UW's official page for COVID-19 communication

Fall 2020 Road Map | Return to Campus Steps | Student Health Info | FAQs

Face Coverings Required for UW Employees, Students This Summer and Fall

June 29, 2020
University of Wyoming employees and students are required to wear face coverings while on UW-owned property or when conducting university business or activities, including instruction and research. This requirement is in place immediately and also is part of the university’s plan for the fall semester. Further details can be found on the 'Face Coverings Required for UW Employees, Students This Summer and Fall' News Release.

UW Board of Trustees Approves Limited Double-Occupancy Rooms

June 23, 2020
The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees has amended the fall return plan to allow 138 residence hall rooms to be converted to double occupancy. Further details can be found on the 'UW Allows Limited Double-Occupancy Rooms This Fall' News Release.

Return to Campus

On June 10, 2020, UW announced it will seize this opportunity to reimagine and recreate its environment. We are so excited to welcome back our students, faculty and staff to campus in a safe and responsible way.

Safety is our Top Priority

When returning to campus, our top priority is to protect the health and safety of each UW community member: staff, faculty, students and citizens of the regions where we teach, learn and work. We also aim to maintain the highest quality of educational outcomes, experiences and work products. All actions and activities we are planning have been tested against these priorities, with full adherence to public health directives and university policy.

An Evolving Process

The University of Wyoming return to campus is designed to be adaptable and will change with the environment and virus transmission. Therefore, this webpage will be dynamic and updated frequently to reflect changes to the policies and plans of the University of Wyoming.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your direct supervisor (faculty or staff) or academic adviser (students). You may also email COVID19@uwyo.edu or call 307-766-2683 with questions or concerns not addressed on this page.

Fall 2020 Road Map

We are creating a flexible in-person fall 2020 experience that keeps our community as safe as possible while allowing students to continue their college experience. The following areas of focus have been developed by over 100 faculty members, staff, students and administrators of topics that will help our students return successfully to campus this fall.

Many of the details of this road map will be developed throughout the summer and updated on this web page accordingly.

Creating a Safe Campus

> Conduct testing and appropriate pre-return procedures with each student, faculty and staff before their return to campus.

> Create system for daily self-screening of temperature and symptoms for all students, faculty and staff.

> Facilitate isolation/social distancing, self-screening, testing, tracking and support for all students, faculty and staff across campus.

> Assist students, faculty and staff who test positive with isolation and other necessary safety measures and work with Wyoming Department of Health on effective contact tracing.

> Increase cleaning regimens, modify work and communal spaces, make changes to dining and retail areas, and modify policy for visitors to campus.

> Training supervisors, faculty, staff and students, including modules, videos, trainings and policies.

> Continue to follow social distancing guidelines and wear face coverings when in communal spaces.

> Limit non-essential personal and university travel through collaboration with departmental vice presidents.
Academic Instruction

> Offer a 15-week-long semester with classes beginning Aug. 24, 2020, and ending Dec. 4, 2020.

> Every student will be offered a combination of online and face-to-face learning to allow the greatest flexibility to provide students with the in-person experience.

> All courses will transition to fully online instruction beginning Nov. 23, 2020.

> The two-day mid-semester break and three days prior to Thanksgiving will be converted to instructional days.

> Final exams will be administered through distance modalities after Dec. 4, 2020, with the updated final exam schedule provided.

> Provide faculty development to ensure quality teaching, learning, assessment and research.

> Provide support to all faculty in scholarship, creative activity, teaching, service and extension.
Student & Employee Success

> Support social distancing in the classroom; provide critical technological support to ensure synchronous and asynchronous “e-learning” and the ability to more effectively pivot to entirely online learning if needed.

> Invest in hardware, software and additional IT support technicians to offer additional resources and technical support.

> Provide additional training for staff and faculty to enable IT solutions and resources.

> Encourage employees and students to talk with people they trust regarding their concerns about returning and how they are feeling as well as utilize services from the University Counseling Center.

> Support student and employee health programs and efforts related to COVID-19.

> Human Resources will create adaptable staffing plans, including flexible work arrangements, guided by university policy in compliance with federal regulations.

Return to Campus Steps

The university’s transition back to residential teaching, learning and research will be done in a measured, disciplined way that provides for the safety and well-being of the students, faculty, employees and the greater community. UW will move through each of the following steps while continually evaluating the safety of all constituents.

STEP 1:
Student-Athlete Return

(underway) Welcome student-athletes to campus in a safe and responsible way. Please visit the UW Athletics information web page for updated information and the status on this process.

STEP 2:
Staffing Plans

Adopt flexible staffing plans for employees whose duties do not require an in-person presence, with the goal of reducing the density of on-site employees while maintaining the quality of work product.

STEP 3:
Redesign & Mitigate

Redesign the course calendar, timetable and educational delivery options to mitigate the spread of the virus to and from the university community.

STEP 4:
Welcoming Students to Campus

Welcome students to campus for the fall semester. UW Residence Life & Dining Services will be releasing further information for students and parents throughout the summer.

STEP 5:
Student Activities & Gatherings

Allow students to hold extracurricular activities if they comply with size gathering guidelines. The Division of Student Affairs will release further guidelines on this step throughout the summer.

Student Health Information

UW Student Health Services: 307-766-2130

Student Health Services is open to serve students and their health needs. Students who are experiencing fever, cough, and shortness of breath are directed to call Student Health Services before visiting the clinic. Faculty and staff who experience these symptoms should call their health care provider. The UW Family Medicine Residency Centers and the University’s Albany Community Health Clinic will remain open to serve the public. DO NOT call 911 for advice unless you or someone else is experiencing a life-threatening condition. If your concern develops outside business/clinic hours, you may call Ivinson Memorial Hospital at 307-742-2141 for further advice.

A top prevention strategy is to keep your hands clean. Take a moment to review these videos for helpful tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re dedicated to helping answer your questions based on the latest information regarding the university's return to campus process.

>> Student FAQs

>> Staff FAQs

>> Faculty FAQs

Additional Health Information

UW’s interdepartmental task force is diligently monitoring events worldwide to anticipate and prepare for potential changes. Here are some essential resources for global travel alerts and warnings to visit before you travel abroad: