COVID-19 FAQs
COVID-19 FAQs
Updated March 7, 2022 - Optional masking
Please review the frequently asked questions on this page as your question may be listed. If your question isn't listed, reach out to ask a question.
Q&A Topics:
Testing
It depends.
I have no symptoms:
If a waiting student is asymptomatic, they should attend class. Most academic classes are currently meeting in person. For the few that are not, those teachers have been in touch with students directly.
I have symptoms:
- If a waiting student is symptomatic, regardless of testing status, they should NOT attend class.
- If you are symptomatic and a residential student, you should NOT attend class and should call Student Health Services to make an appointment with a medical provider for evaluation (or your doctor if you have not yet returned to campus).
- If you are symptomatic (regardless of testing status) and a commuter, you should NOT attend class and should report to your doctor.
- Be sure to complete this form.
Note: Due to the potential risk for sick students infecting others, Student Health Services is currently operating on an appointment-only basis.
Students: Please upload your positive test, do not go anywhere and especially not to class, remain isolated, and wait to hear from our contract tracers for further instructions.
Employees: Notify your supervisor and have your supervisor contact Emergency Management Coordinator Clarisse Davis via email (davisc@uncsa.edu) and upload your positive test in the Reporting Hub.
Students, faculty and staff are required to submit a negative COVID-19 test (PCR only) by Jan. 14. Tests must have been taken within 7 days of submission (meaning, for example, no tests from fall may be submitted). Both students and employees can report to campus before submitting their negative tests, but should adhere closely to our Community Health Standards, including masking.
Testing resumed Tuesday, Jan. 11. UNCSA has on-site surveillance testing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday in Eisenberg Social Hall. Faculty, staff and students without proof of vaccination status are required to complete surveillance testing weekly. If you choose not or are unable to be tested each Tuesday, you will need to have a PCR test conducted by a community provider and you will need to upload your test by 5 p.m. each Friday via the COVID-19 reporting hub.
Surveillance testing is used to help identify areas where COVID-19 is present, and therefore, whether further testing is needed. Faculty, staff, and students with proof of vaccination status can voluntarily complete a surveillance test if capacity allows; however, you must preregister for a space.
Campus Surveillance Testing
Testing will be every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Eisenberg Social Hall located in Hanes Student Commons.
- If you are required to test, you will receive an email to your UNCSA email address with a link to make an appointment.
- If capacity allows, time slots will be available each week for students, faculty and staff outside the required testing group.
Health & Safety
According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Requiring all students, faculty and staff to submit a negative PCR test by Jan. 14 is just one of many strategies UNCSA is employing to help control the spread of the virus. Other strategies include masking, hand-washing and use of hand sanitizer, improved ventilation and filtration, and surveillance testing. These strategies have proven effective at impeding the spread of COVID-19 in the past.
In addition, UNCSA is not allowing students living in campus residence halls and apartments to have visitors in their rooms until further notice.
Also, Aramark is reducing the density and capacity of the dining hall seating and focusing on grab-and-go options for the first 10-14 days of the semester.
As always, UNCSA is encouraging vaccines and boosters. We are happy to report that 94% of students and 93% of faculty and staff have received vaccinations, one of the highest percentages in the UNC System.
Wearing masks are for all faculty, staff, students and patrons as of Monday, March 7, 2022. Refer to our Community Health Standards.
Note: At UNCSA, wearing masks will become optional for all faculty, staff, students and patrons on Monday, March 7.
Not at this time, with one exception. Since medical-grade (surgical, N95 or KN95) masks have been shown to be more effective than cloth face coverings in preventing the spread of COVID-19, we will now require students in large ensembles to wear medical-grade masks while rehearsing and performing. They can bring their own, or we will have the blue surgical masks available to pass out for rehearsals and black ones for performances.
Academics
As scheduled, UNCSA began spring semester 2022 on Monday, Jan. 10. Deans have the flexibility to make instructional adjustments for the first week of classes based on curriculum needs, safety and resources. Working with faculty, they determine which classes and activities will be in person, hybrid and online. Faculty will notify students directly about any temporary changes to modes of instruction.
There is no such thing as self-diagnosis or self-quarantine. If a student is symptomatic and a residential student, you should NOT attend class and should call Student Health Services to make an appointment with a medical provider for evaluation (or your doctor if you have not yet returned to campus).
If you are symptomatic (regardless of testing status) and a commuter, you should NOT attend class and should report to your doctor.
Employees (Faculty & Staff)
Vaccine Questions
All UNCSA faculty, staff and students are eligible to be vaccinated.
Yes. Everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-shot series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible
All federal employees and contractors are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination based on guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and President Biden's Executive Order 14042. UNCSA employees are state employees and UNCSA does not have any federal contractors, so this guidance does not affect our university at this time. However, the order does impact many of our fellow UNC and other higher education institutions across North Carolina and the country.
No. Per UNC System guidance, UNCSA will not require a COVID-19 vaccination at this time. Any student, faculty or staff member can voluntarily report they are vaccinated. Students, faculty and staff without proof of vaccination will be required to get tested for COVID-19 weekly. Also, at this time, UNCSA is not requiring vaccines for students ages 5 and older in our Community Programs who are newly eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.
Yes. According to the CDC, it’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic.
The Pfizer vaccine is now approved for ages 5 and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for ages 18 and older. Refer to the CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine and boosters according to your age, health status and when you were vaccinated.
There are no plans to offer on-campus vaccination events at this time.
You can voluntarily report your vaccination and booster status in order to have a representation of the vaccination status on campus.
No. UNCSA is not responsible for determining or verifying eligibility for vaccination; it is up to the individual and NCDHHS.
Important Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories
We will be adding additional FAQs as questions are received. If you have a question, please ask.