Best for the Nest

Best for the Nest

COVID-19 Information

Fall 2022

Aug. 4, 2022

UNCW remains committed to monitoring COVID-19 conditions and providing related support to the campus community. University leadership will continue to consider several factors when making decisions about COVID-19 campus protocols, including CDC, NCDHHS, and UNC System policies; local public health guidance; the level of transmission in North Carolina; and the overall vaccination rate in our state.  

Healthy Actions  

  • If you haven’t taken the opportunity to get vaccinated, please do so. It is the best way to reduce the impact COVID-19 will continue to have on our campus and community. Vaccinated and boosted individuals tend to experience milder symptoms if they contract COVID-19.  
  • Maintain good hand hygiene – a protective measure for the flu, colds and COVID-19. Hand sanitizer stations will remain across campus, and masks will remain available at several locations.  
  • In indoor settings, unvaccinated individuals and those at greater risk of developing COVID-19 are encouraged to wear masks to protect themselves and others.  

Move-In Guidance  

We encourage students to get tested, vaccinated or boosted before returning to campus. Testing, vaccination and boosters will be available for students and their families during Move-In on Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, from 8 a.m. until noon in Trask Coliseum. No appointment is necessary.   

COVID-19 Guidance   

If you feel unwell, please do not attend in-person classes, participate in on-campus events, or work on site until your symptoms subside.     

  • Students: If you suspect you have COVID-19, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or experienced any of these symptoms, please contact the Student Health Center at 910.962.3280 or email coronavirus@uncw.edu.   
  • Students who test positive are required to isolate five days from the date of the positive test, regardless of their vaccination status. On-campus students who test positive should plan to return home to complete their isolation period. Students who are unable to return home will shelter-in-place. The Student Health Center staff will assist with meal arrangements.  
  • Employees: Employees who are exhibiting COVID-like symptoms (or who have been in close contact with individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19) should contact their health care provider as needed, notify their supervisor, and then notify the UNCW Student Health Center at coronavirus@uncw.edu and their supervisor. Employees who test positive are required to isolate five days from the date of the positive test, regardless of their vaccination status. 
  • Supervisors: Please confer with the Student Health Center at coronavirus@uncw.edu or 910.962.0587 and Human Resources at 910.962.3160. Useful tools and guidance also are available from Human Resources.     
  • Students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 at an off-campus facility are encouraged to inform Student Health at coronavirus@uncw.edu to support the staff’s ongoing effort to monitor the presence of the virus within our community.  

Testing Availability  

Voluntary rapid COVID-19 surveillance testing will continue to be available at no cost for faculty, staff and students at the Student Health Center. No appointment is needed.  

  • Until Aug. 12: Testing is available Monday-Thursday 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. and Friday 9-11 a.m. 
  • Beginning Aug. 15: Testing is available Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.  

Course Modality Modifications 

Similar to previous semesters, guidance related to temporary course modality modifications for COVID-related reasons has been issued by the Office of the Provost. Faculty with questions related to course modality modifications should contact their department chair or school director. 

Face Coverings   

At present, face coverings are optional at indoor and outdoor UNCW locations except where required by state or federal law and regulations, which include:   

  • Campus health care facilities – the Student Health Center, the Counseling Center, all athletic training facilities, and the General Psychology & Assessment Clinic.  
  • Locations where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was required before the pandemic began (some laboratories and research areas, for example). Please contact Environmental Health and Safety at ehs@uncw.edu with questions.  
  • Some community members may choose to continue wearing face coverings for various reasons. Please respect their decision. If an employee asks another employee, student or guest to wear a mask inside their individual office, please honor the request or make alternate arrangements to meet outdoors, by phone or virtually.  

Vaccinations and Boosters  

Free vaccinations and boosters for students, faculty, staff and community members are available on campus through the Student Health Center. As of Aug. 15, vaccines and boosters will be available Tuesday and Friday 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.  Please call 910-962-3280 before Aug. 15 to confirm vaccine times. No appointments are necessary.    

Students, faculty and staff who were vaccinated or received a booster off campus, and have not already submitted it, are encouraged to send a photo of your vaccination card to the Student Health Center at coronavirus@uncw.edu. The Student Health Center has a vaccination record for students, faculty and staff who were vaccinated on campus. Note: your confidential health information will be protected.   

Vaccinations and boosters are also available at many locations in the community and across the state. See NCDHHS information for more details.    

About Monkeypox  

The Student Health Center and EH&S are monitoring monkeypox and will share information with the campus as needed. Information about monkeypox is available on the Center for Disease Control website.   

Questions and Resources    

If you have questions, please email coronavirus@uncw.edu. Additional information can be found at Best for the Nest, the university’s COVID-19 resource site, and the Student Health Center site.   

Thank you in advance for your commitment to keeping our campus a healthy learning environment for all Seahawks. We will continue monitoring conditions and inform the campus community of any changes to these plans. We are looking forward to a great semester at UNCW.    

 

Local and State Dashboards and Resources

Questions? Contact coronavirus@uncw.edu