Safety Expectations

Monitor Your Daily Health

Students and employees will be expected to self-monitor their health on a daily basis for COVID-19 symptoms including temperature, cough, loss of smell or taste, difficulty breathing, fatigue and more.

• One way to do that is to download a free mobile app, Campus Screen, that directs users through a daily health check to support self-monitoring efforts. Students, employees or visitors may be asked to show their daily campus pass status to enter buildings, classrooms or other university activities. 
  • Download for Android
  • Download for iOS

Face Covering Policy

Effective July 26, 2021, all faculty, staff, students and visitors age five and older are required to wear a face mask when entering or occupying a physical building or facility owned, operated or managed by the university regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, face coverings are required when utilizing campus shuttles. Wearing face masks outdoors, especially in group settings, continues to be strongly encouraged.

While wearing a face mask is an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 Delta Variant, getting vaccinated is the safest and quickest way to protect your own health and that of your family, friends and our community.

If you have not yet done so, please join a vaccination event or schedule your appointment today. Doing so will help ensure not only the safety of yourself and others, but also the ability of our university community to begin a near-normal fall semester with fewer safety restrictions.

Read the full policy

Practice Hygiene Etiquette

• Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth then wash or disinfect hands.
• Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash or disinfect hands.
• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an ethyl alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%-95% alcohol. UMSL has placed hundreds of sanitizer stations throughout campus.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Clean and Disinfect

• Custodial Services disinfects all campus spaces regularly.
• Custodial Services will continue to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door handles, faucets and elevator buttons frequently throughout their shift.
• Classrooms, restrooms and other common areas will be cleaned daily, Monday – Friday.
• When possible, doors will remain propped open to allow no-touch entry and exit within buildings.
• The cleaning of individual offices and residential spaces are the responsibility of the occupants.
• UMSL Facilities, in partnership with the Campus Health Officer, will adequately clean and disinfect specific locations where a confirmed positive case has been reported. Facilities will communicate with impacted department(s) and identify alternative space as needed.

If you are experiencing symptoms that are atypical of your individual health circumstances, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have had contact with a person identified as testing positive:

• Stay home (or within your residence hall or apartment) and do not come to campus or, if actively on campus, leave immediately if symptoms are experienced during the day.
  • Employees should contact their primary health provider for guidance, which may include arranging COVID-19 testing. 
  • Students should contact UMSL Health Services for guidance, which may include arranging COVID-19 testing. 
• Employees and students who are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive or had contact with others identified as having tested positive: Submit a Reporting COVID-19 Diagnosis/Symptoms form (View Reporting Policy).
• This form will be directed to the Campus Health Officer - charged with tracking suspected or confirmed cases on campus - who will follow up with each individual to discuss symptoms, diagnosis and next steps.
• Employees are responsible for notifying their supervisor if their health status results in an absence from work while Human Resources will be responsible for ensuring that appropriate documentation is completed (e.g., FMLA, work from home arrangements, etc.).
• The Campus Health Officer will notify instructors if a student absence is required for any medical reason – including those related to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Though students may send a notice to instructors in order to make them aware, but note that you are not required to disclose the medical reason for your absence.
• If an employee or student is instructed to not come to campus due to COVID-19 policies, they must not return to campus until written/email approval is provided by the Campus Health Officer.