COVID-19 Updates for Fall Semester 2022

The University remains committed to the health and safety of all employees and students as we mitigate the COVID-19 virus and other health emergencies. Following the emerging guidelines and ongoing monitoring of our campus community, below are critical updates regarding our protocols for the fall 2022 semester.

Mask Mandate and Rapid Antigen Test Kits

The University maintains the mask mandate for all indoor spaces. A sizable inventory of K-95 masks and rapid self-administered test kits are still available for members of the UDC community. While the rapid kits we are distributing are stamped with an expiration date of July 2022, we have received notification from the FDA that the expiration date for the lot number that includes our test kits has been extended to January 23, 2023.

Test kits and masks can be picked up at the following locations:

Public Safety Operations Center (Building 39/C04)

Public Safety Information Desk (Backus Campus)

Public Safety Information Desk (Old Congress Heights Campus)

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

The University is maintaining its mandatory vaccination policy this year. All students and employees are expected to be fully vaccinated, defined at UDC as having two doses of an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine and one booster upon eligibility.

Upload Process for Employees

All employees must upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination into the PeopleSoft portal by August 18, 2022. Employee COVID-19 vaccination documentation is now centralized through the District’s PeopleSoft platform. The button to upload your documentation is on the Employee Self Service home.

Upload Process for Students

Student verification of COVID-19 vaccination is through the Pyramed Student Health portal. All new students who have not uploaded proof of vaccination must do so by August 18 or risk being unregistered from in-person classes.

Vaccine Exemptions

Employees and students may request an exemption to the mandatory vaccination requirement for either religious or medical purposes. Information regarding the student exemption process can be found here and must be filed no later than August 18 for the fall semester. Students must remain off campus until the exemption is reviewed. Similarly, the employee process for requesting an exemption can be found here.  All individuals who are awarded a waiver to the mandatory vaccination policy are required to test weekly at the student health center. You will not be allowed to test at home to satisfy this requirement. For more information about the weekly testing requirement or general COVID-19 testing, please click here.

All individuals who are awarded a waiver to the mandatory vaccination policy are required to test weekly at the student health center. You will not be allowed to test at home to satisfy this requirement.

Please contact Ms. Monica Gaskin at the student health center for more information about the weekly testing requirement. COVID-19 testing is available at the student health center only for students who are exhibiting symptoms and for those students and employees who must participate in weekly testing. COVID-19 tests are not available for the general public at the student health center.

Reporting Positive COVID-19 Cases

If you test positive for COVID-19, you must upload a copy of your positive test result if you intend to utilize personal pandemic leave to cover time away from work. The 80 hours of personal pandemic leave provided to employees at all District agencies expires on October 31, 2022. All positive COVID-19 cases must be reported to covidconfidential@udc.edu. To more efficiently monitor COVID-19 cases at UDC, we have imported a survey into the covidconfidential email, which captures relevant information from individuals reporting a positive test result. Once you contact covidconfidential, you will automatically receive an email with the survey link to upload your positive test result and provide information about your case.

Positive COVID-19 Cases at UDC

The University no longer requires a negative test result to return to UDC campuses, provided that an individual is asymptomatic and has been isolated for at least five days following the onset of symptoms. Symptomatic individuals may utilize personal pandemic leave if they cannot telework. Anyone requesting to be away or telework for more than ten days will need a physician’s justification for the requested accommodation to the routine work schedule.

Monkeypox

We want to assure the UDC community that we are carefully monitoring reports of Monkeypox and the rate the disease spreads. The University has recently confirmed one Monkeypox case among our population. The individual experienced no symptoms the last date they were on campus; however, we have extensively cleaned and disinfected the area. The following are just some quick reminders from the CDC about Monkey Pox and how it spreads:

Monkeypox is spread through:

  • direct contact with an infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
  • respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex
  • touching objects, fabrics (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the rash or body fluids of someone with monkeypox
  • being scratched or bitten by an infected animal
  • Monkeypox can be acquired by all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation
  • Monkeypox causes a rash
  • Monkeypox can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. This can take several weeks.

Learn more about Monkeypox from the CDC.

Future Updates

For more updates regarding COVID-19 and general safety guidelines for our campus community, please join us at our first COVID-19 Town Hall on Wednesday, September 14, at 2 p.m. Click here to register.