This page will be frequently updated to include answers to questions that are being sent to BSoM staff and administration. In addition to the information on this page, here are some links to College and University-level sources:
- UT Student Emergency Fund
- Counseling services
- Resources for remote work compiled by COFA (especially helpful for Staff)
- COFA's COVID-19 landing page
- UT Austin updates on COVID-19
- Faculty and TA/AI remote teaching tools
- BSoM Academic changes due to COVID-19
- CIS Forms
Facility Use during Campus Closure
Students
Students will not have access to MRH or "MBE" for the duration of the semester for any reason, unless accommodations are arranged directly with Page Stephens, Russell Podgorsek or Travis Weller.
Locker Clean-out
Lockers have been cleaned out and the locks changed. If you had a UT owned instrument (instrument room or LHB) it will be checked in for you. If you had a UT library book or materials from the BSOM music library it will be checked in for you. If you have a personal instrument or other belongings, they are being stored for pickup once building access has returned to normal.
Faculty
Faculty and staff with high-assurance UT ID cards will have access to the building via BACS as usual, but should follow all precautionary guidelines if/when on campus. Any access issues should be reported to r.podgorsek@austin.utexas.edu or 512 900 0666.
Faculty should not teach from their own offices without written permission from the Associate Director Jeff Hellmer.
Do not have any mail sent to 2406 Robert Dedman Drive. The University has given permission to ship pro-card purchases to personal residences. Russell will be putting most mail in the Music Service Center.
Status of Renovations and Maintenance Work
MRH
The MRH electrical and HVAC renovation will likely be moved up. The current target date to turn off power and air-conditioning in MRH is April 27. Cobra Piano Movers will be moving several grand pianos within the next three weeks from faculty studios with windows, performance halls, and some classrooms. Russell and Page will coordinate to prepare MRH offices for the shutdown while faculty and staff work remotely.
Jessen
The lighting renovation at Jessen has been completed. We will be fully functional with new lights in the hall when return to campus.
Recitals
Publicizing streamed concerts
If you are streaming a performance from home and would like to make it publicly available, feel free to send your information to scheduling@mail.music.utexas.edu and Page Stephens will post it on our web calendar!
Students
All Recognition in Music Performance Recitals and Non-Degree Recitals have been canceled for the remainder of Spring 2020 and recital fees have been removed from accounts or refunded. If you are a returning student in Fall 2020 and would like to perform this recital then, you can sign up for a new recital date when Page Stephens reaches out at the end of the semester.
Faculty will work with students who had planned on giving degree recitals critical to graduation in Spring 2020 on an alternate plan to evaluate a grade. All recital fees will be removed from students’ accounts or refunded before the end of the semester.
All recitals that were planned for the remainder of Spring 2020 by students who are not graduating in May will be rescheduled for early Fall (before October 15). Page Stephens will reach out before the end of the semester with instructions for requesting a new date. These rescheduled recitals will have scheduling priority. Your recital fee will remain on your account and be counted towards your rescheduled recital.
Resources for Faculty
Online Teaching Tools
If you have already worked out a different way of delivering online instruction that works for you, go for it! If you think your approach solves a common problem, please send it to Mary Ellen Poole and Jeff Hellmer for potential inclusion in a future FAQ email.
- For general guidelines and assistance, please consult the Provost’s Office web site
Here are portions of that video that are particularly useful:
4:15-7:48 Audio settings for Zoom that improve sound dramatically. Most of you do not have or need an interface, so please disregard his statements about his Duet interface. At 5:00, there are excellent instructions about how to select your external microphone (if you have recently obtained one) for use within Zoom.
7:48-8:56 Description of how to use an iPad as a document projector or whiteboard within Zoom. The iPad would need to be dedicated to that task, so Zoom would need to be running on a separate desktop or laptop.
16:08-16:51 Sharing screen with computer sound: a description of how to share video and/or audio from your computer within Zoom.
- Facebook group Higher Ed Music Lessons in the Time of COVID-19
- List of resources that the College Music Society has assembled (no CMS membership is required to access this list)
Last updated on 4/20/20
