Campus family,
We are excited to start a new semester and look forward to seeing you all again soon. Over the break, a new COVID variant has swept the nation leading us to make some important changes to our COVID policies.
The Omicon variant appears to be highly contagious, causing disruptions around the county and even forcing some university campuses to close early for Christmas break and others to start online this semester.
We all need to be a lot more vigilant about watching for symptoms and getting tested so that we don’t allow Omicron to gain a foothold and spread quickly, forcing us to go online for any period of time.
Please read this entire message and make sure you are familiar with the new policies (highlighted in red) and how each of us are accountable for following them.
(NEW) What to do when sick
It is very important to take symptoms seriously and not interact with others until you know whether or not you have COVID—this applies to both employees and students.
So if you have symptoms that could be COVID, you MUST do the following:
- Don’t go to class or work.
- (NEW) Report your symptoms at ucollege.edu/health
- (NEW) Schedule a COVID test right away. At-home tests are not permitted at this time.
- (NEW) Submit your test results at ucollege.edu/health
- (NEW) Stay quarantined at home until Campus Health releases you.
When you report your symptoms, someone will be in touch to make sure you are able to get tested, submit your test results, and leave quarantine or transition to isolation.
(Note: The forms at ucollege.edu/health may not be active until January 10.)
We believe this is important to the ability of our campus to function. If any of us choose to ignore symptoms and potentially expose others, we will be subject to discipline.
Employees, you will continue to receive up to two weeks of additional sick time if you must quarantine or isolate due to potential COVID exposure or infection. Please communicate with your work supervisor and HR to make sure you receive the appropriate extra time.
Professors, we are asking students who are sick not to return to campus. Please be prepared to help them make up the work they might miss at the beginning of the semester.
Where do I get a COVID test?
On campus
Union will offer free testing on campus for anyone who has symptoms connected with COVID. We haven’t finalized the times when the testing center will be open, but we are planning to have the center open Monday through Friday for the same times every day. We’ll announce times when classes begin.
If you fill out the pre-test form at ucollege.edu/health, you’ll be able to get in and out very quickly.
Nomi Health
Anyone, even those without symptoms, can get a free COVID test at the Nomi Health testing center at Gateway Mall. Appointments are not required, but you can pre-register here.
Nearby pharmacies
Walgreens and CVS are just a few blocks north of Union on 48th Street. They both offer testing at no cost if you have symptoms. Click the link to learn more from CVS or Walgreens.
Two-week mask mandate
The county health department decided to lift the mask mandate for Lincoln before Christmas, but has since placed our city in a severe risk category. As everyone returns to campus with many likely carrying the highly contagious Omicron variant, we believe it is important to keep an indoor mask mandate in place at Union for two weeks to ensure we can contain any spread that might force us to go online. The COVID team will assess Union’s ability to keep in-person classes going after two weeks and decide whether to extend or remove the mandate. Our goal is to remove it if possible.
Students, employees and visitors must wear a mask indoors on campus (including in vehicles on college-sponsored trips) at all times from now until Monday, January 24, 2022, except in these situations:
- In their own residence hall room or alone in their office
- While eating at a table in Union Market
- While actively exercising or in the pool at Larson Lifestyle Center
- If a Warrior player and participating in an official practice or game
- If vaccinated and participating in certain indoor club or SA events while eating
(NEW) Travel requirements
Many people traveling together in a small space such as a van or a bus provides an ideal place for COVID to spread. So we’re implementing a new testing policy to limit spread on group trips. Here are the highlights:
- (NEW) Anyone (employee, student or guest) traveling on a college group trip that requires traveling together more than 1.5 hours one way must submit a COVID test to the trip organizer taken within 24 hours before departure on the trip.
- (NEW) If a trip requires an overnight stay, all trip participants must also submit a COVID test to the trip organizer taken within 24 hours after returning from the trip.
- (NEW) The trip organizer will be responsible for collecting the test results and reporting any positive tests at ucollege.edu/health
- (NEW) A small group of employees taking a business trip will be exempted from this policy.
(New) Adjustment to quarantine and isolation policy
Union has adjusted the quarantine and isolation policy to follow CDC guidelines. This means that if you test positive for COVID but don’t experience symptoms, you’ll only need to isolate for five days and then wear a mask for another five days. Read the details here.
(New) We all have a part to play
Employees, we all have a part to play in helping to ensure we can hold in-person classes and events for the entire semester. If you work with students who show any symptoms of COVID, please report that to Campus Health at ucollege.edu/health. Someone will follow up with them to make sure they quarantine and are tested right away.
Let’s all work together to limit the spread of COVID and provide a great semester for our students.
If you have questions, please see the full policy at ucollege.edu/covid or send a message to covid@ucollege.edu
Blessings to you,
Vinita |