What Everyone Needs to Know

• While a COVID vaccine is not required of students or employees, the university recognizes that vaccines have been effective in limiting the severity of COVID symptoms and preventing hospitalizations. We trust individuals and families to assess their own circumstances and level of COVID risk, and make decisions about mitigating that risk accordingly. 

Masks are recommended but not required of students and faculty in the classroom. Masks are also optional for campus guests and visitors. We advise all members of our community to have a mask ready, as an act of charity, in the event they are in close contact with others who request them to wear one.

• The university will maintain the following protocols, which have been in place since the beginning of the pandemic, including: 1) encouraging good personal hygiene practices, such as frequent hand-washing; 2) self-monitoring for COVID symptoms; and 3) requiring employees to self-report COVID symptoms using this form. (Students experiencing COVID symptoms will be asked to complete this form for the Student Health Center.)
• It is also worth noting that students and staff who are planning to participate in the Rome Program this academic year should consider Rome Director Peter Hatlie’s most recent guidance letter, as significant travel restrictions are being imposed by Italian government and European Union authorities on those who are not vaccinated.

• The university will provide testing services for students who may have contracted COVID-19.
• The university will not engage in systematic or random screening COVID-19 testing. 

• Supplies: The Health Center will maintain a stock of masks available to students.
• Services: The Health Center will continue to provide health services for all UD students. The Health Center will hire additional medical technicians and work with the Dallas County Health and Human Services to assist with essential services and contact tracing as needed.

If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, he/she will be isolated in a designated space on campus, or in overflow space off-campus. The student’s parents/family will be contacted immediately. Meals and health care services will be provided while the student is isolated. Re-entry into campus life will occur after at least 3 days have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without use of fever-reducing medications, improved respiratory symptoms), and at least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.

Students who are medically at risk can request accommodations through Disability Services. 

The university will promptly identify and isolate potentially infectious individuals and implement a contact tracing protocol. People who have been exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be contacted immediately and will be asked to quarantine.

 

• In general:
  • The university will continue to update the campus COVID-19 website.
  • Should any member of the university community have any questions or concerns related to the university COVID-19 policies and procedures, please contact the office of the Executive Vice President John Plotts at 972-721-5053. Executive Vice President John Plotts is the primary COVID-19 campus administrator.
  • The university will send out Frequently Asked Questions and Answers to communicate common COVID-19-related questions on an as-needed basis.

• Daily health monitoring: All members of the University community are encouraged to monitor their health condition every day by evaluating whether they have COVID-19 symptoms, such as those recognized by the CDC:
  • fever or chills,
  • cough,
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,
  • fatigue,
  • muscle or body aches,
  • headache,
  • new loss of taste or smell,
  • sore throat,
  • congestion or runny nose,
  • nausea or vomiting, 
  • diarrhea.
• Water fountains: Drinking fountains are safe to use as long as you do not physically touch any fixture on them with bare skin. Use a cloth or towel, but not your bare hand to activate the fountain. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring their own water in reusable bottles to minimize the use of water dispensers and minimize waste.
• Travel policy: University-sponsored travel is permitted, in accordance with pre-COVID practice and policy. 
• Handwashing: All members of the UD community are encouraged to wash their hands under running water whenever possible for at least 20 seconds.
• Hand sanitizer: Free-standing sanitizing stations will be located throughout campus. Sanitizing wipes will be available at the entrance to classrooms so that students and professors can wipe down their chair/desks as desired to help sanitize. Cleaning products will be provided for employee and faculty use in every office on campus.
• Social distancing: Classroom seating will remain 3 feet apart.
• Coughing etiquette: Cough away from people and into a tissue or your elbow.

The university will adhere to Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and NCAA Competition Guidelines. Each school is to confirm their teams’ readiness for competition.

Events: Events will take place in accordance with pre-COVID policy and practice. 

If you are a student who has COVID-19 symptoms, has recently tested positive for COVID-19, or has been around someone who has, you must fill out this form on the Health Clinic website and remain off campus or in your residence hall room until you are contacted by the clinic. If you are a staff or faculty member who is experiencing symptoms or has come in contact with someone who has COVID, you should fill out this form, contact your physician, and see this page for more information about what to do.