Interim COVID-19 Related Policies
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning community and, in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College Health Association and state and local public health departments, UTC has enacted protocols toward limiting the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the health and safety of the campus community.
To inform expectations and compliance with these protocols, the University has adopted a set of interim policies, summarized below and which you can review in full here https://new.utc.edu/interim-covid-19-related-policies.
These policies apply to the entire campus community and to visitors or others with business on campus.
Face Masks are Required
Students and employees who fail to comply with face mask requirements may be subject to disciplinary action.
Indoors: All students, employees, contractors and visitors are required to wear face masks while inside classrooms, other instructional spaces and UTC owned and/or controlled property. The only exceptions are when eating in designated dining areas (for instance, Crossroads Cafeteria or University Center Food Court), specified areas within the Aquatic and Recreation Center, or areas without risk of interacting with others such as residence hall rooms or private offices.
Outdoors: Wearing a face mask is required while outdoors on University-controlled property except in areas where social distancing is being actively practiced and can be maintained without risk of interacting with others.
Special Requests: Student requests for disability-related accommodations in the use of face masks can be made through the Disability Resource Center. Employees can make requests through the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Based on CDC and state government guidance and professional standards, some University departments and contractors may follow modified protocols for face masks depending on services provided to the campus community. Modified protocols must be approved by the UTC Office of Safety and Risk Management and University Health Services prior to implementation. In the event more stringent face mask protocols are approved and implemented for a University department or contractor, the more stringent protocols must be followed.
Social Distancing Must Be Practiced
All students, employees, contractors and visitors are required to maintain social distancing whenever possible while present on University-controlled property, whether indoors or outdoors.
Based on CDC and state government guidance and professional standards, some University departments and contractors may follow modified protocols for social distancing based on services provided. Modified protocols must be approved by the UTC Office of Safety and Risk Management and University Health Services prior to implementation. In the event more stringent social distancing protocols are approved and implemented for a University department or contractor, the more stringent protocols must be followed.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disciplinary action for students and employees.
Vaccination Requirements
UTC will require all students and employees to have immunizations for the seasonal flu and COVID-19 (if a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and available during the 2020-2021 academic year) unless exempted from immunization requirements. The University will communicate the timeframe in which students and employees are required to provide proof of immunizations.
University-Controlled Housing
Students living in University-controlled residential facilities are permitted to reside only in their assigned rooms or apartments. Residents may visit other residents from 12-10 p.m. daily. Social distancing must always be practiced.
Students, employees, contractors and visitors who are not campus residents are prohibited from entering University-controlled housing facilities at any time, except for individuals conducting official UTC business.
UTC reserves the right to close its University-controlled residential facilities due to health or safety concerns. The University also reserves the right to make changes to room assignments related to COVID-19.
Reporting
All students, employees, contractors and visitors who have visited University-controlled property within the preceding 14 days are required to report as soon as they become aware if they are or were positive for COVID-19, symptomatic for COVID-19, or were exposed or potentially exposed to a known case of COVID-19. In addition, those who traveled internationally or via cruise ships are required to notify the University.
Information should be reported immediately via the UTC online COVID-19 Notification Form.
Amnesty for Students
As spelled out in the UTC Student Code of Conduct, a student will not be subject to formal University disciplinary action for any violation discovered by the University as a result of reporting COVID-19 concerns and/or participation in COVID-19 processes unless a student has engaged in repeated or serious violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
Facilities Use
Indoor and outdoor event attendance will be limited to designated COVID-19 maximum occupancy levels.
Participation: Students and employees may attend all events which are open to the campus community or which they are invited so long as their participation does not exceed the maximum occupancy level for that space. Contractors may only attend events if they are completing a job-related responsibility and their participation does not exceed the maximum occupancy level. Visitors are prohibited from attending events unless they are invited to conduct official University business (for instance, guest lecturer) and their participation does not exceed the maximum occupancy level.
Reservations: All requests to procure UTC facilities must be submitted to and reviewed by designated facility managers through established processes for reserving the facility and/or space, including online software. Any reservations denied by the facility manager may be appealed to the COVID-19 Facilities Use Committee, an ad hoc group comprised of one representative from each of the following areas: Office of University Events (chairperson), Academic Affairs, Athletics, Campus Recreation, Faculty Senate, Graduate Student Association, McKenzie Arena, Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Safety and Risk Management, Office of Student and Family Engagement, Student Government Association, University Center, University Health Services and UTC Police Department. The committee may uphold, modify or overturn the decision of the facility manager, and the committee’s decision is final.
Enforcement: The event host is required to ensure that COVID-19 maximum occupancy level for the event is not exceeded, that facility setup is not changed without the permission of the facility manager, and that all face mask and social distancing requirements are followed. If the event host fails to comply with these requirements or other University policies, the planned event may be canceled or immediately terminated. Any participant who fails to comply with requirements may be immediately removed from an event. If numerous participants fail to comply with requirements, the function may be immediately terminated.
Student Organization Off-Campus Events
UTC student organizations holding off-campus events are required to conduct their functions based on CDC, state and local health department guidelines. Student organizations must always require event attendees to wear face masks and practice social distancing.
Student organizations that fail to comply with these requirements may be subject to disciplinary action.
Compliance
Non-compliance with COVID-19 related provisions should be reported to:
- Students: Office of Student Conduct.
- Employees: Office of Human Resources.
- Contractors: contract administrator or the Office of Procurement and Contract Services.
- Visitors: UTC Police