Coronavirus Students Frequently Asked Questions
UHS – University Health Services (Polly Parks)
HRL – Housing and Residence Life
RD – HRL Resident Director (Amirrah Nur, Laker Hall; Shantel Taylor, Laker Village)
AA – Academic Affairs (Jill Lane)
PE – a potentially exposed student
Positive – a student who has tested positive for COVID
Scenario 1 – Notification of a positive resident
HRL receives information that a resident is positive
HRL (Resident Director) takes the following steps:
- Informs residential student that if they are positive they should follow institutional protocol and go home to recover.
- Determines if the student will be able to go home and when they will be able to do so.
- Makes arrangements for relocation to isolation area if the student has a valid reason that they cannot go home to recover.
- Makes arrangements for meal services, trash services and mental support services for students who are unable to return home while in isolation.
- Informs residential student that they should contact UHS for health support and guidance.
- Informs the student that they will be providing UHS with their identity to offer medical assistance and to initiate contact notification
- Informs UHS that a positive case was reported and shares the identity
UHS takes the following steps:
- Makes contact with student to verify information to provide medical guidance and initiate contact notification
- Informs AA
- Notifies suitemates that a member of their suite tested positive for COVID, that they are potentially exposed and that they should plan to self-monitor for symptoms and self-quarantine in their suite or go home to self-quarantine for 10 days. Informs them that HRL will contact them regarding dining and other personal support. Notifies them that AA will contact them regarding class-related support.
- Communicates with the appropriate RD regarding the date that the student may end isolation assuming the CDC recovery criteria has been met
HRL (Resident Director) takes the following steps to support PE students:
- Notifies Facilities to schedule an immediate fogging/cleaning of the suite.
- Notifies PE suitemates that a fogging/cleaning process will occur and the anticipated time and duration.
- Communicates with PE suite occupants about delivery of food service for each meal, dietary concerns, allergies, etc., and trash pick-up.
- Provides regular check-in with PE suitemates during the period of self-quarantine.
Scenario 2 - Notification of a PE resident
HRL receives information that a student is PE.
HRL (Resident Director) takes the following action:
- Informs the student that they should follow institutional protocol, self-monitor for symptoms and self-quarantine either in their residence hall or back at home if they prefer (skip this step if UHS has already spoken with them).
- Informs the student that their identity will be shared with UHS and that they should contact UHS for health questions, concerns and self-quarantine guidance.
- Informs UHS of the PE notification/identity (if they do not already know) and request information from UHS on duration of the self-quarantine. (UHS notifies AA).
- RD makes arrangements for food delivery, trash pick-up, and provides regular check-in.
NOTE: In any case where a student’s symptoms are so severe that they would need medical attention, contact emergency medical ambulance.
The most important responsibility we each have is to practice prevention. Prevention is paramount. Please take appropriate measures such as:
- Wash hands regularly.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Be responsible and courteous to others and stay home if you are sick. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your health provider.
- Respect personal space when greeting others and during conversations.
- Be mindful of those in high-risk populations such as those with underlying health conditions and the elderly.
We take very seriously the responsibility to make prudent choices for the well-being
of the USG community. The Governor has issued a directive to reduce the number of
employees on-site at any one time and prioritize teleworking and flexible scheduling.
We continue to monitor COVID-19 and to take safety actions as warranted. We are operating in conjunction with our local, state and national health agencies to include regular updates with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).
Each college and university president has established a task force composed of leaders from across campus who are working to continually assess the institution’s readiness plans and execute protocols related to medical health and safety, business continuity, emergency preparedness and travel.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath; you should contact your primary care physician or institution health center, if applicable for students.
The CDC has guidance on this topic found at the website:
We will be returning to a very different campus than when we left. Twelve campus groups have been working very hard to put in place safeguards and guidelines for our campus community to use to minimize the spread of COVID 19.
Using the guidelines from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC, we will be asking you to change your usual behavior to include the known strategies to keep us healthy.
We are asking as you return to campus to BE POSITIVE, Be Prepared, and Be Proactive to keep our campus safe.
To do this, you need to:
- Monitor your own health for signs of illness. Stay home if sick.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if washing isn't possible. Do this frequently and after any contact where you may have come in contact with the virus.
- Maintain a minimum of 6-foot distance from others.
- Avoid large gatherings. .
- Wear a nose and mouth covering.
- Follow all the procedures outlined in the approved Return to Campus Plan.
- Be your brother's keeper! Remind others to follow the guidelines.
University Health Services, in conjunction with Human Resources, has a plan in place to handle any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. We are working closely with the State Epidemiologist and Clayton CO Health Department to conduct any contact tracing and make recommendations if containment strategies are needed. Facilities has purchased the necessary equipment to perform any required cleaning and disinfecting.
There will be shared responsibility for this. All classrooms are being marked for assignable seating and extra chairs and furniture is being moved out. The instructor space in the front of the room will be marked as well. General instructions and guidelines will be sent to students and faculty and we are working on a COVID-19 Information and Guidelines sheet that can be included in all syllabi and posted to D2L. As per the Workplace Health and Safety Plan, faculty and students will be responsible for wiping down your workspace in each classroom when you arrive. Facilities has also developed a schedule for cleaning buildings during the day and each evening.
We are recommending self-monitoring. As a general rule, we will not be conducting temperature and health screenings at the entrances to buildings, however, there may be certain areas where this is necessary such as the Dental Hygiene Clinic, or other places where physical distancing is not possible. A department can require certain screenings with prior approval.
Cleaning supplies are being distributed to departments based on their return to campus schedule outlined in the Workplace Health and Safety Plan.
Hand sanitizers dispensers are available for many areas. However, due to shortages of these items, it is not possible to provide every room with its own hand sanitizer dispenser. Each individual should carry their own hand sanitizer with them at all times.