Frequently Asked Questions: Instruction Spring 2022

The University’s public dashboard provides the latest campus COVID-19 data. Effective September 20, 2021, the dashboard will be updated daily.

Definition of Close Contact: When you are within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period (for example, 1 continuous 15 minute exposure or 3 separate 5 minute exposures over 24 hours). This definition applies regardless of whether one or both parties were wearing a mask.

The current state of emergency came at the request of Maryland hospitals to mobilize more resources (different from the stay at home order from March 2020). The current order does not include new limits on capacity, social distancing, or other new restrictions. There is no effect on campus operations with the declaration at this time.

This pledge is an attestation and commitment to the UMD community that you will do your part and practice the proper safety measures that are critical to the safe operation of the campus and to life in the surrounding community. 

Students who test positive or are placed in quarantine should notify their instructors that they need to isolate or quarantine and cannot be at school in person.

Faculty and staff who test positive should notify their supervisors that they need to isolate and cannot be at work in person.

Instructional faculty should refer to the guidance for short term absences issued by the Provost’s office.

Non-instructional faculty or staff: If the employee's supervisor has approved the position as telework eligible, and the employee feels well enough to work, they can telework.

Non-instructional faculty or staff who are in positions that are not telework eligible, as defined by their supervisor, and/or staff who do not feel able to work will need to use Sick Leave.
 

Yes. Regardless of vaccination status, students, faculty, and staff must isolate for a minimum of 5 days if they test positive for COVID-19 and cannot end isolation until they meet all required criteria and provide a negative rapid antigen test on day 6. Please refer to the HEAL line website for more information.  Students who must isolate should do so at their permanent home address. If you are unable to travel home without the use of a plane or train, students who live on campus can consult with the  HEAL line (301.405.HEAL).

Please report your result to the HEAL Line at (301) 405-HEAL. Additionally, everyone residing in the State of Maryland must report a positive self test to the state.

Yes. Testing will be provided for individuals who have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and for individuals who are symptomatic.

If you are up to date with your vaccines, have not been notified of being a close contact, and do not have symptoms, you do not need to be tested regularly. Testing for asymptomatic individuals who want to be tested is currently available at the Stamp asymptomatic testing site. 

Individuals with a vaccine exemption and those who are not up to date with their vaccines, are required to test twice-a-week using a PCR-based test.

Please visit https://umd.edu/4Maryland/covid-testing for more information.

Instructors should not initiate their own procedures in response to the notification from the UHC, but rather should heed the guidance from UHC/Early Contact Identification process. If faculty have any questions or concerns regarding their safety or the safety of students in the classroom, they should contact healthconcerns@umd.edu.  If they have medical/health questions they should call the UHC HEAL line at 301.405.HEAL.

With 98% of the campus fully vaccinated, and the University’s indoor masking requirement, the need to cancel an in-person class would be unlikely. If the Early Contact Identification process determines this to be a case, notification will be sent to the department and instructors should follow the guidance issued by the UHC. 

Masks must be worn at all times while indoors, including in all offices (except while working alone in a private office), residence halls, and dining areas (except while actively eating or drinking).

KN95 masks are required in all classroom settings and recommended everywhere else. KN95 masks may be obtained from the information desk at Stamp Student Union. Departments may order masks from the Printing Services Digital Storefront. KN95 masks, KF94 masks and N95 masks are considered equivalent for the purpose of this policy.