Staying Safe for Spring 2022

UNT safety committees continue to review federal and state guidance and making recommendations for how we apply the rapidly evolving changes to our campus operations. The health and safety of our UNT community continues to be our top priority, and UNT leadership carefully reviews the latest advice from public health experts to adjust our plans accordingly. Please do not come to campus if you are feeling ill or have a fever.

Read President Smatresk’s message to the university community.

Get Vaccinated

The best way to ensure your personal safety with regard to COVID-19 is to obtain a full course of vaccination. Vaccinations have been found to drastically reduce the chance of experiencing severe impacts from COVID-19 and minimize transmission of the disease.

UNT continues to urge students, faculty and staff to take one of the approved COVID-19 vaccinations currently offered.

• Vaccines are offered at the Student Health and Wellness Center. 
• Visit the Denton County site for information on vaccine availability and other providers.
• You’ll find vaccine options at local pharmacies and other locations from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Vaccine Booster Registry Open

The Student Health and Wellness Center has resumed providing COVID booster shot clinics this week. UNT students, faculty and staff and UNT System employees who need a COVID booster can register online by clicking on the link for the vaccine series they received initially. The health center will schedule registrants for future clinics based on staff availability. If you've previously had to cancel an appointment and still wish to receive a booster, please re-register. Bring proof of vaccination, including vaccine received and dates administered, to your appointment in order to receive the booster at that time. If you haven't received any COVID-19 vaccine, do not sign up on the booster registries. Learn more about initial vaccine appointments at the SHWC.

COVID-19 Testing Hours

Regular hours have now resumed for BinaxNOW rapid antigen testing through the Student Health and Wellness Center. Curative Inc. PCR testing at the Union remains on a modified schedule until classes begin.

BinaxNOW testing, Chestnut Hall 120:

• Monday-Thursday: 8:30-11 a.m., 1-4 p.m.
• Friday: 9:30-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m.

Curative Inc., kiosk by Goolsby Chapel:

• Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Curative Inc., University Union 381:

• Jan. 6-7, 10-14: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Jan. 8-9: Closed
• Jan. 15-16: 1-7 p.m.

COVID Testing Program

After successfully completing a Mandatory Testing Program for our community in the summer of 2021, UNT began the second phase of COVID-19 testing that fall. Every two weeks, a randomized computer program will select 2,000 members of the campus community who will be notified of their selections via email. Selected individuals will have two weeks, regardless of vaccination status, to get tested at either the Student Health and Wellness Center, one of the on-campus Curative locations, or another location of their choosing. Participation is voluntary and individuals selected this spring will not be eligible for re-selection this semester.

Approved Vaccinations from Other Countries

In addition to Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson, UNT does recognize vaccinations received in other countries as long as the vaccine is on the World Health Organization (WHO) approved list. The approved vaccinations allow you to travel to and from campus without the need to quarantine. However, you must follow other CDC guidelines regarding international travel. International faculty and students who have access to an approved vaccine are encouraged to get fully vaccinated prior to traveling to the U.S.

Please see the WHO's full listing of approved vaccines globally. The list will be updated as additional vaccines are approved.

Guidance on Employee Health Information

The University of North Texas System and its member institutions are committed to the well-being and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, as well as to the protection and confidentiality of our employees’ personal health information.

Supervisors should NOT ask questions intended to:

• Solicit which employees have or have not received the vaccine
• Identify underlying health condition(s) of an employee
• Identify which type of vaccine an employee receives

Supervisors may ask questions regarding the general well-being of their employees and ensure that all employees are following safety protocols.

Supervisors are encouraged to maintain flexibility in scheduling to allow employees to take appropriate time off of work to receive the vaccination. Employees who attend COVID-19 testing or vaccination clinics offsite may utilize their accrued sick leave for the appointment.

Employees who have specific questions regarding their medical condition(s) as it pertains to work are encouraged to contact their campus HR teams for assistance.