Campus Protocols

Norman Campus COVID-19 Protocols

Since the onset of the pandemic, OU has aligned its guidance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with consideration to Oklahoma state law. As we continue navigating COVID-19, please review the CDC guidelines and make the best decision for your personal health, while also being mindful of those around you.

The university will continue to monitor and respond to transmission levels on our campus and in our county and follow CDC recommendations.

Protect yourself and your community from the spread of COVID-19 with the right tools:

Vaccines and Boosters
Testing
Masks

I. Vaccines and Boosters

The university strongly encourages the entire OU community to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, consistent with current CDC recommendations.

Are you up to date with your vaccinations, including boosters? See the CDC’s booster tool for guidance.

Getting Vaccinated at OU

COVID-19 vaccines are available to all students, faculty, and staff on all three OU campuses at no cost to the individual.

Vaccination Requirements at OU

Vaccination requirements are limited to the following groups of OU community members:

Students, faculty, and staff who have patient-facing responsibilities and volunteers who shadow or observe in patient-care settings.
All those who elect to participate in study abroad programs.
- All eligible individuals participating in study abroad programs are required to receive a COVID-19 booster dose before departing for their study abroad destination.
OUHSC employees must comply with the vaccination requirements found here. Many OUHSC employees may also need to comply with additional vaccination requirements at other health care facilities where they practice or rotate, including OU Health facilities and programs.

Employees are still encouraged to complete the online vaccine verification form as they become vaccinated.

For questions about vaccination requirements for employees, contact Human Resources at vaccine@ou.edu.

II. COVID-19 Testing, Screening and Reporting for Faculty, Staff, and Students

Where to Get Tested for COVID-19 at OU

COVID-19 testing is available on the OU Norman campus at Goddard Health Center.

OU Faculty, Staff, and Student Screening

Employees and students in Norman campus programs are strongly encouraged to complete the Passport through the Healthy Together app OR review the guidelines below if you have experienced any of the following within the last 10 days:

Test positive
Have symptoms
Have had close contact

Have you tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days?

Self-isolate for 5 days. During this time, avoid being around others and restrict all activities outside of your home. Do not come to campus. Individuals who live in university congregate housing should contact OU Housing at (405) 534-3741 to receive isolation instructions from Residence Life staff.
- On Day 6 after symptom onset (or positive test date if no symptoms), if your symptoms are improving and you are without fever for 24 hours, you may leave isolation. Continue wearing a mask for 5 additional days when around others.
- Students who live in congregate housing may return to their room on Day 6 if they receive a negative antigen test on Day 6 or later.
  - To provide the best protection to roommates and others, continue wearing a mask for 5 additional days.
  - If you do not test, you may return to your room on Day 11.
Call 911 if you are having difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or blue skin, lips, or nailbeds. If your symptoms are mild, please practice home self-care.
Notify all people you have been in close contact with starting 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms or of the positive test, that they have been exposed and may need to self-quarantine or test. This should include individuals who have been near you for at least 15 minutes when health and safety measures, e.g. wearing a mask, were not in place or were insufficient.
Click here for certification documentation for work or class (.pdf).

Have you experienced symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19 in the past 10 days, such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea? (Please also contact a health care provider regarding specific symptoms.)

Avoid being around others and restrict all activities outside of your home. Do not come to campus. Individuals who live in university congregate housing should contact OU Housing at 405-534-3741 to receive quarantine/isolation instructions from Residence Life staff.
Get tested for COVID-19. Testing is available at OU Health Services at Goddard. Call 211 for information on other testing options.
Call 911 if you are having difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or blue skin, lips, or nailbeds. If your symptoms are mild, please practice home self-care.
If your symptoms are improving and COVID-19 testing is negative, you can return to on-campus activities 24 hours after any fever has resolved. Students who live in congregate housing who choose not to test can return to their room 11 days after the onset of symptoms.
Click here for certification documentation for work or class (.pdf).

Have you had close contact either at work, at home or in the community, with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 10 days? A close contact is generally someone who has been near a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes when health and safety measures, e.g. wearing a mask, were not in place or were insufficient.

You can come to campus (no requirement to quarantine) but should monitor for symptoms for 10 days after exposure.
You are advised to wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure, especially indoors and when social distancing cannot be maintained outdoors.
If any symptoms develop, isolate and get tested.
It is recommended to test for COVID-19 on day 6 after exposure if no symptoms develop. Testing is available at OU Health Services at Goddard. Call 211 for information on other testing options.

OU Health Sciences Center and OU-Tulsa

Employees and students at the OU Health Sciences Center or OU-Tulsa are to use the online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool for their campus.

III. Masks: Norman Campus

General Facilities and Classrooms – Masking is welcome on the OU Norman campus. People may choose to mask at any time or any purpose.

In classroom settings, there is no longer a 2-week masking requirement when there is a reported positive case of COVID-19 in the class.

Health Care Facilities – Masking is required for all individuals in patient-facing settings, including clinical research participant areas and facilities where patient care is a primary function.

OU Health Sciences Center programs will coordinate masking requirements with hospital and clinic partners, as appropriate.

Recommended Face Mask Guidance – If you choose to wear a mask, you are encouraged to wear a disposable surgical mask or a KN-95 mask. Your mask should fit well and cover your nose and mouth.

IV. Social Distancing and Classes

Social Distancing

The university continues to strongly recommend social distancing in patient care and clinical research participant settings.

Classes

The potential remains for students and/or instructors being away from class for short periods due to COVID-19-related illness or isolation. Make-up assignments and instructional adjustments will need to be accommodated.
Faculty are asked to prepare for the likelihood of students and/or instructors being away from class for short periods due to COVID-19 by following the Norman campus Instructional Continuity guidelines.
Faculty are not to change the instructional modality of their classes without approval from the Provost’s Office.

V. Remote Work: Norman Campus

Work Flexibility – Supervisors are reminded to provide flexible work schedules or locations when employees are quarantining at home but are able to work remotely.

Remote Work Unrelated to COVID-19 – Employees interested in remote work options for purposes unrelated to COVID-19 that is otherwise consistent with the university’s guidelines should refer to the current Remote Work Policy guidelines available here.

Employee Accommodations – Employees who may qualify for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act or have a medical reason to work remotely may request accommodations through Human Resources.

VI. Cleaning Facilities and Equipment

Clean facilities and equipment require a commitment from all levels of the university community. Everyone has an important role and responsibility in maintaining a healthy campus environment.

University Responsibility – The university considers all applicable government and industry cleaning and safety standards in managing the daily routine cleaning of campus facilities, which includes high-touch points.
- Environment – The university has increased outside air where possible and converted HVAC systems with hospital-grade filters (MERV-13).
Department/Area Responsibility – As was the case prior to COVID-19, each department/area manager remains responsible for obtaining appropriate cleaning supplies and providing for the cleaning of shared office equipment, furniture, surfaces, and environment.
Individual Responsibility – As was the case prior to COVID-19, individuals are responsible for cleaning their personal and shared spaces and office equipment.

VII. Travel

All employees, visitors, and students will comply with the travel guidance maintained here.

VIII. Visitors, Vendors, and Tenants

Visitors and Vendors – Visitors and vendors on campus are required to accept and adhere to university COVID-19 policies and any requirements for entry and continued attendance at specific university events and facilities. It is the responsibility of each department to ensure that its scheduled visitors and vendors are aware of and abide by university policies and procedures while on campus. Departments will advise their visitors or vendors to leave campus if they begin to experience symptoms of COVID-19 during their visit and notify the individual who invited them to campus.
Tenants – Tenants must adhere to university guidelines whenever in public areas on campus. Public areas include common areas in buildings (like hallways, public restrooms, building entries, community or shared kitchens, etc.), elevators, parking facilities, and other areas of public ingress and egress. Once inside your respective suite or leased premise, each company must follow its own COVID-19 protection and prevention protocols.