Daily Health Screening Required for All Students, Employees Returning to Campus

In addition to implementing Comets United guidelines to lessen the risk of COVID-19, The University of Texas at Dallas is requiring all students returning to campus, as well as employees approved to report to campus, to complete a daily health screening.

All students living in University housing or at Northside and those taking classes on campus or coming to campus on a regular basis for any other reason will be included in a process that employees are already following as they are approved by their supervisors to return to campus.

Rafael Martín, vice president and chief of staff, said, “As UT Dallas prepares for the fall 2020 semester, it is vital that our community follow protocols that minimize risks in the spaces where we work, study and research. The daily health screening tool will encourage our community members to closely monitor their health and will help reduce the risk of spread by asking individuals who are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with individuals who may have COVID-19 to self-isolate.

“We must all do our part to keep health and safety our first priority, including wearing face coverings, practicing proper social distancing and good hygiene, and following University guidelines.”

Students must complete a mandatory training module in eLearning regarding expectations and consequences of noncompliance.

For employees, the steps for their return to campus are outlined on the Comets United website.

Once an employee’s return is approved, the individual will complete a training module in eLearning and sign a compliance attestation form. They then will begin receiving an electronic health screening survey every day.

Screening Tool

The daily health screening survey is sent electronically each morning, and recipients are required to complete the screening every day until further notice. Individuals are expected to respond in the morning before coming to campus. Reminders will be sent throughout the day until it is completed.

The health screening tool, developed by the Office of Research, in coordination with the Office of Human Resources and the Office of Emergency Management and Continuity Planning, was rolled out in phases over the summer and is available in English and Spanish.

How It Works

The screening asks whether the individual is coming to campus that day. If the answer is yes, the individual must answer five additional questions about COVID-19 symptoms and potential exposure. If the answer is no, the screening is complete.

If the answer to the screening’s first question is yes, individuals must answer five additional questions about COVID-19 symptoms and potential exposure.  

Student responses will be sent to the Dean of Students Office. If a student plans to come to campus and answers yes to any of the additional questions, a representative from the office will contact the student, who then will be directed to not come to campus and to consult with the office for further guidance.

Employee responses are sent to the University’s COVID-19 coordinator and the individual’s supervisor. If an employee plans to come to campus and answers yes to any of the additional questions, the COVID-19 coordinator will contact the employee who then will be directed to not come to campus and to contact their supervisor immediately. The employee will consult with the COVID-19 coordinator for further guidance.

If an individual’s responses indicate COVID-19 symptoms, they will be directed to quarantine following the guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A return-to-campus date is based on CDC guidelines.

The Dean of Students staff will work with students’ instructors to support academic progress and alert them when the student has been cleared to return to class.

For faculty and staff, the employee and their supervisor will receive an email with further information and a tentative return date. The COVID-19 coordinator will follow up with the individual approximately three days before the end of quarantine to determine their return status.

“The daily health screening tool will encourage our community members to closely monitor their health and will help reduce the risk of spread by asking individuals who are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with individuals who may have COVID-19 to self-isolate.”

Rafael Martín, UT Dallas vice president and chief of staff

If determined necessary, a notification will be sent to Facilities Management to begin the cleaning and disinfecting of campus areas that may be affected.

Additionally, anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or thinks they have had potential exposure to COVID-19 (been within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes of someone who has symptoms or tested positive), is asked to complete a self-report form.

The information gathered will be stored in the University’s emergency management system. The data will be kept confidential, and nonidentifying information will assist the University in monitoring cases according to location and unit and to identify any “hot spots.”

Contacts for COVID-19 Questions, Concerns

Students — including teaching, research and graduate assistants — with COVID-19 questions or concerns can email the Dean of Students Office at DOS@utdallas.edu.

For faculty and staff, Karlynda Poage, COVID-19 health screening and training coordinator, is the contact person. Employees with COVID-19 questions or concerns can email C19resource@utdallas.edu or call 972-883-5327.