Moving Toward Full Experience in Fall 2021

UNT safety committees have been diligently reviewing 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 will continue to carefully review the latest advice from public health experts and adjust our plans accordingly.

Mask Restrictions Lifted and Other COVID-19 Guidance

UNT is no longer requiring masks indoors for anyone per Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order May 18 prohibiting government entities from mandating masks. Outdoor mask requirements on campus were lifted Friday, May14. The following changes also will be effective on or before June 1:

• UNT will be moving away from the 6-foot social distancing guidelines over the summer, though everyone is encouraged to maintain a space that makes them feel comfortable.
• Conversion of classroom spaces to their pre-COVID configuration has begun. Capacity signage will be posted to be equivalent to the university social distancing standard.
• Visitors are permitted on campus, including visiting student and faculty scholars, media and other guests (Note that third-party rentals of university spaces are still prohibited and university events still need approval by the events subcommittee.).
• Water fountains are being turned back on.
• Work items can be shared – such as pens and paper – following CDC guidance regarding a lack of evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 via surfaces.
• Elevator occupancy limits are lifted.

Read the Q&A UNT leadership prepared to provide additional information for the most common questions asked.

Get Vaccinated

UNT continues to urge students, faculty and staff to take one of the approved COVID-19 vaccinations currently offered. These vaccinations have been found to drastically reduce the chance of experiencing severe impacts from COVID-19 and minimize transmission of the disease. COVID-19 vaccine clinics at UNT and UNT’s vaccination registration site are being paused for now as the number of participants tapered off.

You can visit the Denton County site for information on vaccine availability and other providers.

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.

Get Tested

All faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 test and to self-monitor for 14 days before coming to campus. Use the self-monitoring form as a guide. COVID-19 testing is provided to UNT community members by:

• Curative, Inc. – Faculty, staff and students can get a free COVID-19 test through Curative, Inc. The testing in the University Union, Room 381, is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, closed Sundays and holidays. To sign up for the free testing, visit cur.tv/UNTunion.
• Student Health and Wellness Center – Students can learn the latest availability at the center’s website.

Personal Responsibility

UNT encourages all employees to determine their own personal safety with regard to COVID-19, including any concerns you may have regarding continuing to wear masks, social distancing, etc. However, UNT employees should follow university guidelines in interacting with students, coworkers and the public. Employees are permitted to make decisions about the use of personal protective measures, as long as those decisions are not imposed on others.

For example, an employee may choose to wear a face covering during meetings and to request 6-feet of separation from others. However, the employee may not require others to wear a face covering or to move their desk further away.

The best way to ensure your personal safety with regard to COVID-19 is to obtain a full course of vaccination.

Travel

The CDC requires all air travelers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 before boarding flights to the U.S. from any international location. In addition, all faculty, staff or students who have not been vaccinated will be asked to quarantine off campus for 10 days.

Remember that UNT’s response to the COVID-19 global health crisis continues to evolve, so our policies and plans are subject to change when necessary as more information becomes available. As a result, please plan to check this site frequently for updates.

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