(Employees) COVID-19 updates, reminders and resources

As we reach the midway point of this semester, we’d like to share some reminders and updates about the University’s ongoing response to COVID‑19. We should recognize and celebrate the hard work and smart decisions that helped us resume in-person operations, while also taking note of the measures we can continue to take to keep moving forward.

As was shared in the Sept. 8 message to campus, random required COVID‑19 testing will continue until further notice, with 20% of our campus population selected each week. This policy has been effective in identifying COVID cases and mitigating the spread of the virus on our campus. It has also helped inform our decisions regarding classroom density and on-campus operations. We see clear value in continuing the policy to protect our campus community.

A few weeks ago, we launched the COVID‑19 Dashboard, which captures the latest data and status of COVID‑19 in the UTA community since the onset of the University’s required COVID‑19 testing protocol on Aug. 13. The Dashboard allows our community members to see the same data we consider when making decisions related to University operations and health and safety protocols.

Encouragingly, the Dashboard demonstrates consistently low positivity rates. You can help keep our rates low and protect yourself and others by wearing masks when indoors, staying home if you’re sick, and getting vaccinated.

We established the Maverick Motivator Program to encourage our community to do its part and get vaccinated against COVID‑19. The window for participation closed on Oct. 6, and the randomly selected winners were notified last week. In total, 84 students and 20 employees received large prizes, including free tuition, MacBook Pros, parking, and meal plans.

Though the Maverick Motivator Program has closed, the benefits of the COVID‑19 vaccine remain. We’ve scheduled three more on-campus vaccine clinics to give you and your family convenient, free access to the Pfizer vaccine. This includes first and second doses for all individuals 12 years and older and booster doses for eligible individuals.

Clinics will be held on a walk-in-only basis in the Group Exercise Room (101B) in the Maverick Activities Center.

If you’ve been vaccinated, we recommend you check the CDC’s guidelines for booster shots to see if you’re eligible and if you should make plans to get one. We plan to offer additional clinics to support Mavericks with family and dependents between the ages of 5 and 11 when vaccines become available to that age group. We will update you when that time comes.

Daily self-monitoring: Perform a health self-screening before coming to campus each day. If you are experiencing any new or worsening symptoms consistent with COVID‑19, please remain home, notify your supervisor, and make plans to get tested.
Testing resources: Free on-campus testing options remain open to you and your family seven days a week. You can get tested anytime you need or want to; you do not need to wait until you’re selected for random testing.
If you test positive for COVID‑19: Submit the Personal Diagnosis Form and self-isolate at an off-campus location for at least 10 days, during which time UTA Health Services will be in contact to monitor your status. Before returning to campus, you must submit a note to Human Resources Leave Management from a medical professional clearing you to return to work.

The Office of the Provost will share plans for spring 2022 course instruction with faculty in the coming weeks. You can expect plans to focus on primarily in-person courses, with some online and hybrid offerings.

We thank each of you for your ingenuity and commitment to upholding our mission while responding to the challenges of the pandemic. In the classroom and our campus operations, we continue to encourage tactics that capitalize on innovative approaches to teaching and offering services that allow us to be more efficient and reduce barriers to educational success.

We’ve made significant progress in managing COVID‑19 at UTA. We have successfully returned to primarily in-person instruction and restored the on-campus experience for the majority of our students. Our campus is once again alive with Maverick spirit, something that would not be possible without your collective and individual commitments to keeping our community safe.

Contact covidtesting@uta.edu with questions about our testing policy or resources. For questions about the COVID‑19 vaccine and on-campus clinics, contact covidvaccine@uta.edu.