[VPAAEtal] GA-48 and Faculty Alternative Work Location

[Academic Affairs]

Dear Academic Affairs,

I am aware that there was considerable concern and confusion regarding recent emails that were sent in relation to summer online teaching from outside of the country, as well as those emails explaining GA-48. To clarify, these are slightly related, but two very different topics-in the email below, I would like to focus on this  year's online summer teaching and faculty Alternative Work Location (AWL), as I believe GA-48 is relatively clear.

I want to thank the many individuals who met with the deans yesterday, and who continued to explore options with the System and Office of General Counsel, and ultimately came to a simplified, less restrictive approach for this upcoming summer semesters. I believe the explanation and directives below will provide a great deal of helpful clarification.

With the last several week's review and implementation of the Governor's Executive Order GA-48, additional review of System policies and University procedures took place. In order to ensure we are considering the potential impact to ETAMU, and our employees, of export control laws, immigration regulations, foreign tax laws, foreign employment laws, and foreign local employment obligations, review of travel outside of the United States beyond 60 days is necessary.  All alternative work locations outside of the United States should be considered for these potential issues listed above as well.

Below are the parameters we should work within for this summer only.  At the start of the Fall 2025 semester, we will begin developing an ETAMU procedure with additional detail and seeking input from members of our faculty, deans, and executive leadership.

These items are exempted from additional requirements: (i) Faculty Development Leave, (ii) study abroad, (iii) Fulbright awards, (iv) highly prestigious and prestigious international fellowship awards, (v) travel to international conferences (see section 4.4), (vi) ongoing grant-funded international collaborations with foreign institutions for 60 days or less,  (vii) teaching or (viii) employees on leave without pay.

Review and approval for travel 60 days or less, should come first from immediate supervisor/department head, dean, Office of Academic Affairs, and then Dr. Brent Donham, Export Control Officer.  Any requests that are more than 60 days or longer must be reviewed additionally by the Texas A&M University System Office of General Counsel (OGC).

These parameters are aligned with System Policy 33.06.01 Flexible Work Arrangements.

Please note that this is separate from GA-48 guidance and export control requirements that still must be followed.  All University-funded foreign travel still needs to do the Pre-Trip Approval (which routes through export controls), and any travel to a GA-48 country must follow those regulations.  The Pre-Trip Approval through Emburse should also be used even if the University is not funding the trip but where work is being done while in a foreign country, such as teaching, to ensure export control review occurs.

Should you have any questions regarding summer online teaching from an international location, please follow up with Ms. Sarah Baker. Dr. Brent Donham is able to answer further questions about export control requirements and GA-48.

Best,

tvh
_____________________________________
Tammi Vacha-Haase, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

East Texas A&M University
Administration Building
Commerce, TX  75428



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