Vaccinations 

The University highly encourages all individuals be up-to-date on their COVID 19 vaccinations and boosters. However, there is currently no vaccination mandate for faculty, staff or students, except for students living in University housing. Students living in University housing are allowed to request exemptions based on religious beliefs, health status or personal beliefs. More information is available from Residence Life.

Masks

• There is no campus-wide mask mandate. However, masks will be required in some areas, such as when an instructor notifies students that masks are required in their individual classrooms or laboratories, when an office or center requires masks, or when an event organizer notifies participants that masks are required during the event. Off-campus activities such as clinicals, service learning, and field experiences may require masks.
• In the interest of “cura personalis,” our core value that means “care for the whole person,” always carry a mask and respect others’ masking preferences when meeting in faculty and staff offices or student organization meetings. 

​If You Test Positive

• If you are symptomatic or test positive for COVID, please observe the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on how long you should self-isolate.
• Students who are symptomatic or test positive should contact their faculty to make alternate arrangements for classwork. Faculty and staff should contact their workplace supervisor.
• Individuals who have illness symptoms that prevent attending class, clinicals, or work must notify their instructor or supervisor. 

Quarantine and Isolation

The university follows CDC guidelines with respect to isolation and quarantine requirements. If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, but you have tested negative and you are not symptomatic (or you have confirmed COVID 19 within the past 90 days), you are not required to quarantine. However, you should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public – and you should get tested five days after your last close contact with the COVID positive individual (testing resources noted below). If you experience symptoms after being in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you should isolate immediately and get tested.

Testing

If you experience COVID symptoms, it is important to be tested. There are a number of options for free testing available.

• Free testing is available for all community members at UMKC in a mobile testing site located in the parking lot at 5050 Oak St., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Saturday. Make an appointment here. 
• Visit covid.gov/tests to learn more about free testing sites.

Questions

Should case numbers start to rise, university leadership will consider reinstating reporting, prevention and response activities as needed. Should you need additional information, you can reach out to the following:

• Students: Matt Quick, Ph.D., vice president for student development and athletics, 816-501-4030
• Faculty/Staff: Jackie Michaels, MSM, director of human resources, 816-501-4555