COVID-19 Response
Over the course of the last two weeks, we have seen a significant decrease in the number of positive COVID cases on campus and that has also resulted in a decrease in the number of students requiring quarantine/isolation protocols. This decrease mirrors the infection rates reported from health officials in the region, state, and the country. In response to this significant downward trend and changing CDC guidelines, we are modifying our quarantine and masking policies on campus.
Effective at 5:00 PM on Friday, February 18th, mask wearing will become optional on campus. Those that have not been fully vaccinated are still strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks.
In addition, we will be modifying our isolation/quarantine protocols to reflect the most up to date CDC guidelines. The new campus protocol is as follows:
Quarantine Guidelines:
If you are unvaccinated or not to up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccination, CDC recommends a quarantine for 5 days. You may be released from quarantine after 5 days if you are symptom free and have a negative COVID-19 test on day 5, followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
People who are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination, do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure is required. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
If you have had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 90 days and have proof of it, you are not required to quarantine or test for COVID-19 unless you were to develop COVID-19 symptoms.
Isolation Guidelines:
People testing positive for COVID-19 should isolate for a minimum of 5 days, you may be released after the minimum 5 day isolation if symptoms are resolving and you have been without fever for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. You must wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days.
- Any student that is required to quarantine or isolate will be moved to a quarantine/isolation room.
- If you have not been vaccinated, there is a $50 charge to say on campus for quarantine/isolation.
Over the last two years, we have worked hard to provide a safe campus community for our students, faculty, and staff. These efforts have required much sacrifice in our normal routines and traditional learning models. It is our sincere hope that we are finally on the back side of this pandemic and are closer to more normal activity. We will continue to monitor the pandemic, changing guidelines, and directives that may be issued by all applicable health and government officials.
Important Calendar Changes
Information Technology & Support: Microsoft 365 Email Update
Academic Information
Student Life Information
Health Services Information
Financial Aid & Student Accounts
Human Resources Information
As you are likely aware, over the past few weeks there has been a sharp increase in the number of COVID cases worldwide. The University continues to monitor the pandemic and make proactive plans that offer the safest community possible for our students, faculty, and staff. In accordance with that approach, the University will delay the opening of school and start of class for our traditional program (seated courses) by one week. This delay will allow us to move beyond the incubation period for Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, and allow for more time to move past the latest COVID peak related to the OMICRON variant. This schedule change will result in a number of changes for the semester and it is important that you read through this email to help you plan for the semester.
Important Calendar Changes: https://my.umo.edu/pages/registrar-calendars-and-schedules
- Move-in date for the Spring Semester will be moved to Tuesday, January 18th (Residence Halls Reopen)
- First day of seated courses for the traditional program will be Wednesday, January 19th
- Spring Break will be removed from the schedule and 3 mental health days have will been added during the semester: February 11th, March 9th, and March 31th.
- Traditional Last day to Add a Course – Tuesday January 25th
- Traditional Last Day for Clean Drop – Friday January 28th
Information Technology & Support: Microsoft 365 Email Update
- Any bookmarked links that you may have been using to access your email are now defunct and require your attention to update.
- To connect to your new Microsoft 365 Cloud email account, you can exercise either/both options after logging into myUMO at: https://my.umo.edu
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- Choose Webmail from the Shortcuts list (you can use the Search bar at the top and search for ‘Webmail’ if this is not already in your shortcuts.
- Click on the Connect Account button on the upper right of the myUMO screen to make the new connection for you.
- If you need further assistance, for example, connecting directly from your phone or other device, please file a support ticket via https://umosupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us and our folks will be happy to assist.
- Traditional Seated courses will be delayed until Wednesday January 19th.
- Online courses for AGP, Trad and Grad courses with the following sections, OF, OT, XF, XT will start January 10th.
- Online courses for AGP, Trad and Grad courses with the following sections TT and TF will start on January 19th.
- Syllabi Templates for traditional courses will be due on Jan. 12th (Faculty)
- Faculty Development Forum will be delayed – look for an email from Dr. Kim Bryant (Faculty)
- Saturday, Jan 8th – Adjunct Orientation will be virtual (Adjunct Faculty)
- Faculty will be expected to attend all meetings scheduled virtually. Faculty may work in offices as needed but we are limiting group activities. (Faculty)
- All residence halls will reopen at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, January 18th.
- Students that have already purchased airline tickets that cannot be modified must reach out to Nicole Garrett at ngarrett@umo.edu. Students will be required to submit a copy of the airline reservation to receive approval for an early return to campus.
- In addition, students that receive approval to arrive on campus prior to Tuesday, January 18th must submit a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours of arrival. These test results should be submitted to Holly Daly in Health Services at hdaly@umo.edu.
- Students will not be permitted to return to the residence halls prior to Tuesday, January 18th without prior approval.
- Faculty & staff are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID vaccine and booster shot. Under the new CDC guidelines, you are not considered fully vaccinated unless you have received the booster shot.
- If you are experiencing COVID like symptoms or have been exposed to someone with the virus, you should contact Human Resources. You should not report to campus if you are sick, have been exposed, or are under active quarantine protocols.
- UMO will host the Goshen Clinic on campus on Wednesday, January 19th for vaccinations.
Financial Aid & Student Accounts:
Students are reminded that bills for the Spring 2022 Semester are due by Friday, January 7th
- The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS), which will require all private employers with 100 or more employees, to ensure all employees are either fully vaccinated for COVID-19, or provide a weekly negative test result and wear a face covering during work hours. Effective February 9, 2022, all employees will be required to adhere to this new mandate. To be exempt from the weekly testing, you must be fully vaccinated which includes the booster shot as well.
- While we understand that not all employees will agree with these requirements, the University has an obligation to comply with OHSA standards or face a serious penalty for noncompliance.
- If you have been fully vaccinated, please send a copy of your vaccination record to the Office of Human Resources.
- Also, please find attached some resources that could answer any additional questions.
As we continue to monitor the COVID 19 rates for our campus and surrounding community, it remains important for the University to adjust our protocols for the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. In response to an increase in infection rates and related exposures, we will implement a classroom mandate effective September 1, 2021. All members of our community, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to properly wear a face covering at all times inside all classrooms, labs, and learning spaces where classes are held. This is in addition to the existing requirements for face coverings to be worn on all buses and transportation provided by the University. This measure will allow us to more effectively monitor and implement isolation/quarantine protocols for the campus as we continue to navigate a safe response to the pandemic.
| Traditional Students | |
|---|---|
| Total Number: | 830 |
| Number Vaccinated: | 515 |
| Vaccination Rate: | 62% |
| Staff | |
|---|---|
| Total Number: | 187 |
| Number Vaccinated: | 140 |
| Vaccination Rate: | 75% |
| Faculty | |
|---|---|
| Total Number: | 68 |
| Number Vaccinated: | 46 |
| Vaccination Rate: | 68% |
To date, the University of Mount Olive has been notified of the following COVID-19 positive cases. This site is updated whenever there is new information regarding cases or when 10 days has passed since an active case.
Active Count as of April 28 (currently in isolation/quarantine)
| Employees | Students |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
Cumulative positive confirmed cases as of April 28- Students
| Students Active | Students Recovered |
|---|---|
| 0 | 109 |
Cumulative positive confirmed cases as of April 28- Employees
| Employees Active | Employees Recovered |
|---|---|
| 0 | 16 |
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines
Spring 2022
Definitions:
Fully Vaccinated – you have received your primary dose(s) of the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning you have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and two weeks have passed since the last dose or you have received one dose of the Janssen vaccine and two weeks have passed since the last dose.
Up-to-date – two weeks have passed but no more than two months have passed since your primary dose of the Janssen vaccine or two weeks have passed but no more than six months have passed since your primary doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. If it has been greater than two months* since your Janssen vaccine or six months** since your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, a booster dose is required for your vaccination to be considered up-to-date.
*It is recommended to get either the Moderna or Pfizer booster vaccine, if you received the Janssen vaccine originally.
**You are eligible to get the Moderna booster vaccine 6 months after your second dose and the Pfizer booster vaccine 5 months after receiving your second dose.
Unvaccinated – you have not received vaccination for COVID-19 or have not received the appropriate dose recommendations. Two doses for Pfizer and Moderna and two weeks have passed since last dose or one dose of the Janssen and two weeks have passed since dose.
Quarantine Guidelines:
If you are unvaccinated or not to up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccination, CDC recommends a quarantine for 5 days. You may be released from quarantine after 5 days if you are symptom free and have a negative COVID-19 test on day 5, followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
People who are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination, do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, a test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure is required. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
Isolation Guidelines:
People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days, you may be released after 5 days with a negative COVID-19 test on day 5 and symptoms are resolving and you have been without fever for 24 hours. You must wear a mask when around others for an additional 5 days.
If you continue to test positive at day 5, you must isolate for 10 days. You may be released after 10 days if symptoms are resolving and you have been fever free for 24 hours.
- Any student that is required to quarantine or isolate will be moved to a quarantine/isolation room.
- If you have not been vaccinated, there is a $50 charge to say on campus for quarantine/isolation.
Testing Guidelines:
Home test kits are not accepted to test out of isolation or quarantine.
The University of Mount Olive is not requiring students to take the COVID 19 vaccine.
- The University strongly recommends that students receive the COVID 19 vaccine prior to the Fall 2021 semester. Students that have received the vaccination and submitted proof to Health Services by August 24th will be entered for an Apple MacBook laptop drawing.
- The University is planning to host a COVID 19 vaccination clinic on August 25th.
- In compliance with CDC and state guidance, students that have not been vaccinated will need to continue wearing masks on campus.
- Residential students that have not been fully vaccinated and submitted proof of vaccination to the Health Services will be required to spend any mandated quarantine/isolation periods off campus and away from other students (7-14 days).
- Unvaccinated residential students that are unable to find accommodations off-campus for the mandated quarantine/isolation periods (7-14 days) will be charged a $50 per day fee.
- Residential students that have been fully vaccinated and that may still need to enter the quarantine/isolation protocol will not be required to leave campus and will not be subject to the daily fee.
Campus Facilities:
UMO is planning for normal in-person classes for traditional students for the fall 2021 semester. Classrooms, meetings, and events, are returning to full capacity with no social distancing requirements.
Athletics:
All student athletes that have not been fully vaccinated will be tested upon arrival on campus. In addition, surveillance testing will be conducted throughout the year. Masks will also be required for those student athletes not fully vaccinated. This policy is subject to additional guidelines as directed by the conference and NCAA.
Goshen Medical Center will be holding a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on campus in the Kornegay Arena parking lot on September 20, 2021 from 10 am -2 pm. There will be no cost associated for the vaccine. First vaccines will also be available.
Everyone 16 years of age and older, across the nation, are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC, American College Health Association, and the University of Mount of Olive urges all college students to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The vaccine is not currently mandated, but highly encouraged. Do not delay scheduling your vaccine, even if you will be leaving soon for the summer. Many retail pharmacies and mass vaccination sites are now able to accommodate the second dose requirement of the Pfizer of Moderna vaccines.
Locally, and in the state of NC vaccination locations can be found at NC Vaccine Finder.
Vaccine locations outside of the state of NC can be found at VaccineFinder.org.
A list of retail pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccine can be found at Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. Then check your local pharmacy’s website where you live for vaccine appointments.
You can also contact your state health department to find additional vaccination locations in the area.
Vaccine locations in the Mount Olive area can be found below:
Wayne County Health Department, schedule an appointment at www.waynegov.com/vaccine.
Wayne UNC Health Care, schedule an appointment by calling 919-587-3900 or 984-215-6818.
Walgreens, schedule an appointment at https://www.walgreens.com/ or calling the Mount Olive location at 919-658-8510.
Please keep your vaccination record secure and submit a copy of your vaccination card to Health Services.
Sources: How Do I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine (cdc.gov) https://www.acha.org/ACHA/About/ACHA_News/Interim_Guidance_COVID-19_Vaccination_4.21.21.aspx
