff make plans member or applying for a (20 hours/week) status.
to be on campus this fall, several one-year term as a committee • The staff member must
resources are available to help you member. have completed at least one
be successful in your work and “Our annual elections are year of service (12 consec-
navigate the ongoing challenges of key to furthering the Council’s utive months) at Georgia
the pandemic. successes,” said Quinaé Ford, Tech with a staff title as of
2021 Staff Council chair. “To August 16, 2020.
Tech Moving Forward
serve on Staff Council means • The staff member may not
(Institute updates, FAQs, you strongly believe in the hold a title(s) related to
public health information, and more) mission and goals of Georgia the following: academic
health.gatech.edu/ Tech and its leadership. The faculty; executive or
tech-moving-forward Council prides itself as a formal senior leadership; affiliate
connection for fellow staff (e.g., Alumni Association,
Covid-19 Leave Reminders
c.gatech.edu/hr-covid-aug2021 members to communicate with Foundation, etc.); research
the Institute’s executive leader- faculty; retiree; or student.
Covid-19 Vaccinations ship. Yearly elections give us (Please note that anyone
on Campus the opportunity to attract other holding any of these
health.gatech.edu/coronavirus/vaccine staffers who will contribute to titles may not nominate a
Daily Self-Checklist
our engagement and advocacy candidate to Staff Council
health.gatech.edu/coronavirus/ for the staff population.” or vote in the election
daily-checklist The Council is made up of 20 process.)
regular members representing
Work Life Resources five classifications of employees, Staff Council will accept
for Families as specified by Georgia Tech’s Job nominations for new members
hr.gatech.edu/
working-through-covid-19 Classification and Compensation and for committee member-
System (JCCS). ship through August 27 at
Working at Tech Toolkit For the 2021 election, the staffcouncil.gatech.edu/
hr.gatech.edu/ following regular member staff-council-elections. The
working-tech-tool-kit seats are available in the election period will follow, from
respective JCCS categories: September 13-24.
Campus Covid-19
Surveillance Testing Administrative and Professional To learn more about the
health.gatech.edu/coronavirus/testing (4 seats); Skilled Trades (1 Georgia Tech Staff Council, visit
seat); Scientific and Research (1 staffcouncil.gatech.edu.
PPE Ordering and Supply Distribution seat); Information Technology View a recording of last week’s
ehs.gatech.edu/covid-19/request (2 seats); and Development (1 Staff Council information
seat). session at c.gatech.edu/
Candidates (both nominated staff-council-aug-10.
Editor: Kristen Bailey Published biweekly throughout the year
Copy Editor: Stacy Braukman by Georgia Tech Institute Communications.
Photographers: Allison Carter, Rob Felt, Christopher Moore
Archives are posted at whistle.gatech.edu.
Georgia Tech is a unit of the University System of Georgia.
PAGE 3 • August 16, 2021 whistle.gatech.edu • THE WHISTLE
FALL, from page 1
Clinics will also take place Sept. 7-10
and Sept. 13-17, from 9 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. Book a vaccination appoint-
ment at mytest.gatech.edu. Vaccines
are highly effective at preventing
severe illness from Covid-19. If you
are unvaccinated and are exposed
to someone with Covid-19, you will
be subject to quarantine per current
Georgia Department of Public Health
guidelines.
To date, Georgia Tech has adminis-
tered more than 32,000 doses to more
than 17,000 individuals.
Testing
Asymptomatic surveillance testing
will also continue to be offered during
the fall semester for all students, faculty,
and staff. For those new to campus or
Photo by Rob Felt
who did not participate previously, this
Covid-19 vaccines are still available on campus for all faculty, staff, and students,
saliva-based testing program takes just as well as their family members ages 12 and older. Vaccine clinics will take place at
a few minutes per test and is available McCamish Pavilion every day this week.
at multiple sites on campus. Georgia
Tech faculty who are top researchers in tion of the highly contagious delta settings. Facilities Management has
their field created this simple, effective variant of the virus. upgraded air filters across campus to
testing program to reduce transmission At Georgia Tech, everyone is encour- MERV-13 filters and is ensuring that
of Covid-19 in the campus community. aged to wear a mask or face covering all systems are operating optimally.
The program has been an essential tool while inside campus facilities. Vaccines As an added precaution, outside air
in keeping cases down throughout the and masks are highly effective at ventilation rates have been increased
past year. Everyone on campus, regard- stopping the spread of Covid-19. where possible, and ultraviolet lights
less of vaccination status, is invited and have been incorporated in air handling
encouraged to test weekly. Learn more PPE units across campus. An expert team
about how it works and find a testing Similar to recent semesters, of Georgia Tech faculty and students
site at c.gatech.edu/testing. Infrastructure and Sustainability has continue to monitor data captured
No reservations are necessary — supplied Housing with personal protec- from air quality sensors, which have
simply visit mytest.gatech.edu on tive equipment (PPE) kits to distribute been installed in various classrooms
your smartphone when you arrive at to students living on campus this fall. across campus.
the test site. Results are delivered via Each resident will receive a cloth face
email. Make weekly testing part of covering, hand sanitizer, and other Cleaning and Disinfecting
your routine — pick a day and time, supplies in their room upon checkin. Hand sanitizer stands are stationed
and even go with a friend. (If you Additional PPE requests for students, at every building entrance as well
experience Covid-19 symptoms, seek faculty, or staff can be made at ehs. as in restrooms and classrooms.
symptomatic testing instead.) Regular gatech.edu/covid-19/request. Disinfectant and wipes will continue
testing can help identify potential to be made available in classrooms
clusters before they become outbreaks. Ventilation and for workspaces. Custodial Services
Teams in Infrastructure and also continues to clean and disinfect
Face Coverings Sustainability have been hard at work classrooms, common areas, and
The Centers for Disease Control and since the beginning of the pandemic to restrooms daily. However, heavily
Prevention (CDC) recently issued new help ensure a safe and healthy environ- used restrooms located in buildings
interim guidance recommending the ment for the campus community. We that operate 24 hours a day (such
use of masks inside public buildings, know that good ventilation and air as Clough Undergraduate Learning
even by fully vaccinated individuals, as circulation can significantly reduce Commons) will continue to be cleaned
a precaution given the broad circula- the risk of transmission in indoor and disinfected four times a day.PAGE 4 • August 16, 2021 whistle.gatech.edu • THE WHISTLE
cart will also be on campus,
DINING, from page 1 primarily at Tech Square
dining team grinding spices and the Instructional Center
on-site to improve freshness Lawn.
and quality, fresh fruit for The Blue Donkey cart
juicing, and the bakery at joins a fleet of food trucks
West Village running 24/7 that will be on campus five
to produce baked goods, days a week. In addition to
sweets, and fresh buns and favorites like Chick-fil-A and
bagels on campus. Bruhn Gyro Chef Mediterranean,
also plans to add smokers, new vendors will be
a popcorn kettle, and offering lunch on a rotating
homemade donuts. schedule.
Bringing the team in-house A new concept in the Tech
Photo by Rob Felt
has benefits for employees Tower, replacing Highland
Faculty and staff members can dine at campus dining locations
as well as students, faculty, and receive a discount when using Faculty/Staff Dining Funds.
Bakery, is Whistle Bistro.
and staff. Food service The new restaurant offers
employees, previously paid named after Tech legend campus will also be both sit-down dining and
as contract employees, are George P. Burdell. Both changing. The Dining Hub, takeout entrees and will
now state employees with Brittian and North Avenue located in the Exhibition serve Boar’s Head deli
competitive wages and dining halls will offer the Hall, will house two sandwiches, brew specialty
benefits such as retirement coffee, freshly ground, iced, vendors: Panda Express and coffee, and offer fresh baked
plans, health coverage, cold brew, and brewed to Twisted Taco. Local Atlanta goods.
and tuition assistance. order. favorites Cluck-N-Mooh and By paying careful attention
Opportunities for employee Kaldi’s Coffee will also be to detail and responding to
growth and development are Dining Halls welcomed to campus. student feedback, the Tech
available as well. Brittian Dining Hall and Kaldi’s will set up a full Dining team has created an
North Avenue Dining Hall coffee shop in Clough assortment of high-quality
Changes to Dining Venues both boast all-new food Commons this fall, replacing dining opportunities for
Tech Dining will operate stations. West Village, which the current Starbucks. Georgia Tech’s students and
three all-you-care-to-eat previously operated as a food Kaldi’s takes special care employees. “We’ve pulled
dining halls and more court model, is now, like in sourcing coffee. The together an amazing team
than nine retail dining Brittan and North Avenue, beans for the Georgia Tech that has the talent and skill
locations across campus. an all-you-care-to-eat dining location will come from Los necessary to make Tech
Both Brittain and North hall with brand new station Tablones in El Salvador. The Dining one of the premier
Avenue dining halls are concepts. Guests can enjoy sustainable Los Tablones college dining operations in
featuring new concepts, a variety of diverse menus, farm is operated by Georgia the nation,” said Greene.
and West Village has transi- including Asian and Indian- Tech graduates, members of
tioned from a food court style cuisine at Ginger and the Markwort family who Employee Meal Plans
to an all-you-care-to-eat Spice, Mexican-inspired have been farming coffee Faculty and staff members
model. All three dining halls meals at Tech Taqueria, or in El Salvador for over can use dining funds to
offer a convenience store, Italian food at The Leaning four generations. Cluck-N- enjoy savings when they
WreckStop or WreckStop Tower of Tech. Mindful Mooh, a restaurant known dine on campus. Funds
Express, where patrons may Bytes is the place for for its burgers, wings, and can be added via payroll
use cash or credit instead those in search of vegan, fries, with locations around deduction or through a
of a meal card to purchase vegetarian, and healthy Atlanta, is developing special BuzzCard deposit. Both
select grocery items, assorted food. Ramblin’ Coffee and menu items for their Georgia options come with the same
beverages, and other Sweets is a full-service coffee Tech location. benefits and a declining
convenience items. shop where baristas make Rising Roll Gourmet Café balance that can be used at
Tech Dining has partnered drinks to order and serve an is returning for a second any campus dining location.
with PJ’s Coffee in New extensive number of freshly year on campus. In the For every $20 deposit,
Orleans to create a signature made pastries, scooped ice Sideways Café in the Price employees receive a 20%
blend of coffee exclusively cream, and assorted desserts. Gilbert Memorial Library, bonus in their account.
available at Georgia Tech. Blue Donkey is also back for To learn more about meal
Called Burdell’s Brew, the Retail Vendors a second year. In addition to plans and Tech Dining, visit
rich, flavorful blend is Retail dining across the library location, a coffee dining.gatech.edu.You can also read
