Aerial view of campus.

The fall semester will begin Monday, Aug. 23, and the last day of classes will be Tuesday, Dec. 7, at UT Dallas.

The University of Texas at Dallas will return to pre-pandemic operations when the fall semester begins Aug. 23. Most courses will be taught in person, and a nearly full array of events are expected to be held on campus. The following information and resources are designed to help prepare Comets for the new academic year.

Health and Safety

Digital sign reads Stay Safe Comets. Protecting our campus protects us all.

While UT Dallas cannot require COVID-19 vaccines and face coverings for those on campus, all Comets are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated, register their vaccination status through the voluntary vaccine reporting form and wear masks indoors. COVID-19 vaccines will be available at three upcoming campus events.

The University is also implementing new measures for classroom density, mandatory COVID-19 testing for everyone and daily health screenings regardless of vaccination status. For more information and the latest updates, visit the Comets United webpage.

Helpful Links

Campus Operations

Exterior of bookstore with large letters reading COMETS on glass windows. Manequins inside wear UTD clothing.

All areas of campus, including University Housing, will be open when the fall semester begins. The Student Union, the Student Services Building, the Student Services Building Addition, the Eugene McDermott Library, and the University’s bookstore and tech store are now open. Hours can be found on their respective websites. For help navigating campus, check out the University’s interactive map. Visit the Pardon Our Progress website to learn about construction projects that may affect access to on-campus roads and parking areas.

Outdoor sign with arrow reads, This way to campus.

Parking and transportation: A license plate recognition system has eliminated the need for parking stickers. Virtual parking permits can be purchased online. Parking areas are outlined on this map (pdf). There are also 12 electric vehicle charging stations on campus. Comet Cabs, the campus shuttle service, will not be operating at the start of the fall semester, but services may be phased back in as the semester progresses. For accessible cart service, students can submit an online request, which must be approved at least one week before the service is required. Staff and faculty can email park@utdallas.edu to arrange service. The Comet Cruiser, the DART Route 883 buses that serve the University, will be on a normal schedule and has increased service frequency as students return to campus. No pass or identification is needed to ride the Comet Cruiser. Students also may apply for a local Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) pass online to ride other DART buses and trains. Masks are required for all riders based on federal guidelines. Hand sanitizer and masks will be available on board, and passengers may be asked to enter through the rear door of the bus. Buses will be sanitized after each route cycle is completed. Review the route maps (pdf) and schedules for the latest information. Learn more at the Parking and Transportation website.

Interior of Taco Bell.

Dining: Several dining venues on campus are now open, and the rest, including Food Truck Park, are scheduled to reopen when the fall semester begins. Hours and locations can be found on the dining website (pdf). Lemma Coffee Roasters has added a second campus location at the Eugene McDermott Library, and The Market inside the Naveen Jindal School of Management has been renovated and expanded. The Starship food delivery robots are back in full service, and diners can also place orders for pickup with the Boost mobile app. Spirit Fridays — wear orange or green and lunch is just $6 plus tax — will return at Dining Hall West, where staff members serve diners at each station and seating has been reconfigured for safety.

Athletics and Recreation: Comet Sports teams will resume full activities this fall. All recreation facilities are open. Learn more on the University Recreation webpage.

Updates: The Comet community is encouraged to monitor their University email, UT Dallas’ primary social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube) and news outlets (UTD Today and News Center) for any significant changes to campus operations.

Safety