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COVID-19 Information for UMD

Our focus has been on the health and well-being of our entire campus community, and our plans have been coordinated with state and county health officials, with additional guidance provided by the University System of Maryland.

On this page:

Current Status

  1. Vaccination: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not required, however, COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended.
  2. Testing: Students, faculty and staff do not need to be tested regularly.
  3. Masks: Wearing a mask is not required while indoors. However, wearing a high-quality mask is recommended for added protection.
  4. Special Health Conditions: Individuals with a weakened or compromised immune system may need to continue to take precautions to maximally protect themselves.
     

 

Latest News and Announcements

 

If you have tested positive, think you have symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to COVID-19, please report your results at return.umd.edu. If you have a medical question or concern, please contact your physician.

 

Vaccines

UMD does not require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. However, COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended. We encourage students, faculty and staff to assess their personal COVID-19 health risk and take appropriate measures.

  • Release Time is available for UMD employees to get COVID-19 vaccines (additional doses and boosters) and to get the flu vaccine on campus at the University Health Center.
  • You should return to work once you have received the vaccine dose, unless your work shift is over or you are on approved leave following your appointment.
  • If you have an adverse reaction following vaccination, advise your supervisor and use accrued sick leave in accordance with established policies.

 

  • Details for Release Time for On-Campus Vaccines:
    • Release time is only for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations at the University Health Center.
    • To ensure minimal disruption to work, give your supervisor as much advance notice as possible of your appointment date and time.
    • If you want to have the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations on different days, release time may be taken on two separate days, for no more than a cumulative total of one hour (60 minutes).
    • For non-exempt staff, contingent 1 staff, and hourly faculty, the time in and out should be recorded on the timesheet; enter "COVID-19 vaccination" or "Flu vaccination" in the notes section of the timesheet.
    • For exempt regular and contingent II staff and faculty, employees can use the notes section on their timesheet to note time away for vaccination.

 

 

Testing and Results

Students, faculty and staff do not need to be tested regularly.

On-Campus Testing With or Without Symptoms

  • Free self-test kits are available at the University Health Center (UHC) while supplies last. Come to the front entrance of the UHC and show your University ID card. No appointment needed.
  • PCR testing may be done at the UHC for individuals who have a scheduled appointment with a provider, or who are traveling outside of the US and need a PCR test to enter their international destination.
  • Rapid antigen testing is also available at the UHC for individuals with symptoms who have an appointment with a provider.
     

Off-Campus Testing

  • Self-test kits may be ordered for free through covid.gov, or purchased at retailers and pharmacies in your area.
  • Local testing sites can be found using the Prince George’s County testing site locator. Additional information and other testing locations can be found at coronavirus.maryland.gov or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

If you have been notified that you are a close contact and do not have symptoms, you should get tested 5-7 days after exposure. You may also need to quarantine, if you are not up to date on your vaccines.

  • You must report your results at return.umd.edu, and you will then receive an email with instructions (example email for resident students)
  • Review the isolation instructions and FAQs for people who test positive
  • The Prince George’s Health Department may follow up with formal contact tracing of positive individuals.
  • Students will need to make arrangements with their instructors regarding class attendance and assignments for the duration of their quarantine or isolation period.

 

Masks

Wearing a mask is not required while indoors. However, masks are a significant defense against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, so wearing a high-quality mask is recommended while indoors for added protection.

KN95 masks are still available free of charge to all members of our campus community.

  • The Stamp Student Union Information Desk has masks available to all students, faculty and staff.
  • Staff and faculty can also work directly with their supervisor.
  • Departments can order KN95 face masks for employees from Procurement. 

 

 

University-Related Travel

All university-related travel is permitted. University-related travel is travel for educational, research or business purposes tied to the traveler’s affiliation with the university, regardless of funding source.

  • Please heed all CDC COVID-19 guidance regarding domestic and international travel. 
  • If you have a medical condition or are taking medication that weakens your immune system, please talk to your healthcare provider before traveling. You might NOT be fully protected even if you are up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions. 
  • When traveling internationally, you must also abide by any protocols established by the host country. 
  • If you are not fully vaccinated (including a booster when eligible) and must travel, please talk to your healthcare provider about your health risk before traveling and follow all applicable CDC and other guidance as outlined above.

 

We are in an ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. The CDC recommends making sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel and avoiding travel to certain high risk destinations.
 

If you are unvaccinated and travel, your risk of contracting and getting seriously sick from the virus is higher compared to individuals who are up-to-date with their vaccine, and it is critically important to assess your health risk with your healthcare provider and to follow CDC recommendations prior to and during travel.
 

Some people should not travel. Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine. Don’t travel with someone who is sick. If you are immunocompromised, do NOT travel without first seeking advice from your personal physician.
 

Make sure to plan ahead. When traveling in the US, check the current COVID-19 Community Level at your destination. If traveling to an area with high or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, and you are, live with, or are visiting someone with a weakened immune system or at increased risk for severe disease, plan to take steps to prevent getting sick.
 

When traveling internationally, check the COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination and follow these recommendations to protect yourself and others while traveling.
 

If, at any time while you travel, you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or begin to feel unwell, please stay away from others and get tested as soon as possible. If you test positive, report your results at return.umd.edu. You are also advised to seek medical attention immediately, especially if you have a chronic health condition or are immunocompromised.
 

If you travel, please heed all CDC, federal, State and local guidance regarding travel. CDC guidance is updated regularly. CDC guidance can be found at the following links:

 

Special Health Conditions

Individuals with a weakened or compromised immune system are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19, including an increased risk of hospitalization and death. If you are unvaccinated and have a weakened or compromised immune system, you are at the highest risk for contracting and becoming severely ill from the virus.

  • We strongly recommend consulting with your personal physician and following CDC guidance for immunocompromised individuals on receiving all booster doses when eligible.
  • Wear a mask at all times when in public spaces, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Maintain 6 feet of physical distancing at all times.
  • Contact your healthcare provider for recommendations regarding specific precautions that may apply in your situation. UMD may offer appropriate adjustments and/or accommodations based on a letter from your healthcare provider. 
  • Contact your healthcare provider immediately for advice and further treatment should you begin to feel unwell. 
  • In addition to the above precautions, you are strongly advised against returning to campus until your vaccines are up-to-date and/or you have a statement from your physician listing the accommodations and adjustments required in your situation.

 

Campus Resources

 

Additional Resources

State of Maryland

Prince George’s County

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

About

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

DO GOOD 

Introducing The Nation's First Do Good Campus Transforming Idealism into Impact 

Academics

Spanning 12 schools and colleges, Maryland offers more than 300 degree-granting programs, many of them ranked among the best in the country. Our faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 58 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. And our students, who include the highest achievers in the state and nation, enjoy experiences unique to our location just outside the nation’s capital, including internships, research, and leadership and service opportunities.

Research and Innovation

The University of Maryland is one of the world’s premier research institutions. With our strategic location and scores of partnerships with government and businesses, UMD conducts groundbreaking research on some of the biggest challenges facing our global community, including cybersecurity and terrorism, bioengineering, public health equity, food safety and climate change. We strive to discover new knowledge and put it to work through innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing economic development and transforming lives. 


The newly launched Innovation Gateway will guide you to the resources, programs, partners, and spaces you need to activate and scale your fearless ideas into innovations that launch new ventures, catalyze growth, and advance economic development.

Arts

At the University of Maryland, the arts, the humanities and the sciences intersect to address important societal issues and shed new light on the human experience. Our vibrant campus arts community collaborates with local and national cultural organizations such as the Phillips Collection, Kennedy Center and Folger Shakespeare Library. Student and faculty artists, designers, historians, writers and performers are exploring new media, presenting new perspectives, investigating new techniques and engaging new audiences.

Athletics

Home of the Terrapins, the University of Maryland has one of the nation’s most recognizable and successful athletics programs. More than 550 student-athletes compete each year in 20 intercollegiate sports—12 for women and eight for men. Since 2005 alone, Maryland has won 19 national championships, including NCAA titles in women’s basketball, men’s soccer, men's lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and field hockey. Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014, UMD has won a combined 32 regular season and tournament championships. Fear the Turtle!

Student Life

The Terp experience extends beyond classrooms, labs and studios. It encompasses residence halls and dining halls, clubs and sports, fraternities and sororities, campus events and performances, and countless off-campus destinations. Maryland touts 800-plus student organizations, dozens of prestigious living and learning communities, and countless other ways to get involved. Students here can create a unique identity and grow as individuals, even as they’re part of a close-knit and diverse community. 

On Campus

News

Latest news at Maryland Today

For media releases visit UMD Right Now

Terps are bold, smart, curious and proud. We do good, in our communities and out in the world. We are fearless. And we are always looking to expand our ranks. Interested in becoming a University of Maryland student? This is where to start.

 

Give to Maryland

Giving back is a fearless Terp tradition, and there are many ways you can not only keep it alive, but also make an instant impact. 

M Circle on the University of Maryland campus

 

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Maryland Promise Students

Support the Clark Challenge for the Maryland Promise Scholarship and double your impact through the Clark Challenge.

 


Clark Challenge for the Maryland Promise