Coronavirus Update

UTA continues to monitor the constantly evolving status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are committed to providing up-to-date health, safety, and travel information and enacting recommendations based on guidance from the UT System, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and regional public health agencies.

UTA is announcing the following important schedule changes, guidelines, and requirements.

UTA is extending spring break for students March 15-22 so that it can continue preparations for the campus and the full resumption of the academic mission of the University. However, all current online courses will be conducted as scheduled during the week of March 15.

To facilitate additional social distancing there will be no in-person instruction when classes resume on March 23. The University will conduct instruction via online platforms until further notice. Students should expect to receive information next week from departments and faculty about how to access their courses.

Students are encouraged to remain away from campus. However, for those students living in residence halls or University-owned apartments and who are unable to go home, housing and dining services will be available. The campus is reviewing options to offer other essential support services. Further guidance is forthcoming.

As an additional measure to increase social distancing and mitigate the health risks for our community all campus tours, events, and activities will be cancelled until at least April 6. This includes student organization-sponsored campus events.

Research activities will continue as normal. The Office of the Vice President for Research will work closely with the University to monitor the status of the coronavirus response and adjust policies and procedures accordingly. For resources and guidelines related to research at UTA and updated information on COVID-19 impact to research, visit the UTA Research administration webpage.

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.

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.

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.

As a result of this rapidly emerging situation and in accordance with UT System guidance, effective immediately UTA students, faculty and staff are required to report ALL personal international travel, including cruises, regardless of whether or not your destination has been designated a CDC Travel Health Notice Warning Level. Personal international travel information must be reported as soon as possible through the international travel form.

Individuals returning to UTA from a country with a CDC Level 2 or 3 travel warning will have to self-isolate off-campus for 14 days before returning to class or work. Upon the date of return indicated in your travel submission, you will be contacted by UTA Health Services with further directions related to your quarantine check-ins and release to return to campus.

As a number of states have declared a state of emergency in response to a growing number of COVID-19 cases, UTA faculty, staff, and students are discouraged from embarking on travel within the U.S. If you plan to travel within the U.S. in the coming weeks, we urge you to monitor the status of your destination and take measures to protect yourself while traveling.

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.

For the latest updates on UTA’s measures related to the coronavirus, please visit www.uta.edu/coronavirus.