Health & Safety
←Return to main COVID-19 Info page
The university has implemented a multifaceted and integrated plan for COVID-19 surveillance, testing and early warning.
Vaccine Requirements for Fall 2021
- We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible and no later than August 2, to ensure the requirement is met.
- Additional details will be released in the coming weeks and months.
Vaccination Opportunities for UMD Community
- Walk-up vaccinations are also now available at all mass vaccination sites in Maryland.
Requirements for Students, Faculty, Staff and Affiliates
- Complete this online training and pledge agreeing to abide by CDC-recommended health and safety regulations.
- Monitor and report your temperature and any onset symptoms. Daily symptom monitoring and reporting must begin at least 14 days prior to arrival.
- Get a COVID-19 PCR-based test prior to returning to campus, and submit confirmation of your negative test result.
- Review your personal dashboard that will confirm your status in meeting COVID-19 return-to-campus requirements.
- Each day that you will be on campus or if you are living near campus, you must complete the symptom check survey from UMD confirming you have been symptom-free for at least 14 days.
- All students living on or near campus, and all faculty and staff coming to campus, are required to take a COVID-19 PCR-based test every two weeks.
- Wear a mask around others if you are inside a building, on public transportation, or at a crowded outdoor venue. Updated guidance on wearing masks outdoors is available from Prince George’s County.
Summer Requirements
Starting May 22 through July:
- If you are vaccinated and do not have symptoms, you will not need to be tested. Please indicate your vaccination status on your UMD daily symptom monitoring survey and be prepared to provide proof of vaccination if requested.
- If you have not yet been vaccinated, you will need to be tested at least once per month and attest the results at return.umd.edu.
Fall 2021 Guidelines Fall 2021 Phased Plan
Stay committed 4 Maryland and the UMD Community
Practice the 4 Maryland healthy behaviors:
- Wear a properly fitting mask over your nose and mouth around others at all times, both indoors and outdoors.
- Wash your hands often and sanitize used surfaces frequently.
- Stay at least 6 feet from others.
- Stay home if you are sick.
Wear your mask effectively
-
Check the fit. Your mask should:
- Fit snugly against your face;
- Cover your nose, mouth and chin;
- Have at least two layers (multiple layers of fabric or a disposable mask under a cloth mask); and
- Allow you to see and breathe easily.
- Keep it clean: Reusable face masks should be washed regularly. Having multiple masks on hand ensures you can rotate as needed. Throw away a disposable mask after wearing it once. Don’t share your masks with others.
- Stay apart: Masks are not a substitute for physical distancing. Masks must be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart, including while inside and outside, and especially during any activities that require you to remove your mask, like eating.
- Learn more from the CDC: Improve How Your Mask Protects You
4 Questions with Dr. Marinopoulos: The COVID-19 Vaccine
UMD’s University Health Center Director Dr. Spyridon Marinopoulos answers 4 pressing questions about being vaccinated.
- Stand by your commitment pledge to the UMD community (PDF / Text File)
- Keep following compliance rules and guidelines (PDF / Text File)
- Stand by your community responsibility pledge made following the online training.
- Supervisors and admins can find resources on reporting and compliance at return.umd.edu
return.umd.edu Portal Personal COVID-19 Dashboard Care and Support Resources
- Select to receive daily reminders seven days a week if you visit campus on weekends.
- Opt out of daily reminders if you will be remaining outside the greater College Park area and will not be visiting campus.
Testing everyone who is physically present on our campus is critical to our understanding of the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community. We fully expect a number of individuals to test positive, and have developed appropriate procedures to initiate early contact identification, and protocols for isolation and quarantine so we can help protect against the further spread of the virus.
Testing is available on-campus at the Stamp Student Union. You must make an appointment to get tested. Walk-ins are not permitted at this time.
- Testing appointments must be made through the University Health Center Patient Portal.
- Testing is available at the Stamp Student Union on campus every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday throughout the spring semester. Testing will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the summer.
- Individuals who need assistance making an appointment may call the University Human Resources Support Center at (301)405-7575.
- Off-Campus Testing: Testing is available in the College Park area; the closest site is behind the College Park Fire Station. Information and other testing locations can be found at coronavirus.maryland.gov or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Refer to the COVID-19 testing information site for detailed information and FAQs.
- All students, faculty, staff and affiliates are required to confirm their PCR-based test results at return.umd.edu regardless of where the test occurred, even if done on campus.
- You will be asked to remain home or in your on-campus residence and self-monitor for virus symptoms until you receive a negative test result.
All negative test results from both on-campus testing and off-campus testing locations must be submitted by individuals to return.umd.edu. The UHC will not submit test results on your behalf.
- You must call the HEAL line at 301.405.4325.
- Messages left on the HEAL line will be responded to between 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 12 p.m.-6 p.m Saturday and Sunday. Any messages left outside of those times will be returned the next time the line is active.
- If you are having symptoms and need to speak to a nurse outside of the HEAL line's designated hours you can contact the After Hours Nurse Line at (877) 924-7758 between 8 p.m.-8 a.m, seven days a week.
- You will be required to isolate for 10 days, per CDC guidelines.
- If you are living on campus, you will be asked to move to quarantine and isolation housing in Leonardtown or on Fraternity Row for the duration of your quarantine.
- You are required to provide information about close contacts to the university and/or the county. Failure to comply will result in a referral to Student Conduct, the outcome of which could be interim suspension from the university.
- We will notify residents of university-owned buildings regarding a positive case on the same floor of that residence hall or university-owned fraternity or sorority house as a reminder for students to remain vigilant and follow 4 Maryland guidelines.
- If you are determined by the University Health Center or Prince George’s County Health Department to be a close contact, you will be required to quarantine for 10 days.
- The University Health Center will contact you with instructions. Failure to comply will result in a referral to Student Conduct, the outcome of which could be interim suspension from the university.
- If you are living on campus, you will be asked to move to quarantine and isolation housing and will be required to stay for 10 days.
A Quarantine/Isolation (Q/I) Case Manager will be assigned to each student who will isolate or quarantine on campus. Consistent with last semester, residential students who test positive, and/or have been exposed to a close contact who has tested positive, will be asked to move to quarantine and isolation housing in Leonardtown or on Fraternity Row. Students in quarantine or isolation will now be required to stay 10 days whether they are being quarantined for possible exposure, or isolated with symptoms or a positive test result.
- To ensure that case managers are able to meet the needs of students in Q/I housing, the case managers are a dedicated point of contact for students only. Family members of Q/I housed students can contact the Office of Parent and Family Affairs with questions or concerns at 301.314.8429 or terpfamily@umd.edu. Staff members are available from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. Messages received outside of these hours, including weekends, will be returned as soon as possible and based on priority of need.
- Refer to the quarantine and isolation housing flowchart for more information on the processes, response, and what to expect.
Mandatory Testing Information and FAQs Care and Support Resources
UMD has developed a voluntary way for students, faculty, staff, and affiliates to provide the names and contact information for UMD community members they frequently interact with.
This platform is designed to aid in early contact identification should someone test positive for COVID-19. Close contacts are individuals who you interact with regularly in-person while working, studying, or in residence on campus or in the greater College Park community. This system is optional and not required.
UMD’s Health and Safety Plan
1. Contact tracing. Any positive diagnostic test result will be communicated immediately to the state health authorities, who will then activate a contact tracing team to identify potential secondary cases to limit the spread of infection.
2. Environmental monitoring. UMD faculty experts are developing opportunities for early detection of impending illnesses by monitoring wastewater, air and high-touch surfaces in campus buildings.
3. Behavioral changes. A campus-wide health information campaign promotes critical health behaviors:
2
—
Stay at least 6 feet from others at all times in addition to wearing a mask.
3
—
Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.
4
—
If you are sick, do not report to work or class.
4. Cleaning protocols. All buildings approved for occupancy will be cleaned on a regular basis, including enhanced cleaning of high-traffic areas.
- All classrooms used for in-person instruction will be equipped with disinfectant wipes for surfaces such as seats, desks and tables between each class.
- Instructors will be asked to allow time for students to clean and disinfect their work area before class and to similarly clean and disinfect their own work area and whatever equipment they plan to use for the class.
- Classroom seating will be arranged or marked to indicate safe seating distances.
- Hand sanitizer stations will be available in proximity to classrooms.
- Classrooms and high-touch areas in buildings will be cleaned and disinfected nightly.
- Instructors will be expected to deliver handouts and other types of course material digitally through ELMS-CANVAS to minimize the exchange of papers or any other instruction materials.
- Signs will be posted to direct one-way traffic within busy campus buildings and to indicate safe distancing to minimize the likelihood of congestion in hallways, at entrances, restrooms, etc.
- Cleaning frequency will be increased in community restrooms and high-touch areas in residence halls such as elevator buttons, water fountains and door handles.
5. Employee flexibility. In general, the university encourages flexibility for employees, including graduate assistants. Departments should consider use of alternative work schedules, such as some on-campus work days and some telework days, use of leave and flexibility with starting and finishing times. University Human Resources has created handbooks for employees and supervisors:
- For employees: Working Through COVID-19: Returning to Campus
- For supervisors: Managing Through COVID-19: Returning to Campus
4 Maryland Information Campaign
Feedback
We value input from our campus community. Please fill out our feedback form to share suggestions or report concerns about health and safety on campus.
UMD App is the official mobile app for campus. It provides up-to-date information and access to popular campus services, all from your mobile device. Visit umd.edu/app for more information and download.
