COVID-19 Updates
Please note that guidance from the CDC, Arkansas Department of Health and the University of Arkansas System may change rapidly given the fluidity of the coronavirus pandemic. Any changes will
be updated on this page and will be communicated through og体育 email.
Last updated: 9/27/2022
REPORTING FORM
Fall 2022 Protocol Updates
- Contact tracing is discontinued.
- Positive individuals should notify close contacts.
- Positive home test results will be accepted as proof of positivity when reported.
- og体育 will follow the current CDC and ADH isolation/quarantine recommendations.
- Only positive cases must be reported via the COVID-19 Self-Report Form.
og体育 follows state, local and national public health recommendations and guidance for communal and general populations.
if you test positive for covid-19, isolate.
GENERAL PUBLIC GUIDELINES
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status:
-Stay home for 5 days.
-If you have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave
your house.
-Continue to wear a mask around others until 10 days have passed since symptoms started
or after you got tested if you had no symptoms.
If you still have a fever 5 days or more after starting your isolation, you should continue to stay home until 24 hours after your fever has resolved.
To learn more, visit healthy.arkansas.gov.
if you were exposed to someone with covid-19, mask.
GENERAL PUBLIC GUIDELINES
If you have had recent confirmed or suspected exposure to an infected person, you should:
-Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
-Test on day 5, if possible.
If symptoms develop, get a test and stay home.
To learn more, visit healthy.arkansas.gov.
To learn more about isolation and precautions for people exposed to COVID-19, visit the CDC’s webpage on isolation and precautions.
2/25/22 - og体育 Mask/Face Covering Guidance
1/10/22 - og体育 COVID-19 Update for Spring 2022
1/3/22 - Mask/Face Coverings Requirements for Spring 2022
9/2/21 - Don't Throw Away Your Shot for Prizes - Vaccine Incentive Drawings
8/23/21 - Vaccination Clinics TODAY on Campus
8/18/21 - Thank You for Wearing Your Mask!
8/11/21 - Mask/Face Coverings Requirements for Fall 2021
5/23/21 - Updates to Campus COVID-19 Prevention Measures
3/3/21 - COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures
2/4/21 - Preventing COVID-19 On Campus
2/3/21 - February Freeze - In-Person Events & Activities
1/21/21 - FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccines
11/11/20 - Modified Grading Policy for Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer I 2021
10/6/20 - COVID-19 Reminders
9/4/20 - COVID-19: Holiday Weekend Health & Safety Precautions
8/11/20 - Summer 2020 Modified Grading Policy
8/3/20 - Campus Update from Chancellor Doss
7/20/20 - Updates to Fall Reopening Plans
7/1/20 - Plan for Fall Reopening as of July 1, 2020
7/1/20 - Announcing Plan for Fall Reopening
6/3/20 - Summer Plan for Employees Returning to Work
6/3/20 - Announcing Plan for Return to On-Campus Work
4/10/20 - Updated Reporting Form for COVID-19
3/17/20 - COVID-19 Student Update – March 17, 2020
1/29/20 - Information About 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
3/2/20 - Important Information Regarding Coronavirus
3/4/20 - og体育 Update on COVID-19 (coronavirus)
3/11/20 - og体育 Campuses Move All Classes Online Effective March 12
3/11/20 - og体育 Alert - og体育 Campuses Move All Classes Online Effective March 12
3/12/20 - COVID-19 Student Update
3/12/20 - COVID-19: Steps to Protect Yourself & Others
3/13/20 - COVID-19: Spring Break Travel Update
3/12/20 - Chancellor Doss Releases Statement Regarding Coronavirus
3/11/20 - og体育 Moves to Classes Online Effective March 12
CDC PREVENTION TIPS
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends these tips to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Highlights include:
- Wear a mask indoors in public in areas with high transmission rates.
(Drew County is considered a medium transmission area as of September 27, 2022). - Take everyday preventive actions to stay healthy.
- 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 often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
- Stay informed. The CDC’s COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review will be updated regularly.
The global COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving concern for the world. og体育 makes every
effort to keep our community updated on the latest local and regional data by utilizing
expert resources.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Arkansas Department of Health provide
up-to-date guidance on the pandemic, including tracking cases down to the county level,
identifying travel advisories and outbreak “hot spots,” screening information, sharing
screening and vaccination availability and informing the public about effective prevention
measures.
Each of these topics has the potential to change on a daily basis. og体育 uses guidance
from these agencies, in addition to local and UA System recommendations, when setting
policy regarding COVID-19. The most important thing individuals can do is assist in
stopping the spread of the virus.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
Student Health Services (SHS)
Everyone has a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the og体育 community, including students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. Together, we can make a difference by making consistent efforts in a few areas:
- Familiarize yourself with the symptoms, which can be mild to severe.
- Get tested for COVID-19 infection if you identify symptoms or if you may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive. Free testing by Mainline Health Systems is available in Maxwell Hall for og体育 students and employees.
- Review the way COVID-19 spreads. Some individuals may have no symptoms at all but may still be able to spread the virus.
- Always wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water and use hand sanitizer when unable to wash hands. Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing and before eating.
- Wear a cloth face covering whenever you may be in shared spaces that include others outside of your household. This is especially recommended in locations with a high transmission rate.
- Keep a clean face covering handy when walking alone if there is a potential to come into contact with someone. Regularly wash and rotate your face coverings.
- Continue to maintain distance from people who are not in your household whenever possible, even when wearing a face covering.
- University leadership has made a number of considerations to prioritize the health
and safety of students, faculty and staff. We appreciate your understanding that the
pandemic response is a fluid one based on the most current available data.
- Many questions about housing, instruction and campus health and safety measures are covered within the Frequently Asked Questions topics below. If you have further questions, please contact the appropriate department.
- Please continue to check your og体育 email and visit this page for the latest updates.
- On August 11, 2021, the UA System Board of Trustees passed a resolution to require mask policies on all UA System campuses. Masks will be required in all public indoor settings when social distancing cannot be maintained. Masks should be worn regardless of vaccination status.
- On August 16, 2021, the og体育 Executive Council voted to adopt these changes to the COVID-19 protocols on all og体育 campuses.
- As of February 25, 2022, masks/face coverings are optional on all og体育 campuses.
- The health and safety of all students and employees are our top priority. og体育 follows the evolving federal, state and local guidance when implementing campus policies regarding COVID-19 safety.
- A number of processes and procedures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for potential changes in instruction format if deemed necessary.
- When is it not safe for me to be on campus?
If you believe you have contracted COVID-19, or if you may have been exposed, please get tested to avoid spreading the virus to others. Follow the recommendations of your primary health care provider or the recommendations given by the person administering your test. Current guidance about isolating while waiting for test results may vary based upon your vaccination status.
og体育 continues to follow the CDC and Arkansas Department of Health guidelines and recommendations
regarding COVID-19.
og体育 students and faculty have access to the Blackboard online learning environment,
which supports in-person instruction. The Blackboard management system can be further
utilized in the case of a temporary shift to online-only instruction, if necessary.
CDC guidelines recommend that you begin by following the care instructions of the local health department
or your primary health care provider if you suspect you may have COVID-19. Get tested
if you have symptoms of COVID-19, or if you may have been exposed to someone who has
been confirmed or presumed COVID-10 positive. Students may also contact the Student Health Services office with questions about symptoms. Health care providers, including those at testing
locations, will offer individualized recommendations based on current testing and
quarantine protocols.
Testing is available at the Mainline Health Systems location on the Monticello Campus.
All og体育 students, faculty and staff and their immediate family members can be tested
on weekdays from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The office is closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m.
- 12 p.m. Calling ahead is recommended to assess your wait time, but is not required:
(870) 224-0647.
Some individuals may be eligible for a rapid test on site. Many additional testing
locations are available in off-campus locations during additional hours.
The Division of Student Engagement has a detailed plan to ensure the physical needs of quarantined students are met
while also protecting the health of the remainder of the campus population.
If an employee shows symptoms as indicated in the assessment, they should contact
the supervisor and complete the COVID-19 reporting form. This form helps track presumed and confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the og体育
community to assist in preventing outbreaks.
If a student prefers to enroll in online courses, he or she may do so with the assistance
of their faculty advisor, or they may call Academic Advising for assistance. Not all
courses are available in a fully online format, but some courses may be adapted to
a hybrid model which involves both in-person and online instructional time.
Throughout the semester, on a case-by-cases basis, classes of a certain size may shift
into online or hybrid models in which students alternate in-classroom and online access
to their course materials. This decision will be made based on the number of positive
COVID-19 cases, class enrollment and room size. Students may reach out to each of
their instructors for more details about each course.
In a typical year, og体育 academic advisors often recommend students remain enrolled in at least one in-person class when possible. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in the traditional learning environment, however much our students and faculty would prefer the in-person format. As og体育 continues to monitor area health data and prioritize safety, typical in-seat classes may not always be possible.
Out of great concern and care for our community, og体育 has planned alternative arrangements in the case that a COVID-19 causes course delivery to transition to an online-only format for any length of time during the semester.
We appreciate the flexibility of our students and faculty as these instructional changes remain dependent upon the current pandemic environment. In the event that all instruction must be delivered remotely for a period of time, og体育 will have a limited number of tablets and WiFi cards for off-campus students who have limited or no access to technology and internet. Contact the og体育 Taylor Library for more information about borrowing a laptop.
All students, faculty and staff are expected to share the responsibility of self-monitoring.
Before coming to any og体育 campus, individuals are asked to complete the self-monitoring assessment daily to identify any symptoms of COVID-19 early.
If an employee shows symptoms as indicated in the assessment, they should notify their
supervisor, avoid coming to campus and complete the COVID-19 reporting form to help track potential spread of the virus.
The employee should follow current CDC guidance as to when to get tested. The employee's primary care provider or a health care provider at the COVID-19 testing
location will advise as to whether to self-quarantine and for how long.
Residence Life has made a number of arrangements to accommodate students with unique
needs related to COVID-19 (students at a higher risk, students wishing to observe
strict physical distancing, students in quarantine or isolation).
Custodial staff has enhanced campus cleaning techniques as a response to the pandemic
and frequently disinfects public surfaces, including those in residence halls.
The og体育 Freshman Residential Housing Policy states that all first-year students are required to live on campus for one academic
year unless an exception to the policy is accepted. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case
basis for students who submit the Freshman Housing Exemption Request.
The university's Command Team manages the implementation of the og体育 Pandemic Action Plan, which is followed and updated as new information about COVID-19 becomes available. Team members coordinate activities designed to support our community's health and well-being and develop contingency plans to limit the impact to university operations should the need arise.
These efforts are being made to assess the university's readiness to shift to an online class class format, how to minimize the impact to student learning, how to ensure students and employees who may become ill can be properly supported as they recover, and how to limit the spread of the virus on campus and in the community.
Please note that guidance from the CDC, Arkansas Department of Health and the University of Arkansas System may change rapidly given the fluidity of the situation. Any changes will be updated on the university's og体育 Coronavirus Updates website.