Spring 2022 Campus Update

Welcome back to campus, Bulldogs. And welcome home to our National Champions!

As we return to class this spring, our priority remains on protecting the health and safety of our campus community while maintaining the high quality of teaching, research and service that makes UGA a national leader in public higher education. Please remember that the best way to protect yourself, your family and our University community is to be vaccinated. If you have not yet been vaccinated and received a booster, we strongly encourage you to do so.

In this issue:

Getting Vaccinated

COVID-19 Testing

Report Positive Tests in DawgCheck

Face Coverings

Cleaning & Disinfection Measures on Campus

Mental Health and Wellbeing

References and Links

Getting Vaccinated

Faculty and staff who would like to schedule a COVID vaccine appointment at the University Health Center may do so by calling 706-542-5575. Students may continue to schedule their COVID vaccine appointments online through the Patient Portal. While supplies last, you can also receive a $20 gift card following your vaccination. The University Health Center offers first, second and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine free of charge to faculty, staff, students and their eligible dependents aged 16 and up.

COVID-19 Testing

Surveillance testing remains an important step in our defense against infection. The University Health Center and Veterinary Diagnostic Labs are equipped to test up to 800 people per day for COVID variants. These tests are free to faculty, staff and students. Click here to schedule an appointment. Walk-ups are also welcome. Over the next three weeks, testing will be expanded through pop-up locations at the Tate Student Center offered by the College of Public Health on January 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Report Positive Tests in DawgCheck

Remember that any faculty, staff or student who tests positive for COVID is required to report that positive test through DawgCheck and to follow the advice provided. Typically, a positive test will require a period of isolation, depending on the test results. Quarantining also applies to unvaccinated individuals who are identified to have been in close contact with an infected individual. The Georgia Department of Public Health recently changed its protocols on quarantine and isolation to reflect CDC guidance, and UGA is now following the new guidance. Click here to see the latest information.

Student Affairs will continue to hold a stock of beds for potential quarantine and isolation needs by our students, and the Student Care and Outreach team stands ready to assist.

Face Coverings

Please remember that face coverings are strongly encouraged inside all buildings on the UGA campus, including classrooms. Pursuant to University System of Georgia directives, neither the University nor individual faculty or staff can mandate face coverings in campus facilities, including classrooms. While faculty may strongly encourage students to wear face coverings in classrooms, face coverings are not required, and students are not required to comply with any directives from faculty that masks are required in classrooms.

Students may be required by off-campus partnering organizations to wear masks and/or be vaccinated as a condition of participation in experiential learning opportunities such as study abroad programs, externships and delivery of medical services.

Face coverings are required on Campus Transit buses in accordance with federal transportation rules.

We have nearly 35,000 KN95 masks in stock for distribution and have ordered an additional 15,000 that are scheduled to arrive later this week. Departments that are interested in having masks on hand can order them at no cost through UGAmart.

Students can pick up masks at information desks in the Tate Student Center and the Miller Learning Center, while supplies last.

Cleaning & Disinfection Measures

The Facilities Management Division (FMD) will continue to follow the special cleaning and disinfection protocols that have served our community so effectively over the past two years. In addition, FMD will continue to re-stock and supply the existing hand sanitizing stations and wipes for individual use in offices, breakrooms and classrooms. Information on cleaning frequency and protocol, sanitizing stations or wipes, and to request additional cleaning service can be found here. The plexiglass shields installed in classrooms, buses, point-of-sale locations and other settings also will remain. Information on ordering new or replacement shields can be found here .

For the past two years, FMD has been focused on improving ventilation and indoor air quality across campus. This FMD interactive website illustrates the location of buildings with completed, in-progress or in-design HVAC air quality improvement projects. In this academic year alone, more than $7 million in targeted projects to improve HVAC systems across campus is being done, with 16 of 18 HVAC replacement projects already completed. UV total disinfection arrays were installed over Fall Semester in the Miller Learning Center, Caldwell Hall, Tate Student Center, Park Hall, Joe Frank Harris, Bolton and the Main Library. More UV arrays will be installed in Aderhold, Sanford and Boyd Graduate Studies this month. All the work is in accordance with CDC, DPH and HVAC industry standards.

Mental Health & Wellbeing

We understand the tremendous strain that the COVID pandemic continues to present for members of our campus community. We want to remind you that there are several support systems and tools available to you through various resources offered by the University System of Georgia and UGA.

Faculty and Staff have access to several benefits programs that can be accessed through OneUSGConnect (e.g., Kepro EAP counseling, Virgin Pulse Well-being, Accolade care management, Live Health Online, etc.). UGA is working with the USG to implement strategies to focus on employee mental health and emotional well-being, including providing a Mental Health First Training course for key campus personnel.

Students also have access to a number of mental health resources through our Dean of Students Office and the University Health Center (e.g., Student Care and Outreach, Counseling and Psychiatric Services, UGA Wellness Hub, etc.).