We hope for fall to be a more typical semester, but here are a few brief pointers as we continue to navigate COVID-19.
- If a student tells you they test positive, please ask the person to call the UCF COVID Line at 407-823-2509. The call will begin the contact tracing process with Student Health Services. Faculty and staff who test positive also should call the COVID Line.
- If you are teaching a face-to-face course, you will be notified if a student will be unable to attend class due to COVID.
- The contact tracers will determine whether other steps are necessary for your class. For example, if contact tracers see a pattern of positive tests in your class, they may determine that the class needs to meet remotely for a time. You may not decide on your own to move a class to a remote format. Any decisions about changing the format of a class, even temporarily, must be approved by Academic Affairs.
- Please explain your course policies in your syllabus (e.g., attendance, make-up assignments, dropping lowest grades, etc.). While I hope you are always compassionate to ill students, you are free to return to your normal pre-pandemic approach.
- You may choose to wear face coverings on campus. However, neither UCF nor individual faculty or staff members can require masks in on-campus spaces, with very limited exceptions for clinical settings.
- UCF cannot require vaccines at this time or ask whether students, faculty, or staff have been vaccinated. None of us may ask students or fellow employees if they have been vaccinated.
UCF is strongly encouraging vaccinations. No-cost vaccines are available daily by appointment at the Student Health Center for faculty, staff, and students. You can make an appointment here, or click here to find another vaccine location near you.
If you have not yet been vaccinated but have questions about it, I recommend contacting your healthcare provider or reaching out to Student Health Services by emailing covid19vaccine@ucf.edu.
We are still monitoring COVID-19 cases in our community. If we need to adjust our fall semester plans, we will provide updated information. The UCF coronavirus website is also kept updated.
With teaching-related questions, please contact Faculty Excellence, and please direct all COVID-related questions to covid19questions@ucf.edu.
