Coronavirus Information

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is a rapidly evolving and emerging situation. UTA will provide updated guidance and information, including the actions the University is taking and the latest health, safety and travel recommendations based on information from UT System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of State.

View the COVID-19 FAQs for additional information on UTA's changes and guidelines related to the coronavirus outbreak.

Online Instruction to continue for remainder of spring semester

The University will conduct online instruction beginning March 23 and for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. There will be no in-person instruction during this time. Students will be receiving information from departments and faculty about how to access and complete their courses.

In the meantime, students are encouraged to take the Online Learning Technology and Preparedness Survey to inform faculty and staff of technological capabilities as the University prepares to deliver instruction and services through online platforms.

Spring 2020 Commencement

All spring 2020 commencement ceremonies are postponed. Graduating students will receive their degrees as scheduled, but the ceremonies will be rescheduled at a later date to be announced.

Campus Operations & Events

As an additional measure to increase social distancing and mitigate the health risks for our community all campus tours, events, and activities are cancelled through the end of the spring semester. This includes student organization-sponsored campus events.

In line with national health guidelines, we strongly encourage all students to stay at home, and/or return home and access facilities through online means.

Specially designed, socially distant computer labs on campus are available to students that need computer facility access to complete their courses. Information about these labs, as well as other resources for students, can be found on UTA Remote. Additionally, the UTA Library has prepared information about available services to support students during this time.

Residential Life & Dining Services

Living in campus residence halls and participating in campus dining programs will be limited to students who do not have a suitable alternative. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to serve students who require this accommodation while observing social distancing practices.

Information on move-out procedures will be distributed by UTA Housing directly to residents. For all housing and residential questions, please contact housing@uta.edu.

Facilities and Support Services Operating Hours

While we encourage students to remain at home, we understand that we have some students remaining on campus. Therefore, beginning March 16, the following hours of service are in effect to support those students who are on campus:

• Central Library: Effective March 24, the University of Texas at Arlington Central Library is closing to all but laptop lending, while also highlighting and expanding its virtual services. Beginning March 24 and through March 27, the UTA Central Library will be open only for laptop lending from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Beginning March 30, laptop lending will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. College libraries remain closed.
  
• Maverick Activities Center: closed
• CAPS: remains available to students during these unprecedented times. Services may be performed remotely. Please call at 817-272-3671 to schedule a time to connect with a counselor regarding your concerns. If this is an Emergency please call 911 or the MavsTalk 24hr Crisis Line at 817-272-8255. We also encourage the UTA community to use CAPS online resources for accessing information related to emotional well-being and mental health support.
• Health Center: will observe normal operating hours. Limited services are available at this time. Call 817-272-2771 if you need to be seen by a healthcare provider. If you have fever and respiratory symptoms, have had recent international travel or contact with an individual known to have the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) please call before coming to the health center.
• Research labs and academic buildings: will remain open to faculty and staff.
• Dining Services: Carry-out meals will be available at the Market in the University Center only Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will be the only food option available on campus until restrictions are lifted.
• UTA Bookstore: open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The bookstore will limit the number of people in the store to no more than 10 at one time to comply with the social distancing limit Tarrant County has instituted. Online customers are still welcome. Follett is continuing to offer free shipping to all customers.
• Starbucks: Location adjacent to the bookstore will continue to operate as a grab-and-go store 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Student Emergency Assistance Fund

UTA students with a temporary hardship as a result of the impact and disruption caused by the coronavirus may apply for financial help from the UTA Emergency Assistance Fund.

The Emergency Assistance Fund is possible through the generous contributions of supporters. If you are interested in supporting our students in need, please consider giving to the Emergency Assistance Fund.

Faculty and Staff Resources: Telecommuting, Research and Policies

UTA has established a coronavirus resource center for faculty and staff that includes operations and support information from Human Resources and Business Affairs.

The University is strongly encouraging telecommuting to the maximum extent possible for faculty and staff in order to minimize the need to be on campus. For additional information about telecommuting, please reference the telecommuting FAQs.

The Vice President for Research encourages all faculty and staff to work with their department heads to make the necessary accommodations and modifications that permit working remotely. Research activities may continue should it be able to be completed via working remotely or in limited social interactions as described by the CDC, or if it is necessary due to the nature of your work.

The VPR has established a website with updates and information specific to research during this evolving outbreak.   

The Provost has prepared FAQs about academic policy changes in response to COVID-19.

Reporting Close Contact with COVID-19 Patient(s)

If a student, faculty, or staff member comes into close contact (within six feet) with an individual who has been tested and diagnosed with COVID-19, you are required to complete the Close Contact form.

Individuals who have been in contact with anyone who has been confirmed positive for COVID-19 will be expected to self-isolate at an off-campus location for 14 days and receive clearance by a medical professional before returning to campus for any reason. UTA Health Services will be in contact with further directions related to daily quarantine check-ins and release to return to campus.

What to do if experiencing symptoms

If you are experiencing symptoms or have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient, the CDC and local health authorities have advised to call your health care provider to discuss symptoms or contact history. Do not go to a clinic, UTA Health Services or other, if experiencing symptoms without first calling.

In the event of an emergency, call 911 and inform the dispatcher of COVID-19 concerns.

UTA students can contact UTA Health Services with concerns during office hours at 817-272-2771. Outside of normal business hours, call the Tarrant County Public Health hotline at 817-321-5939. 

UTA Health Services information is available at uta.edu/healthservices.

University-Sponsored International Travel

All University-sponsored international travel for students, faculty, and staff is cancelled until further notice. Exceptions will be considered by the UTA International Oversight Committee by submitting a request to travel to restricted regions.

Any questions regarding study abroad and UTA IOC approvals should be directed to Jay Horn, executive director of international education (horn@uta.edu).

University-Sponsored Domestic Travel

In an abundance of caution, all University-sponsored domestic travel is highly discouraged. For those individuals needing to travel for mission-essential business, travel authorizations should be submitted through UT Share as normal, for review and final approval by the cognizant dean or unit head.

Personal International Travel

The CDC raised its Travel Health Notice Warning Level to Level 2 and above globally, which includes all international and cruise travel. These changes trigger a UTA requirement for a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period upon your return to the United State for anyone who left the U.S. border.

All UTA travelers must submit the international travel form for further information and to receive details of self-monitoring upon return to the United States.

The University is committed to providing assistance to any individuals finding themselves in this situation. We also are informing returning Mavericks that they are not to visit UTA Health Services without calling the clinic first. Caregivers will provide telephone consultation and work with our local and regional health departments to provide appropriate care for symptomatic individuals.  

Travelers should also consider how their planned trips may affect their ability to return to the United States and to campus. If trip cancellation insurance is available, travelers should consider purchasing it in case last-minute cancellation is needed. This continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and it is difficult to anticipate what the future may hold.

Those traveling should allot additional time for airport screening measures, which generally include temperature checks and questionnaires, and should follow directives from authorities. No one should travel while sick, lest they risk additional screening measures, potential entry denial, and quarantine. Additionally, anyone who is sick risks spreading germs and infection to others.

Personal Domestic Travel

On March 26, 2020 Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order requiring a 14-day quarantine for all travelers arriving from the New York Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) and New Orleans, Louisiana. These mandatory self-quarantines will last a period of 14 days or for the duration of a person’s presence in Texas, whichever is shorter.

UTA’s top priority is to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. All UTA students, faculty, and staff must comply with the order and continue to follow all recommended guidance from federal, state, and local governments.

Protecting Our Community

UTA always recommends our community members follow CDC and public health guidelines, which are similar to what is recommended during cold and flu season, including:

• Stay home if you are sick and seek medical attention.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.

The Office of Facilities Management has increased its sanitization of public spaces on campus, including focused sanitization of touch points such as handrails, door handles, common spaces, common area seating and tables, etc. Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed across campus as well.

We understand some of these measures will be an inconvenience to some members of our community, but we take the health and safety of our Maverick family seriously. There will be many questions and challenges that we will need to resolve together during this unprecedented situation. We will continue our efforts and implement new procedures and guidelines as warranted. We appreciate the work of our faculty and staff as they prepare to protect our campus and assist our students to complete the semester successfully.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

While there is understandable concern and widespread news coverage of coronavirus, there also has been a great deal of rumors and misinformation.

The World Health Organization has created a myth-busters site, while the CDC has a “Know the Facts” site to combat rumors about the virus and its transmission.

UTA is working in close coordination with the UT System and public health agencies, and we will continue to monitor guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and others.

In addition, several offices at UTA are actively monitoring the latest guidance and coordinating activities and planning, including the Office of the President, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, International Education, Health Services, Human Resources and Emergency Management, among others. We will continue to share information as developments warrant.

Updated information will be posted to uta.edu/coronavirus.

• For additional questions, please contact traveladvisory@uta.edu.