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Resources for Hurricane Helene Aftermath: Home

This is an ongoing website for the latest resources for managing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. To update or add to this list, please contact Jennifer Davis, Secretary of Faculty Senate, at jdavis14@augusta.edu

Most Recent Announcements Regarding Services

For the latest updates on Augusta campuses reopening, please visit Jagwire Alerts.

Information Regarding Academic Calendar and Instruction

Information from Vice Provost Dr. Kelehear (sent in e-mail on Oct. 9):

In an effort to give faculty as much freedom as possible to address lost instructional time, we received support from the USG to utilize some of the final exam and reading day times IF faculty need that extra time. To be sure, no one is required to use those days for make-up instruction. Rather, we built in those additional days just in case you needed them. The goal is to recover lost learning opportunities with instructional equivalences as noted in 3.4.4.

We will not change the Final Exam schedule. Some faculty may choose to use the assigned exam time for instruction instead of a final exam, but the schedule and room assignments will not be changed. Please remember, your assigned exam time, and likely the day, are different from your assignment during the term. Please reach out to Classroom Scheduling should you have any questions about the logistics of using exam time for instruction.

Information Regarding Payroll Due to Inclement Weather

From Human Resources (e-mail distributed to all AU employees on Monday, Oct. 7)

Week of Sept. 26 – Sept. 27: The payroll department has added 2 hours of Inclement Weather to the Biweekly Non-Exempt Staff for Thursday, Sept. 26, and 8 hours to Friday, Sept. 27.  It is very important that managers and time approvers review the time for accuracy.  We understand that there may be instances where employees have been overpaid or underpaid hours. If you have employees who work in remote locations, do not report to the AU campus and worked on those days.  Inclement Weather should be removed from those employees’ time.

Week of Sept. 30- Oct. 4: All Inclement Weather hours must be entered on the timecard for exempt and non-exempt employees by the manager/time approver for the week of Sept. 30 – Oct. 4. If an employee worked during this week of closure, please see the link to the FAQ on “How do I record my time worked” under the Finance/Payroll section: https://www.augusta.edu/helene/faq

Please ensure that all time entries are correct and make any necessary adjustments by Oct. 11, 2024. Note that any underpayments or overpayments will be corrected on the next paycheck date of Oct. 18, 2024. If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to the payroll department.

AU Cares

If you are experiencing needs as a result of Hurricane Helene, we want to help you find the resources you need and, in some instances, may be able to connect you with others in our AU community who can provide assistance. Requests can be submitted at https://www.augusta.edu/au-cares/need.php

If you are able, please consider:

Locations to Access Internet, Electricity, and Air Conditioning:

On Campus Public Locations: *Hours of operation will be updated weekly*

Health Sciences Campus Student Center: 11:00a.m. - 4:00p.m., Oct. 7 - Oct. 11

Jaguar Student Activities Center (JSAC): 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m., Oct. 7 - Oct. 11

Greenblatt Library: Resumed normal operational hours.

Reese LibraryResumed normal operational hours.


Off Campus Public Locations:

Appleby Public Library

Augusta Richmond Public Library

Wallace Branch Public Library

Patriots Park

WiFi/Hot Spots Specific Information

  • Eduroam: Students, researchers, faculty and staff have access to free, easy and secure internet access on the AU campus and across thousands of hotspots, including most University System of Georgia universities and colleges for personal devices.
    • Review list of participating institutions
    • Go to settings, open Wi-Fi
    • Choose eduroam
    • Use your AU credentials to log in (example user@augusta.edu)
  • Xfinity Free Public Hotspots

AU Community Volunteering Opportunities

EV Charging Stations

Social Media Accounts with Information

The following social media accounts post frequent updates on available resources, including free meals and supplies:

Assistance with Debris Cleanup

Campus Locations to Access Food and Water

Open Paws Pantry Locations:

  • Health Sciences Campus:  10:00 – 6:00p.m. weekdays, 2nd Floor Health Sciences Campus Student Center

  • Summerville Campus: 10:00 – 6:00p.m. weekdays, Quad Studio

Resources for Instruction/Teaching


CII Teaching with Ed Tech Workshops: Using Learner Performance Data to Enhance Teaching Practice:

In Part 1: Sources, we covered…

  • identifying sources of learner performance data.
  • pedagogical considerations for using learner performance data to help inform teaching practices.
  • streamlined strategies for accessing, exporting, and analyzing your learner data.

For Part 2: Analysis, we shared analytical workflows that can help you quickly…

  • review Brightspace discussion activity statistics during critical engagement periods like weeks 0 – 4 of a traditional semester for timely guidance. 
  • combine use of polling via MS Forms or Echo with the Brightspace Gradebook for quick, easy attendance grading.
  • use Brightspace's synchronous quizzes to auto-grade attendance.
  • review quiz and/or question performance with Brightspace quiz reports and statistics.

With Part 3: Acting on Insights, we synthesized parts 1 and 2 with guidance for….

  • describing how learner engagement patterns, identified from AU-supported technologies' data sources, can inform pedagogical decisions.
  • identifying key performance insights from learner performance data that can be used to make meaningful adjustments to teaching strategies.
  • identifying at least two possible outcomes or impacts on student success based on your insights.
  • applying steps to modify at least one assignment or teaching approach based on sources like LMS (aka D2L/Brightspace) and Echo360 data.

Services for Counseling and Wellbeing

Faculty and staff can access a number of mental health resources which includes coverage through employee health care plans and free options through USG. 

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Phone: 988
Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. 

Crisis Text Line 
Phone: Text HOME to 741-741
Website: www.crisistextline.org/ 
Crisis Text Line serves anyone in any type of crisis, providing them access to free, confidential 24/7 emotional support and counseling they need via text.
 

Other Local and National Resources and Services

 

National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
Phone: 1-800-656-4673
Website: https://www.rainn.org/ 
RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Phone: 1-800-799-7233
Website: https://www.thehotline.org/
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a 24-hour confidential service for survivors, victims and those affected by domestic violence, intimate partner violence and relationship abuse