COVID-19 A-Z

COVID-19 A-Z

A-Z Directory

 

This A to Z guide provides brief overviews of various coronavirus-related topics, from course formats to travel guidelines and links to resources.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Academic Advising

There are a number of options in place to ensure full access to academic advising, whether you can come to campus or not. If you need to meet with an advisor, please start at the academic advising appointments landing page. Select the college or unit that best fits your need and view options for making phone or virtual appointments. Once you’ve scheduled a phone or virtual appointment, be sure to set up a FERPA pin in CIS. Your advisor will need to verify your identity before being able to discuss your academic records by phone or video.
Academic Advising Appointment
Set-up FERPA Pin
Our Student Success Advocate (SSA) team is also operating from a distance. SSAs can meet with you via Skype, email or text to support you in any way that they can. Select the SSA who best meets your needs and then call, text or email your SSA using the contact provided.
Contact SSA

Administrative leave for COVID-19 testing and exposure

Applies to all university employees in a paid position (does not need to be a benefit-eligible position), except for employees of University Hospitals and Clinics.
More Information

Athletics

Find the latest information at utahutes.com.
Athletics Information

B

business travel
Effective immediately, the University of Utah is extending the current travel restriction for all university-related business travel for faculty, staff and students through MAY 7, 2021.  

The University of Utah is currently restricting all inbound and outbound business travel through May 7, 2021.  This travel restriction applies to ALL FACULTY OR STAFF TRAVEL, ALL UNIVERSITY-COORDINATED STUDENT TRAVEL AND ALL GUEST/RECRUIT TRAVEL.

Approved exceptions to this restriction must adhere all of the following procedures:

  1. Requesting department must prepare a memo describing:
  2. Reasons travel is necessary during restricted dates, as well as
  3. Measures planned to address safety for the traveler and those who will be in contact with traveler during as well as after the trip.

The memo must be approved by one of the following designated individuals:

The exception will require a final approval by the cognizant VP.

Exceptions must be fully approved at least one week prior to the start date of travel, and attached to an approved UTravel Concur Request.

UTravel Concur Request

business access exception request

Deans, department chairs and directors may use this form to request that specified essential personnel be given access to a building that is closed and has restricted access due to coronavirus.

view form

C

Campus Store

New safety procedures are now in place at all three campus store locations. The campus stores also are offering online shopping and curbside pickup to help keep the community safe.
Learn more

CARES Act Funding

See EMERGENCY AID.

Child Care

The university operates five on-campus child care centers. Parents and clients of these centers are being communicated with directly.
child care centers

CLASSES
All Fall 2020 Semester courses will be offered in several modes, including:
  • Hybrid—A class that blends both same-time (synchronous) in-person instruction and flex-time (asynchronous) online instruction.
  • IVC (Interactive Video Class)—Fully digital class that uses same-time delivery using web video technology. The class has a scheduled meeting time. Canvas serves as the class location, with learning materials and links to join the class video meetings.
  • IVC-Hybrid—This class is a mixture of in-person and same-time online interactive video.
  • In-Person—A traditional, campus-based, fully in-person class with a scheduled room and meeting time.
  • Online—A class facilitated online, primarily through Canvas, with greater than 80% of the required learning activities taking place digitally when a student chooses. An online class does not have required locations or meeting times; although, regular, substantive instructor-student interactions are an expected part of the teaching and learning process.
Each class in a student's schedule should include one of these descriptions/modalities.
CLEANING
After a positive case of COVID-19 occurs emergency cleaning will be undertaken. All building areas that the individual has come in to contact with will be disinfected. The affected area will be vacated until it has been disinfected and the community will be told when it is safe to return. Learn more here.
Computer Labs

University of Utah computing labs will be open in strategic locations around campus to provide internet service to students with limited access at home. Students will be required to practice physical distancing in each lab. Please visit this UIT Knowledge Base article for more information. The article will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Conferences

See MEETINGS.

Contact tracing

Contact tracing is a key component of keeping the University of Utah community safe. Contact tracers work closely with people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to determine where they have been on campus and with whom they may have interacted (called “contacts”) while infectious, in addition to gathering clinical data like symptoms to help public health officials better understand the disease. After speaking with the patient, the contact tracer will then follow-up with contacts to alert them to a possible exposure and go over quarantine protocols. Contact tracers also provide education and guidance, answer COVID-related questions and ensure that affected individuals have enough resources to safely quarantine.

View Protocol

Counseling

The University Counseling Center staff is committed to supporting the mental health needs of our campus community while mitigating COVID-19 risks in our department. The center is providing all services as telephone and secure video conference appointments for currently enrolled students. Telephone crisis services are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can reach us at 801-581-6826 for crisis support. For after-hours emergencies, contact the 24/7 Crisis Line at 801-587-3000.
Counseling Center

Cultural Attractions
Both museums maintain a database of objects that are viewable online, as well as rich online content, blogs, curricula, and other online resources that can be used for academic purposes.
Kingsbury Hall 

E

EMERGENCY AID

The U has established a single point of contact for emergency financial aid requests for students who may be experiencing financial difficulties. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at FAwin1@utah.edu or at 801-581-6211 to discuss options for assistance.

Contact Office of Financial Aid 

EMployee exposure guide

Recommendations for employees exposed to coronavirus.

view guidance

event planning guidance

These guidelines apply to any property owned, managed and/or occupied by the University of Utah.

View GUIDELINES

F

Face coverings
Face coverings (coverings with two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric) are REQUIRED in all campus buildings and outside on campus grounds when maintaining 6-feet of physical distance is not possible. The university is providing a face covering to every student, staff and faculty member. Campus community members may also wear a covering of their choosing.
Face covering guidelines
Wash your hands before handling your face covering; handle by the ear loops or ties; ensure covering is over your nose and mouth and is secure enough to not allow space on the sides; do not put on your neck or forehead; avoid touching face when removing covering; washing after every use using regular detergent and warmest appropriate water temperature; disposable coverings should be used for one day then thrown away.
Face covering enforcement
Students who disregard the expectation to wear face coverings may be in violation of the Student Code1 and can be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students. Faculty and staff are encouraged first to discuss concerns with the student(s) involved; however, when appropriate, may refer a student to the Office of the Dean of Students at 801-581- 7066 or deanofstudents@utah.edu. University community members may also submit public reports via the Dean of Students website
FacILITIES MANAGEMENT FAQ

FAQs for building and personal responsibilities.

View FAQ

faculty flowchart for classroom exposure

Steps to take in case of possible or confirmed case in classroom.

View flowchart

Fall calendar

The Fall 2020 Semester will begin Aug. 24 and continue to Nov. 25 with no fall break. Classwork will shift online from Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, to allow the vice presidential debate to be held at Kingsbury Hall on Oct. 7. Classes will then resume on campus October 12, with a mixture of in-person, hybrid, online and interactive video conferencing models. After Thanksgiving break, classes will resume Nov. 30 online only for the remainder of the semester.

In an effort to preserve in-person instruction for critical courses (first-year, international students with F-1 visas, practicums, studio, senior cohort/capstones) and maximize efforts to reduce transmission of coronavirus on campus, university epidemiologists concluded an extension of online instruction halfway through the semester, from September 28 to October 9, would have the most impact, providing a sort of “circuit breaker” or isolation period and reducing infections.

While these schedule changes required the cancellation of fall break, they have condensed fall semester a bit, so coursework will end approximately one week earlier, shifting finals to the first week of December and providing a longer winter break.

Fall INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDELINES

The new instructional schedule means all instructors need to prepare for online and digital instruction, with selected in-person instruction delivery based on campus educational priorities.

Feed U Pantry
The Feed U Pantry has food available to anyone with a UCard. The pantry is open on weekdays but hours will vary based on volunteer availability.
Current hours 
FIELD TRIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

Travel that is required for essential field trips and internships or is part of the educational process, will be allowed with one person/household per vehicle. For guidance, check with your dean or department chair.

FINANCIAL AID

Information about scholarships, grants, loans and emergency aid can be found on the web page for the Office for Scholarships and Financial Aid.

H

Hand sanitizer
A large bottle of hand sanitizer will be provided in common areas of buildings. Marriott Library and other multi-use buildings will provide centralized sanitizing "stations."
Disinfecting wipes will be provided in wall-mounted boxes in common areas so students can take one as they enter classrooms to wipe down their desks.
Hand washing
Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if that is not possible, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Key times to clean hands are before and after work shifts or breaks; after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or using a restroom; before eating or preparing food; after putting on, touching or removing cloth face coverings.
High-risk employee retirement program

The High-Risk Employee Retirement Program (“HRE RP”) allows faculty and staff members to fully retire from the university with financial assistance and/or health coverage for a limited period of time. Because this option requires payment by your current department, this option is not a right and is subject to departmental approval. Full Retirement options become available at the end of the HRE RP participation.

more information

Hospital and Clinics
Increased safety precautions are being taken at this time.
Housing and Residential Education
Physical distancing and other precautions are being followed to support the health and well-being of our community.
Human Resources
Answers to human resources questions can be found via the button below.
Hygiene
Basic hygiene guidelines include washing hands; not touching eyes, nose and mouth; covering mouth and nose with a tissue or inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze; routinely cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails and doorknobs; not using other people's phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment.

I

IN-STATE TRAVEL

In-state travel (one person/household per vehicle) is allowed between counties in low, moderate or high transmission level status, according to Utah Department of Health guidelines. Should a county be designated as having a high level of transmission, university-approved travel to that area would stop.

INternship guidelines

Internships are still permitted under certain circumstances.

View GUIDELINES

ISOLATION

Isolation is a public health term that means that people who have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are separated from the general population until they are no longer infectious.  For general guidelines, individuals with COVID-19 are asked to isolate themselves for 10 days from the start of their symptoms. If a person is told to isolate, they should stay away from other people, particularly those at greater risk for COVID-19, and not go out except for a medical appointment. They generally can leave isolation AFTER 10 days if their symptoms are improving and they are fever-free.

L

Laptops and Hotspots

Through the Marriott Library, students can check out various technology devices on a first-come, first-served basis for a limited amount of time.

Student Equipment Checkout

Learning Abroad

The University of Utah has made the decision to extend the suspension of all university-affiliated student international travel through Fall 2020 Semester, including the cancellation of all Fall 2020 Learning Abroad academic programs.

Learning Abroad

Libraries

Click the button below for all information about library hours and services.

Library Information

M

Mail

Campus mail continues to operate with the usual delivery schedule. In the event that a mail/job delivery is attempted and the department/building is found to be locked, a memo will be left stating that delivery will be suspended. For more information, contact Juan Sosa juan.sosa@utah.edu at University Print & Mail Services.

Contact Us

Masks

See FACE COVERINGS.

Meetings

In line with state and county public guidance, all university-sponsored meetings or gatherings of more than 20 people are canceled. The university remains open and operational as we do all we can to limit exposure to coronavirus.

Monitoring

The U is asking campus community members to self-monitor their health—check for fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, chills and loss of taste or smell. All are symptoms of COVID-19. If you experience any of these symptoms, please contact a health provider.

O

P

Parking

Beginning Aug. 3, 2020, all parking lots will be enforced as usual. Anyone parking on campus must have a permit, purchase a day pass or pay the hourly visitor parking fee. The Merrill Engineering Lot and the Shoreline Garage will no longer offer general parking beginning Aug. 3, 2020.

For more information visit Commuter Services.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available for departmental use.

PPE Information

PERSONAL TRAVEL

We continue to encourage you, when considering your personal travel choices, to follow travel advisories issued by your local and state authorities. If you choose to travel, you may be restricted from returning to work depending upon the specifics of your circumstances.

NOTE: Upon return, ALL INDIVIDUALS are expected to submit a “Returning Traveler Self-Reporting Form” by following the instructions here: https://www.hr.utah.edu/coronavirus/leave_process.php

Questions regarding this restriction/exception procedures may be submitted using our ASK US form.

Physical distancing

Sometimes called social distancing, our preferred term is physical distancing. The goal of physical distancing—staying a minimum of 6-feet apart—is to help us keep from infecting others and slow the spread of coronavirus. A distance of 6-feet will be maintained in classes, laboratories, studios and other in-person courses and activities and restricted traffic patterns will be established in hallways.

  • Limit close contact with others. If you are in a space with other people, remain at least 6-feet apart.
  • Reduce unnecessary trips.
  • Practice good hygiene while in public. Wear a face covering, clean frequently touched surfaces, avoid shaking hands and touching things unnecessarily, wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face.
  • Get fresh air and exercise while maintaining physical distance from others.
Pioneer Theater Company

Information and updates are available on the website.

Pioneer Theater Company

Printed signs

Order COVID-19 safety printed materials from University Print & Mail Services.

order materials

Q

Quarantine

Quarantine is a public health term that means that people who are not yet sick, but who have been exposed to coronavirus are separated from the general population so they don’t unintentionally infect somebody else. With coronavirus, we quarantine people for 14 days from the last time they were exposed to an infected individual.  There are a number of factors that go into deciding if a person was exposed to the virus, but in simple terms we say if you were within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more (with or without a mask) you may have been exposed. If a person is asked to quarantine, they should stay away from other people, particularly those at greater risk for COVID-19, and not go out except for a medical appointment.

R

RECREATION SERVICES

The latest information about facilities that are open, as well as safety precautions being taken can be found on the Campus Recreation Services website.

Red Butte Garden

See Museums

Research

Under the current high level of transmission conditions, limited research activities can be conducted onsite on campus and other facilities and field sites.

Research Community Updates

Required trainings

Staff and faculty should complete the "Return to Campus Safely Training and Attestation."

staff & faculty training

Students should complete the “Staying Healthy in a Changing Environment” online training via Community Standards Courses tile in CIS.

Student training

Return to campus decision tree

There are certain questions that should be considered before you can safely return to campus. This document will help you answer them.

View decision tree

Return to campus ATTESTATION

Part of the "Return to Campus Safely" training.

View DOCUMENT

Return to campus GUIDANCE

For university employees in non-clinical settings.

View GUIDANCE

S

SafeUT app

The SafeUT Crisis Chat provides real-time crisis intervention through live chat and a confidential tip program—right from your smartphone. Get free 24/7 access to:

  • Supportive or crisis counseling
  • Suicide prevention
  • Referral services

We can help anyone with emotional crises, relationship problems, mental health or suicide-related issues.

Download the app

Self-isolation

Self-isolation is for people who are already sick or have tested positive for COVID-19 but are not sick enough to be in the hospital. Your doctor may tell you to recover at home. Isolation keeps sick people away from healthy people to stop the virus from spreading. Even in your home, you should try to stay away from other people as much as possible. Stay at home EXCEPT to get medical care.

SELF-REPORTING

If you are tested for COVID-19 please complete the University of Utah COVID-19 reporting form.

  • Keep track of places that you visit on campus and people with whom you interact. Reporting is paramount to campus safety, enabling contact tracing and proper disinfection of the workplace by campus Facilities personnel.
  • Report any health and safety concerns to Environmental Health and Safety.
  • Workplace health and safety concerns can be reported through the EHS hazard form. All reports will be treated as confidential and investigated as soon as possible.
  • Health and safety guidance cannot anticipate every unique situation. Therefore, individuals on campus must take personal responsibility to be informed and take actions based on common sense and wise judgment that will protect health and support the mission of the university.

REPORT POTENTIAL EXPOSURE

Sick Leave

Applies to all university employees in a paid position (does not need to be a benefit-eligible position), except for employees of University Hospitals and Clinics.

sick leave information

STUDENT LIFE CENTER

See RECREATION SERVICES.

Study Abroad

See LEARNING ABROAD.

Symptoms checklist

For use in office, classroom, housing or communal spaces.

download PDF

T

Temporary hiring freeze

Effective April 28, the University of Utah instituted a temporary hiring freeze.

Hiring freeze information

Temporary WORK ADJUSTMENT

Employees should complete this form if they are concerned about returning to onsite work because they are a high-risk individual, live with a high-risk individual or for another COVID-related reason.

TWA form

Testing

As the U begins fall semester, the health and well-being of students, staff, and faculty are top priorities for the university. A team led by public health experts at U of U Health has developed a plan to test, trace and monitor campus for cases of COVID-19, as addressed in the FAQ below.

The evolving nature of the pandemic and the university’s focus on reducing risk to the extent possible means that university operations must be flexible, nimble and informed by public health, state and federal guidance. The U’s health experts and administrative leaders are tracking a number of indicators to gauge the impact of COVID-19 on campus as well as in the community. Some of the most important metrics are the following:

  • Weekly number of new COVID-19 cases on campus and in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County and the state of Utah
  • Stress on our hospitals measured by in-patient and ICU bed capacity
  • Testing and contact tracing capacity
  • Quarantine and isolation capacity for students living in on-campus residence halls
  • Impact of COVID-19 on our campus workforce

These metrics will inform senior leaders’ decisions about campus operations. The university also is working on a system to monitor wastewater, which U researchers have shown can serve as an early indicator of a coronavirus outbreak.

Here are details about the U’s plan to test and track COVID-19.

University of Utah Health is offering testing at these locations.

Transit

For more information visit Commuter Services.

Transmission index

On Oct. 15, 2020, the state of Utah implemented a new COVID-19 Transmission Index. The index uses a high, moderate and low framework based on public health metrics that correspond directly with case rates, positivity rates and ICU use in a county.

Read more here.

Travel

The University of Utah is currently restricting all business travel, including having guests on campus, through May 7, 2021. This travel restriction applies to ALL faculty and staff travel, all university-coordinated student travel and all guest/recruit travel. Approved exceptions to this restriction must adhere to all the following procedures:  

  • Requesting department must prepare a memo describing reasons travel is necessary at this time and measures to be taken to address safety for the traveler and those who will be in contact with the travelerduring and following the trip.
     
  • The memo must be approved by one of the following individuals:- Main Campus Academic Affairs: Sarah Projansky, associate vice president for faculty, sarah.projansky@utah.edu
    - Main Campus Staff: Wendy Peterson, deputy chief HR director, wendy.peterson@utah.edu
    - U of U Health Academics: Dayle Benson, chief of staff for Clinical Affairs, dayle.benson@hsc.utah.edu
    - U of U Health Hospitals and Clinics Staff: Sarah Sherer, senior human resources director, sarah.sherer@hsc.utah.edu 

An exception will require final approval by the cognizant vice president. Exceptions must be fully approved and attached to an approved UTravel Concur Request at least one week prior to the start date of travel. 

In-State Travel: We encourage our campus community to be informed about the transmission level assigned to different counties by the state when traveling on university-related business within Utah. We encourage students, staff and faculty to limit travel when a high transmission level is in place and to follow all health protocols, including wearing a face covering, when travel is necessary. We also recommend traveling with one person/household per vehicle. 

Personal Travel: We continue to encourage you, when considering your personal travel choices, to follow travel advisories issued by your local and state authorities. If you choose to travel, you may be restricted from returning to work depending upon the specifics of your circumstances. There are things you can do to minimize health risks to yourself and others, such as quarantining before traveling to visit high-risk individuals and checking your health status by monitoring your temperature and other symptoms of COVID-19. There are now a number of commercially available coronavirus test kits that can be used to assess your status. 

NOTE: Upon return, ALL individuals are expected to complete and submit a “Returning Traveler Self-Reporting Form” following the instructions linked here. 

If you have questions regarding this restriction or exception procedures, please fill out the ASK US form.  

Telecommuting

On-campus office work is allowed for Fall 2020 but should be minimized. Remote work should continue to be encouraged for personnel who are not essential or mandatory employees. Accommodations should be made so that high-risk personnel can work from home. Take steps to minimize the number of individuals in the office at any given time, such as rotating shifts and staggering schedules. Employees who will primarily telecommute should complete the following form.

Telecommuting form

U

University Asia Campus

Faculty, students and staff who have visited or stayed in Daegu/Cheongdo within 14 days prior to arrival on campus  must notify IGC Housing housing@igc.or.kr or 82-032-626-4856 immediately. In addition, all need to provide their names, cellphone numbers and Kakao IDs to the Office of the Dean of Students. Any questions or concerns please address to Randy McCrillis, at randy.mccrillis@utah.edu.

University Asia Campus information

V

VACCINE

All across the state of Utah two different vaccines are being used to fight the spread of COVID-19. Vaccinations began in the state in December with health care workers and other high risk groups. Various health agencies are now working to get as many people protected as quickly as possible.

For more information, and learn more about when you may be eligible for a vaccination please visit the websites of the Utah Department of Health or University of Utah Health.