TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY

Effective: August 7, 2020

To facilitate students returning to campus, West Virginia University has established a number of health and safety policies. These health and safety policies, outlined below, are for the protection of the University community. Failure to follow them could result in a charge and sanctions under the West Virginia University Campus Student Conduct Code. The campus community can report a violation to the University using an online form. The campus community can also report a student of concern to the CARE team  on its website.

• Online Education Module and Initial COVID-19 Testing. This fall, the University will require students to complete an online education module and take a COVID-19 test on or before August 26, 2020. Failure to do so will result in the student being charged a $250 fee and a hold placed on the student’s account until completed. In addition to the fee, the University may deactivate the student’s identification card and/or student may face sanctions under the Code as necessary and appropriate, including additional educational requirements.
  
  A student who does not complete this requirement can be charged with  Failure to Complete Online Education Module or COVID-19 Testing.
• Subsequent COVID-19 Testing. Throughout the Fall semester, the University may require certain populations of students (e.g., student athletes, students in residence halls, etc.) to take subsequent COVID-19 tests as part of a surveillance effort regarding the spread of the virus within the community.
  
  Failure to do so will result in the student being charged a $250 fee and a hold placed on the student’s account until completed. In addition to the fee, the University may deactivate the student’s identification card and/or student may face sanctions under the Code as necessary and appropriate, including additional educational requirements.
  
  A student who does not complete this requirement can be charged with  Failure to complete COVID-19 Testing.
• Self-Report of a Positive Result or Symptoms and Compliance with Isolation Requirements. All students must report a positive COVID-19 test result to Student Experience at pscstudentexperience@mail.wvu.edu. Additionally, a student with a positive COVID-19 test result must abide by instructions provided by the University.
  
  Failure to do so may result in the following Interim Suspension educational requirements, University probation, removal from course/s, campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, deferred suspension, suspension and expulsion.
  
  A student who fails to follow this provision can be charged with  Failure to Self-Report of a Positive Result and Failure to Self-Isolate.
• Self-Isolation Requirement. Self-isolation means separating yourself physically from others once you have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Students must self-isolate under the following circumstances:
  1. upon receipt of a positive COVID-19 test result;
  2. after a student has tested positive for COVID-19, and until the following conditions are met: at least 24 hours with no fever without medication and other symptoms have improved and a minimum of ten (10) days since symptoms first appeared or since date of test if asymptomatic. The self-isolation period can last longer, dependent on symptoms.
  Please see the following for any updated information:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html.
  
  Failure to do so may result in the following: Interim Suspension, educational requirements, removal from course/s, campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, University probation, deferred suspension, suspension and expulsion.
  
  A student who fails to follow this provision can be charged with  Failure to Self-Isolate.
• Self-Quarantine Requirement. Self-quarantine means separating yourself physically from others once you have been potentially exposed to COVID-19. Students must self-quarantine under the following circumstances:
  1. when waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test;
  2. experiencing symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, or  other symptoms of COVID-19 and until the student is able to get a COVID-19 test result;
  3. if a student has traveled outside of the State of West Virginia, they must self-quarantine for a period of at least five (5) days; OR
  4. directed to self-quarantine by a University medical official or County Public Health official.
  Failure to do so may result in the following: educational requirements, residence hall probation, deferred removal from residence halls, University probation, removal from course/s, campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, deferred suspension, suspension and expulsion.
  
  A student who fails to follow this provision can be charged with  Failure to Self-Quarantine.
• Cooperation in Contact Tracing Efforts. Student are required to participate in contact tracing efforts performed by the County Public Health Department or by the University.
  
  Failure to do so may result in the following: written warning, meeting with the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, educational requirements, residence hall probation, deferred removal from residence halls, University probation, removal from course/s, campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, deferred suspension, suspension and expulsion.
  
  A student who fails to follow this provision can be charged with  Failure to Cooperate in Contract Tracing Efforts.
• Masks/Approved Face Coverings. Students are required to wear masks while on-campus. “On campus” means:
  1. inside University buildings such as classrooms, hallways, libraries, office spaces, restrooms, including communal restrooms in the residence halls, large gathering areas such as the Mountainlair; and
  2. outside on University property when students may interact with others in close proximity.
  Additionally, masks are required on all campus transportation including buses, vans, vehicles and PRT.
  
  Food and drink will be prohibited in all classrooms to ensure proper use of masks during class instruction.
  
  Masks or approved face coverings are not required in personal spaces such as residence hall rooms, apartments, and personal vehicles. Further, a mask or face covering is not required if there’s a specific-limited educational reason that it would inhibit or significantly impair an educational opportunity or activity which has been approved by the University.
  
  A mask or approved face covering must be worn properly at all times. The University through its  welcome back kit will provide students with a cloth face mask or gaiter, disposable masks, hand sanitizer and a key touch tool. Masks/face coverings should cover both the student’s mouth and nose and should be worn in a manner consistent with the instructions students received within their WVU welcome back kits.
  
  Failure to do so may result in the following: written warning, meeting with the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, educational requirements, residence hall probation, deferred removal from residence halls, University probation, removal from course/s, campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, deferred suspension, suspension and expulsion.
  
  A student who does not comply with this health and safety policy can be charged with  Failure to Wear a Mask or Face Covering in Designated Areas.
• Failure to abide by local, state or federal pandemic or health safety guidelines, including but not limited to social distancing, maximum crowd size, and others as they may be ordered from time to time. When possible, students are always expected to stay at least six (6) feet away from each other. In certain locations, however, the University may post or explicitly require that other more specific distancing requirements be utilized (ex: in all classrooms, students are required to sit in an assigned seat throughout the fall semester.). Students must also abide by any social gathering limits that may be imposed by state, local, or university authorities.
  
  Failure to do so may result in the following: written warning, meeting with the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, educational requirements, residence hall probation, deferred removal from residence halls, University probation, removal from course/s, campus ban in designated areas, removal from residence halls, deferred suspension, suspension and expulsion.
  
  A student who fails to adhere to any posted or specifically designated distancing requirement may be charged with  Failure to Observe Adequate Distancing Requirements.
• Wellness Checks. The University may implement a daily wellness check administered through an App. If so, students must abide by the requirements and guidelines for participation released by the University for these daily wellness checks. A student who fails to abide by the University guidelines subsequently for wellness checks may be charged with  Failure to Conduct Wellness Checks.
• Other Requirements. Individual academic disciplines, residence halls, and University apartments may have additional requirements and restrictions relating to COVID-19 that students are required to follow. Please check with your individual academic discipline. Specific COVID-19-related restrictions for  residence halls can be found here and specific COVID-19-related restrictions for University apartments can be found here.

The University may change these guidelines through an academic year as we learn more about COVID-19. Please check for updates of these guidelines on a regular basis.