University leaders have announced the difficult but necessary decision to temporarily shift a majority of in-person undergraduate and graduate courses to remote learning for the last three weeks of instruction and final exams following Thanksgiving break. There will be some exceptions, but most students and faculty should plan for remote learning after the holiday.
The university is checking #CampusClear apps with health monitoring stations at Ellis Library, MizzouRec and the Student Center. For more information on the app and screening locations visit the #CampusClear information page.
Student self-reporting
Students must report a positive COVID-19 test to the MU Student Health Center within four hours of receiving their result. In addition, they will need to let instructors know they won’t be in class. Personal or personally identifying information is confidential under privacy laws, and it will only be used to determine steps such as deep cleaning and academic accommodations.
The university has resources for students dealing with COVID-19 to help them navigate the process and protect themselves, as well as the Mizzou community.
All Mizzou students are expected to take proactive steps including social distancing, hand hygiene, use of face coverings, monitoring their personal health and staying home if they are feeling unwell to protect the safety of our entire community.
Below are the baseline behaviors we will need from our entire university community to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19:
Maintain social distancing of 6 feet between individuals on and off campus
Keeping space between you and others is the best tool we have to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
Each person must remain at least 6 feet (about two arm lengths) from others.
We need to maintain that distance in classrooms, corridors, laboratories, studios, recreation areas, common spaces, elevators, stairwells and social settings.
Use face coverings
Face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with everyday preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.
Wear face coverings whenever you are on campus even when you are outside, unless you are alone. This policy means those who share a household (roommates, family members, etc. ) will also wear face coverings when outdoors together on campus. This outdoor requirement will apply to the entire campus, including the MU Health Care areas.
Whenever a face covering is required, indoors and outdoors, it must always be kept over your mouth and nose.
When individuals eat or drink together outdoors, they must remain at least six feet apart from others and return face coverings immediately after consumption is complete.
Exceptions include:
When you are alone in a private work space or single-occupancy study rooms where you can close the door.
While alone outdoors or exercising alone where social distancing is achievable.
When you are in your residence hall room with your roommate. Face coverings should be worn if someone from your residence hall is visiting.
Departments will have extra face coverings for students who arrive for class without one, but students are expected to supply and maintain their own face coverings.
You will see staff wearing face coverings when working in common areas of residential halls, student rooms and all campus dining facilities.
Policies regarding face coverings will adjust according to any changes in local public health requirements and guidance.
Face covering requirements
Face coverings must cover your mouth and nose.
A face covering can be made of cloth or other soft or permeable material, without holes.
Neither a clear face shield nor a face covering with exhalation valves or vents meet the face covering requirements.
Instructors, while in class, are allowed to wear a clear face covering and/or just a clear face shield. If they wear just a clear face shield, they must remain 10 feet from others.
If you are unable to wear a face covering because of a physical or mental health condition, please reach out to the Disability Center for accommodations. If you are unable to wear coverings because of religious beliefs or practice, contact the Office for Civil Rights & Title IX.
If you do not wear a face covering and do not have approved accommodations not to wear one, you may be excluded from university programs and activities.
#CampusClear provides a daily push notification that will act as a regular reminder to check your symptoms and temperature.
If you select one or more symptoms, you will not be “cleared for campus” access, so you should be sure to select only symptoms that are new, unusual or unexplained rather than those associated with health conditions you regularly experience.
If you are not cleared for campus access, the app also directs you to available support resources. If you are directed to stay home, seek guidance from the MU Student Health Center (573-882-7481) or your health care provider.
If you are unable to run the app due to technological restraints or other reasons, you are still required to monitor your temperature and symptoms daily and could be asked to verbally verify that you have checked your symptoms that day.
Instructors may ask you to show the “cleared for campus” screen you receive after completing your daily #CampusClearself-monitoring question.
Frequently wash your hands (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds) throughout the day. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an ethyl alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
Throw used tissues in the trash.
Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
All policies/standards are based on university expectations as informed by city, county and state guidelines.
Compliance with these policies fall under the Collected Rules and Regulations (CRR).
Off-campus conduct policy
You must follow federal, state, and local public health orders while you are off campus, too. This policy (CRR 200.010.C.11 and .14) means that if you are at or host a party of more than 20 attendees, you could be sanctioned as a violation of the Standard of Conduct.
Visit our resources section to find ways to maintain good mental health and to improve your emotional well-being.
Returning to campus
Whether it’s your first day on campus or you’re returning for senior year, things may look a little different across campus this semester. Check out our student FAQ section for details on some of the changes.
Guidance for graduate and undergraduate research students
As the campus reopens for classes for the 2020 fall semester, graduate and undergraduate students and their faculty mentors need to be aware of additional protocols and requirements for students working in research facilities and creative spaces.
Guidance for fall 2020 incoming international students
We have provided a resource page for international students regarding travel, enrollment, housing and other concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, and our Counseling Center also provides resources for those looking for help coping with the additional stress of the pandemic, discrimination and other impacts of current events.
