Wednesday, November 17, 2021

In order to continue supporting the successful COVID-19 protocols UNCW has in place, the university’s indoor face covering guidelines and other safety measures will remain in place through the end of the calendar year. Information about spring 2022 COVID-19 protocols will be shared at a later date.  
 
The university’s leadership team will continue to consider several factors when making the decision to alter COVID-19 guidance, including CDC, NCDHHS and UNC System policies; the level of transmission in North Carolina; and the overall vaccination rate in our state. 
 
The indoor face covering requirement applies to students, faculty, staff and visitors. Please review the information below regarding the COVID-19 safety protocols in place at UNCW for specific areas.
   

• Wear face coverings in campus dining areas, break rooms and other places where food is consumed. Remove them only when actively eating or drinking and then replace them while sitting and talking with others.    

• Wear face coverings in multi-passenger vehicles such as WAVE buses, shuttles, vans and UNCW vehicles. Personal vehicles and open-air vehicles such as golf carts or gators are not included in this requirement.   
• Wear face coverings at indoor events, including artistic performances, conferences, lecture series, student organization activities and fall commencement.   
• Wear face coverings at indoor UNCW Athletics events, including men’s and women’s basketball games.    
• Classrooms and other areas on campus are equipped with free, disposable face coverings.   

• Face coverings are not required when someone is alone in their office or in their assigned residential spaces.

Contact the Student Health Center at coronavirus@uncw.edu to request free, reusable masks.   
 
Face Coverings Outdoors   
While UNCW does not require face coverings for general outdoor activities, face coverings may be required or strongly recommended for large gatherings. Please see specific event information for guidance and/or signage.    
 
Vaccine and Booster Clinics    
If you are not vaccinated, please take action to protect your health and the well-being of our campus and community. Only through widespread vaccination will we be able to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Free vaccinations for students, faculty, staff and community members are available on campus through the Student Health Center. No appointment is necessary.   
 
The next clinic is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 19 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. in the Student Health Center. All three vaccines (Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) and boosters will be available.   
 
COVID-19 testing is available, for those without symptoms, at the MAC gym in the Student Recreation Center and Warwick Ballroom 4 Monday through Thursday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. through Thursday, Dec. 9. The week of Thanksgiving, both testing sites will be open on Monday, Nov. 22 and Tuesday, Nov. 23 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 testing will be available in Warwick Ballroom 4. Information about testing beyond Dec. 9 will be announced shortly.  
 
Students exhibiting symptoms should call the health center at 910.962.3280 to make an appointment.

As a reminder, there is a community testing site available in the Trask Parking Lot, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., which provides free drive-up COVID testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. This provides accessible testing for Seahawk family members, faculty and staff who may be exhibiting symptoms. This site provides both rapid and PCR testing. Visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services website for more information on no-cost testing sites.  
 
Thank you for continuing to follow UNCW’s COVID-19 guidelines as circumstances evolve. The university is committed to promoting a safe campus environment for students, faculty and staff. As we head into the holiday season and the final weeks of the semester, let's stay vigilant and finish the semester strong.  

 

Resources for Information   

UNCW Best for the Nest (campus messages, guidance and more)     

UNCW Data Dashboard     

UNCW Cluster Notifications    

UNCW Student Health (vaccinations, surveillance testing, symptom checker information and more)     

UNCW Human Resources (COVID-19 leave-keeping information, decision tree and more)   

UNCW Travel Guidance   

CDC     

NCDHHS     

New Hanover County Health and Human Services     

   

Questions? Email coronavirus@uncw.edu.