Spring 2022

I. Remote Work in Response to COVID-19: Norman Campus

With the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines and the demonstrated effectiveness of other mitigation protocols on and off campus, in conjunction with the recommendations of infectious diseases and public health officials, remote work in relation to COVID-19 in Norman-based programs and areas was phased out Aug. 2, 2021. 

Managers should work with Human Resources to help manage staffing needs and may contact Human Resources at ohr@ou.edu for additional guidance.

1. Remote Work for purposes unrelated to COVID-19 that is otherwise consistent with the university’s guidelines is not affected. The current Remote Work Policy guidelines are available here.
2. 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.

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

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 before participating in any on- or off-campus activity or responsibility each time the answer to the questions below would be YES. The Healthy Together app is available for Android and iOS devices. The employee or student will be notified through the app of their screening results and should follow the instructions for what to do next. More information about the Healthy Together app is available here.

Employees and students at the OU Health Sciences Center or OU-Tulsa will continue using the online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool for their campus.

• OU Health Sciences Center
• OU-Tulsa

1. Individuals on the Norman campus are expected to complete the Healthy Together Passport whenever the answer to any of the following questions is YES.

• 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.)
• Have you tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days?
• 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.
• Have you traveled internationally (airplane, train, bus, boat, cruise, etc.) within the last 10 days?

Temperature Checks - Departments are discouraged from conducting temperature checks. If a department will require temperature checks, the manager must obtain prior approval from the Office of Human Resources.

​​III. Vaccination

Consistent with current CDC recommendations, the university strongly encourages the entire OU community to get vaccinated and receive a booster. 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

A federal court has temporarily blocked the enforcement of the federal COVID-19 vaccine requirement for federal subcontractors. This means that as long as the court’s decision is in place, university employees are not required to become vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022, and are also not required to seek exemptions to the rule, except as described below.

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 continue to comply with the vaccination requirements found here, which were in place before the federal executive order. 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, contact Human Resources at vaccine@ou.edu.

Read More: Getting Vaccinated at OU

IV. Social Distancing, In-Person Meetings, Events, and Classes

While the university has eliminated its social distancing protocols in all areas except patient care and clinical research participant settings, it is still strongly recommended.

Meetings

• When in-person meetings are necessary, masks are expected and social distancing is recommended.

Events

• In accordance with CDC guidance, the university recommends COVID-19 vaccination for anyone participating in events on OU property.
• OU expects individuals to wear a mask indoors, especially in high-density settings, such as classrooms and at special events when not eating or drinking.
• For indoor events where food will be made available, take-away options are preferred if suitable for the event.

Classes

• Due to illness and recovery, it is likely there will be instructor and student absences. 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 or extended 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. Those faculty with previously approved accommodations may proceed with their arrangements as agreed for the Spring 2022 semester.

V. Masks – OU Norman Campus

Since the beginning of the pandemic, in instituting its COVID-19 protocols, the University of Oklahoma has monitored guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control. Taking into consideration the CDC’s current guidance on masking, Oklahoma state law, and the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma, OU has adopted the following masking protocols for the Norman Campus. 

Through January 31: Masking Guidance – OU Norman Campus

As has been our policy since the start of Fall 2021, masking will continue to be expected in all indoor settings for all faculty, staff, and students.

For the first two weeks of the semester (through January 31) masking will be required in classroom settings.

Beginning February 1: Masking Guidance – OU Norman Campus

General Facilities – OU community members are expected to mask indoors on the Norman campus, especially in high-density settings, such as classrooms and at special events when not eating or drinking.

Classrooms – Should there be a confirmed COVID-19 positive case in class, the class will continue meeting in-person, but masking will be required for 2 weeks during the quarantine period. 

Health Care Facilities – All individuals in patient-facing settings, including clinical research participant areas and facilities where patient care is a primary function must wear a mask.

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

Transportation – Passengers on transit buses and shuttles must wear a mask due to Department of Transportation mandates.

Masks must cover the individual’s nose and mouth. Bandanas, scarves, gaiters, buffs, and the like are not acceptable. Non-medical grade masks that have exhalation valves with or without filters (such as this) may not be worn on campus unless a surgical-style mask is worn over it.

Students in need of a health accommodation should contact the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center by emailing adrc@ou.edu. Faculty, staff, and student employees seeking an accommodation should contact Human Resources at HRAccommodations@ou.edu.

Recommended Masks – OU Norman Campus

While cloth masks are still permissible on the Norman campus, the university strongly recommends the use of KN95 masks or disposable surgical masks as they provide far greater amounts of protection.

Layering a surgical mask underneath or on top of a cloth mask can also provide added protection.

Surgical masks have been provided to building supervisors to be made available at all entrances and inside classrooms.

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.

1. University Responsibility – Taking into consideration applicable government and industry cleaning and safety standards, the university will resume pre-pandemic cleaning protocols.
   • Environment – University Operations has increased outside air where possible and converted HVAC systems with hospital-grade filters (MERV-13).
2. 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. While supplies last, department/area managers may still obtain cleaning supplies that have been EPA/CDC-approved from Facilities Management. These cleaning supplies can be requested here.
   • COVID-19 Positive Individuals – Frequently used campus spaces are cleaned on a daily basis. Department/area managers who are notified of a COVID-19 positive individual in their space should contact Facilities Management at (405) 325-3060 to confirm when cleaning of the space last occurred. This procedure should be followed in off-campus leased spaces as well, by contacting the leasing agent or building maintenance team.
3. Individual Responsibility – As was the case prior to COVID-19, individuals are responsible for cleaning their personal and shared spaces and office equipment.

VII. Testing and Isolation

Where to Get Tested for COVID-19 at OU

Positive Tests – Employees and students who test positive should complete the Passport through the Healthy Together app.

• Supervisors, RAs, faculty, staff, and others who are made aware that an individual in their area has tested positive should contact Facilities Management at (405) 325-3060 as described in Section VI above for cleaning assessment.
• Faculty, staff, and students who have been in close contact with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 positive individual should complete the Passport through the Healthy Together app.
  • 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.
• For a list of frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19, visit here.

VIII. Monitoring Workforce, Students, and Visitors for COVID-19 Symptoms – Mandatory Reporting Process

Please refer to Section II for information regarding monitoring for symptoms and mandatory reporting.

IX. Travel

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

X. Visitors, Vendors, and Tenants

1. Visitors and Vendors – Visitors and vendors on campus are required to accept and adhere to university masking 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.
2. 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.