With the number of COVID-19 cases significantly declining both on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus and in the Chattanooga community and region, and given the ready availability of vaccines, the University shifted its response to COVID-19 effective March 25, 2022.With the decrease in the COVID-19 infection rate, the University’s masking recommendation was changed from “strongly encouraged” to “mask optional.” Anyone who wishes to continue to mask should feel comfortable doing so.
Moving forward, students advised by health care providers to isolate or quarantine should submit documentation to the Office of Student Outreach and Support (SOS), which will send academic notices to faculty via the Academic Notification Process: utc.edu/excuse. University employees advised by health care providers to isolate or quarantine should send documentation of that instruction and notice of date to return to work on campus to their department heads or supervisors.
These changes reflect plans for treating COVID-19 more like other infectious diseases. As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, if circumstances call for adjusting plans, the University will shift and respond appropriately.