COVID-19 Policies

The University of Missouri–St. Louis has implemented a variety of safety measures in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus. These efforts include but are not limited to instituting a face coverings policy, promoting social distancing throughout campus, regularly disinfecting high touch areas, promoting personal hygiene practices, and requiring members of the UMSL community to remain home when sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. However, despite all of these safety precautions, we acknowledge that some members of our community may either test positive for COVID-19 or suspect they may have the virus but have not yet been tested. The procedures set forth below outline what steps will be taken upon campus officials learning of a positive or suspected case of COVID-19.

Reporting Confirmed or Suspected Cases (Students)

Please note – Any UMSL student experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. Students are required to complete the Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Form if they are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have had contact with a person identified as testing positive. The submission of the form is received by the Campus Health Officer, who is responsible for tracking confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases on campus.  

When a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 has been reported, the Campus Health Officer will:

• Discuss symptoms or diagnosis with the student, and may instruct them to self-isolate or quarantine and not return to campus until written approval is received by the Campus Health Officer.
• If applicable, the Campus Health Officer will notify faculty members that the student is prohibited from returning to campus until they are cleared by Health Services. Student Affairs will provide assistance as needed with helping faculty coordinate academic accommodations.
• Gather additional information in accordance with our limited campus contact tracing efforts.
• Coordinate with Facilities to advise which campus locations require cleaning.

Residential Students

• Should a residential student have a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, it is strongly recommended that they return home or seek off-campus housing until they are cleared to return to campus. Should the student need to remain in campus housing, Residential Life and Housing will immediately initiate quarantine/isolation procedures – this includes placing the student in a room which is isolated from other residents with meals and grocery items being brought to the student’s room on a regular but limited basis to reduce exposure to others. The student would also be directed by the Campus Health Officer to remain in self-isolation until written approval is received.

Reporting Confirmed or Suspected Cases (Employees)

Please note - Any UMSL employee experiencing a medical emergency should call 911. Employees are required to complete the Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms Form if they are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive or have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have had contact with a person identified as testing positive. The submission of the form is received by the Campus Health Officer, who is responsible for tracking confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases on campus. If an employee is instructed to remain off campus, the CHO will send a notification to the appropriate supervisor alerting them of the employee's restriction from coming to campus without revealing any personal medical information. This notification will include the department chair for faculty members. Supervisors and employees should work together to address any needs during the absence. Additionally, Human Resources will be responsible for ensuring that appropriate documentation is completed (e.g., FMLA, work from home arrangements, etc.).

When a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 has been reported, the Campus Health Officer will:

• Discuss symptoms or diagnosis with the employee, and may instruct them to self-isolate or quarantine and not return to campus until written approval is received by the Campus Health Officer.
• Provide general notification of absence to appropriate supervisor if instructed to remain off campus.
• Gather additional information in accordance with our limited campus contact tracing efforts.
• Coordinate with UMSL Facilities to advise which campus locations require cleaning.

Limited Campus Contact Tracing

Individuals with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 will be asked to provide the campus locations they have visited as well as their close contacts with others since the onset of symptoms. (Close contact is defined as having had contact within six feet for 15 minutes or more, no matter if those in contact were wearing a face covering.) This process, commonly known as "contact tracing," is used to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus so that they can self-isolate as appropriate and to identify areas that may need additional cleaning and disinfection. This information also will assist public health officials (for example, St. Louis County, St. Louis City and St. Charles County public health offices) who have the statutory authority by state law to engage in official contract tracing.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Exposed Locations

When appropriate, UMSL Facilities will work the Campus Health Officer to evaluate physical spaces that may require additional cleaning and disinfection following notice of a positive on-campus case. Facilities will communicate with impacted departments and identify alternative space as needed. Cleaning and disinfection protocols are established in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Communicating Reported Cases

The health, safety and well-being of our university is paramount to our community and our shared goal continues to be to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, the university is committed to protecting the personal privacy of all individuals within our community. The identity of an individual confirmed positive for COVID-19 will be kept confidential and not disclosed to the general public or university community. However, the university may share notifications of positive COVID-19 cases under the following circumstances:

• Public health officials or an individual student, faculty or staff member, through the Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms form, must first notify the university of a confirmed positive case.

If that condition is met and the reported case involves a community member known to have physically occupied a university owned or managed property and who is known to have been in close contact (physically maintaining less than six feet of distancing for more than 15 minutes) with others within our community:

• A direct notification will be sent to specific individuals if public health officials or university officials have been provided with contact information for those believed to have had risk of exposure through our limited campus contact tracing efforts or through Saint Louis County Public Health’s official contact tracing efforts.
• On a case-by-case basis, the Campus Health Officer may issue a unit-level or campus-wide notification should public health officials or university officials believe a broader group of individuals in one or more locations may have had significant exposure or close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The university will keep the individual’s identity confidential and will not identify personally identifiable information in notifications. However, specific employees in Health Services, Human Resources and Academic Affairs will have access to this information in order to assist with contact tracing, and providing educational or workplace accommodations.

Human Resources and Health, Counseling and Disability Access Services are responsible for communicating information on confirmed cases. Individual employees, faculty members, supervisors, students, staff and college, school or divisions should not communicate any confirmed cases to respect the personal privacy of individuals in our community. Doing so would infringe on FERPA and HIPPA requirements.

Under state law, local health departments have jurisdiction in all public health matters. UMSL relies on public health officials to determine protocols for how to respond to and communicate confirmed cases to faculty, staff, students and the broader community. These protocols guide campus health authorities’ assessment of positive cases as well as initiation of contact tracing to determine with whom an individual may have come into close contact with. Given these protocols and privacy safeguards, the university may have limited information about those who have tested positive from local health officials and individual health providers.

UMSL will continue to take action to monitor and protect the health and safety of our campus community. We remind everyone to remain vigilant and follow university safety expectations.

VIEW COVID-19 REPORTING DATA

View full policy and FAQs

View full policy and FAQs

Event Planning: Fall 2021

UMSL Event Services is excited to assist our Triton community in hosting events and activities throughout the fall semester. At this time, UMSL event venues will be operating at 100% capacity and are currently accepting reservations through the Event Services website at www.umsl.edu/events. Campus event venues currently include:

• JC Penney Conference Center; Millennium Student Center; Recreation and Wellness Center; Provincial House Chapel; Touhill Performing Arts Center; and outdoor spaces such as the North Campus Quad, RWC Lawn, and UMSL Baseball and Softball fields.

Reservations for academic classroom spaces must be reserved through 25Live. Please note that Event Services will review events, excluding course-related activities and internal department events, to provide oversight of campus policy and risk management. Please allow an additional 1 – 2 business days for this review to take place.

In alignment with university guidelines, University of Missouri–St. Louis event spaces will require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors age five or older to wear a face mask when occupying indoor locations. Wearing face masks at outdoor venues, especially in group settings, is strongly encouraged. To read the university’s full face covering policy, click here.

Campus catering services will be limited to pre-packaged items and boxed meals whenever possible. Open, self-serve buffets are not permitted at this time. The Sodexo catering staff will assist you with exploring the best dining options for your in-person events. Additional information can be found at Catering Services or by contacting Sodexo Catering at tritoncatering@umsl.edu or 314-516-4321.

Please note that the campus venue operations outlined above are contingent upon a positive public health environment and may require modification in the event of new guidelines from the university. Events and activities off campus that are not organized by a college, department or division (such as those organized by a student organization or affiliated group) and are not in spaces owned by the university or rented/leased by the university should follow local public health requirements and recommendations as well as any specific policies prescribed by the venue. Additionally, for such events, the event organizer may determine additional COVID-19 precautions expected of guests.

If you have questions about campus event operations, please contact Event Services at eventservices@umsl.edu or 314-516-5022 or the Touhill Performing Arts Center at 314-516-4100 for additional information.

External Event Operators Utilizing Campus Facilities/Venues

Please contact Event Services or the Touhill Performing Arts Center for details.