The University of Arkansas at Monticello Homepage

2/25/22 - UAM Mask/Face Covering Guidance

1/10/22 - UAM COVID-19 Update for Spring 2022

1/3/22 - Mask/Face Coverings Requirements for Spring 2022

9/2/21 - Don't Throw Away Your Shot for Prizes - Vaccine Incentive Drawings

8/23/21 - Vaccination Clinics TODAY on Campus

8/18/21 - Thank You for Wearing Your Mask!

8/11/21 - Mask/Face Coverings Requirements for Fall 2021

5/23/21 - Updates to Campus COVID-19 Prevention Measures

3/3/21 - COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures

2/4/21 - Preventing COVID-19 On Campus

2/3/21 - February Freeze - In-Person Events & Activities

1/21/21 - FAQs about COVID-19 Vaccines

11/11/20 - Modified Grading Policy for Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer I 2021

10/6/20 - COVID-19 Reminders

9/4/20 - COVID-19: Holiday Weekend Health & Safety Precautions

8/11/20 - Summer 2020 Modified Grading Policy

8/3/20 - Campus Update from Chancellor Doss

7/20/20 - Updates to Fall Reopening Plans

7/1/20 - Plan for Fall Reopening as of July 1, 2020

7/1/20 - Announcing Plan for Fall Reopening

6/3/20 - Summer Plan for Employees Returning to Work

6/3/20 - Announcing Plan for Return to On-Campus Work

4/10/20 - Updated Reporting Form for COVID-19

3/17/20 - COVID-19 Student Update – March 17, 2020

1/29/20 - Information About 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

3/2/20 - Important Information Regarding Coronavirus

3/4/20 - UAM Update on COVID-19 (coronavirus)

3/11/20 - UAM Campuses Move All Classes Online Effective March 12

3/11/20 - UAM Alert - UAM Campuses Move All Classes Online Effective March 12

3/12/20 - COVID-19 Student Update

3/12/20 - COVID-19: Steps to Protect Yourself & Others

3/13/20 - COVID-19: Spring Break Travel Update

3/12/20  - Chancellor Doss Releases Statement Regarding Coronavirus

3/11/20 - UAM Moves to Classes Online Effective March 12

What Do I Need to Know About COVID-19?

The global COVID-19 pandemic is an evolving concern for the world. UAM makes every effort to keep our community updated on the latest local and regional data by utilizing expert resources.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Arkansas Department of Health provide up-to-date guidance on the pandemic, including tracking cases down to the county level, identifying travel advisories and outbreak “hot spots,” screening information, sharing screening and vaccination availability and informing the public about effective prevention measures.

Each of these topics has the potential to change on a daily basis. UAM uses guidance from these agencies, in addition to local and UA System recommendations, when setting policy regarding COVID-19. The most important thing individuals can do is assist in stopping the spread of the virus.

 

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
Student Health Services (SHS)

As soon as cases were identified within the state in March 2020, UAM custodial staff took swift action. They increased the frequency with which they disinfect high-touch surfaces on campus. These staff members have been trained specifically in cleaning protocols that prevent the spread of COVID-19. UAM has received extensive orders of sanitizer, surface cleaner, thermometer strips, no-touch thermometers, plexiglass barriers and other items to ensure a safe learning and working environment.

Everyone has a shared responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the UAM community, including students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. Together, we can make a difference by making consistent efforts in a few areas:

• Familiarize yourself with the symptoms, which can be mild to severe. 
• Get tested for COVID-19 infection if you identify symptoms or if you may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive. Free testing by Mainline Health Systems is available in Maxwell Hall for UAM students and employees.
• Review the way COVID-19 spreads. Some individuals may have no symptoms at all but may still be able to spread the virus.
• Always wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water and use hand sanitizer when unable to wash hands. Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing and before eating.
• Wear a cloth face covering whenever you may be in shared spaces that include others outside of your household. This is especially recommended in locations with a high transmission rate.
• Keep a clean face covering handy when walking alone if there is a potential to come into contact with someone. Regularly wash and rotate your face coverings.
• Continue to maintain distance from people who are not in your household whenever possible, even when wearing a face covering.

• University leadership has made a number of considerations to prioritize the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. We appreciate your understanding that the pandemic response is a fluid one based on the most current available data.
  
• Many questions about housing, instruction and campus health and safety measures are covered within the Frequently Asked Questions topics below. If you have further questions, please contact the appropriate department. 
• Please continue to check your UAM email and visit this page for the latest updates.

• On August 11, 2021, the UA System Board of Trustees passed a resolution to require mask policies on all UA System campuses. Masks will be required in all public indoor settings when social distancing cannot be maintained. Masks should be worn regardless of vaccination status. 
• On August 16, 2021, the UAM Executive Council voted to adopt these changes to the COVID-19 protocols on all UAM campuses.
• As of February 25, 2022, masks/face coverings are optional on all UAM campuses.

• The health and safety of all students and employees are our top priority. UAM follows the evolving federal, state and local guidance when implementing campus policies regarding COVID-19 safety. 
• A number of processes and procedures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for potential changes in instruction format if deemed necessary.
• When is it not safe for me to be on campus?
  If you believe you have contracted COVID-19, or if you may have been exposed, please get tested to avoid spreading the virus to others. Follow the recommendations of your primary health care provider  or the recommendations given by the person administering your test. Current guidance about isolating while waiting for test results may vary based upon your vaccination status. 

 

CDC guidelines recommend that you begin by following the care instructions of the local health department or your primary health care provider if you suspect you may have COVID-19. Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19, or if you may have been exposed to someone who has been confirmed or presumed COVID-10 positive. Students may also contact the Student Health Services office with questions about symptoms. Health care providers, including those at testing locations, will offer individualized recommendations based on current testing and quarantine protocols.

Testing is available at the Mainline Health Systems location on the Monticello Campus.
All UAM students, faculty and staff and their immediate family members can be tested on weekdays from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The office is closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Calling ahead is recommended to assess your wait time, but is not required: (870) 224-0647.
Some individuals may be eligible for a rapid test on site. Many additional testing locations are available in off-campus locations during additional hours. 

The Division of Student Engagement has a detailed plan to ensure the physical needs of quarantined students are met while also protecting the health of the remainder of the campus population.

If an employee shows symptoms as indicated in the assessment, they should contact the supervisor and complete the COVID-19 reporting form. This form helps track presumed and confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the UAM community to assist in preventing outbreaks.

If a student prefers to enroll in online courses, he or she may do so with the assistance of their faculty advisor, or they may call Academic Advising for assistance. Not all courses are available in a fully online format, but some courses may be adapted to a hybrid model which involves both in-person and online instructional time.

Throughout the semester, on a case-by-cases basis, classes of a certain size may shift into online or hybrid models in which students alternate in-classroom and online access to their course materials. This decision will be made based on the number of positive COVID-19 cases, class enrollment and room size. Students may reach out to each of their instructors for more details about each course.

In a typical year, UAM academic advisors often recommend students remain enrolled in at least one in-person class when possible. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in the traditional learning environment, however much our students and faculty would prefer the in-person format. As UAM continues to monitor area health data and prioritize safety, typical in-seat classes may not always be possible.

Out of great concern and care for our community, UAM has planned alternative arrangements in the case that a COVID-19  causes course delivery to transition to an online-only format for any length of time during the semester.

We appreciate the flexibility of our students and faculty as these instructional changes remain dependent upon the current pandemic environment. In the event that all instruction must be delivered remotely for a period of time, UAM will have a limited number of tablets and WiFi cards for off-campus students who have limited or no access to technology and internet. Contact the UAM Taylor Library for more information about borrowing a laptop.

All students, faculty and staff are expected to share the responsibility of self-monitoring. Before coming to any UAM campus, individuals are asked to complete the self-monitoring assessment daily to identify any symptoms of COVID-19 early.

If an employee shows symptoms as indicated in the assessment, they should notify their supervisor, avoid coming to campus and complete the COVID-19 reporting form to help track potential spread of the virus. 

The employee should follow current CDC guidance as to when to get tested. The employee's primary care provider or a health care provider at the COVID-19 testing location will advise as to whether to self-quarantine and for how long.

Residence Life has made a number of arrangements to accommodate students with unique needs related to COVID-19 (students at a higher risk, students wishing to observe strict physical distancing, students in quarantine or isolation).

Custodial staff has enhanced campus cleaning techniques as a response to the pandemic and frequently disinfects public surfaces, including those in residence halls.

The UAM Freshman Residential Housing Policy states that all first-year students are required to live on campus for one academic year unless an exception to the policy is accepted. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis for students who submit the Freshman Housing Exemption Request.

The university's Command Team manages the implementation of the UAM Pandemic Action Plan, which is followed and updated as new information about COVID-19 becomes available. Team members coordinate activities designed to support our community's health and well-being and develop contingency plans to limit the impact to university operations should the need arise.

These efforts are being made to assess the university's readiness to shift to an online class class format, how to minimize the impact to student learning, how to ensure students and employees who may become ill can be properly supported as they recover, and how to limit the spread of the virus on campus and in the community.