Information and Updates for Students

If you have had any of the following symptoms, do not go to class and contact your healthcare provider or the Student Health Clinic immediately:

• A fever of 100.4 degrees or greater in the last two days;
• A cough;
• Difficulty breathing;
• A sore throat;
• Or a loss of taste and smell

Additionally, if you have had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days, it is imperative that you stay home in self quarantine for another 14 days to ensure that you are not infected.

UCA Medical Director Dr. Randy Pastor has developed a protocol outlining the steps students should take if they get a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Here’s what to do if:
You feel that you NEED TO BE TESTED FOR COVID-19

You live IN CAMPUS HOUSING and A CLOSE CONTACT TESTS POSITIVE

You live IN CAMPUS HOUSING and YOU TEST POSITIVE

You live OFF CAMPUS and A CLOSE CONTACT TESTS POSITIVE

You live OFF CAMPUS and YOU TEST POSITIVE

Questions?

When the fall semester begins on August 20, all UCA students will be required to wear face coverings when in enclosed spaces on campus, including in classrooms, meeting rooms, lobbies, elevators, restrooms and corridors.

All faculty and staff will also be required to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces. UCA will provide face coverings to students, faculty and staff.

Students are permitted to wear their own face coverings. However, face coverings that meet CDC guidelines will be provided for every student that attends the university.

While we are planning for face-to-face instruction for the majority of the fall 2020 semester, all academic departments and instructors are developing protocols to practice social distancing in the classroom and all across campus. There are several faculty and staff groups working together to identify appropriate physical distancing, density in spaces, and alternative scheduling options and locations for classes. The groups are putting together a menu of options to help academic departments and instructors ensure adequate distancing inside classrooms, lecture halls, labs, and other instructional spaces. Many courses are being designed as hybrid models, minimizing the need for the full class to attend physically at the same time. Regardless of format, all UCA classes will be designed to move to an online or remote format if required.

Heavily trafficked and dense areas such as the Christian Cafeteria, Student Center and Torreyson Library will be reset to maintain social distancing while accommodating the maximum number of guests. In the Christian Cafeteria, for instance, tables are situated 10 feet apart, and floor signs are placed to keep the six-foot guideline for distancing.

UCA is committed to providing many opportunities for student interaction and involvement on campus. Although our student events and programs will look different this academic year, we will continue to provide these opportunities in some format. You may contact the Office of Student Life for questions about registered student organizations, Bear Den events and Greek Life. You may also contact the Student Activities Board for information about scheduled programs. COVID-19-related safety information and instructions for social distancing will be provided for our events.

Our UCA Student Health Clinic, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Health and local and regional health systems, will be prepared to test and trace any students, faculty, or staff members who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or those who believe they may have been in close contact with an infected person(s).

We also have an isolation and quarantine housing plan in place to safely support any students living on campus who either test positive for COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive. We are preparing multiple buildings — including reserving the entirety of Carmichael Hall — that will be dedicated to serve those students who are required to quarantine for 14 days and want to remain in campus housing or cannot go home. Academic accommodations will be provided for any student undergoing mandatory isolation or quarantine. University health officials will monitor all positive cases daily and ensure students receive the care and resources they need.

UCA Medical Director Dr. Randy Pastor has developed a protocol outlining the steps students should take if they get a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Here’s what to do if:
You feel that you NEED TO BE TESTED FOR COVID-19

You live IN CAMPUS HOUSING and A CLOSE CONTACT TESTS POSITIVE

You live IN CAMPUS HOUSING and YOU TEST POSITIVE

You live OFF CAMPUS and A CLOSE CONTACT TESTS POSITIVE

You live OFF CAMPUS and YOU TEST POSITIVE

If a student is identified as coming in contact with another person that tests positive for COVID-19, they will be notified by either the Arkansas Department of Health, the UCA Student Health Clinic or both, depending on the circumstances, and advised of the next steps.

The Student Health Clinic has partnered with Conway Regional Medical Center to ensure that every student who feels they need a test can get a COVID-19 test done. The location for the testing can be done at either location. If a student suspects he or she is positive for COVID-19, the student should contact the UCA Student Health Clinic immediately.

Almost every U.S. insurance carrier to date has agreed to waive any deductible or co-pays for the COVID-19 test.

UCA is also currently working to obtain the lowest price possible (including funds to cover full cost) for those students who do not have health insurance.

We will continue to emphasize the CDC’s recommended measures for reducing the spread of virus, including washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; coughing and sneezing into your elbow; coughing or sneezing into a tissue, throwing it away immediately and washing your hands; and avoiding shaking hands.

If soap and water are unavailable, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60-percent alcohol. We have increased the number of sanitizing stations set up around campus. They can be found in many high-traffic and high-contact areas and in building lobbies.

Guidance for Use of PPE

CDC Recommendation for When to Wear Gloves

Questions?

Custodians are cleaning buildings, classrooms and restrooms on a daily basis and are focusing on wiping down all touch points such as sinks, door knobs/handles, tables, elevator buttons, toilets, faucets, light switches, etc. All desks in classrooms will be sprayed with disinfectant once daily. In addition, hand sanitizing stations will be located in hallways. Interior doors will be propped open where feasible to minimize the necessity for frequent touching.

As in years past, students should bring their own daily cleaning supplies, such as disinfectant spray and wipes, to perform routine cleaning of countertops, sinks and shared bathrooms in private or suite setups. In residence halls and buildings with communal bathrooms, custodial staff will clean daily.

Questions?

Regular university policy requires freshmen to live on campus for their first year, but we will be flexible with freshman students’ needs for this coming fall and spring. First-time freshmen who are interested in living off campus must complete the Housing Exemption Form found here. Concerns regarding COVID-19 will be strongly considered in exemption requests.

In all aspects of our response efforts, we continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). We will follow their guidance on the use of and best practices for double-occupancy rooms in the fall. Room assignments in halls with double-occupancy rooms will remain double occupancy. A student may request to be on the single room waiting list. Single rooms are very limited and will be assigned as space allows. Rooms designed as single occupancy will remain single occupancy. Anyone in a double-occupancy room by themselves will be charged at the single room rate.

We have an isolation housing plan in place to safely isolate and support any students living on campus who test positive for COVID-19. We are preparing multiple buildings — including reserving the entirety of Carmichael Hall — that will be dedicated to serve those students who test positive for COVID-19 and cannot return home to isolate for the required 14 days. Academic accommodations will be provided for any student undergoing mandatory isolation or quarantine. University health officials will monitor all positive cases daily and ensure students receive the care and resources they need.

As in years past, students should bring their own daily cleaning supplies, such as disinfectant spray and wipes, to perform routine cleaning of countertops, sinks and shared bathrooms in private or suite setups. In residence halls and buildings with communal bathrooms, custodial staff will clean daily.

Each dining services staff member is screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon their arrival to work. Precautions include:

• Daily temperature checks for all team members — anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or above will be sent home.
• Managers monitor daily for symptoms (chronic cough, fever, trouble breathing).
• Increased cross-training of team members across multiple roles to improve staffing flexibility.

In addition, in order to abide by social distancing guidelines, the Christian Cafeteria will reset the dining room to maintain social distancing while accommodating the maximum number of guests in the cafeteria. Tables are placed 10 feet apart, and floor signs are placed to keep the six-foot guideline for distancing. The same practices will be in place in the Student Center food court area.

Campus Dining Hours (as of May 27, 2020)

All hours referenced are to-go only.

Christian Cafeteria (Sunday – Saturday)
Brunch: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m
Dinner: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Student Center P.O.D. C-Store (Monday – Friday)
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Student Center Chick-fil-A (Monday – Friday)
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Einstein Bros. Bagels at Donaghey Hall (Monday – Friday)
7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The University of Central Arkansas athletics department is committed to the health and safety of all student-athletes, staff and the entire campus community. In order to ensure a safe return to campus and athletic activity, UCA Athletics continues to follow current recommendations and protocols set forth by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the National Athletic Trainer Association Council for Sports Medicine; the American College Health Association Guidelines (ACHA); and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Sport Science Institute.

Student-athletes, coaches and support staff are required to routinely undergo COVID-19 screening and testing before engaging in athletic activity on the UCA campus. Scheduling of routine screening and testing is conducted through a multidisciplinary team of professionals with the UCA sports medicine department and Conway Regional Health Systems. Those individuals who refuse testing will be required to quarantine for 14 days. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 undergo the same quarantine and contact tracing procedures set forth by the university. These procedures can be found under Testing, Tracing, Isolating.

Phase 1 (June 8 – July 5) 
Open to ONLY on-campus and online students
Weight Room and Cardio Room ONLY

Face coverings are REQUIRED for entry, per Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Directive

Hours of Operation
*10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday – Friday
*10 a.m. – 11 a.m. (High Risks Individuals ONLY)
High Risk Criteria

COPA (Campus Outdoors)
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Open to on-campus and online students and UCA employees

The UCA Varsity Track and Nature Reserve trails are still open for use.

Common areas will be reconfigured to maintain six feet of physical distance at all times and minimize opportunities for congregating.

In shared kitchens, the CDC recommends that you do not share dishes, glasses, cups or utensils. Use disposable items whenever you can, or use your own items and wash immediately after use and store at your desk. Wash with a disposable paper towel; do not use shared sponges and/or dish brushes. Do not leave dirty dishes in sinks or on countertops.

It is recommended that you wipe down vending machine buttons after each use.

We strongly discourage you from using water fountains, but if you must, please wipe down levers and buttons with a sanitizing wipe after each use.

Questions?

The fall 2020 semester will begin on August 20, 2020. We will have normal operations with the majority of classes delivered via face-to-face instruction with hybrid elements. However, all class instruction will be designed to allow for a pivot to remote or online attendance and instruction if required.

Following Thanksgiving Break, academic instruction for the last week of fall semester will be online. All fall 2020 final exams will also be held online. The final day for in-person instruction during the fall 2020 semester will be Friday, Nov. 20, 2020.

Though face-to-face instruction for the fall semester will transition to online instruction after Nov. 20, 2020, the rest of campus, including residence halls, dining facilities, HPER, and library will remain open through the end of finals week.

The spring 2021 semester will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, which is the Tuesday after the observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

You can see an updated academic calendar reflecting these dates here.

Virtual tutoring assistance is now available from noon to 4 p.m. for a variety of subjects.

For a listing of subjects being tutored, visit the Tutoring Center website and click on “schedule.” For more information, contact (501) 852-0720 or email tutoring@uca.edu.

https://uca.edu/success/files/2020/02/Online-Tutoring-Schedule-1.pdf

Need tips for online learning? Online learning help is available through the Student Success office. 

UCA Counseling Center

The health and wellbeing of students are top priorities at UCA. We understand that the pandemic environment, experiencing sudden change and living with uncertainty can trigger anxiety and other mental health crises. The UCA Counseling Center is here to help. The Student Government Association has partnered with the UCA Counseling Center to offer teletherapy services during this challenging time. Through this partnership, students who are enrolled in fall 2020 classes can receive teletherapy services to help manage concerns, emotions and anxiety due to COVID-19.

During summer sessions, the UCA Counseling Center will offer counseling services remotely with plans to resume face-to-face counseling sessions when the fall semester starts, as appropriate. Students can call the Counseling Center office at (501) 450-3138 or visit the counseling center website for more information.

Visit the Counseling Center website for more information, or call (501) 450-3138.

We believe that a student’s wellbeing is affected by the interactions they have and the relationships they make on campus. You may contact the Office of Student Life if you need assistance with getting connected to campus organizations and activities.

Student Health Center

Monday-Friday 8-4:30 p.m., closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Closed on Saturday and Sunday

UCA’s Distribution of the CARES Act Funding

Student Emergency Fund

IT has provided a list of key programs and software, as well as a resource page, that students can utilize during face-to-face or online learning.

View the list of recommended hardware and software for UCA students. 

UCA campus tours, which began again on June 8, will be limited in number to abide by social distancing guidelines. Prospective students, guests and families are encouraged to bring their own personal protective equipment. Those participating in tours will be required to wear face coverings in the Welcome Center as well as in UCA buildings. If you do not have a face covering, one will be available for you. Reservations are required and can be made at uca.edu/admissions/.

Virtual tours continue to be available by visiting uca.edu and clicking on the Explore UCA option.

While campus buildings do remain closed, campus is available for self-guided tours.

All in-person orientation activities for this summer have transitioned to an online orientation experience called New Bear Central. New Bear Central consists of three components: a series of modules through Blackboard, an online academic advising appointment to receive their fall schedule of classes, and virtual sessions hosted by the Student Orientation Staff to answer questions and connect the incoming class to their peers.

More information can be found at uca.edu/newbearcentral.

In lieu of face-to-face orientation sessions for family members of our entering freshmen, Student Success and the Family Network have developed a web page containing much of the information that would normally be shared with families and parents during SOAR and summer registration.

https://uca.edu/studentsuccess/family-resources/

Commencement will be held Aug. 7 and 8 on campus. We will provide additional information about this process in the coming weeks.

Due to the possibility of a second wave of a Coronavirus outbreak in fall 2020 and the uncertainty as to whether the current CDC and U.S. State Department travel advisories will be extended, the university has decided to postpone all inbound and outbound fall 2020 semester exchange programs until spring 2021.

For questions, please reach out to Dr. Phillip Bailey, Associate Vice-President for International Education and Engagement, phillipb@uca.edu or to Natalie Flemming, Education Abroad Director, natalief@uca.edu.

The UCA Division of Outreach & Community Engagement provides the following guidelines for all university faculty, staff, and students while the university continues to make changes to operations to meet the health and safety needs of our campus and community during the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Questions? Contact Dr. Lesley Graybeal at lgraybeal@uca.edu