COVID-19 Information

 

The health and safety of the New Mexico Tech community is a top priority for our administration. We are closely monitoring developments involving the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) through the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). New Mexico Tech will continue to actively monitor the situation via the NMDOH and the CDC, and we will follow their recommendations as they respond to any new developments. 

Latest Updates

Meet the New Mexico Tech COVID-19 Task Force

March 26, 6:25 p.m. MST

 

From New Mexico Tech President, Dr. Stephen G. Wells:

"On March 10th, I assembled a task force of individuals from across campus and in the community to provide collective viewpoints, to help plan, and to enact New Mexico Tech’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This team represents most of the key divisions and components of our university, which provides critical advice and consultation to the university president. This also includes recommendations from local medical doctors. I can assure you that the individuals on this task force work effectively as a team and work tirelessly to help keep our campus and our community healthy and safe. The task force currently meets regularly every weekday morning from 9-10:30 am and other times as developments warrant.

If you are interested in tracking what issues are being addressed during the meetings, we will make the meeting minutes available in the near future.

I have also provided the list of task force members below so that you may forward questions, concerns and issues to the appropriate individual and then they, in turn, can bring such issues to the meetings.

I know this has been a very stressful few weeks as we move quickly to address the COVID-19 outbreak, and I’m grateful for your continued strength and patience. I want you to know that we care about you and we realize you are trying to balance your efforts with work, family, and stress, and we want you to know that we are here to support you anyway we can."

Task Force Members:
Dr. Stephen Wells
Dr. Aly El Osery
Bruce Kite
Carlos Romero
David Manzano
Dr. Douglas Wells
Iver Davidson
James Scott
Joann Salome
Judith Mcshannon
Dr. Kevin Wedeward
Mitchell Tappen
Dr. Nelia Dunbar
Dr. Peter Mozley
Dr. Peter Phaiah
Dave Lepre
Dr. Randall Gann
Dr. Robert Balch
Dr. Thomas Engler
Thomas Guengerich
Dr. Van Romero
Dr. William Stone
Dr. Cleve McDaniel
Donald Monette
Mayor Ravi Bhasker
Joe Franklin
Scott Scarborough
Vanessa Grain

Skeen Library Closed to the Public

March 25, 2:56 p.m. MST

Starting March 24th, Skeen Library is closed to the public until further notice. Online resources are still available to those with an active library account which can access these materials. For more information, click here.

Public Health Emergency Order Closing All Businesses and Non-Profit Entities Except for those Deemed Essential 

March 23, 2020 4:46 p.m. MST

Earlier today, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses and non-profits, as well as announcing that gatherings be limited to five (5) people maximum. The essential businesses are available in the New Mexico Department of Health's updated public health order. 

NM DOH PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER March 23

Library Update

March 19, 2020 5:08 p.m. MST

In order to best protect the health and wellbeing of NMT's campus and the Socorro community, the New Mexico Tech Library has closed to the public for the time being. The library will remain available to NMT faculty, staff and students. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

New Mexico Tech Operations Update

March 19, 2020 3:33 p.m. MST

It’s important that everyone on campus and in the Socorro community know that the university administration, faculty leaders, and support staff personnel are working diligently to ensure the health, safety, and security of everyone on campus. This is our top priority as we navigate the issues presented by the global COVID-19 outbreak.

The university’s leadership is meeting daily to ensure we’re taking the appropriate measures to maintain a safe working environment, as well as prepare to continue to deliver the highest quality of education and future continuity of business operations.

New Mexico Tech is not eliminating any jobs and currently has no plans to close the campus. All staff will continue to be paid as long as the university remains operational. We are working within the guidelines set forth by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to make sure we maintain operations. Our university is not only an educational and research institution, but also serves as a critical resource for the Socorro community.

In order to stem the spread of inaccurate information about NMT and our actions in regards to COVID-19, employees should talk directly to their supervisors for information. Students should check their email inboxes regularly and continue to visit this webpage. It’s important we all act responsibly in disseminating only accurate, up-to-date information.

If you come across information that is false, please let people know that we are doing all we can to maintain operations through these challenging times and refer them to https://nmt.edu/covid19/index.php for the most up-to-date information available.

New Mexico Tech Extends Spring Break an Additional Week & Will Provide Online Instruction Once Classes Resume

Updated March 18, 2020 5:33 p.m. MST

President Wells announced today that New Mexico Tech has committed to two important decisions:

"First, we will be delivering both undergraduate and graduate instruction online for the remainder of the semester," President Wells said.

"Second, we are extending spring break for an additional week. Classes are now scheduled to resume on April 6."

The New Mexico Tech administration is working outthe details of this effort, and  will share those details with you soon. "it’s important to me and the entire administration that you be informed of this decision as quickly as possible, President Wells said.

The extra week of spring break will ensure the necessary preparations to deliver the highest level of instruction possible, which includes providing full training for the online instruction system for both students and faculty alike.

New Mexico Tech is doing everything it can to allow  students to earn their credits, stay on track, and complete their studies this semester.

Academic Affairs Launches COVID-19 Information Page for Students, Faculty, and Staff

Updated March 17, 2020 6:25 p.m. MST

New Mexico Tech's Academic Affairs Office  has launched a new webpage which  contains information specifically for faculty, staff, and students concerning New Mexico Tech's academic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's available at the following link:

Academic Affairs Covid-19 Information

COVID-19 Briefing for Higher Education Institutions

Updated March 15, 2020 10:20 a.m. MST

Please read the following briefing (HTML), provided by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Higher Education Cabinet Secretary Kate O'Neill.

COVID-19 BRIEFING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS - PDF Version

President Wells Announces Extended Spring Break

Updated March 12, 2020 4:24 p.m. MST

President Wells announced today that New Mexico Tech is extending its spring break through the week of March 23 in order to do all we can to ensure a safe and healthy campus upon your return. We will continue to provide the highest level of academic quality when you return.

Classes are scheduled to resume on Monday, March 30. The New Mexico Tech campus will remain open during the spring break extension. Faculty and staff work schedules are not affected by this extension.

This change in schedule will not affect the rest of the semester.  Final Week will still be May 1-6. Commencement remains scheduled for May 9.

Please be sure to monitor your email inbox for updates about the nature and venue of the resumption of classes.

If you have any questions, please call the NMT Communication Office at (575) 835-5620 or email the office at communications@nmt.edu.

Out-of-State Travel and Large Public Gatherings

Updated March 12, 2020

New Mexico Dept. of Health Public Health Order

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in consultation with leadership at the New Mexico Department of Health and Cabinet Secretary Kathyleen M. Kunkel, has declared a state of public health emergency and has invoked the powers provided by the All Hazard Emergency Management Act and the Emergency Licensing Act. 

These measures allow for enhanced public health advisory steps that New Mexicans should take to protect themselves, their families, and New Mexico communities from the potential occurrence or spread of COVID-19 in our state. 

In addition, Secretary Kunkel has issued a Public Health Emergency Order prohibiting mass gatherings that bring together 100 or more people in a single room or connected space like auditoriums, stadiums, arenas, conference centers, and theaters.

New Mexico Tech will follow the Governor’s lead on all policies regarding COVID-19. 

Under the executive orders from the Governor and New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico Tech President Stephen G. Wells has restricted all business travel to out-of-state areas, and is urging you to exercise extreme caution with all personal out-of-state travel. 

Also, all New Mexico residents are urged to:

• Continue taking precautionary steps to protect your individual health, such as:
  • Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Clean “high-touch” surfaces daily with regular household cleaners
  • Avoid sharing personal household items
• Remain home (“self-isolate”) if you are sick and call the Department of Health at 1-855-600-3453 if you are exhibiting any of the symptoms ofCOVID-19
  • Those symptoms include fever, cough, or trouble breathing

Secretary Kunkel further advised the public to take the following preventive precautions in the Public Health Emergency Order:

• Avoid all non-essential travel including planes and cruise ships.Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Take everyday, preventative actions.
• Clean your hands often.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places - elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.
• Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
• Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of  frequently-touched surfaces ( for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, and cell phones.)
• Avoid crowds, especially in poorly-ventilated places. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.

Travel Restrictions

Updated March 11, 2020

New Mexico Tech has placed a temporary restriction on all international business travel and will be carefully reviewing all requests. In addition, we are also highly discouraging all business travel nationally within the United States to those areas that have experienced significant cases of confirmed COVID-19, such as California, Washington, and New York. We will be continually assessing all work-related travel to COVID-19 hotspots internationally and nationally for the foreseeable future. All NMT center directors and supervisors have been instructed to review and restrict international business travel for their employees as well. Finally for clarification, all international business travel on behalf of NMT must be approved by the Office of the President.

 In a further step to help safeguard our community, NMT strongly discourages students, staff, and faculty from traveling internationally over spring break as well as for the remainder of the semester. This is a critically important issue for our international population, as they may encounter restrictions on returning to the United States, and consequently negative impacts to their U.S. visa status. If students, staff, or faculty travel internationally and encounter problems returning to the U.S., all costs associated with restoring U.S. visas or other such travel-related issues will be incurred by the individual and not New Mexico Tech.

Should a member of the New Mexico Tech community:

1. travel to any international “hot spot” areas related to COVID-19 (i.e., China, Italy, etc.);
2. during any travel (international or domestic) come in contact with someone known to display symptoms of COVID-19; or
3. during any travel (international or domestic) come into contact with someone know to have COVID-19 then:
   the individual must NOT return to campus and must self-quarantine off campus for a period of 14 days, as well as follow protocol provided at sites such as the following CDC link:

CDC COVID-19 Prevention Information

Students should inform Acting Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Peter Phaiah, of their quarantine immediately by emailing him at peter.phaiah@nmt.edu. NMT employees need to notify, by email, their immediate supervisor before the quarantine takes effect.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands as thoroughly and frequently as possible for a minimum of 30 seconds.

Helpful Links

• How It Spreads
• Symptoms
• Testing
• Protect Yourself
• What to Do If You Are Sick
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• Recursos en Español