The answers to these questions will be continually updated as information is made available to us. For general information on COVID-19 policies at Georgia Tech, please visit http://health.gatech.edu/coronavirus.
Spring Semester Returning Procedure:
Due to a potential spike in COVID-19 cases as students return from visiting family, we will be implementing a strict returning procedure which must be completed prior to entering the RoboJackets shop. We require that all members:
1.) Get tested upon arrival at Georgia Tech.
2.) Wait 3-5 days from first test and get tested again.
3.) Self-isolate for 7 days.
If both tests return a negative result and 7 days have passed since you arrived back at Georgia Tech, you are cleared for access to the RoboJackets shop. Remember that all shop visits must be accompanied by a team lead or officer and NOVID must be installed and active on your phone.
Changes to normal RoboJackets operations and action items for leaders are italicized in the answers below.
Administrative
Q: What is the general process for notifying RJ if you have tested positive (or someone very close has tested positive and you must quarantine).
A: In the event of a positive test or a concern of exposure, members of RoboJackets should report to Alex Field. If the member feels uncomfortable in this process, reporting to a team lead is acceptable, in which case the team lead will report the case anonymously to Alex Field. Alex Field or any team lead who is reported to is required to uphold anonymity of the member. Information we need in the event of a positive test: Date of positive test, date of last negative test, last time member was in the shop, and any additional information such as anyone else who may have been exposed.
Q: How can we continue team socials, training, and all other on-campus activity in the fall (outside of the SCC)?
A: We will continue online socials in the RJ Discord into the spring semester.
Q: What will core look like in the spring?
A: We will continue virtual core on BlueJeans into the spring semester.
Q: How is RJ related travel going to work (Carpool, competition, testing etc)?
A: Discussions will take place between leadership to determine the safest protocols for our teams moving forward with competition. Carpool for shop visits is still not going to be organized under RJ.
Financial
Q: What is the status of ordering over break?
A: Regular ordering will resume when SOFO is back on campus. Chris Bellflowers is willing to make some orders through Wells-Fargo over break on a case by case basis. Please message him in #treasury-helpdesk if you need items ordered urgently.
Q: How can I or one of my members get a dues override for spring semester?
A: Please DM Chris Bellflowers so we can look at this on a case by case basis.
Recruiting
Q: What is happening with Spring recruiting?
A: We will not be actively recruiting in the spring, however individual cases of interest in RoboJackets will still be welcomed.
Shop
Q: What will shop operations be like when we return in the spring?
A: Shop operations will be the same as in Fall: According to a draft of guidelines released by Dr. Cunefare, RoboJackets will be limited to a capacity of 11 people in the shop at any given time. Specifically, 4 in the Mechanical Room, 2 in the Office, 4 in the Field Room, and 1 in the Electrical Room. All doors must remain open at all times. All team members accessing the shop are required to wear masks and other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). The mask may temporarily be removed if the required PPE for a task does not allow for the use of a mask. The CMA will work on a reservation system in SUMS. Members are not allowed to wait in the CMA prior to their reservation time. Certain tools cannot be used while other tools that are not a safe distance away are also being used. Sanitation of work areas before and after use is also expected. There will also be an increased daily shop cleaning schedule for the entire SCC. It is still in each team’s best interest to figure out how many people will be absolutely necessary physically at the shop and what work can be completed remotely. We will communicate any updates to this policy as more information is provided from the SCC and Dr. Cunefare. Leadership is also encouraged to stay active in the SCC slack to keep themselves informed on the guidelines. Note that face shields are no longer required.
Q: How will machining training work in the spring?
A: With the departure of Jason Barnes, no new trainers will be able to be certified. Through the SCC system, Steven Sheffield will be re-certifying trainers who will then be allowed to hold CMA training following COVID guidelines. Due to our limited trainers, it would be ideal to work with other SCC teams to assist in training our members. Core officers will be getting more information on this over the break.
Q: How are we controlling/tracking which members are in the shop?
A: We will be monitoring the amount of people in the shop through our attendance system that IT made. In addition, team leadership must be represented at all activities taking place at the shop to ensure guidelines are being followed and enforced. We have an RSVP system on calendar.robojackets.org and reservations.robojackets.org for going to the shop that requires the number of participants to be stated ahead of time. Teams who would normally have a meeting on that day have priority for reservations; however, they do not need their slot, other teams may RSVP for that time on a first come, first serve basis. If two teams would usually meet simultaneously, their team leadership should discuss whether they want to split available slots or implement an every other week system.
Leads should post in #shop-logistics about when and the amount of people they are sending into the shop. The days and times on which RoboJackets members are allowed in the shop are outlined on sccgt.org.
Q: How will we acquire necessary cleaning equipment?
A: Please post in #shop or #shop-logistic if we run out of any cleaning equipment and the SCC will provide it for us.
Q: Can we require or strongly suggest self-screening for members coming into the shop?
A: We can and will strongly suggest self-screening for our members; however, we are unable to enforce it. We also strongly encourage the use of NOVID on everyone’s phone.
Q: Where does the 150 sq. ft number for “people per area” designation come from?
A: This comes from maintaining a 6 foot square around each person, which gets us to 144 sq. ft necessary per person. That number was then rounded up.